Renewable Energy Projects We Take Part In
Sample Project: Agricultural Methane:
When biogenic material decomposes in anaerobic conditions, methane gas is released. Methane gas (CH4) has a global warming potential (GWP) that is 28 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2). This means that the release of one ton of CH4 is equivalent to the release of 28 tons of CO2. Consequently, preventing such emissions into the ambient atmosphere is of critical importance.
To that end, CSNW identified and secured contracts, including a Power Purchase Agreement, a REC Purchase Agreement, and a Carbon Asset Development Agreement, that supported the development of a 1.2 MWe dairy digester in Tillamook, Oregon.
We also helped Portland’s Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as wastewater treatment plants at two large food processors, make the highest and best use of their biogas. Biogas from Portland Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently upgraded to RNG and sold into California’s transportation fuel marketplace. Biogas from one of the food processors displaces the use of propane for process heat, and biogas from the other food processor will be upgraded to RNG and sold to an investor-owned gas utility to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuel mix.
In broadest terms, Fuel Switches take place when a company or municipality converts existing fuel oil or natural gas-fired boilers to boilers or heat exchangers that use hog fuel, wood chips, geothermal energy, or other eligible renewable resources. Such fuel switches are recognized by the Clean Development Mechanism and the Voluntary Carbon Standard as having the ability to generate quantifiable and fungible carbon credits. Importantly, certain states, such as Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada, permit REC generation when renewable resources are used to generate space and process heat.
Depending on how the geothermal heat is used, geothermal projects generate either Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). If, for example, the geothermal project will generate electricity, then one REC will be created for each megawatt-hour that is produced. If, on the other hand, the heat will be used for heating purposes, and if this heat will reduce the combustion of fossil fuel, then VERs may be developed.
In this regard, CSNW helped the Town of Lakeview in Southern Oregon certify and monetize a $1.3 million transferrable tax credit that paid 30% of the capital cost associated with the construction of a geothermal-powered, district-heating system that took many Town buildings, including City Hall, the hospital, and the high school, off of propane and fuel oil and onto clean, locally-sourced geothermal heat.
CSNW assisted Oregon’s first community-scale (3 MW) wind farm to successfully develop and market a 15-year strip of RECs. Beginning in early 2011, these RECs began delivering $70,000 per year in revenue to Lime Wind. Once the ribbon was cut, we helped Lime Wind’s owners monetize a $1.4 million tax credit that covered roughly 30% of project costs, and enabled swift repayment of the project’s construction loan.
In 2018, the NW Gas Association retained CSNW to help form an organization that advocates for increased use of Conventional and Renewable Natural Gas (CNG/RNG) in trucks and buses throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In this regard, we help public and commercial fleets evaluate opportunities to transition from Diesel to CNG or RNG. For example, we developed a dynamic Excel and online-based tool that enables fleet managers to make inputs that reflect their operating conditions. The calculator then crunches the numbers, delivering outputs that help fleet staff quantify per vehicle financial and environmental benefits associated with converting from Diesel to CNG or RNG. The tool is multi-faceted, including inputs for fuel economy, vehicle useful life, vehicle replacement value, vehicle residual value, vehicle maintenance cost, per vehicle cost of fueling & maintenance infrastructure, as well as the application of grant funding and environmental credits, among other factors.
We also helped Portland’s Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as wastewater treatment plants at two large food processors, make the highest and best use of their biogas. Biogas from Portland Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently upgraded to RNG and sold into California’s transportation fuel marketplace. Biogas from one of the food processors displaces the use of propane for process heat, and biogas from the other food processor will be upgraded to RNG and sold to an investor-owned gas utility to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuel mix.
In broadest terms, Fuel Switches take place when a company or municipality converts existing fuel oil or natural gas-fired boilers to boilers or heat exchangers that use hog fuel, wood chips, geothermal energy, or other eligible renewable resources. Such fuel switches are recognized by the Clean Development Mechanism and the Voluntary Carbon Standard as having the ability to generate quantifiable and fungible carbon credits. Importantly, certain states, such as Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada, permit REC generation when renewable resources are used to generate space and process heat.
Depending on how the geothermal heat is used, geothermal projects generate either Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). If, for example, the geothermal project will generate electricity, then one REC will be created for each megawatt-hour that is produced. If, on the other hand, the heat will be used for heating purposes, and if this heat will reduce the combustion of fossil fuel, then VERs may be developed.
In this regard, CSNW helped the Town of Lakeview in Southern Oregon certify and monetize a $1.3 million transferrable tax credit that paid 30% of the capital cost associated with the construction of a geothermal-powered, district-heating system that took many Town buildings, including City Hall, the hospital, and the high school, off of propane and fuel oil and onto clean, locally-sourced geothermal heat.
CSNW assisted Oregon’s first community-scale (3 MW) wind farm to successfully develop and market a 15-year strip of RECs. Beginning in early 2011, these RECs began delivering $70,000 per year in revenue to Lime Wind. Once the ribbon was cut, we helped Lime Wind’s owners monetize a $1.4 million tax credit that covered roughly 30% of project costs, and enabled swift repayment of the project’s construction loan.
In 2018, the NW Gas Association retained CSNW to help form an organization that advocates for increased use of Conventional and Renewable Natural Gas (CNG/RNG) in trucks and buses throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In this regard, we help public and commercial fleets evaluate opportunities to transition from Diesel to CNG or RNG. For example, we developed a dynamic Excel and online-based tool that enables fleet managers to make inputs that reflect their operating conditions. The calculator then crunches the numbers, delivering outputs that help fleet staff quantify per vehicle financial and environmental benefits associated with converting from Diesel to CNG or RNG. The tool is multi-faceted, including inputs for fuel economy, vehicle useful life, vehicle replacement value, vehicle residual value, vehicle maintenance cost, per vehicle cost of fueling & maintenance infrastructure, as well as the application of grant funding and environmental credits, among other factors.