Jan. 4, 2011Offset providers hope to supply EPA regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is beginning to implement its new greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations for heavy emitters.These emitters, such as power plants, will need to show they are using the best available control technologies (bact) to limit carbon emissions in order to obtain federal permits.

Offset providers are hoping that the EPA will allow carbon allowances to be used to meet reduction targets.

California’s statewide cap-and-trade program set to begin in 2012 already plans for offsets to provide 8 percent of each company’s emission target, which is estimated to create demand for over 200 million offsets by 2020.