Application Process

Applying to a RGGI participating state for the award of CO2 offset allowances is a four-step process:

  1. The project sponsor must open a general account in RGGI COATS and obtain an offsets project ID. For information about establishing a RGGI COATS general account, consult the RGGI COATS User's Guide.
     
  2. The project sponsor must register the proposed offset project in RGGI COATS and obtain an offset project ID code. For information about registering an offset project in RGGI COATS, consult the RGGI COATS User's Guide.
     
  3. The project sponsor must submit a Consistency Application to the applicable state regulatory agency for review of eligibility in accordance with state regulations. Consistency Applications must include a signed verification statement and verification report from an independent verifier that is accredited by the RGGI state in which the project is located.
     
  4. If the offset project receives a consistency determination from the reviewing state regulatory agency, a periodic Monitoring and Verification Report must be submitted to the state regulatory agency demonstrating the veracity of the CO2e emissions reductions or carbon sequestration achieved by the project during the reporting period.

Application Materials

The links below lead to offset program information for the RGGI states. Information linked below includes state Consistency Applications and Monitoring and Verification (M&V) Report submittal materials for each of the five offset project categories.

Connecticut
New Hampshire does not award CO2 offset allowances
Delaware New Jersey
Maine New York
Maryland Rhode Island does not award CO2 offset allowances
Massachusetts does not award CO2 offset allowances Vermont

Project sponsors should contact state offset program staff in the applicable RGGI state with specific program questions. Contact information can be found through the link on the right hand side of this page.

Key Requirements

  • Offset project Consistency Applications and Monitoring and Verification Reports must be submitted to the appropriate regulatory agency in the RGGI participating state where the offset project is located.
  • For an offset project located in more than one RGGI state, the Consistency Application and Monitoring and Verification Reports must be submitted to the RGGI state where the majority of the CO2e emissions reductions or carbon sequestration due to project activities is expected to occur.
  • The Project Sponsor identified in the Consistency Application must be the same as the Authorized Account Representative for the RGGI COATS general account identified in the Consistency Application.
  • Both the Consistency Application and the Monitoring and Verification Report must include a signed verification statement and verification report from an accredited independent verifier accredited by the recipient state regulatory agency.

Key Deadlines

Key application date requirements for offset projects are as follows:

  • For offset projects not involving reforestation, improved forest management, or avoided conversion, the consistency application must be submitted no later than six (6) months after the offset project commencement date.
  • For offset projects involving reforestation, improved forest management, or avoided conversion, the consistency application must be submitted no later than one year after the offset project commencement date, with the exception of any pre-existing projects that have been awarded credits by a voluntary greenhouse gas reduction program.
  • For all offset projects, a Monitoring and Verification Report must be submitted within six (6) months following the completion of the last calendar year during which the offset project achieved CO2e emissions reductions or carbon sequestration for which the project sponsor seeks the award of CO2 offset allowances.
  • For offset projects involving reforestation, improved forest management, or avoided conversion, Monitoring and Verification Reports shall be submitted not less than every six years, with the exception of the first Monitoring and Verification Report for reforestation projects, which must be submitted within twelve years of project commencement. For all other offset project types, Monitoring and Verification Reports must be submitted annually.

Project sponsors should consult state regulations for detailed requirements.

State Review Process

Each state's review process for Consistency Applications and Monitoring and Verification Reports will follow these steps:

  1. The state regulatory agency will review the Consistency Application and make a completeness determination within the timeframe specified in state regulations.
     
  2. Once a completeness determination has been made, the state regulatory agency will make a consistency determination within the timeframe specified in state regulations.
     
  3. For an offset project that has received a consistency determination, the state regulatory agency will approve or deny a submitted Monitoring and Verification Report within the timeframe specified in state regulations.
     
  4. Following approval of the Monitoring and Verification Report, the state regulatory agency will award one CO2 offset allowance for every short ton of demonstrated CO2e emissions reduction or CO2 sequestered. Awarded CO2 offset allowances will be transferred to and recorded in the project sponsor's general account in RGGI COATS.

Project sponsors should consult state regulations for more information about the Consistency Application and Monitoring and Verification Report review process.

Model Materials

In May and June 2009, the RGGI states released draft model templates for offset project Consistency Applications and Monitoring and Verification Reports. The draft model templates serve as the basis for developing materially consistent state-specific offset project application and submittal materials.

The model documents are available below. These model documents are provided for informational purposes only and should not be submitted to RGGI states.

State Program Contacts

Project sponsors should contact state offset program staff with specific program questions