06/15/2006
Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Author: Environmental Credit Corporation
Four Indiana dairies, connected by family
history and geography, have jointly signed an historic agreement with
Environmental Credit Corp (ECC) to create more than one million carbon
credits from greenhouse gas-reducing projects. Each credit is equivalent to
one metric ton of carbon dioxide prevented from entering the atmosphere. The
farms’ greenhouse gas reductions are comparable to planting 4 million
deciduous trees or offsetting the emissions of 20,000 cars.
The Bos, Herrema, Hidden View, and Windy Ridge dairies located in Fair
Oaks, IN, house upwards of 17,000 cows and produce more than 100,000 gallons
of milk each day. These modern dairies provide milk to southeast states for
fluid consumption and locally for the production of high-quality cheese.
With a commitment to excellence extending to sustainable waste
management, each dairy has installed biogas digesters manufactured by GHD,
Inc. (Chilton, WI). Tony Bos, Sr., explains, "Because of the technology we
use, we are processing the manure into something valuable. The biogas we
produce is about 60% methane, very much like natural gas. We use it for heat
and electricity. Now in addition to energy, we qualify for clean air
credits."
To get the most benefit from the potential credit markets, the farms
chose to work with ECC, a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX),
North America’s only voluntary, legally binding rules-based greenhouse gas
trading system. ECC works closely with the farms to develop project
protocols, monitor and certify their methane emission reductions, and
monetize and manage the resulting carbon credits. Methane is a potent
greenhouse gas, advancing global warming 21 times faster than carbon
dioxide. Carbon credits are currently valued at around $4.00 per ton in the
U.S., up from around $2.00 during 2005.
With about eight million dairy cows in the U.S., potential revenues to
the dairy industry from carbon credits could exceed tens of millions of
dollars annually as the greenhouse gas market grows. Dozens of farmers have
already applied to enroll in ECC’s carbon credit program, joining with other
farms to take early advantage of this new source of revenue.
Jim Jensen, ECC’s VP of Business Development, meets with dairy farmers
regularly to discuss the growing opportunities. As he puts it: "American
farmers can be great stewards of the environment; they deserve to be
recognized for the actions they take to reduce global warming. Cash for
carbon credits is a great place to start." Farmers interested in ECC’s
carbon credit program should contact Jim at (814) 235-1623 or
jjensen@envcc.com. ECC's website is
www.envcc.com
About the Bos Dairies For more information about the Bos dairies,
visit the Fair Oaks Dairy Visitors Center. This is a great place to visit
for adults and children alike. The educational center has terrific
Disney-quality exhibits. Visitors have the chance to take a 45-minute bus
tour where they are driven through the barns. Then they go into a viewing
area to watch cows being milked on a giant milking merry-go-round. The
facility is located at the southwest corner of I65 and State Road 14.
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