Second Nature is excited to announce a new partnership with Clearloop, a company accelerating equitable grid decarbonization by commissioning new solar projects in parts of the country that have yet to share in the benefits of the growing clean energy economy – where electricity is among the most carbon-intensive. Clearloop is a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the nation’s largest independent solar power producers and a recognized leader in pioneering community-focused solar energy solutions.

To vet this partnership,* Second Nature has fully investigated Clearloop’s solution, and is confident that campuses seeking RECs or offsets from Clearloop solar developments can make high quality claims against emissions. Our vetting process entailed a thorough review of Clearloop’s methodology, reviews of GHG Protocol guidance related to that methodology, and investigation into company history, claims, and industry relationships. Part of our excitement about this partnership is the opportunity it creates for education about the emissions impacts of solar investment, and we feel Clearloop’s model is driving change and next generation renewable energy procurement, at an especially timely moment in the pursuit of renewable energy in the U.S. 

In this post, we will review the main GHG integrity risks associated with claiming RECs and offsets from domestic solar development, and how we feel Clearloop’s solution addresses or is working to address these risks. In addition to Clearloop’s methodology, we reference the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Guide for Grid Connected Energy Projects (GGEP), the technical framework informing much of Clearloop’s methodology. 

Before we get into the technical details, we want to note that Clearloop’s model is based on more than just counting kilowatt hours, or even carbon emissions. Their work is building long-term renewable energy infrastructure in partnership with communities across the Southeast to expand clean energy access, maximize health and environmental benefits, and create generational economic opportunity in underserved communities across the United States. 

Clearloop is deeply committed to strengthening the community infrastructure of the regions where they build. Through their Energize STEM, Careers, and Connections programs, they create meaningful pathways into clean energy careers, support local education by investing in teacher development cohorts, and foster long-term partnerships that empower communities to actively participate in our changing economy. This partnership provides a unique opportunity for students and educators to connect with real-world clean energy projects, enabling hands-on learning, industry exposure, and a tangible understanding of sustainability in action.

At a time when renewable energy is becoming less incentivized in the United States, Second Nature is proud to assist higher education institutions with focusing their impact where it will make the most difference to the grid, and to local communities. In addition to the emissions impact, the equity considerations of Clearloop projects are impressive. Specifically for higher education, Clearloop’s willingness to share data and project details for research or student learning purposes is commendable, and the accessibility of their solar builds for institutions who cannot enter into large scale PPAs or vPPAs make Clearloop’s solution a good choice.

Now, for the emissions details. Clearloop offers its customers the option to claim the RECs associated with the kilowatt hours produced by the solar project, or to claim the offsets produced by the carbon-intensive emissions that the project displaces or avoids. We find that the RECs associated with the projects are a clear claim, as each kilowatt hour that is produced by the project can be issued a certificate against Scope 2 emissions. Quantifying carbon emissions reductions from solar projects is more involved, so claiming offset credits requires more scrutiny. Below, we offer insights into these risks and our due diligence process to discern Clearloop’s approach to addressing them. Ultimately, Second Nature is confident that a higher education institution working with Clearloop can make either the REC or offset claim with integrity.  

1. Setting the baseline and quantifying emissions:

Any offset project must concern itself with integrity when it comes to setting the baseline and then quantifying outcomes that differ from that baseline. If this is not done correctly the project is at risk of overcrediting. We find that Clearloop closely follows the GHG Protocol’s Guide for Grid Connected Energy Projects (GGEP) in this regard. Their methodology requires projects to disclose the penetration of renewable energy in the region, the likelihood that the production capacity of the new build will displace other forms of energy on the grid, and the method for quantifying that avoidance according to the best methods available. 

2. Maintaining the baseline to further prevent overcrediting:

Just as setting the baseline is important, ensuring that the baseline remains realistic and is maintained to prevent overcrediting is vital over the long term life of Clearloop’s projects, which offer 35 years of ex-ante (before they’ve happened) carbon credits to project customers choosing the offset option. We find that this area is the only area where Clearloop diverges from the GGEP, which states that ex-ante estimations of avoided emissions from marginal solar should be forecast 5-7 years only, and at most, 10 years from the baseline. We were impressed by Clearloop’s response to our concerns about this, and their awareness of the possible solutions. Truing up the baseline every 5-10 years could be one option, and setting aside a buffer pool of credits every year to insure the project against actual emissions avoidance that deviates from the original ex-ante estimation are options Clearloop is open to considering, potentially in partnership with higher ed participants. The buffer pool approach is common in nature based projects like tree planting, but the use of this approach in the clean energy space is unique to Clearloop’s methodology. Currently, Clearloop sets aside the last 5 years of project credits in a buffer pool, and provides transparency into projects’ actual emissions avoidance through Project Pages on their website, where customers can view the real-time contribution of carbon free electricity from the project to the grid. As of this writing, each of Clearloop’s projects has overdelivered on ex-ante estimations, and Second Nature feels confident that higher education institutions choosing the offset option would have access to the right information, transparency, and cooperation from Clearloop in order to support offset claims. 

3. Additionality

One of the critiques of making carbon offset claims connected to solar development in the United States and other quickly-greening nations has been that the projects are not additional– or they would have happened under business as usual circumstances, meaning there is no need for finance from carbon offsets. We find that Clearloop is carefully selecting grid regions within markets that directly disincentivize solar and other renewable energy development, and as the environment becomes less favorable toward solar development in the U.S, we believe the additionality of Clearloop projects is quite provable and can be comparable, in some cases, to international markets. For example, according to the US Energy Information Administration, wind and solar together make up only 1.3% of electric power generation in Tennessee, 0.9% in Mississippi, and only 0.3% in Louisiana, home to Clearloop’s next project. In addition to Clearloop’s methodology provision stipulating that projects are not eligible in regions where grid penetration by renewable energy is greater than 7%, Clearloop has offered that they are more than willing to share further documentation with customers to show the financial additionality of any specific project. You can read more about Clearloop’s approach to this work in the whitepaper they co-authored with WattTime, titled Curing Carbon Blindness, available for download on their website.

4. Transparency

Our final concern was transparency, mostly because Clearloop is one entity providing project development, the methodology governing those projects, and the registry functions of issuing and retiring credits from each project. In the carbon offsets space, it is generally considered best practice to have separate entities providing these functions, to increase transparency and accountability in the market. Yet as with many things in the offset space, alternative market options arise when entities step into innovation, geographic regions, or technologies that are getting left behind, and we do not want to ignore these efforts. To do so would allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. We feel confident that Clearloop is providing ample transparency to project customers as to the project development process and the project outcomes, and showing best effort to ensure their methods and relationships are developed in high integrity. 

Lastly, Second Nature is highly attuned to the discussion currently underway about how to ensure accuracy and integrity in renewable energy procurement. We find that Clearloop is working ahead of its time in this regard, providing real-time production monitoring, and having developed a methodology to demonstrate truly impactful solar projects at a time when the precedent for this is critically important. Through our partnership with Clearloop, we are also excited to engage them with Second Nature’s Carbon Offsets Advisory Council, and to explore collaboration on high integrity, peer-reviewed projects for higher education. 

Whether your institution is interested in offsets or RECs, Clearloop can help you meet your goals through local, high-impact, and high-quality emissions reductions. Every contribution to a Clearloop project – big or small – directly supports brand new solar capacity and delivers measurable, lasting climate impact. 

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Well Done Foundation

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Free Access to GRITS
The Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) is an online platform that allows users to track the energy, financial, and carbon savings data from sustainability projects.  GRITS also features a library of more than 2,500 projects completed by other GRITS users across the United States and Canada.  Through partnership between Second Nature and the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), all Climate Leadership Network signatories and/or University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members, have free access to GRITS as a benefit.

Access GRITS
To get started, please fill-out the a brief form to be contacted by a representative of SEI who will then set-up a GRITS user account for you.
Complete the Form

The Benefit

With this free version of GRITS, users can:

• Access the GRITS Dashboard, which displays a tally of investments made and cost savings captured to-date as well as a snapshot of your project portfolio’s energy, carbon, water, and waste savings
• Use the Project Details page to track project-specific details, including project type, cost, relevant transactions, performance, and measurement and verification
• View a limited version of the GRITS Project Library, which allows for filtering through projects from other institutions by project type, project cost, payback period, region, and more
• Embed a dashboard of customized project metrics into your institution’s website to share the impact of your projects
• Track up to 5 projects with one user account
• Access the GRITS Goals – a new tool for climate and energy action planning

Learn More

Second Nature and SEI have hosted numerous webinars together, focused on how to use the tool.  Please find those below.    

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Don’t miss this chance to join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals committed to creating a sustainable future. Use our exclusive discount code SN+#AASHE24 to save $50 on your full conference registration. Register today at the AASHE 2024 Conference & Expo website, and follow the event on social media using #AASHE2024 for updates.

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Contact: Bari Samad, Director of Communications & Marketing, Second Nature; bsamad@secondnature.org

(March 14, 2024) – Today, Second Nature- an NGO focused on accelerating climate action in and through higher education- announced six (6) higher education institutions as the recipients of pro bono consulting services to support their climate action projects.

Through this initiative, technical and advisory support worth up to $25,000 will be provided to campuses at no cost in two areas: (1) Climate Action Planning and (2) Shifting to Renewable Power and Decarbonizing Campuses. Institutions that are Second Nature Climate Leadership Network signatories, affiliates, and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members were eligible to apply.

The pro bono consulting opportunities began in the Fall of 2020 as a new Solutions Center initiative. Provided and sponsored by Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and Coho, two long-standing Second Nature partners, 29 colleges and universities have received the award.

The 2024 Pro Bono Round IV recipient colleges and universities are:

Brailsford & Dunlavey:

• Loyola University Maryland (Maryland)
• Tulane University (Louisiana)
• University at Buffalo (New York)

Coho:

• Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina)
• Creighton University (Nebraska)
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (Alabama)

“At Second Nature, we are committed to supporting the innovative climate action projects of our member institutions and the impact they have both on campus and in adjacent communities,” notes Tim Carter, President of Second Nature. “The 2024 Pro Bono awardees reflect a diverse range of institutions, and their work is a testament to higher education’s leadership in creating impactful and equitable climate solutions. We thank Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho for their generous support of this critical service for the past four years. This initiative would not be possible without them.”

The consulting services provided by Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho are:

• Climate Action Planning: Brailsford & Dunlavey provides this service, which supports the drafting of a climate action plan that outlines a technically and financially feasible roadmap towards an equitable, carbon-free future aligned with the institution’s education and research mission.
• ScopeDeepDiveor CAPUpdate: Recipient campuses will have an opportunity for a deep technical analysis of Scope 1 & 2 or 3 emissions, or the option to revise an existing climate action plan, in addition to an executive presentation to their campus leadership. This is a great option for campuses that already have a plan but would like to evolve specific aspects of this work. Brailsford & Dunlavey provides this service.
• Shifting to Renewable Power: Coho provides this service, which supports a transition to renewable power. It includes an assessment of the institution’s energy situation, identification of renewable energy solutions, and recommendations for implementing one or more of the advised energy solutions.
• Decarbonizing Campus: Recipient campuses receive advisory services to support decarbonizing Scope 1 and 3 emissions sources, e.g., electrifying buildings or vehicles, carbon offsets for upstream emissions such as travel, etc. Coho provides this service.

“Brailsford & Dunlavey is committed to accelerating climate action strategic planning through our partnership with Second Nature, and now in its fourth year, we continue to be impressed by the creative breadth and depth of proposals received,” said Dave Karlsgodt, the leader of B&D’s Energy and Sustainability practice group. “Higher education plays a vital role in mitigating the climate crisis through innovative operational advancements combined with expansive, solutions-based academic programming. As a business community partner, we look forward to advancing initiatives to address the planet’s most pressing issue.”

“Coho is proud to support the decarbonization of higher education in the United States. Second Nature and its member campuses are wonderful partners, and we look forward to a new round of high-impact projects,” said Gary Farha, founder and CEO of Coho, an ERM Group Company.

For Round IV, Second Nature received applications from twenty higher education institutions. The six awarded colleges and universities come from diverse regions and environments across the United States.

Below is more information about the Round IV Pro Bono awardee projects:

Loyola University Maryland

Partnering with Brailsford & Dunlavey will allow us to develop a comprehensive, data-backed roadmap built upon our existing climate action plan. This will include a pathway connecting our current progress to our 2031 and 2045 goals and an informed strategy that includes the associated support and funds necessary to implement these initiatives. We are grateful for this opportunity made possible through Brailsford & Dunlavey and Second Nature.

“Our Loyola University Maryland community is committed to caring for our common home. We are delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Brailsford & Dunlavey in helping us move this work forward. We know that collaboration and planning will be key to our success as an institution, as we strive to take positive steps forward to ensure a more sustainable future not just for our campus, but also for the world.”- Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., President, Loyola University Maryland

Tulane University

The Second Nature Pro Bono award expedites university efforts to recalibrate the 2014 Climate Action Plan to maintain progress toward our climate commitment. In consultation with Brailsford & Dunlavey, this rapid and focused effort will update the university operations profile, incorporate external factors contributing to our emissions projections, revisit building design standards, and evaluate opportunities to accelerate our emissions reduction timeline. Work undertaken this spring will inform campus improvement projects in the pipeline with updated strategies to meet our 2050 neutrality goal.

“On behalf of Tulane University, we are honored to be selected as a recipient of Second Nature’s Pro Bono Consulting Award. These consulting services allow us to re-evaluate and improve various aspects of our Climate Action Plan in an effort to be more efficient and effective in achieving our goals. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this plan and the university’s efforts to build and maintain sustainable communities at Tulane and within the greater New Orleans area.”- Randolph A. Philipson, Vice President for Facilities, Campus Development, and Real Estate, Tulane University

University at Buffalo

This initiative is designed to leverage the University at Buffalo’s 10 in 10 Climate Action Plan (a roadmap of innovative, engaging and digestible steps UB is taking to increasing climate action) and specifically focuses on assisting UB to sharpen its strategy and increase the intensity of its pace. The work will develop detailed and specific goals pegged to a timeline and provide clear budgetary implications across all emission streams at the University. In addition, Brailsford & Dunlavey will partner with UB to create a detailed decarbonization and monitoring system that dials in the university’s climate neutrality efforts with SMART goals that will greatly assist in tracking KPI’s, increasing institutional accountability, and driving greater carbon emission savings all while supporting the commitment to climate justice.

“We are excited to work with Second Nature and Brailsford & Dunlavey while taking the next step in advancing our climate action and decarbonization work. While we have made strong progress in this space, we have more work to do. By leveraging outside expertise we are confident it will complement and propel our existing efforts into a detailed and impactful roadmap that can not only be effectively communicated to stakeholders but provide the next critical step in advancing our climate neutrality work. This effort will truly dial in our climate action strategy and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner.”- Laura Hubbard, Vice President for Finance and Administration at the University at Buffalo

Shifting to Renewable Power & Decarbonizing Campuses

Coastal Carolina University

University-owned vehicles provide important services that contribute to the daily functioning of the University: shuttles transport CCU students, faculty, and staff around campus and to nearby locations; vehicles are used by departments across campus to carry out daily tasks related to operations; and motor pool vehicles are available to faculty and staff to use locally to carry out University-related activities. Each year, the University’s fleet of vehicles consumes tens of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel, representing ~2% of CCU’s total emissions. Growing the percentage of electric vehicles in CCU’s fleet would reduce the emissions associated with fleet fuels, and reduce costs associated with purchasing fuel. This Pro Bono Consulting opportunity made available through Second Nature will provide valuable insight and best practices as to how CCU can cost-effectively transition to low emission vehicles and expand EV charging infrastructure on its campus. As an institution of higher education located in 4one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., CCU has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and serve as a model for the region around sustainable transportation.

“We are excited and grateful for this opportunity to work with Coho. This partnership comes at an opportune time as there is a great deal of momentum on CCU’s campus around sustainability and climate resilience. We have already taken positive steps towards electrifying our fleet and expanding EV charging infrastructure, and firmly believe that developing a high-level fleet electrification strategy in partnership with Coho will be transformative to our ability to systematically reduce emissions.”- Steve Harrison, Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises & Chief Sustainability Officer, Coastal Carolina University

Creighton University

Creighton University launched the Sustainable Creighton Initiative in 2022, updating our 2013 Climate Action Plan and accelerating the decarbonization of campus. We have achieved a 40% reduction in emissions, to date, through prudent decisions surrounding campus planning, building design, recommissioning, and deferred maintenance. We know efficiency improvements alone are insufficient to achieving our desired goals. The Pro Bono work with Coho will provide us with industry expertise necessary to navigate the current– and changingrenewable energy landscape as we thoughtfully consider our pathways to faithfully meet our campus initiatives to reach 50% emissions reductions by 2028 and full carbon neutrality well before 2050.

“As a Jesuit, Catholic institution with locations in Omaha, Phoenix, and the Dominican Republic, Creighton University is committed to urgent and impactful actions that benefit our common home. As caretakers of the planet and the well-being of the students we serve, we must be authentically engaged in positive, forward-looking initiatives that give students the opportunity to pursue a hope-filled future. In so doing, we recognize that addressing our ongoing climate crisis, one that Pope Francis has noted is at a critical breaking point, must be informed by the virtues of prudence, integrity, and reason. The resources provided by Second Nature and Coho will accelerate our pursuit of sustainable energy across our campuses, helping us to reduce carbon emissions and move closer to achieving carbon neutrality. We are grateful to be the recipient of this valuable collaboration and eager to be partners in protecting our environment.”- President, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, Creighton University 

University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is guided by a Sustainability Strategic Plan that prioritizes resiliency and sustainability while promoting the three tenets of UAB: teaching, patient care, and research. UAB is investigating the feasibility of electrifying the campus bus system and fleet vehicle program. Coho will provide UAB with assistance in formulating a plan that will reduce Scope 1 emissions from the institution’s transportation sector. Our goal is to use Coho’s framework to develop an affordable and actionable plan for our campus.

“The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Sustainability program is excited to be working with Coho through Second Nature’s Solutions Center Pro Bono Initiative. Coho has an excellent track record of catalyzing bold climate action and facilitating feasible solutions for complex problems. UAB has set transformative goals for decarbonizing our campus through our Sustainability Strategic Plan, and we look forward to benefiting from Coho’s extensive knowledge and experience in achieving emissions reductions.”- Bambi Ingram, Sustainability Manager, University of Alabama at Birmingham

###

About Second Nature

Second Nature is committed to accelerating climate action in, and through, higher education. This is accomplished by mobilizing a diverse array of higher education institutions to act on bold climate commitments, to scale campus climate initiatives, and to create innovative climate solutions. Second Nature aims to align, amplify, and bridge the sector’s efforts with other global leaders to advance urgent climate priorities. secondnature.org.

About Brailsford & Dunlavey

Brailsford & Dunlavey (bdconnect.com) is a Washington, DC‐headquartered national advisory and program management firm with comprehensive in‐house planning and implementation capabilities, dedicated to serving public agencies, professional sports organizations, educational institutions, and non‐profit clients. B&D has more than 150 people in seven offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please contact Doug Kotlove at 202-266-3410 or dkotlove@bdconnect.com.

About Coho, an ERM Group Company

Coho is a trusted energy and water advisor that partners with impact-oriented clients to develop actionable strategies, implement tailored solutions, and optimize performance over time. Coho advises clients on strategy, procurement, and organizational implementation of renewable energy and resilient water solutions. https://www.cohoclimate.com

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View City of Morris University of Minnesota – Morris Campus Stevens County Community Resilience Building Workshop Summary of Findings here.

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THIRD ROUND

Congratulations to the Third Round Awarded Colleges & Universities!

Arcata, California	Seaside, California	Sacramento, California

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Tucson, Arizona	Los Angeles, California

Chicago, Illinois	Oxford, Mississippi cc	Norfolk, Virginia

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Media Coverage:

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Thank You to Every College and University that Applied for the Third Round!

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A Tremendous Thank You to our Esteemed Review Committee:

Tony Abbott, Professor, Environmental Science Department, Stetson University
Josh Arnold, Campus Energy Advisor with the Office of Sustainability, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Marshall Curry, Program Manager, EPIC-Network
Amy Dvorak, Sustainability Director, Lewis & Clark College
Brandy Alexis Espinola, Climate Resilience and Sustainability Program Manager, Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland
Yancey Fuche, Director of Sustainability, Davidson College
Rachel Hodgdon, President & CEO, International WELL Building Institute
Jia Hu, Associate Professor and Associate Director, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona
Trevor Ledbetter, Director for the Office of Sustainability, University of Arizona
Brandon Morton, Assistant Director of Sustainability, Operations, Dallas College
Ben Newton, Environmental Sustainability Director, Central Community College
Anne Rogers, Associate Director of the Office of Campus Sustainability, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jim Simon, Director of Sustainability, Gonzaga University
Jill Smedstad, Equity Coordinator for Sustainability and Basic Needs Resourcing Office, Southern Oregon University
Korin Tangtrakul, Sustainability Manager, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Lab, Drexel University
Second Nature Team Members:
Bridget Flynn, Chantal Madray, Shaina Maciejewski, Michele Madia, Steve Muzzy, Mia Sen, and Rachel Valletta

Funding for the Acceleration Fund – Third Round
was made possible by an anonymous foundation. 

About the Acceleration Fund
The Acceleration Fund is dedicated to supporting climate action activities driven by colleges and universities.  The Fund supports projects that advance decarbonization and/or campus-community partnerships and resilience goals.  Second Nature is especially excited to support projects that clearly articulate how the work relates to advancing principles of climate justice and equity.  

The Acceleration Fund was first introduced at the 2020 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit.  Funding for this Third Round was made possible by an anonymous foundation.  Acceleration Fund eligibility includes colleges and universities who are Climate Leadership Network signatories and/or University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members, and are in good standing with their annual dues and reporting.  

This year the schools were awarded in two different categories (making $80,000 total awarded): 

 – Tier One: $5,000 to support individual colleges/universities, or

 – Tier Two: $10,000 to support collaborative projects (colleges/universities serve as the primary applicant, plus at least one other college/university or a non-college/university organization)

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