Maine Carbon Credit Program

he Maine Carbon Credit Program-Phase1 is a pilot project to establish and develop a soils carbon baseline and increase landowner knowledge about carbon issues. Ultimately, the future goal is to provide landowners who use conservation practices that increase carbon storage in soils the opportunity to participate in a voluntary market for carbon credits.  

The Maine Carbon Credit Program focuses on outreach, education and the future establishment of a soils carbon baseline to prepare for a voluntary carbon credit marketing program. The pilot program will be started in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties and be extended to the rest of Maine in Phase 2.

To reach our goals, we will be working on several tasks during this first phase. In addition to presenting information about the program and assessing producer interest at several meetings across the State, we will be gathering and modeling data that will provide information about current carbon levels in our soils (the baseline).

 Please Contact Us

To learn more about this program and what it may do for you

To assist by providing information about your land

To express interest in participation in a voluntary marketing program, if established

To learn more about conservation practices that will increase carbon storage as well as protect our soils and water

To become a contributing partner to help with outreach, education, data collection or policy development.

 Informational Materials and links

Start with our informational brochure by clicking here.

To View the PowerPoint given at Phase-1 public meetings click here.

Check out the following websites for more information on the topic of Carbon and Carbon Credits

Climate Change and Northeast Agriculture Promoting Practical and Profitable Responses
http://www.climateandfarming.org/

Carbon Tradinig: Market Opportunities for Agriculture Workshop Resource Guide May 20,2008
http://agcarbontrading.org/

Farmers can help improve global climate with carbon credits
http://www.hutchinsonleader.com/node/1793/print

Carbon credits and conservation practices
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/node/2010

Credit Where It Counts: Carbon Program Breath of Fresh Air
http://www.alfafarmers.org/neighbors/neighborsStory.phtml?id=4400

Energy Agriculture-carbon farming
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/AGDM/articles/hof/HofAug07.html

Overview of Carbon Trading in Agriculture
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Docs/C%20Trading%20fact%20sheet%20FINAL%204-26-07.htm

AgraGate
http://campaign-archive.com/archive.phtml?cid=Z71MzPGmFk&rid=7TsQ4arA7E

Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture and Forestry
http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/rates.html

USDA Energy Estimator
http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/rates.html
 
Farm Energy Calculator
http://attra.ncat.org/energy_calculators.html

National Farmers Union-Carbon Credits
www.nfu.org/issues/environment/carbon-credits/
 

Delta Carbon
This is an example of a contract that AVSWCD will use as a template
http://deltacarbon.org/aggregation/contracts.php

DeltaCarbon Eligibility
http://deltacarbon.org/aggregation/eligibility.php

DeltaCarbon FAQs
http://deltacarbon.org/aggregation/faq.php
 

Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
Home: http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/

History: http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/content.jsf?id=1

Soil Carbon Management Offsets & Frequently asked questions about CCX Conservation and Grassland Soil Carbon Offsets: http://www.kycorn.org/ccx/CCX_Soil_Offsets.pdf

Frequently asked question about CCX Offesets for Carbon Capture and Storage in Agricultural Soils: http://www.theccx.com/docs/offsets/Soil_Carbon_Offsets_faq.pdf

Frequently asked question about CCX Afforestation Carbon Offsets:
http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/docs/offsets/Afforestation_Carbon_Offsets_faq.pdf
 

COMET-VR
www.cometvr.colostate.edu/faq

General Carbon Information
Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Global Climate Change
http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/globalwarming/index.htm

Maine DEP brochure: Indicators of Climate Change in Maine and Ways to Protect our Natural Resources 
http://mainegov-images.informe.org/dep/air/globalwarming/documents/GCCactionplan3ff.pdf

Funding has been provided by a Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA/NRCS and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Other partners providing in-kind support include the Maine Department of Agriculture, University of Southern Maine, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, Time and Tide RC&D and Maine Rural Partners.