Press Release: CITY OF DUNCAN PURCHASING CARBON CREDITS FOR 2012

CITY OF DUNCAN PURCHASING CARBON CREDITS FOR 2012 FROM COMMUNITY CARBON MARKETPLACE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2012

Duncan, BC

Council for the City of Duncan is pleased to announce its support of the newly created Community Carbon Marketplace (CCM), a home-grown alternative for municipalities to become carbon-neutral through the purchase of carbon credits. CCM is an appealing alternative to existing carbon registries as it keeps funds within the community and supports a local green economy.

The Community Carbon Marketplace is an initiative of Cowichan Energy Alternatives (CEA), a local non-profit organization. The purpose of CCM is to provide environmentally conscious municipalities, businesses and individuals a forum to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits from community-based organizations.

The City of Duncan has agreed to participate in a pilot as the first municipality to purchase carbon credits through the CCM from local organizations involved in activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The City estimates that it will need to purchase $7,000 in carbon credits to meet its carbon neutral commitment for 2012. Half of these credits will be purchased from the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op, already listed on the CCM as the first provider of credits, and half from organizations that respond to a call to list their carbon credits on the CCM.

The City is calling for organizations, businesses and individuals that believe their projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions to contact Alex Lane at Cowichan Energy Alternatives to determine their eligibility for carbon credits (email: alex@cowichanenergy.org; telephone: 250-597-1491) by November 1, 2012. CEA will develop a shortlist of qualified projects for listing on the CCM. The City will pick from these listings by December 7, 2012 in order to purchase credits to fulfill its 2012 commitment. Credits from qualified projects not selected by the City will still be eligible for purchase by other buyers following the official public launch of the CCM.

"The City was truly impressed by all the work done by Cowichan Energy Alternatives in setting up this Community Carbon Marketplace." expressed Mayor Kent. "It is exactly what we were hoping to be able to do with our Carbon Neutral Commitment; support local carbon reduction initiatives, instead of potentially having those monies spent elsewhere in BC when using the Pacific Carbon Trust, or abroad when using other offset providers." The BC Climate Action Secretariat has also provided review and support for the community-based approach for municipalities to offset their GHG emissions.

Press Release – September 20, 2012 – Community Carbon Marketplace

For more information on the Community Carbon Marketplace, visit the CCM website at: www.communitycarbonmarketplace.org

To determine the carbon credit potential of your project, visit the CEA website at: www.cowichanenergy.org

Contact: Mayor Phil Kent, mayor@duncan.ca or Phone: 250.709.0186

Contact: Brian Roberts, Cowichan Energy Alternatives brian@cowichanenergy.org or phone 250-597-1491

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