New rules would make it easier for small landowners to benefit from Washington’s carbon offsets program

Today, the Washington Department of Ecology proposed changes to the rules that govern forestry offset projects under the state's Cap-and-Invest Program. The changes would make it easier for small landowners to start projects.

Forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it, and Washington has some of the world's most carbon-dense forests. By starting a forestry offset project, landowners can earn revenue for conserving and managing land in ways that maintain or improve its ability to absorb and store carbon.

Each offset project must meet strict criteria that ensure it benefits local communities in Washington and that the greenhouse gas emissions reductions are verifiable and lasting.

Once a project has met these criteria, known as "protocols," it generates credits for every ton of greenhouse gases reduced. These credits can then be purchased as an alternative to allowances by businesses regulated by Cap-and-Invest for up to 8% of their annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Ecology regularly updates offset protocols based on the best available science and public feedback. The proposed changes to the forestry protocol would make offsets a more financially viable option for small landowners by allowing them to combine multiple properties into a single project. This would allow landowners to pool resources to cover the initial and ongoing costs of the project, such as greenhouse gas reduction verification, and earn enough revenue to make the offsets project profitable.

Forestry is one of four types of offsets projects that are currently allowed under Washington's Climate Commitment Act. Ecology will provide more opportunities for feedback before finalizing these rule changes. Ecology is also working to develop additional protocols for more project types in the future.

More information is available on the U.S. Forest Protocol rulemaking webpage.