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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

an initiative of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States of the U.S.

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CO Offsets

A RGGI CO offset allowance represents a project-based greenhouse gas emission 

reduction outside of the capped electric power generation sector. At this time, the 

RGGI States limit the award of offset allowances to five project categories, each of 

which is designed to reduce or sequester emissions of carbon dioxide (CO ), 

methane (CH ), or sulfur hexafluoride (SF ) within the nine-state region.

Offsets are an important component of each state's CO Budget Trading Program. 

By recognizing CO -equivalent emissions reductions and carbon sequestration 

outside the capped sector, offsets provide compliance flexibility and create 

opportunities for low-cost emissions reductions and other co-benefits across 

sectors.

The RGGI States cooperatively developed prescriptive regulatory requirements for 

each of the five offset categories. These requirements ensure that awarded CO

offset allowances represent CO -equivalent emissions reductions or carbon 

sequestration that is real, additional, verifiable, enforceable, and permanent. All 

offset projects must be located within one of the RGGI States.

CO offset allowances may be used to satisfy a limited portion of a regulated power 

plant's compliance obligation. The use of CO offset allowances is constrained to 

3.3 percent of a power plant's CO compliance obligation for each control period. 

Starting in the third control period (2015 - 2017) regulated sources must hold 

allowances equal to 50 percent of their emisssions during each Interim Control 

Period (the first two calendar years of each three year control period). CO offset 

allowances may be used to satisfy up to 3.3 percent of a regulated source's 

compliance obligation during each Interim Control Period.

This section of the website is designed to act as a resource for general information 

on the offset component of state CO Budget Trading Programs and as a portal for 

offset project sponsors and independent verifiers to access the instructions and 

materials needed to submit relevant project and accreditation applications.

• General information on RGGI offsets, including project categories, 

requirements, and project tracking system, is available through links on the left 

side of this page.

• Project sponsors and verifiers should consult links to Application Process and 

Verification Process to learn about relevant application, verification, and 

accreditation processes. Specific eligibility and other regulatory requirements for 

each of the five project categories are included in each state's CO Budget 

Trading Program regulations. 

Related Links

State 

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Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) CO2 Budget Trading Program - CO2 Offsets Page 1 of 1

http://www.rggi.org/market/offsets 5/29/2014