The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority announced this week it is the first public environmental services organization in the U.S. to become a Member of the Chicago Climate Exchange.

The Exchange is North America’s only, and the world’s first, voluntary, legally binding multi-sector market for reducing and trading greenhouse gas emissions.

As a GHG generator from its waste-to-energy facility and waste transfer vehicles, the Authority is voluntarily making a legally binding commitment to reduce its GHG emissions by 6 percent by 2010 using its emissions in 2000 as the baseline. All emissions data must be verified by NASD, CCX’s provider of regulatory services.

As a GHG offset provider from its voluntary landfill gas collection system and energy partnership with PPL Corporation, CCX approved verifiers have already certified the Authority’s LFG system and verified that over 35,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents have already been destroyed since the gas-to-energy plant began operation in February 2006.

"The Authority has been and remains committed to actively pursuing environmentally sound and productive methodologies to manage municipal solid waste,” said Jim Warner, Executive Director of LCSWMA. “Joining the CCX provides us a platform to extend our best environmental practices to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Being both a member and a greenhouse gas offset project participant with CCX enables us to achieve environmental goals with financial rewards attached. That’s an attractive combination for any organization.”

"CCX is very pleased to welcome LCSWMA to the Exchange on this date," says Dr. Richard L. Sandor, CEO and founder of CCX. "Our Members are leaders in their sectors, and also leaders in the effort to address the challenge of climate change.

Participation in CCX continues to highlight the fact that CCX membership makes excellent business and governance sense, while also providing a platform for sound action to protect our planet for ourselves and future generations."

For more information visit the webpages for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority and Chicago Climate Exchange.

NewsClips: Report Issues Warning on PA Climate Changes

PSU Class to Study Borough Climate Change Emissions

Editorial: Climate is Changing on Global Warming Views

Link: EPA’s Climate Leaders webpage.

10/13/2006