2024

Fulton County Mud Road Landfill Carbon Offset Project (Fulton County, NY, USA)

This project helps fight climate change by capturing harmful gases from a landfill in Fulton County, New York, and using them to generate electricity.

When trash breaks down in a landfill, it produces a gas called methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon dioxide. Normally, this gas would rise into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. But thanks to this project, the methane is captured instead of being released, and then used to produce clean energy.

The landfill has been operating since 1989, and the gas capture system was added in two phases:

• In Phase 1 (2007–2009), equipment was installed to safely collect the methane gas.

• In Phase 2, the collected gas was used to build a plant that turns the methane into electricity.

Importantly, the project only claims carbon credits for the destruction of methane, not for the electricity it produces. That means the environmental benefits are based solely on the prevention of harmful methane emissions.

In short, this project converts waste gas into climate action by capturing methane and repurposing it for beneficial use.

Catalytic N₂O Destruction Project (Egypt)

This carbon offset project is helping to fight climate change by destroying nitrous oxide (N₂O)—a powerful greenhouse gas that is almost 300 times more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The project is located at the Abu Qir Fertilizer Company in Egypt. During the production of nitric acid (used in fertilizers), large amounts of N₂O are released into the atmosphere. To stop this, the company installed advanced catalytic technology to safely destroy the N₂O before it escapes into the air.

By capturing and destroying this gas, the project significantly reduces emissions from fertilizer production, making it a practical and science-based solution to climate change.

A-Gas South Korea 2 (South Korea)

This carbon offset project is about safely destroying harmful gases called CFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases that can slowly leak into the atmosphere if left untreated. These gases were collected from locations across South Korea and brought to a special recovery facility in Busan.

The project was developed by A-Gas, a global company specializing in the management and destruction of refrigerants. After collection, the gases were safely transported to Bowling Green, Ohio, where they were permanently destroyed starting on May 11, 2023.

Because the gases are completely destroyed, there is no ongoing monitoring required—all the environmental benefits are counted at once, based on the destruction date. That means the carbon credits tied to this project are issued up front, rather than over several years.

It’s important to note that while this project delivers clear climate benefits, it has not been certified for additional contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as improving health, education, or community well-being.

In short, this project helps prevent highly polluting gases from ever reaching the atmosphere, offering a simple, science-based solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Hidden View Dairy Livestock Gas Capture/Combustion Project (Rensselear, Indiana, USA)

Located in Rensselaer, Indiana, the Hidden View Dairy project is a great example of turning waste into something useful while helping the planet. This large-scale dairy farm—home to about 4,000 Holstein cows—captures methane from cow manure and uses it to generate renewable electricity.

Here’s how it works: Instead of storing manure in open lagoons where it would release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, the farm uses a heated, enclosed digester system. The manure is scraped into the digester multiple times a day, where it breaks down over about 22 days in a sealed, oxygen-free environment. As it breaks down, it produces biogas, rich in methane.

That biogas is then:

1. Sent to two large engines that generate electricity

2. Used to heat water for on-site operations

3. Or, if not needed, safely burned off in a flare

By capturing and destroying methane before it reaches the atmosphere, the project significantly reduces the farm's climate impact while also producing clean energy.

This project is considered a “greenfield” site, meaning the digester system was built alongside the dairy farm from the beginning—not added later—which helps ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

In addition to reducing emissions, the project:

Improves air quality by preventing methane and odor emissions

Supports local power production through a net metering agreement

Demonstrates how agricultural operations can be part of the climate solution

The Hidden View Dairy project is part of a growing movement in U.S. agriculture to utilize methane capture technology as a means to reduce emissions, enhance waste management, and generate on-farm renewable energy.

Home Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Through The Finger Lakes Climate Fund (Madison County, NY, USA)

Now entering its third year, Colgate University’s partnership with the Finger Lakes Climate Fund supports a win-win solution for climate action and community well-being. Through this innovative collaboration, Colgate helps fund clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades for low- to moderate-income households in Madison County, prioritizing homes right here in Hamilton, New York.

Many families in our region want to make their homes more energy-efficient but can’t afford the upfront costs. The Finger Lakes Climate Fund helps bridge that gap. With support from Colgate, homeowners receive grants that make critical upgrades—like insulation, air sealing, and high-efficiency heat pumps—financially possible. All work is completed by NYS DEC-certified installers, ensuring quality and accountability.

While local residents gain the comfort, cost savings, and health benefits of a more efficient home, Colgate claims the associated carbon offsets to support its commitment to carbon neutrality. This approach keeps climate benefits local, aligns with our values of equity and stewardship, and strengthens the regional economy—all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Finger Lakes Climate Fund is a program of Sustainable Finger Lakes, a nonprofit organization based in Ithaca, New York, working to promote a just and sustainable future across the region.