One of the accomplishments which we are most proud of at TC+ES is the role we played in representing the City of Klamath Falls in connection with the Klamath Cogeneration Project (operated by PacifiCorp) in Oregon's precedent-setting CO₂ offset competition in 1996. In this proceeding, three independent power producers (IPPs) competed for a 500 MW need-for-power exemption certificate. The certificate would allow the winning project to be built most quickly. This contested case administrative siting proceeding was notable for several reasons:

It was the first time that CO₂ offsets were integral to a power plant siting process (the winner would be decided on the basis of net CO₂ per kWh, inclusive of offsets).

It was the first time that climate change mitigation expert witnesses were called in a siting proceeding. TC+ES’s Dr. Trexler spent five hours on the witness stand.

It resulted in the most in-depth review of CO₂ offsets to date. TC+ES fielded more than 800 data requests on carbon offsets generally and on the proposed GHG portfolio during the 12-week course of the proceeding.

The City of Klamath Falls committed to spend over $3 million on CO₂ mitigation, the largest commitment to project-specific CO₂ mitigation to date.

Oregon's Energy Facility Siting Council found that the approved GHG mitigation portfolio would offset the Klamath Cogeneration Project's CO emissions by more than 30 percent, leaving it with the lowest CO₂/kWh of the three competing IPPs. The City was awarded the exemption.