Pacific Carbon Trust Newsroom

California Adopts Regulation to Link Carbon Markets With Quebec

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

California, the world’s ninth-largest economy, adopted rules to link carbon markets with the Canadian province of Quebec, a move that will allow companies to trade emissions allowances across the border.

The California Air Resources Board approved changes to the state’s cap-and-trade regulation that align its carbon system with that of Quebec and clears the way for links to other governments in the future. Governor Jerry Brown approved the connection with Quebec last week, saying the province’s program was aggressive enough with its emissions targets and designed similarly enough to work in tandem with California’s system.

Read the full article in Bloomberg.

California governor gives green light to Quebec CO2 market link

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

California Governor Jerry Brown on Monday threw his support behind the state’s effort to link its carbon market with Quebec next year, a move that will expand the world’s second largest carbon market.

The approval means the two regions will link their emission markets from next year as planned, after a delay at the Governor’s office recently had cast doubt as to whether the plan could be implemented in time.

Read full article in Advanced Global Trading.

Australian CO2 emissions hit 10-year low

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation have fallen to a 10-year low as coal-fired power slumped to its lowest level in a decade, a new report says.

At the same time, the share of renewable energy in the National Electricity Market (NEM) has soared beyond 12 per cent and looks set to continue rising.

Read the full article in The Australian.

China to launch carbon trading scheme by mid-June

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

China's Shenzhen city has become the first in the country to set a launch date for a new carbon emissions trading pilot scheme, as part of a package of measures designed to curb emissions from energy-intensive industries.

Read full article.

Shenzhen Is First in China With June Start for Emissions Trading

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Shenzhen, a Special Economic Zone designed to promote market policies in China, will begin emissions trading on June 17, the first announced start date among the country’s regional carbon exchanges.

Mayor Qin Xu announced the schedule in an interview with the Shenzhen Daily newspaper. While Beijing and Shanghai may also start their carbon markets in June, Shenzhen is the first to set a specific date, according to analysts at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Read the full article in Bloomberg.

Economist warns of 'radical' climate change, millions at risk

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:04:00 -0700

The author of an influential 2006 study on climate change warned Tuesday that the world could be headed toward warming even more catastrophic than expected but he voiced hope for political action.

Nicholas Stern, the British former chief economist for the World Bank, said that both emissions of greenhouse gas and the effects of climate change were taking place faster than he forecast seven years ago.

Read the entire article in France 24.

Climate Maverick to Retire From NASA

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700

James E. Hansen, the climate scientist who issued the clearest warning of the 20th century about the dangers of global warming, will retire from NASA this week, giving himself more freedom to pursue political and legal efforts to limit greenhouse gases.

His departure, after a 46-year career at the space agency’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, will deprive federally sponsored climate research of its best-known public figure.

Read the full article in The New York Times.

Carbon Finance for LFG to Grid

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:03:46 -0800

The clock is ticking across small communities in British Columbia (BC) to come up with plans to meet the province's Landfill Gas Management Regulation. The regulation, which is part of BC's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas levels by at least 33% below 2009 levels by 2020, stipulates that from 2016 all landfills generating 1000 tonnes or more of methane annually must install a landfill gas management system.

The community of Salmon Arm, part of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) in BC's central interior, is meeting the demands of this regulation well ahead of time through the establishment of a landfill gas capture system. This award-winning grid injection system has been part of the CSRD's agenda for some time, but it took the power of carbon finance and the support of local utility FortisBC to make it a reality.

Read the full article in Waste Management World.

B.C. to examine pricing for carbon offsets

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:57:23 -0800

VICTORIA – The B.C. government will examine the pricing model for Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) and, if needed, make whatever changes are necessary to ensure B.C.’s public sector organizations, including schools and hospitals, continue to receive the best value, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced today.

Read the full release.

Filling the Gap

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Since its inception four years ago with a mandate to drive the growth of B.C.’s low-carbon economy, Pacific Carbon Trust has retired 1.5 million tonnes of carbon offsets. Now it is expanding its mandate and beginning to stimulate new activities, including the production of bio-coal.

The provincial Crown corporation recently launched a request for proposals specifically to purchase carbon offsets resulting from switching from fossil-fuel coal to renewable bio-coal. It says both bio-coal producers and coal users point to a difficult gap in the pricing between coal and bio-coal, which is why Pacific Carbon Trust is responding to the emerging bio-coal industry’s needs by reserving a portion of its offset portfolio for greenhouse gas emissions realized by switching from coal to B.C. bio-coal.

Read the full article in Canadian Biomass.

Leading by Example: Yasodhara Ashram Lightens its Ecological Footprint

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Kootenay Bay, BC - Yasodhara Ashram is now officially Carbon Neutral — the successful culmination of their 5-year program to address the global warming crisis.

The Ashram has demonstrated that reducing green house gas emissions is possible in a small BC community and it can be done in a way that has inspiring economic and quality of life benefits.

Dr. William Rees, professor emeritus of the University of British Columbia, an internationally acclaimed ecological economist and winner of a 2012 Blue Planet Prize, said of the Ashram achievement, “By striving for carbon neutrality, Yasodhara Ashram shows that communities can take significant steps to address global warming that are neither arduous nor a threat to their economies and lifestyles. Other communities should follow this example as if their lives depended on it – because ultimately they do!”

Starting in 2007, the Ashram began to develop a strategy to be carbon neutral by 2013, their 50th anniversary.

The Ashram’s Carbon Neutral program – which included a shift in local food sourcing and menu planning, converting to an integrated geothermal/solar heating and domestic hot water system and shifting to more fuel-efficient vehicles – has led to an 83% reduction in direct emissions. The outstanding emissions are being handled through the purchase of carbon offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust’s portfolio of BC-based greenhouse gas reduction projects.

“The Ashram’s achievement of carbon neutrality sets a great example of how steady commitment to a comprehensive plan can significantly reduce our impact on the environment,” says Pacific Carbon Trust CEO Scott MacDonald. “By purchasing BC-based offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust, the Ashram is helping support the low-carbon economy – proving that environmental progress and a strong economy can go hand-in-hand.”

At each stage of the program it became apparent that financial benefits were emerging. Arlene Trustham, a volunteer who led the final phases of the program, cited an example, saying “Refocusing the menus to local and seasonal items not only decreased costs, it also better focused the use of the Ashram’s garden and began to support a complimentary network of local farmers.”

Paris Marshall Smith, a Director of Ashram Society says, “We embrace the ‘learn by doing’ and ‘lead by example’ concepts.” Both, she added, have personal as well as institutional application. “It is also a practice of satya, which means living truthfully, in ourselves, in our community and on this planet. We simply must lighten our environmental footprint. What we are doing together here at the Ashram is one way that works.”

Michelle Mungall, MLA Nelson-Creston agrees. "The work Yasodhara Ashram has done to become carbon neutral is commendable, and goes to show that these positive steps are possible in rural areas of BC."

Yasodhara Ashram has also been recognized by FortisBC’s 2008 PowerSense Conservation Award, and by Tourism British Columbia with its prestigious Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award in 2009. Reader’s Digest named the Ashram as Canada’s best yoga retreat.

About Yasodhara Ashram

Yasodhara Ashram (www.yasodhara.org) is a Yoga Retreat and Study Centre founded in 1963 by Swami Sivananda Radha. Today, 50 years after it began, the Ashram remains a vibrant community welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds to discover the transformative power of yoga.

The Ashram is like a small village with 115 acres on the east-shore of Kootenay Lake in the mountains of southeastern BC. The year-round population averages 50 to 55 people, with seasonal peaks of 100 to 110.

Yasodhara Ashram is a Canadian charity and a registered educational institution. It is operated by volunteers in the tradition of charity and service embodied in its constitution

About Pacific Carbon Trust

Pacific Carbon Trust (www.pacificcarbontrust.com) is a Crown corporation established in 2008 to deliver BC-based greenhouse gas offsets, to help clients meet their carbon reduction goals and to support the growth of BC’s low-carbon economy.

For further information:

Swami Sivananda 250-227-9224 swamisiva@yasodhara.org

Paris Marshall Smith 250-227-9224 paris@yasodhara.org

Innovative landfill project lauded for green benefits

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:25:19 -0700

Credits are adding up for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District - thanks to the Salmon Arm landfill.

The regional district earned national recognition in the form of a Sustainable Communities Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities last year for an innovative project that captures methane from the completed portion of the landfill.

This accomplishment is part of the reason British Columbia has already begun profiting from the province's investment in establishing a low-carbon economy.

Read the full article in the Salmon Arm Observor.

Getting Back By Putting In

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:44:40 -0700

When Helijet decided to go carbon neutral in 2009, it joined the ranks of other sustainability-minded companies like Microsoft and Google that wanted to be accountable for their operations’ carbon emissions. For the last three years, Helijet has been measuring its carbon emissions, reducing them wherever possible and, finally, purchasing carbon offsets to cover the remainder.

The carbon offsets they purchase come from Pacific Carbon Trust’s portfolio of independently verified B.C.-based greenhouse gas reduction projects. These projects are operated by organizations that have invested in new activities and infrastructure to reduce their emissions, relying on the income from selling offsets to help make these projects viable.

Read the full gues editorial in the Fall 2012 edition of IFR.

BC’s Economy Benefitting from Province’s Carbon Investments

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:58:56 -0700

VICTORIA – British Columbia has already begun profiting from the Province’s investment in establishing a low carbon economy, and there is a wealth of future economic opportunities for BC in global carbon markets, according to two new reports. The first report offers an economic analysis showing how BC’s investment in offsets is supporting jobs and generating revenues, and the second report shows a future path forward beyond BC’s borders.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report Economic Analysis of British Columbia Carbon Offset Projects shows that 31 carbon offset projects in BC will have stimulated approximately $317 million in capital spending between 2008 and 2012.

“A cleaner environment and a strong economy can go hand and hand,” said Pacific Carbon Trust CEO Scott MacDonald. “For the first time in BC we have the data that shows how investing in carbon offset projects has opened the door to significant private investment and revenue generation.”

Pacific Carbon Trust calculates that, on average, for every dollar spent by Pacific Carbon Trust to purchase offsets, another $8 is spent in the private sector.

“B.C.'s green economy is flourishing in large part because of the investments public and private industries are making in technology and infrastructure that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These reports are an endorsement of our province's carbon market and an outline of the positive impact it's having on our economy. We are world leaders in striking a balance between protecting our environment and generating valuable jobs for B.C. families,” said Environment Minister Terry Lake.

“The PwC report found that these 31 carbon reduction projects contributed an estimated $243 million of GDP to the economy,” said Bruce McIntyre, partner and leader of the PwC report. “We also estimated that this activity will generate $49 million in federal, provincial and municipal tax revenues between 2008 and 2012.”

In addition to creating economic benefits, these projects are also generating emissions reductions. As of June 29, 2012, the projects have generated approximately 4.7 million tonnes of reductions of which 1.5 million has been verified and sold to Pacific Carbon Trust. Pacific Carbon Trust estimates 27 million tonnes of reductions will be achieved over the projects’ lifetime.

Despite global economic uncertainty, the Deloitte report, British Columbia: Balancing Opportunities and Risks in the Global Carbon Economy, makes clear that significant growth and opportunity exist and that BC is uniquely positioned to capitalize on these opportunities. It notes that BC is at a very important juncture. In less than a decade, regulated carbon markets have grown to more than USD$120 billion, representing more than eight billion tonnes of carbon transactions.

“With the establishment of Pacific Carbon Trust and other related green measures, British Columbia established a leadership position in North America. However, it is clear that other jurisdictions and countries are also readying themselves to participate in the emerging global carbon marketplace. We believe that British Columbia is still in a strong position to leverage its early investments as these markets begin to link up and others seek our clean tech solutions, expertise and strong environmental brand,” said Deloitte partner Shayne Gregg.

In June, the Province announced BC achieved GHG reductions of 4.4 per cent while at the same time achieving GDP and population growth above the Canadian average between 2007 and 2011.

Quotes:

Jonathan Rhone, Chair, BC Cleantech CEO Alliance:

“BC is a leader in clean technology, and Pacific Carbon Trust helps support clean tech and other carbon reduction projects throughout the province. These reports show how investing in carbon-reducing clean tech projects helps drive our economy, and how we can capitalize on emerging opportunities to export our BC clean technologies to new markets.”

Sean Curran, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Canfor Pulp:

“Canfor Pulp believes the economic studies commissioned by Pacific Carbon Trust reach two important conclusions: they reaffirm the net positive impact to the province of BC’s carbon offset industry, plus they highlight the opportunity to grow the industry further through linkages to offset markets in other jurisdictions.”

George Stedeford, CEO, Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative (COAC):

“There is a significant interest in carbon offsets in the business community. Society is demanding environmental stewardship. Governments are demanding environmental stewardship. Companies understand environmental stewardship. COAC is very pleased to see that the reports validate British Columbia’s leadership in North America in the low carbon economy, with companies such as Pacific Carbon Trust facilitating this transformation.”

Art Sterritt, Executive Director, Coastal First Nations:

“The PwC report on the economic analysis on carbon reduction programs for Pacific Carbon Trust clearly demonstrates that investing in carbon credits is having a positive impact on the provincial economy. As well as being involved in a forest carbon project that allows us to take care of our lands, it also enables Coastal First Nations communities to invest in sustainable business opportunities.”

John Allan, President and CEO, Council of Forest Industries (COFI):

“The transformation and renewal of BC’s interior forest industry requires diversification, new ideas and new markets. With BC’s reputation for environmental stewardship and a growing global carbon market, BC has an opportunity to add carbon offsets to the many tools it can use to support and promote this important BC industry.”

Nancy Cooper, Director, Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board and Mayor of Salmon Arm:

“The Salmon Arm Landfill Gas carbon offset project has had a significant long-term positive impact on the environment and local economy. Managing the project ourselves, and utilizing as many local contractors as possible, this project employed over 30 companies, maximizing the capital dollars retained in the local economy.”

James Tansey, CEO, Offsetters and Executive Director of ISIS Research Centre at UBC’s Sauder School of Business:

"These reports validate the importance of comprehensive action on climate change and demonstrate that a price on carbon drives future investment in the fastest growing section of the economy."

Thomas Pedersen, Executive Director, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS):

"The PwC study clearly shows that putting a price on carbon does not constrain economic activity, just like Sweden, Denmark and California have recognized. With the way climate change is going we must utilize every means at our disposal to wean ourselves away from carbon-intensive fuels, and we need to do it now. Encouraging industry to move towards cleaner sources of energy, as the Trust is doing, will create good jobs and help put us on the right track to a more sustainable and robust economy."

Matt Horne, Director, Climate Change Program, Pembina Institute:

“These studies highlight the huge opportunity that the low carbon economy represents for B.C. The challenge facing the province is to make the most of those opportunities."

Art Kaehn, Chair, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George:

“The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill is a key recommendation of the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. We are very pleased that our landfill gas collection system is not only reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions into our air shed, but is now a revenue source for the Regional District to offset future capital costs at the landfill.”

About Pacific Carbon Trust:

Pacific Carbon Trust is a Crown corporation established in 2008 to deliver BC-based greenhouse gas offsets, to help clients meet their carbon reduction goals and to support the growth of BC’s low-carbon economy. For more information, please visit www.pacificcarbontrust.com.

For those unable to participate in the media conference call, a taped rebroadcast will be available approximately two hours after completion of the call until midnight, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. To access the rebroadcast, dial 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 and enter the passcode 25933602. The webcast will also be archived for 90 days and can be accessed on the CNW Group web site (www.newswire.ca).

– 30 –

Contact:

Erik Lambertson

Communications and Marketing Associate

Pacific Carbon Trust

250-589-2592 or erik.lambertson@pacificcarbontrust.com

A backgrounder follows.

FAST FACTS

BC’s Economy Benefitting from Province’s Carbon Investments

• The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, Economic Analysis of British Columbia Carbon Offset Projects, analyzes the economic impact of 31 BC carbon offset projects from which Pacific Carbon Trust has purchased offsets, from between 2008 and 2012 undertaken by both non-profit and for- profit organizations.

• The 31 offset projects stimulated an estimated $317.3 million in private capital spending occurring over a five-year period, from 2008 to 2012.

• From 2008 to 2012, an estimated $242.6 million in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be generated through expenditure related to these 31 offset projects:

o Direct impact of $162.7 million (e.g. capital and operating spending such as the purchase of equipment to be installed at the project site)

o Indirect impact of $52.4 million (e.g. companies providing materials or supplies needed to manufacture equipment to be installed at the project site)

o Induced impact of $27.5 million (e.g. spending on goods and services as a result of changes to the wages and salaries of those employed in the direct and indirect industries)

• An estimated 2,836 jobs have been supported through investments in offset projects: 1,638 direct jobs, 779 indirect jobs and 419 induced jobs over the five-year period.

• Total government revenue (federal, provincial and municipal) from the 31 offset projects is estimated at $49 million from 2008 to 2012.

• During this period, the public sector will have spent approximately $60 million in offset purchases.

Offset projects are sourced from a cross-section of industry sectors and have provided over 1.5 million tonnes of carbon offsets for Pacific Carbon Trust’s public sector clients as of June 29, 2012.

• In total, an estimated 4.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emission reductions will occur from the projects between 2008 and 2012; an estimated 27 million tonnes of emission reductions will be achieved over the projects’ lifetime.

• The economic impact from capital expenditures was spread over seven industry sectors:

Sector	Number of Projects	Capital Expenditures (millions)	Percentage of Total Project Investment
Forestry	12	$150.5	47%
Clean Technology	6	$110.2	35%
Mining, Oil & Gas	5	$38.1	12%
Agriculture	4	$10.1	3%
Waste Management & Manufacturing	4	$8.4	3%
Total	31	$317.3	100%

• The economic impact of the projects’ annual operating expenditures is estimated at $31.8 million. This includes $7.7 million each year in government revenues and an estimated 438 supported jobs.

• Despite global economic uncertainty, the Deloitte report, British Columbia: Balancing Opportunities and Risks in the Global Carbon Economy, makes clear that significant growth and opportunity exist and that BC is uniquely positioned to capitalize on these opportunities; however, competition is increasing and BC’s continuing competitive advantage cannot be taken for granted.

• In less than a decade, regulated carbon markets have grown to more than USD$120 billion, representing more than eight billion tonnes of carbon transactions.

• California and Quebec alone are projecting a need for 239 million offsets through 2020.

• Countries continue to implement emission trading systems:

o Korea and Australia have legislated an emissions trading system.

o China and Brazil are in the process of designing emissions trading platforms.

o Costa Rica, Turkey and Vietnam and a dozen other nations are also developing carbon markets.

• A recent Ipsos poll found that eight-in-ten (79%) British Columbians believe the BC government should be working to stimulate jobs and investment in the clean-tech sector and 72% believe the government should continue to take an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change.

-30-

Contact:

Erik Lambertson

Communications and Marketing Associate

Pacific Carbon Trust

250-589-2592 or erik.lambertson@pacificcarbontrust.com

New Reports Confirm Benefits of B.C.’s Carbon Offsets Plan

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Two new reports released today provide new insights on current and future economic opportunities in global carbon markets for British Columbia's carbon offsets plan. Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT), the provincial Crown agency mandated to deliver made-in-B.C. carbon offsets to help the private and public sector to meet their carbon reduction goals, released the reports today that confirm the benefits of carbon offsets and the Province's low carbon economy.

The first, a report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers titled Economic Analysis of British Columbia Carbon Offset Projects - looked at the 31 carbon reduction projects from 2008 - 2012 in which the Trust has invested. It claims the total direct and indirect impact on the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeds $242 million, and is credited to have created an estimated 2,836 jobs. They have also generated an estimated $49 million in tax revenues for all three levels of government.

Read the full article in GLOBE-Net.

Report shows B.C. on track to meet 2012 target

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:12:21 -0700

KELOWNA – From 2007 to 2010, B.C. has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5 per cent or 2.9 million tonnes, which is the equivalent to eliminating emissions from all the homes in Metro Vancouver (almost three million), Environment Minister Terry Lake announced as he tabled ‘Making Progress on BC’s Climate Action Plan’ and the ‘BC Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report 2010’.

Read the full news release

Download the Progress to Targets Report

B.C. communities receive latest GHG emissions reports

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:08:47 -0700

VANCOUVER – The B.C. government has released its 2010 Community Energy and Emissions Inventory (CEEI) reports for all local governments. These reports assist local governments in monitoring progress toward community-wide GHG emissions reduction targets for their official community plan.

Read the full information bulletin

B.C. on the way to becoming Canada’s greenest province

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:08:28 -0700

VICTORIA – In a close race with Ontario to become Canada’s greenest province, B.C. is leading the country in innovation with a per-capita investment of $138 in its green economy.

Published yesterday, the Corporate Knights third bi-annual Green Provincial Report Card evaluates environmental performance using a series of 35 indicators grouped into seven categories: air and climate, water, nature, transportation, waste, energy and buildings, and innovation.

“The finding of the Corporate Knights report is further validation that our climate-action policies and initiatives are leading the way in this country,” said Environment Minister Terry Lake. “As we continue to grow our green economy, we can expect more good news on the positive impacts our efforts are having on the environment and on green-job creation.”

The findings also validate the B.C. government’s Growing Green Jobs report. It states that “B.C. is known worldwide as a leader on green economic growth and the green jobs that come with it. By implementing policies that support sustainability in industry and innovation in the clean technology sector, we have created an environment where forward-thinking solutions can flourish.”

B.C. has put in place strong legislation concerning green policies, such as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act, the Carbon Tax Act and the Clean Energy Act.

B.C. will be reporting on its provincial emissions and progress towards its target shortly.

Quick Facts from the 2012 Report:

B.C. is the clear leader in the category of innovation with an overall score of 93 per cent.
It achieved a very high grade for both the amount of venture capital its green technology businesses are attracting and the number of CleanTech companies per capita that call the province home.
With 160 CleanTech companies in total at the end of 2011, B.C. also has one of the highest numbers of companies per capita.
Between 2002 and 2011, venture capitalists have invested over $138 per capita in B.C.’s green startups; only Ontario comes close to this with an average investment of $80.50 per capita.
Overall winner in the energy and buildings category.
B.C. received 89 per cent of its electricity generation from a combination of hydroelectric, wind, solar and other renewables, and had a total of 9,820 grant applications for the ecoENERGY home retrofit program last year (higher than the national average).
B.C. has the most overall protected areas, followed closely by Alberta.

Learn More:

Read the full report at: www.corporateknights.com/report/green-provincial-report-card-2012

Learn more about B.C.’s Green Economy at: www.bcge.ca/BCs_Green_Economy.pdf

Contact:

Dan Gilmore

Ministry of Environment

250 356-0202

Dan.Gilmore@gov.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Mantra Energy Alternatives and Powertech Agree to Collaborate on Carbon Capture and Recycling Process Field Trials

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 11:55:18 -0700

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,- Mantra Venture Group Ltd. MVTG 0.00% (frankfurt:5MV) today announced that its Mantra Energy Alternatives Ltd. subsidiary has signed a technology development agreement with Powertech Labs. As a part of the agreement, Powertech will provide its testing facilities and expertise to advance the technology behind Mantra's Electro-reduction of Carbon Dioxide (ERC) process. Additionally, Powertech will help design the ERC demonstration unit for the pending carbon capture and recycling (CCR) pilot project with Lafarge Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Lafarge North America, the largest diversified supplier of construction materials on the continent.

Mantra's ERC process is a form of CCR that aims to capture CO2 from industrial activities, such as cement production, and convert it to marketable chemicals like formate salts or formic acid. Mantra's ERC pilot facility will be operated at the Lafarge cement plant in Richmond, British Columbia. In preparation for the project, Powertech will be working with Mantra to:

-- Identify opportunities to increase performance and scalability of Mantra's existing ERC reactor.

-- Design a proof-of-concept CO2 enrichment process suitable for the specific flue gas at the site to add to the front end of the ERC process.

-- Create a conceptual design for the pilot plant that is capable of converting up to 100 kilograms of CO2 per day to formate salts or formic acid, and that can operate 24 hours per day.

"Powertech is a proven leader in designing and testing clean technology solutions," said Larry Kristof, Mantra's President and CEO. "Our work with them represents another important step towards the testing and eventual commercialization of our ERC process."

"We are excited to work with Mantra on further developing this innovative technology that helps companies reduce their carbon footprint, while at the same time creating a commercially viable byproduct," said Nick Dominelli at Powertech.

Mantra also announced that it is working with Pacific Carbon Trust, a British Columbia Crown corporation, to assess the potential for Mantra's ERC process to generate carbon offsets, which could help the technology move towards full commercialization.

"The recycling of carbon dioxide for use in other applications is an exciting new way of thinking about - and ultimately reducing - green house gas emissions," said Scott MacDonald, CEO of Pacific Carbon Trust. That BC companies are on the cutting edge of this technology is a testament to BC's leadership in the clean tech space. We look forward to seeing this innovative program move forward."

"We're very pleased by the interest that Pacific Carbon Trust is showing in the development of our ERC process," said Larry Kristof. "The more valuable we can make this process, either directly by generating useful byproducts or by helping companies generate offsets, the more likely it is to achieve wide-scale commercial adoption."

About Mantra Energy Alternatives:

Mantra Energy Alternatives Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mantra Venture Group Ltd. Its mission is to become the world leader in production of high value, carbon negative chemicals and fuels. Mantra's ERC system will reduce the problem greenhouse gas CO2 and convert it into a series of valuable chemicals, a form of carbon capture and recycling (CCR). There are currently 27 billion metric tons of CO2 emitted annually from fossil fuel combustion, providing an inexhaustible supply of feedstock. The first product is formic acid (HCOOH), which commands a market of approximately USD $1 billion.

Mantra is a public company quoted on the OTC BB under the symbol MVTG and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 5MV.

Stay up to date with Mantra on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mantraenergy

For more information go to: http://www.mantraenergy.com

About Powertech Labs:

Powertech Labs Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of BC Hydro, one of the largest electric utilities in Canada. Powertech is a multidisciplinary research and testing facility that specializes in clean energy consulting, independent testing and power system solutions. Since its inception in 1979, Powertech has served electrical power utilities, electrical and automotive equipment manufacturers, and oil and gas companies from around the world.

For more information go to: http://www.powertechlabs.com

About Pacific Carbon Trust:

Pacific Carbon Trust is a British Columbia Crown corporation established to deliver high-quality carbon offsets to help clients meet their carbon reduction goals and to support the growth of BC's low-carbon economy.

For more information go to: http://www.pacificcarbontrust.com .

Pacific Carbon Trust issues RFP for bio-coal offsets

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:53:49 -0700

Offset company Pacific Carbon Trust has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for emission reductions from bio-coal in British Columbia.

The company, owned by the government of British Columbia, announced on Thursday that it is offering to buy greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from fuel-switching projects where coal and other GHG-intensive fuels are replaced by bio-coal.

Read the full article in Environmental Finance

Download the RFP for bio-coal

Northern Co-Op sets stage for World's First Transportation Carbon Offset Program

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

As awareness of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions has reached global levels, a new business concept based in northern BC is showing that individual companies can make a difference by reducing their fuel consumption which in turn, reduces the harmful emissions.

Created in 2011, the Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative of BC is the first of its kind in the world, providing the framework for owners of heavy equipment and trucks to create, aggregate and sell carbon offsets. Equipment modification and operator awareness training are used to reduce fuel emissions from vehicles and equipment.

Read the full article at GLOBE-Net.

Award-winning landscaper goes carbon neutral

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:30:22 -0800

BC’s first carbon-neutral landscaper

Pacific Carbon Trust client Clean Air Yard Care – Canada’s original solar-powered landscaping company – has proudly claimed the title of BC’s first carbon-neutral landscaper. The Victoria-based business officially earned carbon neutral status for 2011 by almost eliminating their greenhouse gas emissions, then purchasing six tonnes of offsets from Pacific Carbon Trust to account for the remainder. It’s an achievement they intend to repeat in 2012 and beyond.

Rather than using gas-powered equipment, the landscaper relies on cordless and electric trimmers and mowers – all run by solar energy generated at a mobile trailer. Through solar technologies, they’ve found a sensible solution to a significant problem. In fact, a typical gas mower can emit as much pollution – including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide – in one hour as a car driven 550 kilometres (Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District, California). And each year, says Clean Air Yard Care owner Barry McLean, Canadians use 151 million litres of gasoline to operate lawn equipment, releasing 80,000 tonnes of these harmful emissions.

By using solar, the company also avoids the fuel spillage and soil contamination that often result when gas-powered mowers are refilled. The electric equipment reduces noise pollution, too – by about 40 per cent in the case of mowers.

The company continues its green commitment by using hybrid trucks, pesticide-free weed control and organic fertilizers, and by collecting and recycling mulched clippings. In addition, they promote eco-friendly “xeriscaping” – landscaping with drought-resistant plants and mulch to reduce the need for supplemental irrigation.

All this effort hasn’t gone unrecognized. The company is a CRD EcoStar Award winner and a District of Saanich Environmental Award winner.

“I’m not a follower,” says McLean. “No one before us had attempted to do what we’re doing – and we like to be first!”

Small Business BC honours province’s best with carbon-neutral event

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:30:22 -0800

2011 Awards Ceremony

For the ninth consecutive year, Small Business BC will honour the contributions of the province’s best small businesses. And for the first time, they’ll proudly celebrate with a carbon-neutral awards event.

The 2012 Successful You Awards, being held on February 28 at Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel, are “a great opportunity to showcase our environmental commitment – and the commitment of the small business community,” says Allysa Hopkins, Business Development Manager for Small Business BC.

In organizing the event, Small Business BC focused on minimizing the related emissions. They sent electronic invitations, for instance, and will use only non-disposable dishes and cutlery. And their choice of venue is equally well considered; the Pan Pacific is easily accessible by all forms of transit, practices recycling and composting, uses green cleaning products and boasts a four Green Key Eco-Rating from the Hotel Association of Canada. Small Business BC is also making the event carbon neutral through offsets provided by Pacific Carbon Trust.

Ensuring that the awards event is carbon neutral sends a powerful message to the wider business community. “We believe that sustainable business practices are profitable business practices,” says Hopkins. “Carbon neutrality provides effective solutions that reduce cost, increase effectiveness, improve staff morale and bolster brand acceptance. We’re proud to set the example with the 2012 Successful You Awards.”

Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative Earns Double Honours

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:30:22 -0800

COAC receives the Technology Provider of the Year award

A first-of-its-kind program by an innovative Pacific Carbon Trust supplier received double honours recently at the BC Natural Resource Forum & Economic Summit’s Northern BC Business and Technology Awards. Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative’s (COAC) inroads into reducing fuel use in the BC resource and transportation sectors garnered widespread praise for the co-op, formed just one year ago.

COAC’s two awards – for Technology Provider of the Year and Technology and Industry Newsmaker of the Year – celebrate the Prince George-based organization’s initiative in providing cutting-edge technology and services to help owners of heavy equipment and trucks reduce their diesel fuel consumption, capture carbon offsets from the emissions reductions and lower their operating costs.

It’s a lofty goal. After all, every year heavy trucks and equipment consume billions of litres of diesel fuel, emitting millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases in the process. And the basic logistics are challenging, too. To carry out their program, COAC has to go to where the machines are – usually into the woods where they’re working.

Yet, the pilot project is right on track. COAC has been busy equipping three types of vehicles – freight trailers, bucket trucks and log loaders – with on-board computers. The computers record the vehicles’ operations and determine their fuel use, which is compared to pre-calculated baseline data. Operators then receive all the information they need to lower their fuel consumption, an action that reduces harmful GHG emissions. The reduced emissions are eligible for offsets, which Pacific Carbon Trust has committed to buy.

“It really is a venture into uncharted territory,” says COAC’s CEO, George Stedeford. “But it’s proving successful, and we’re grateful to all the believers.”

PCT client Graphic Office Interiors celebrates carbon neutrality

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:09:49 -0800

Things are looking particularly green for Graphic Office Interiors these days. The high-performance office interior supplier celebrated the start of 2012 with official carbon neutral status, thanks to an extensive sustainability strategy and a new partnership with Pacific Carbon Trust.

A leader in the office interiors business since 1966, Graphic Office earned carbon neutral status for the new year based on 2011 fiscal emissions.

The company worked diligently to first track their emissions – following the guidelines of The Greenhouse Gas Protocol – then to reduce them throughout their Victoria and Nanaimo operations. Finally, by purchasing 297 carbon offsets from PCT, they balanced for the remainder against emissions reductions elsewhere in BC.

For a distribution company dependent on vehicles and a warehouse, completely eliminating emissions just wasn’t feasible. Nevertheless, their search for reduction opportunities was far-reaching. They switched to high-efficiency office lighting, added occupancy sensors to washroom lights, installed timers on warehouse lights, removed all but two warehouse heaters, switched to electronic filing to use less paper, instituted a no-idling policy for company vehicles and installed a programmable office thermostat.

Though not a requirement for carbon neutral status, they even scrutinized their employees’ commuting habits, voluntarily offsetting those emissions as well. And with commutes counting as the third-highest source of emissions, they created an employee carpool program, paying 50 to 100 percent of fuel costs for participants. In addition, the company continues to ally itself with other environmentally conscious firms such as Steelcase, their primary supplier. Next up? Switching to more fuel-efficient delivery vehicles.

“We’re just trying to do our part and lead the way, too,” says Graphic Office president Steve Nagy. And they are – with an all-encompassing but realistic strategy that’s making them a climate leader in their community.

PCT Supplier Kruger Products Honoured for Industry ‘First’

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:38:41 -0800

A clean-tech ‘first’ both for Canada and for the worldwide pulp and paper industry has earned Kruger Products a coveted national honour – a 2011 Leadership Award from the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC).

Kruger Products was recognized for advancing clean energy technologies with its state-of-the-art, made-in-BC biomass gasification system. Since installing the system two years ago in its New Westminster, BC tissue facility, the plant has reduced emissions by 36 percent – with benefits equivalent to planting two million trees or removing 3,500 vehicles from the road. Pacific Carbon Trust is the proud purchaser of the resulting offsets.

The new installation works on a commonsense, earth-friendly principle: replace a more carbon-intensive fuel source with one that is abundant, renewable and cleaner. Kruger Products’ biomass gasification system converts local wood waste into a clean-burning syngas to replace natural gas in the mill’s steam-generating boilers.

The environmental benefits are impressive; while significantly cutting the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions, the system makes productive use of locally supplied wood waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled (generating methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide).

The biomass system is just one step in Kruger Products’ five-year Sustainability 2015 initiative, a commitment to reduce overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent. “We’re focused on making the right choices to help protect the environment,” says Steven Sage, Kruger Products’ Corporate Director of Sustainability and Innovation.

It’s these right choices, like the award-winning biomass gasification system, that demonstrate Kruger Products’ environmental commitment – and puts Canada on the map as a leader in the pulp and paper industry.

MET Fine Printers Wins Environmental Trifecta

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:38:41 -0800

PCT partner MET Fine Printers has earned sweeping honours at the 2011 Canadian Print Awards, taking home the gold, silver and bronze awards for Canada’s Most Environmentally Progressive Print Project.

A purchaser of PCT offsets since 2010, MET produces stunning work of the highest quality – all this while boasting carbon-neutral operations.

The gold award went to MET for their work on the TED Global Conference Guide. The piece was printed on locally sourced, FSC-certified paper, proofed remotely and digitally, and printed with zero-VOC-emitting, ultraviolet light-cured inks. The result was outstanding colour and ultra-rich saturation.

MET earned silver for design mind magazine, produced with the same paper, proofing and printing methods as the TED guide. An added feature of this project was the magazine’s lack of a binding. Sheets were simply gathered and nested together, creating a great read, a tactile experience and an environmentally sound result.

MET won bronze for Montecristo Magazine. Ultraviolet inks, 100 percent recycled papers, beautiful colour and local distribution all contributed to MET’s award-winning work.

In every project, MET embraces a comprehensive green strategy that enhances their product and boosts their brand while protecting the environment. Beyond their carbon-neutral operations, the printer has developed impressive waste recovery and recycling programs which keep virtually all refuse from the landfill. In working with clients, MET promotes recycled and responsibly harvested papers and encourages eco-friendly print and marketing decisions. In many cases, MET goes even further, suggesting something almost unheard of elsewhere in the industry: “Print less,” says Director of Brand, Scott Gray. “Just do it better.”