Utility forest carbon management program/Utilitree Carbon Company

Abstract

The U.S. electric utility industry has a long history of involvement with traditional forest management and tree-planting programs. Utilities have recently initiated numerous forestry projects specifically to conserve energy and to offset CO 2 emissions. Many electric utilities have included forestry activities in their agreements with DOE under a voluntary national program called the Climate Challenge. The Utility Forest Carbon Management Program (UFCMP) is a voluntary initiative developed by the Edison Electric Institute, with support from 55 electric utilities, to expand utility industry efforts to manage CO 2 via forestry projects, both domestic and international. With slightly over $2.4 million committed, 40 ofthese companies have established a non-profit corporation called the UtiliTree Carbon Company to sponsor five projects. The projects in the final pool represent a diverse mix of rural tree planting, forest preservation, forest management and research efforts at both domestic (eastern and western U.S.) and international sites. This paper overviews these programs, which were designed to advance the state of knowledge regarding options for managing greenhouse gases via forestry; establish low-cost forestry options to manage greenhouse gases; and promote environmental stewardship by the utility industry.