News
Announcements
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Laguna de Santa Rosa Water Quality Trading Workshop
June 26th, 2017
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) is hosting a public workshop on June 29, 2017 to provide project information and address comments on the Draft Water Quality Trading Framework for the Laguna de Santa Rosa Watershed, to be Approved by Resolution of the Regional Water Board. Time and Location: 8:30am, at the Regional Water Board Hearing Room 5550 Skylane Boulevard, Suite A Santa Rosa, California. Read the Full Announcement.
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National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference: Celebrating 20 Years
February 12th, 2017
The conference will be held May 9 – 12, 2017 in Sacramento, CA. This event offers informal forums, group discussions, interactive and educational sessions, networking opportunities, mini-workshops, posters, exhibits, and field trips, a “must attend” for those involved in mitigation, conservation, and ecosystem banking, and related ecosystem services markets. Full Agenda.
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C-AGG Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Conference
February 12th, 2017
The conference takes place March 8-9, 2017 in Sacramento, CA. The theme of C-AGG’s Sacramento meeting is “California Agriculture Leading the Way,” focused on climate change mitigation progress in the state of CA, and specifically, voluntary incentive-based opportunities. C-AGG will host a joint reception with the National Network on Water Quality Trading (NNWQT) on March 7. Registration is open.
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2017 Conservation Finance Conference
February 12th, 2017
Conservation Finance is hosting the 2017 conference entitled: “Scaling Up Global Investment” on March 2, 2017, in New York City. Logistics.
News
Louisiana Authorizes Establishment of WQT
June 27th, 2017
The Office of the Governor of Louisiana has released, through its States News Service in Baton Rouge, a notice of bills signed by LA Governor Edwards on 27 June 2017, including ACT 371 HB 423, which authorizes the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to establish and administer a water quality trading program. See the Full Report.
Marshfield Wastewater Plant Considers Phosphorus Trading
June 26th, 2017
Jenessa Freidhof, Regional Editor of "The Country Today," reports that the Marshfield Wastewater Plant in Wisconsin is facing new phosphorus limits, expected to require 10 times the reduction from their current permit of phosphorus levels, cost more than $27 million upfront, and demand higher maintenance, operation, and potential use of chemicals to maintain the levels. Freidhof reports that "if the required numbers are as low as Warp is anticipating, the plant will have to start looking at alternatives to achieving the limits," including trading phosphorus credits with agriculture. Read the Full Article.
Localities Not Buying into Trading - for Now
May 20th, 2017
Whitney Pipkin reported for the Bay Journal on May 20, 2017 on how localities are waiting for better regulatory frameworks and ways to quantify credits before "buying in" to trading in Maryland. "Despite being touted as a less costly approach to curbing stormwater pollution, nutrient trading has yet to catch on among Chesapeake Bay localities. A recent report by the World Resources Institute and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation details the hurdles that are keeping the market-based approach from getting off the ground." Read the Full Article.
Iowa Considers Nutrient Credit Exchange to Address Water Quality Issues
April 03rd, 2017
Peak Johnson reports for Water Online (March 8, 2017): The State of Iowa is considering legislation to introduce a nutrient exchange which would allow treatment or manufacturing facilities that discharge pollution to pay farmers to reduce nutrient run-off from their land, giving the facilities more discharge flexible. Proponents argue the new laws could promote cooperation between urban and rural areas to reduce pollution, while opponents argue the bill would not reduce pollution while passing costs to the public. Read the Full Article.
Hogan Scales back Maryland Water Pollution Trading Proposal
February 15th, 2017
Pamela Wood reports from the Baltimore Sun that Gov. Hogan’s administration will scale back an ambitious proposal to jumpstart a pollution credit trading program as part of Maryland’s efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Read the Full Article.