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FAQ Category: GENERAL (BEF & Carbon Offsets)

  • What is the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)?

    The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit organization, was established in 1998 to further the development and use of new renewable energy resources and restore watershed ecosystems. Through revenues generated from the sale of BEF carbon offsets, BEF funds projects that support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass and restores damaged watersheds. Revenues generated from its sales of carbon offsets directly support new watershed restoration and renewable energy projects.

    Our efforts to clean up the planet are not a one-person job. And we are very grateful to the companies who provide their services. Even this website was made possible by the donated services of some great companies who are helping us fulfill our mission.

  • What is a carbon offset?
    Short answer:

    At BEF, we view a carbon offset as an investment in clean energy. BEF Carbon Offsets allow you to make an important decision: dirty fossil fuels or clean energy? All of the funds from the sale of BEF Carbon Offsets go directly to build clean energy projects and support watershed restoration initiatives.

    One BEF Carbon Offset represents enough renewable energy to power a typical home for a month with clean wind or solar energy and is equal to:

    • 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy onto North America’s power grids
    • 1,500 miles of offsetting emissions from a standard car

    A 1,000 kWh of electricity generated from clean, renewable resources (like wind and solar) displaces 1,000 kWh of electricity that would have been generated from dirty, polluting sources (such as coal or natural gas) In other words, purchasing BEF Carbon Offsets increases the amount of energy generated from clean, renewable sources while it decreases the amount of energy generated from dirty, fossil fuels.

    Long Answer:

    BEF Offsets represent the environmental attributes associated with the electricity generation from new renewable technologies like wind and solar energy.

    A renewable energy facility produces two distinct "products." The first is electricity. The second is the package of environmental benefits resulting from not generating the same electricity -- and emissions -- from a conventional gas or coal-fired power plant. The renewable electricity displaces the dirtier power that would otherwise have been generated and delivered to the power pool.

    These environmental benefits can be separated from the electrical power and packaged into an offset. The offset then represents the collective environmental benefits of avoided CO2.

    The offsets reflect the avoided pollution that results from substituting new wind, solar and other renewable electricity sources for coal or gas. BEF applies the net revenues realized by selling offsets to develop the next generation of renewable energy facilities. (BEF is a nonprofit organization and we reinvest all of our net revenues back to renewable energy and watershed restoration projects.)

    The electricity generated by the renewable project is sold as generic power, separately from the carbon offset. No environmental claims can be made for this power because the carbon offset now represents the entire package of environmental benefits associated with these specific megawatt hours. The distinction between the two products is protected by enforceable contractual agreements.

  • Where do BEF’s Carbon Offsets come from?

    BEF Offsets are sourced from new wind and solar facilities built after 2005. For a complete list of these facilities, please check our projects page. All of the renewable sources of BEF’s Offsets meet rigorous environmental criteria endorsed by three leading environmental organizations including The Natural Resources Defense Council.

  • How much CO2 is offset?
    Short Answer:

    Each BEF Carbon Offset represents the CO2 reduction from 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity generated by a new renewable energy resource (instead of a fossil fuel resource). Currently, we offer 3 types of offsets (BEF Wind Offsets; BEF Solar Offsets; BEF Blend Offsets); each type of offset represents a slightly different reduction in CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.

    • BEF Wind Offset (100% wind energy resources built after 2005): Represents 1,500 pounds of CO2 not emitted into the atmosphere
    • BEF Solar Offset (100% solar energy resources built after 2005): Represents 1,295 pounds of CO2 not emitted into the atmosphere
    • BEF Wind and Solar Blend Offset (50% wind energy resources built after 2005 and 50% solar energy resources built after 2005): Represents 1,500 pounds of CO2 not emitted into the atmosphere
    Long Answer:

    This can be a complex topic, so let’s start with the basics and build from there. BEF Carbon Offset purchases support new renewable energy projects, which provide clean energy to the national electric grid. Each Offset represents 1,000 kWh of electricity from a clean, renewable resource. The more clean energy that powers the electricity grid, the less need we have for energy created by burning polluting fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas, etc).

    The next step is to understand the national electricity mix. Different regions of the country get their electricity from different fuel contributions. For example, the Midwest gets almost 75% of its electricity from coal-fired plants and less than 5% from hydroelectric plants, while the Western States get only 34% of their electricity from coal and almost 25% from hydro. That means that, generally speaking, electricity in the West is less polluting than electricity in the Midwest.

    BEF Carbon Offsets support many projects around the country, and a project’s location determines how much CO2 will be offset. Using the example above, if a wind farm is built in the Upper Midwest, its power is displacing a lot of coal-fired electricity. In other words, those Offsets reduce a lot of CO2- as much as 1.80 lbs. per kWh of electricity produced. Offsets from a similar wind farm located in the West would offset about 30% less (1.29 lbs./kWh).

    Now, we put all of that information together. BEF uses strict accounting methods to assign an appropriate average value of CO2 to each Offset based on the projects they support. Our accounting is audited annually by an independent auditor, and then by Green-e, a third-party consumer protection certification group, to make sure that we are delivering the carbon reduction value that we promise, and to make sure that we’re not selling the same benefit to more than one party. When you see the Green-e symbol, you can be sure you’re getting what you’ve paid for.

  • Why is the number of offsets I buy not based entirely on the amount of electricity I use?

    There are two reasons. The first reason is simply that you have the option to offset more than your electricity use alone. In that case, the offsets you buy will displace more CO2 than what your electricity use creates.

    The second reason is more complicated. BEF believes that the most important reason to support the development of new renewable energy resources is to reduce the air pollution (especially greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane) associated with our current system of power generation. Our customers want that as well. The amount of air pollution created by your consumption of electricity is determined both by how much electricity you use, and by how that electricity is generated. For instance, if you live in a region that uses a lot of hydropower, perhaps only three quarters of the electricity you use comes from coal and natural gas plants that emit air pollution. If, on the other hand, you live in the Midwest, where hydropower is not widely used, a larger portion of the electricity you consume comes from coal plants. Hence, where you live and the amount of electricity you consume both influence the amount of air pollution created.

    When you decide to offset your impact with BEF, we calculate the number of BEF Carbon Offsets you need to buy based on the amount of air pollution your consumption generates. We know how much CO2 is reduced from each megawatt-hour of renewable energy we support, so we determine how much CO2 your activities generate and divide that amount by the amount of air pollution avoided by one BEF Carbon Offset. That gives us the number of BEF Carbon Offsets you need to buy to offset your CO2 impact. For more information on how each calculation is performed, review the Calculator section of our FAQs.

  • What is green power or renewable energy?

    Renewable energy (often called "green power") is energy that is produced in ways that are cleaner and less harmful to the environment. Green power comes from sources like wind, solar, geothermal and low-impact hydro resources. These are all natural forces that can be harvested without releasing pollutants into the air we breathe.

    Other cleaner producing methods of generating electricity may also qualify as green power. Biomass facilities burn wood, agricultural wastes or methane gases from landfills instead of fossil fuel. Biomass projects prevent the release of methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas even more destructive than CO2.

    When power is generated from cleaner, "green" sources, the green power displaces traditional polluting, fossil fuel sources of power. As a result, there is a shift that occurs in the energy mix or energy pool- the energy pool becomes "greener" and cleaner.

  • What is "new" renewable energy? Why does it matter?
    Short Answer:

    Generally the environmental community regards "new" renewable energy to come from projects built after 1997. However, for BEF’s Wind, Wind & Solar Blend and Solar Offsets, we follow the Green-e Climate standard and work only with projects built since 2005.

    Long Answer:

    We are concerned about the "newness" of a project because our customers are paying a premium to change the makeup of the pool of electricity resources, not just ratify what's already there. If you pay an environmental premium, there ought to be an added environmental benefit. We believe your money should be spent to support projects that were either built recently in recognition of the strong demand for green power, or for projects that will be built soon. The environmental community has chosen to simplify this process by setting a date.

    If you are considering buying green power or carbon offsets elsewhere, you should ask whether there will be an environmental gain resulting from your purchase, or whether it will simply be added profit for a project that would have been built and operated anyway.

  • How is BEF different from other organizations that provide offsets?
    • BEF is a national nonprofit provider of carbon offsets, so our "profits" are reinvested in mission-related activities: we put solar panels on schools across the country and work to train the leaders of tomorrow by integrating renewable energy activities into the classroom conversation; we build wind farms and help to create community solar projects; we invest and develop watershed restoration activities. BEF is one of a small number of offset providers that are certified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
    • All of the renewable sources of BEF’s Carbon Offsets meet rigorous environmental criteria endorsed by three leading environmental organizations including The Natural Resources Defense Council. To our knowledge, BEF is the only carbon offset provider that performs such project analyses.
    • BEF was one of the first organizations in the renewable energy industry to offer carbon offsets certified by Green-e Climate, the nation’s first consumer-protection program for greenhouse gas emissions.
    • BEF has been an industry leader for over a decade. We completed the first retail REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) transaction with the EPA and helped to pioneer the development of the voluntary carbon offset market
    • BEF Carbon Offsets, (formerly known as "Green Tags") have always met Green-e's standards since the program's inception. Our renewable energy certificates are certified and audited by Green-e Energy. Our BEF Carbon Offsets are certified and audited by Green-e Climate.
    • BEF is actively involved in the development of renewable energy policy and legislative work on both regional and national levels.
  • Does BEF have any outside auditors or certifiers?

    BEF protects the integrity of each transaction in several ways.

    • First, BEF is certified by the Center for Resource Solutions’ (CRS) Green-e Climate program, an independent, voluntary, national nonprofit carbon offset consumer protection standard. Every year CRS conducts an outside audit of BEF (and other organizations that seek certification from Green-e Climate). In these independent audits, CRS audits the chain of custody of the offsets-insuring that all offsets were purchased and sold as promised to consumers. Thus, verifying that the offsets were produced from a specific facility, delivered to consumers in the amounts specified, and not double-sold to any other party. The Green-e Climate Program certifies that BEF Carbon Offsets meet the environmental and consumer protection standards established by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e Climate certification requirements, call 1-888-63-GREEN or log on to www.green-e.org.
    • All of the renewable sources of BEF’s Carbon Offsets meet rigorous environmental criteria endorsed by three leading environmental organizations including The Natural Resources Defense Council. To our knowledge, BEF is the only carbon offset provider that performs such project analyses.
    • BEF has an annual, independent financial audit. BEF’s independent financial audit ensures that its trading books balance and that its financial statement is honest and accurately reflects its financial position.
  • What is the difference between Green-e Climate and Green-e Energy?

    Green-e Energy is a certification program for the sale of renewable energy on the voluntary market. Products certified by Green-e Energy comprise either renewable electricity or renewable energy certificates, both denominated in megawatt hours (mWhs).

    Green-e Climate is a certification program for the sale of greenhouse gas emission reductions (also called offsets) that are sold as tons (or pounds) of carbon dioxide equivalent. Green-e Climate is the nation's first certification program for carbon offsets sold to consumers on the retail market. This consumer-protection program strengthens the voluntary market by providing credible oversight and transparency to retail greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction products (offsets), from beginning to end. Consumers purchasing Green-e Climate Certified offsets have clear information about the projects their GHG reductions are sourced from, and are guaranteed that no one else can claim their offset. The program verifies that a seller's supply of offsets equals their sales, that GHG reductions are independently certified, and that consumer disclosures are accurate.

  • I’ve heard that I have to buy RECs [renewable energy certificates] to match my electricity use and should buy other types of offsets for my scope 1 and scope 3 emissions. Is this true?

    According to the standards of Green-e Climate, while standard renewable energy certificates should be used solely to address emissions associated with electricity consumption, Green-e Climate Certified carbon offsets from renewable energy can be purchased to offset both electricity use and scope 1 and 3 emissions. Generating power from renewable resources backs down conventional electricity generation and reduces the need for new fossil-fueled power plants, which in turn leads to reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As long as there is not a government policy that allocates the ownership of GHG reductions created by renewable energy to fossil-fueled power plants (such as a cap-and-trade scheme that allows capped fossil-fueled power plants to receive credit for reductions), renewable energy can viably provide a real, verifiable means to effectively address climate change.

    • Scope 1 - Direct GHG emissions such as on-site energy production or fuel use (think stack emissions).

    • Scope 2 - Indirect GHG emissions from energy purchased or consumed from off-site sources such as electricity or steam.

    • Scope 3 - Everything from employee travel, to the upstream emissions embedded in products purchased or processed by the company, to the downstream emissions from shipping their products.

  • I want to sell Offsets/RECs to BEF. What do you look for in the offsets that you purchase?

    BEF routinely purchases from new wind, solar, landfill gas, digester, and low-impact hydropower projects located around the country.

    All projects must be built or re-powered after 1997 to meet Green-e Energy standards or after 2005 to meet Green-e Climate standards. Market pricing and terms are variable depending upon location, resource type, and other factors.

    BEF also purchases other types of carbon offsets from high-quality offset projects in the United States. Please contact our procurement director for more information.

    Small projects: In general, projects smaller than 15 kW should attempt to locate an offset or REC aggregator such as Cascade Solar (for Oregon and Washington residents). www.cascadesolar.com As much as we might like to, BEF is unable to contract separately to purchase supply from these smaller systems. However, we are interested in purchasing supply from small systems through aggregators.

  • Where can I get more information on renewable energy?

    To obtain more information on renewable energy, we recommend that you visit the following Web sites: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (www.nrel.gov), the Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network (www.eren.doe.gov), the Renewable Northwest Project (www.rnp.org), the American Solar Energy Society (www.ases.org), the American Wind Energy Association (www.awea.org), and Renewable Energy World (www.renewableenergyworld.com)

  • What questions should I ask if I’m thinking about buying carbon offsets from BEF or somewhere else?

    • Is the carbon offset provider a nonprofit organization?

      Why this is important: Many companies that provide offsets are for profit-which doesn’t mean they’re bad-it just means that their profits go to shareholders.

      About BEF: BEF is a nonprofit organization. Our profits (or "net revenues" in nonprofit lingo) go to the planet. We spend our profits on putting solar panels on schools across the country, educating tomorrow’s leaders (kids) on the power of renewable energy, restoring and protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, and building new sources of renewable energy. All that and, as a 501(c)(3), you may be eligible to deduct your contribution to BEF from your taxes. Wow!

    • Do the offset projects meet criteria established by independent environmental organizations?

      Why this is important: You want to be a savvy shopper and make sure that all of the projects that you support are making the most positive impact possible.

      About BEF: Years ago, before we started selling carbon offsets, we sat down with three leading environmental organizations and asked them to help us create the criteria for a good renewable energy project-one that was as beneficial for the environment as it was for the people. These environmental groups, including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), created the criteria that we use today. Before we buy offsets from any project, the project has to pass our environmental screening criteria. So, you can rest assured that all of the renewable energy projects that you support through BEF are having a positive impact on the planet

    • Have the projects been verified by an independent, third-party?

      Why this is important: Let’s face it, although carbon offsets have very positive and tangible benefits, the offsets themselves are rather intangible products. Third-party verification is important because it allows you, as a consumer, to rest assured that the organization is doing what it says it’s doing with your hard earned money.

      About BEF: BEF was an early supporter of Green-e, an independent, national auditing organization run by the Center for Resource Solutions. The folks at CRS and Green-e do annual audits of all of BEF’s offset purchases, marketing materials, etc... they make sure that we’re delivering what we say we’re delivering... that we’re not over-promising or promising you something and delivering something else. Green-e just launched its most stringent level of certification yet- the Green-e Climate program. BEF was an early and avid supporter of these stringent standards. We push ourselves to deliver the highest quality, most effective products to you in as transparent a manner as possible. As an offset consumer, you should look for Green-e Climate certified products.

    • Are the carbon offsets real, permanent and who keeps track?

      Why this is important: You want to make sure your money is going to support projects that are going to make a real, lasting impact on the energy system and the environment.

      About BEF: We subscribe to the Green-e Climate code of conduct. This code of conduct insures that all of the projects that we support are real, have been built since 2005, and offer lasting impact to the planet.

    • How does the organization spend its net revenues?

      Why this is important: As we’ve mentioned in other parts of the site, some of the organizations that provide offsets are for profit companies-which means their net revenues are paid to their shareholders.

      About BEF: As a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organization, BEF invests its net revenues in the planet. We spend our profits on educating kids about renewable energy, building new sources of renewable energy and conducting long-term watershed restoration activities.

    • Does the offset support a technology that can end our reliance on fossil fuels?

      Why this is important: Not all offsets are alike. Some offsets support tree-planting efforts, some offsets support the development of new types of clean, renewable energy technology.

      About BEF: BEF’s offsets all support the development of new sources of clean, renewable energy technology. Our current, fossil-fuel-based energy system is at the root of the climate change problem. Working to transition our country from fossil fuels to thoughtfully developed renewable fuels will have a dramatic and lasting impact on our atmosphere. In other words, some offsets treat symptoms (pollution that has already occurred), whereas renewable energy offsets treat the problem directly and eliminate the source of the pollution.

    • Can I select what type of carbon offset my money is used for?

      Why this is important: Different companies use your money to fund different programs. Some people have a preference in which type of renewable energy they invest in.

      About BEF: At BEF, we offer three different types of carbon offsets: wind offsets, solar offsets and a solar-wind blend of offsets. Each of these three types of offsets are audited by Green-e Climate and meet our environmental criteria. So, whichever type of clean, renewable energy resource you choose to support, you can rest assured that your money will be invested with integrity and will achieve results.