Sterling Planet announced the first purchase of Voluntary Carbon Units (VCUS) in the U.S. marketplace this morning. The credits are verified with the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS).

The credits come from the VCS-certified Greenville County landfill gas utilization project, located in Greer, South Carolina. The landfill, though not required to by federal air quality regulations, captures methane that would otherwise be released into the air. The project is estimated to prevent the emission of 6,000 metric tons of methane yearly. That figure is equivalent to 125,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Sterling Planet provides a variety of power solutions for clients, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon projects. The company purchases carbon credits to offset its footprint and will be adding the VCUs from the Greenville County project to the company's carbon offset portfolio. Mel Jones, Sterling Planet's CEO said in a press release, "Sterling Planet is excited to partner with a project team so focused and dedicated to the development of the U.S. voluntary carbon market. The VCS-certified Greenville project will help support the demand that Sterling Planet has created for credible, high-quality carbon offset solutions."

The variety of carbon offsets available to buyers are increasing, and it's important to know what standards a project's certifier requires. The VCS is a well known standard, guaranteeing carbon offsets that follow certain rules.

Image — Sterling Planet