Viability, an economic development firm centered around renewable energy and energy efficiency projects recently had its project design document for the fuel switch from natural gas to renewable biomass for thermal purposes validated under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS).

Viability, an economic development firm centered around renewable energy and energy efficiency projects recently had its project design document for the fuel switch from natural gas to renewable biomass for thermal purposes validated under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS).

This project is the first US based project to become validated under the VCS using UNFCCC approved methodology AMS-I.C. The AMS-I.C. methodology specifically addresses end users of thermal energy and/or electricity to adopt less intensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission measures through application of specific technological or management approaches.

Under AMS-I.C. renewable biomass is considered to have a net GHG emission factor of zero, as any GHG emissions resulting from the combustion of biomass material is less than or equal to the amount of GHGs absorbed through photosynthetic processes.

This project will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 100,000 metric tons over its lifetime and is a key source of revenue that supports the use of non-traditional fuels for energy purposes.

The Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) was created as a globally recognizable standard providing a transparent and credible process for creating carbon offsets for voluntary projects that reduce GHG emissions.