May 2024 CarbonBetter® Impact Update
Every month we share the positive impact our customers have made through their use of CarbonBetter-certified 100% energy, which is included in every Provision clean energy supply plan. Each customer on these plans receives an email with their personal impact for the month, and this blog post reflects the impact all of our customers have made together since we became CarbonBetter-certified in October 2020.
We’re honored to be able to provide affordable clean energy that makes a real difference. Check out all of our past Impact Updates here!
Our Customers’ CarbonBetter Impact – May 2024 Update
121.4k
mWh
Provision customers have funded 121,426 mWh of clean energy generation, which could power 13,056 homes for a year.*
95.1k
tons
Provision customers have offset 95,085 tons of carbon, which is like avoiding over 243 million miles of driving.**
98.3k
trees
Provision customers have funded planting 98,297 trees, which may sequester 1621 tons of carbon in their lifetime.***
Want to be included in our next impact update?
It’s easy to contribute to the positive impact we make each month. All Provision energy plans include CarbonBetter clean energy, which helps you make a difference automatically when you use energy at home.
Our customers help fund clean energy generation through renewable energy certificates, offset carbon through carbon credits, and plant trees to aid in reforestation and increase our natural carbon-capturing capabilities. It’s never too late to start using your energy for good.
May 2024 Featured Project: Shaan Seet Improved Forest Management Project
Courtesy of Google Maps.
About the Project
The Shaan Seet Improved Forest Management (IFM) project, located on Prince of Wales Island off the southeastern coast of Alaska, represents a significant effort in carbon offsetting and forest conservation. Listed and verified in 2019, this project covers over 8,900 acres of old-growth hemlock-spruce forest, which is critical for carbon sequestration and providing ecosystem services. Historically used for subsistence and later for commercial timber, the land is now managed by Shaan Seet, Inc., an Alaska Native corporation, under the Alaska Native Settlements Act (ANCSA). This project is part of the CarbonBetter Certified Offset (CBCO) Portfolio 22-1, and Provision has purchased carbon offsets generated from this initiative to support its sustainability goals.
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) Explained
100% renewable electricity is included automatically in every Provision electricity supply plan, and we use renewable energy certificates, or RECs, to deliver on our clean energy promise. Homes are connected to the power grid by transmission lines, and the electricity that’s supplied is derived from a variety of generation resources, both renewable and non-renewable. This is because when clean energy is generated and put on the grid, it’s mixed with other fuel sources, making it difficult for environmentally conscious consumers to supply their homes with 100% clean energy.
Provision ensures more clean energy is put on the grid by funding renewable generators by purchasing RECs. These certificates support electricity generation equal to the volume consumed by Provision customers, thus leading to a cleaner grid and delivering on pour 100% clean energy promise. So far, Provision customers have helped fund over 70,000 Megawatt-hours (mWh) of renewable electricity using RECs.
How It Works
The Shaan Seet project employs IFM practices to enhance carbon storage and conservation value compared to more aggressive commercial timber harvesting methods. IFM involves managing the forest to maintain and enhance its economic, social, and environmental values for present and future generations. This includes protecting the forest from diseases, wildfires, pests, and unsustainable harvesting practices.
The project’s carbon sequestration is quantified based on the inventory of the standing stock at the time of verification, using a systematic grid of 93 nested, fixed-radius circular plots. This inventory estimated a total of 1,479,664 metric tons of CO2 sequestered, with a verified total GHG assertion of 99,050 metric tons of CO2 equivalent for the reporting period.
Project Benefits
The Shaan Seet Improved Forest Management project provides numerous environmental, local, and recreational benefits. Environmentally, it significantly contributes to climate change mitigation through extensive carbon sequestration. It maintains native forest biodiversity, reducing deforestation risks and protecting habitats for a variety of plant, wildlife, and aquatic species, including 40 salmon-bearing streams. Additionally, the project prevents soil erosion and degradation, ensuring the health and stability of soil and forest stocks.
Locally, the project boosts employment opportunities by hiring technically trained staff and generating tourism-related jobs. It also enhances labor protections, reducing the risk of harm for forest management workers.
Recreationally, the project offers the community access to hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities, enriching the local quality of life and fostering a connection with the natural environment.
Conclusion
The Shaan Seet Improved Forest Management project not only enhances carbon sequestration and protects vital ecosystems but also provides significant benefits to the local community and environment. This is all happening while the project is also supporting sustainable forest management, which is critical for global climate mitigation. To learn more about this project’s commitment to clean energy and carbon neutrality, check out our other projects and experience the diversity of carbon-friendly solutions for yourself.
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Every Provision Customer Makes a Difference
About CarbonBetter Impact Calculations:
*The typical home in your area uses 9,300 kWh of electricity per year.
**https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#gasoline
***https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references#seedlings
Impact is calculated based on our customers’ billings in the impact month, but planting, funding, and offsetting may not happen in that month. These activities must align with planting seasons and project life cycles to be effective. If you have any questions, please contact us at hello@getprovision.com.
