3Degrees, in partnership with Dorchester Renewable Energy LLC, registered the first ever carbon offset project under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a mandatory cap and trade program covering the electric sector in nine states in the eastern U.S.

The project destroys methane gas from the New Beulah Landfill located on Maryland’s eastern shore. It is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to more than 20,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

“We are pleased to continue our history of ‘firsts’ in the carbon market, which dates back to a time when we were still known as TerraPass,” said Mark Mondik, Vice President of Carbon Markets at 3Degrees.  TerraPass, renamed Origin Climate in 2014, became part of 3Degrees in a merger between the companies earlier this year.

The sale of RGGI offsets will provide the sole source of revenue to support the operation of the project.

“RGGI support is critical to this project,” said Tom Koch, Principal of Dorchester Renewable Energy. “Voluntary market prices for landfill gas offsets aren’t sufficient to make projects like this economically viable, but through RGGI we are able to reach higher-value buyers.”

According to the latest “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks” published by the USEPA, landfills in the United States still account for around 115 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year.

About 3Degrees
At 3Degrees, our business is our mission. As a certified B Corporation, we connect people with cleaner energy on a massive scale — providing renewable energy and carbon offset solutions to Fortune 500 companies, utilities, universities, green building firms and other organizations that are working to make their services and operations more sustainable. Headquartered in San Francisco, 3Degrees serves clients around the world.

3Degrees

3Degrees

3Degrees exists for one simple reason - to make it possible for businesses and their customers to take urgent action on climate change. As a certified B Corporation, we provide renewable energy and emission reduction solutions to global Fortune 500 companies, utilities and other organizations that want to join the fight against climate change. The 3Degrees team has deep expertise in sustainability consulting, environmental markets, renewable energy and carbon project development, and utility renewable energy programs. Together with our customers, 3Degrees helps develop and implement creative solutions that ensure environmental integrity and make good business sense.

Since 2002, 3Degrees has worked with over 400 clients in 60 countries and has been widely recognized for our industry leadership and award-winning programs for clients. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington and Richmond, Virginia. Learn more at 3degreesinc.com.

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