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Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Tracking System

 

  Update: The Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Tracking System is open for regulated entities registered in the system. View the market notices for specific credit and auction information.

 

Overview

In 2023, the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division began operating the credit trading system for gas distribution utilities under Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 22: Colorado Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Emission Reduction Requirements. In November 2024, the division released the industrial branch of the system for eligible companies in the industrial and manufacturing sector under Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 27: Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Management for the Manufacturing Sector, also known as the GEMM 2 rule.

On Dec. 20, 2024, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted Regulation 7 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s midstream oil and gas fuel combustion equipment. In 2028, the industrial branch of the credit trading market will expand to include midstream oil and gas operators.

Access the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Tracking System.

Market notices

System registration

To register in the GHG Crediting and Tracking System, you must follow four steps:

Create a user account in the web platform portal. 

  • If you already have an account, log in.
     

Submit an Environmental ID request form. 

  • Only if your company does not already have one.

Submit an entity registration form in the system to register your company.

Submit two account representative applications.

One to create a primary authorized account representative and one to create an alternate authorized account representative. 

The division will approve the primary account representative application. The authorized primary account representative is responsible for approving the alternate account representative application.

Note: Registered entities must have at least one alternate account representative. They may have up to four alternate account representatives.

Recovered methane resources
 

All GHG reductions from eligible recovered methane projects seeking recovered methane credits must be validated and verified by an accredited third-party Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body. Colorado allows verification by two verification bodies. 

California Air Resource Board (CARB)

The first is the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is only used for livestock manure management system projects. 
Download the Accredited Offset Verifiers from the CARB Offset Verification web page. Once opened, view column H for the list of GHG Validation and Verification Bodies approved to validate and verify the livestock manure management protocol.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

The second is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which is required for: 

  • Municipal solid waste projects.
  • Agro-industrial wastewater treatment projects.
  • Domestic wastewater treatment projects.
  • Coal mine projects.
  • Gas system leaks projects.

Determine which bodies are approved to provide validation and verification services for project protocols on the ANAB GHG Validation and Verification Bodies web page.

All recovered methane projects must apply for credits through the GHG  Crediting and Tracking System. The application process depends on the project type.

 

Gas system leaks projects

Gas system leaks project owners and operators must follow the credit application process to generate recovered methane credits in the GHG Crediting and Tracking System.

Recovered Methane Credits for a Gas System Leak Project application process

Figure 1. Application process for obtaining Recovered Methane Credits for a Gas System Leak Project.

 

  1. Prepare written procedures per the requirements of Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 22, Part C, Section I.C.6.a.
  2. Submit the final written procedures for review and approval to climatechange@state.co.us.
    1. Include “Recovered Methane Gas System Leaks Written Procedures” in the subject line.
  3. Ensure the Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body submits the Conflict of Interest Form APCD-504 to climatechange@state.co.us at least ten business days before starting validation and verification activities.
    1. Include “Recovered Methane Conflict of Interest” in the subject line. The Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body is responsible for notifying the division of any changes to conflict of interest during validation and verification activities.
  4. Work with the ANAB-accredited Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body to complete validation and verification. Prepare the validation and verification report using the Gas System Leaks Validation and Verification Form APCD-507.
  5. Apply for credits on the GHG Crediting and Tracking System within twelve months of the date the methane was recovered. You must attach the Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body's final validation and verification report.
  6. Upon approval of the credit application, the division will issue recovered methane credits in the GHG Crediting and Tracking System.

Additional recovered methane projects

Livestock manure management systems, municipal solid waste, agro-industrial wastewater treatment, domestic wastewater treatment, and coal mine projects that wish to generate recovered methane credits in the GHG Crediting and Tracking System must follow the credit application process.

Application process for generating Recovered Methane Credits flow chart

Figure 2. Application process for generating recovered methane credits for livestock manure management, municipal solid waste, agro-industrial wastewater treatment, domestic wastewater treatment, and coal mine methane projects.

 

  1. Ensure the Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body submits the Conflict of Interest Form APCD-504 to climatechange@state.co.us at least ten business days before starting validation and verification activities.
    1. Include “Recovered Methane Conflict of Interest” in the subject line. The Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body is responsible for notifying the division of any changes to conflict of interest during validation and verification activities.
  2. Work with the appropriately accredited Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body to complete validation and verification. Prepare the General Validation and Verification Form APCD-505 or the Domestic Wastewater Treatment Validation and Verification Form APCD-506, depending on your project type.
  3. Apply for credits on the GHG Crediting and Tracking System within twelve months of the date the methane was recovered. You must attach the Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification Body's final validation and verification report.
  4. Upon approval of the credit application, the division will issue recovered methane credits in the GHG Crediting and Tracking System.

Industrial and manufacturing resources

Financial resources

Industrial manufacturers are eligible to apply for the Colorado Industrial Tax Credit Offering (CITCO) through the Colorado Energy Office. This program awards up to $8 million in refundable tax credits for each greenhouse gas emissions reduction project implemented at an industrial facility, including studies, retrofits, expansions and new builds. Facilities have the opportunity to improve operational efficiencies, increase self-sufficiency, and unlock savings. The application cycle is open semi-annually.

Public information

Access the Public Access Viewer and find registration submissions using the following search criteria:

  • To find the unique identification number of a registered entity, select “CDPHERM Environmental ID Query” in the dropdown.
  • To view additional information on registered entities, select “CDPHECATS AIR GHG Credit Trading Entity Search” in the dropdown.
  • Type the company name into the appropriate search field to see information on a specific company. Type an asterisk into the company name search field to see all entries.

To see all the environmental identification numbers available for Colorado entities, visit the Environmental ID dashboard.

Learn more about GHG credit trading in Colorado.

Contact us

Questions? Email climatechange@state.co.us with "GHG Crediting and Tracking System" in the subject line.