The Washington Department of Ecology has designated SCS Engineers as an Accredited Offset Verification Body within the Washington State Cap-and-Invest program. WAC 173-446-540(1)(c) dictates separate, specialized accreditation for offset verifiers under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). While WAC 173-441 provides the data foundation, 173-446-540 reporting requires distinct, stricter verification accreditation for carbon offset projects.
The Washington Department of Ecology designated SCS professionals earlier in January, and the team is already working even as the Department of Ecology prepares to update its website. SCS Engineers is one of a handful of firms throughout North America to have this series of accreditations.
Washington State’s greenhouse gas (GHG) offset program is part of the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program, established under the Climate Commitment Act. The Cap-and-Invest program aims to reduce carbon pollution and achieve the GHG limits set in state law. Offset projects are designed to reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and must provide direct environmental benefits to the state. Offset projects must meet strict criteria to ensure they are real, permanent, quantifiable, and verifiable.
“SCS Engineers has been an active verification body in the California Air Resources Board compliance offset program for years,” said Ray Huff, VP and National Expert on GHG. “We are pleased to offer this opportunity to Washington’s program and assist businesses in successfully navigating offset protocols and regulatory requirements.”
The GHG verification scopes include entity-wide disclosures, single facilities, compliance offsets, and renewable fuel pathways. SCS Engineers also conducts independent audits of environmental data, including electricity and water usage, waste, and energy, to support accuracy, compliance, and efficiencies across all operations. In addition to the WA ECY Mandatory Reporting and Offsets, SCS Engineers verifies for the following programs:
