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SPSA: AMP project signs carbon-credit deal with Google; AMP exceeding early performance targets
Summary
SPSA staff said AMP executed an agreement with Google to purchase carbon credits tied to AMP's biochar sequestration, AMP exceeded several February performance metrics, and SPSA will accept biochar at the landfill for an initial three years to ensure sequestration eligibility for credits.
Dennis Bagley, SPSA executive director, told the board that AMP has executed a long-term agreement with Google to purchase environmental attributes (carbon credits) generated by AMP's biochar process. "Google has executed a final agreement with AMP to purchase all of the carbon credits," Bagley said, describing the contract as critical to financing the roughly $200 million AMP project.
Bagley said AMP met or exceeded its February contractual metrics: contract-required organic diversion of 30% reached 38% in February, recyclable sales target of 20% reached 21%, and overall diversion was 59% (contract target 50%). "They exceeded the contract metrics that were put in place," Bagley told the board.
Bagley clarified that Google is buying the carbon credits only, not the biochar product. He said AMP will accept biochar at the landfill for the first three years to assure sequestration eligibility for the credits; after that AMP expects the developer to seek alternate buyers and, if they find compliant buyers, to amend the contract accordingly. Under the cited arrangements, carbon credits require sequestration for 100-plus years for eligibility.
Bagley also announced SPSA communications work and a rebrand of its alternative-waste initiative to "SIPsAssort" (separate organics, recycling and trash), along with geo-targeted social outreach and upcoming community events tied to public education about the AMP project and future waste-processing changes.
The board discussed potential downstream uses for biochar (Bagley noted interest in using biochar as a concrete filler) and certification questions; AMP and state DEQ review steps for credits were described but DEQ approval of an MRO or plan remains a separate step.
