A joint project of the State of Illinois and Delta Institute provides an economic incentive for carbon sequestration. The project, called the Illinois Conservation and Climate Initiative (ICCI), calculates carbon emissions credits from conservation tillage, planting grasses and trees, or capturing methane with manure digesters. Emissions credits from many different producers and landowners can be pooled for sale on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX®). Members of the exchange include large companies, municipalities, and institutions that have made voluntary commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas contributions, either directly or by purchasing emissions credits.

ICCI provides additional financial incentives to use conservation practices that also create wildlife habitat and limit soil and nutrient run-off to streams and lakes.

State agencies are helping to promote and coordinate the project. A Delta Institute affiliate, the Delta Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency (P2E2) Center, serves as the aggregator, providing farmers and foresters with easy access to the CCX carbon trading market. Landowners contract with the Delta P2E2 Center to calculate and verify carbon credits from conservation activities, trade credits on the CCX, then pay the landowner the proceeds from the sale after fees. The Illinois EPA provided grant support to launch the ICCI. (more)...