Vital Statistics Offsets: 59,100 metric tons carbon dioxide
Equivalent to taking
11,773 cars off the road for a year Project Type: Fuel Replacement Project Lifetime: 15 years Contract Signing Date : 2007 Location: Montana Project Partners:
• Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Project Description
The Climate Trust has contracted with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to buy offsets from fuel-replacement projects at schools and other facilities in Montana. The funds will be used in conjunction with funding from the US Forest Service’s Fuels for Schools (FFS) program to overcome financial barriers many schools and other entities face when converting steam boilers to burn woody biomass rather than fossil fuels. The Montana projects will use wood pellets from local mills. The pellets are composed of waste materials resulting from forestry management practices.
It is anticipated that eight to ten entities will receive offset funding as a result of this partnership.
How the project reduces CO2 The projects will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by converting steam boilers to burn woody biomass. Woody biomass is available locally in Montana and will displace the use of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, propane and No.2 fuel oil. Burning woody biomass is considered to have a net-zero effect on the atmospheric carbon balance because the fuel stock would be otherwise burned, or would decompose and release CO2, so there is no net gain of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Additional CO2 reduction benefits may occur from this project. The Climate Trust views forest management practices, such as thinning, as a beneficial way to restore forests to their natural state and prevent catastrophic fires. This view is based on input received from several foresters, biologists and environmental organizations concerning the carbon impact of using woody biomass as a fuel source. Forest fires emit massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere each year. Management practices may also lead to an increase in the amount of carbon absorbed by large diameter trees because of less competition from smaller diameter trees.
Non-GHG Benefits
Schools and other facilities will save thousands of dollars on heating costs.
This partnership between The Climate Trust and DNRC will install some of the first, and most visible, offset projects in Montana, thereby raising awareness of climate change and greenhouse gas offset issues.
Wood pellet manufacturers will provide jobs and other support to local economies.
Additionality Criteria: Why We’re Involved The Climate Trust’s funding will be used in conjunction with funding from the federal Fuels for Schools (FFS) program to overcome financial barriers many schools and other non-profit and public entities face when converting their steam boilers. Without the additional financial support from The Climate Trust, the entities would be unable to finance and implement the projects.
Partners
