Carbon Neutral Challenge for Oregon Wineries

Governor Kulongoski’s office, the Oregon Environmental Council and the Oregon Wine Board have joined together to develop an initiative for Oregon Wineries and Vineyards to assess and reduce their carbon footprint, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Globally, only a handful of wineries and vineyards have become carbon neutral.* Oregon wineries and vineyards – many of which have already adopted sustainable agricultural practices into their operations – recognize that climate change will have a significant impact on their ability to grow grapes and produce quality wines. The participating wineries and vineyards want to be a leader in addressing climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing a product that helps protect the climate. While the wine industry is not a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, it is directly impacted by climate change. By participating in this initiative, these wine industry leaders are demonstrating the important role businesses play in reducing carbon emissions.

Thirty wineries and vineyards have joined the Carbon Neutral Challenge Initiative, and many others are considering joining. The participants include: Abacela, Amity Vineyard, Anne Amie Vineyards, Archery Summit Wines, Argyle, AtoZ/Rex Hill, Basket Case Wine, Benton-Lane Winery, Bethel Heights Vineyard, Chehalem Winery, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, King Estate Winery, Lange Winery, Lazy River Vineyard, Lemelson Vineyards, Mahonia Vineyards, Patton Valley Vineyard, Ponzi Vineyards, Seven Hills Vineyard, Sokol Blosser Winery, Soter Vineyards, Stoller Vineyards, Torii Mor Winery, Troon Vineyard, Vigna Giovanni Vineyard/Barbara Thomas Wines, Valley View Winery, Vidon Vineyard, Winderlea Wine Company, Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Wooldridge Creek Vineyard and Winery.

What does the initiative involve?

The Carbon Neutral Challenge Initiative is intended to provide tools to enable wineries/vineyards to reach the goal of becoming carbon neutral by first and foremost reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the extent economically feasible, and then incorporating carbon offsets to reach the goal of carbon neutrality.

The first step for participating wineries is to conduct an assessment of energy use, because reducing energy waste is the most important way to reduce carbon emissions and costs. Energy Trust of Oregon is offering free energy assessments for any Oregon wineries/vineyards that obtain electricity from Portland General Electric or Pacific Power, or gas from NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas. Energy Trust can also assess solar energy potential for PGE or Pacific Power customers.

The second step is to calculate the greenhouse gas (basically carbon/CO2) footprint for the winery and/or vineyard operation. A group of consulting firms (Ecos Consulting, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. and Quantec) have agreed to coordinate development of a carbon assessment tool, which will address issues specific to the Oregon wine industry. The tool will be designed for easy use.

The third step will be to develop a Carbon Reduction Plan. The plan should include the energy-saving strategies identified in step one (e.g., more insulation, compact fluorescent lighting, etc.). Many energy efficiency measures qualify for Energy Trust financial incentives and Oregon tax credits, which can significantly reduce energy waste, costs and the carbon emissions associated with conventional power. One California winery that investigated energy efficiency measures identified up to 100,000 watts of savings per year.

The Carbon Reduction Plan should also consider installing renewable energy systems on site, including solar opportunities identified in step one. The new, 50% Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit, along with federal tax credits and Energy Trust incentives, greatly shorten payback for solar electric and solar water heating installations, along with other renewable energy projects. Several Oregon wineries, including Sokol Blosser and Stoller, already generate some of their electricity using solar energy. Energy Trust can support small wind, geothermal and hydro electric generating projects. Conversion to ethanol (E85) or to biodiesel (B99 or B50) fuel can also reduce emissions.

Another key component is buying green power directly from utilities, where available, or investing in green tags/Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), such as those offered by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

A final step will be to purchase carbon offsets for any portion of the footprint that is not reduced in a cost effective manner by using certified carbon offset programs, such as those offered by the Climate Trust. The more the carbon footprint is reduced, the less these offsets will cost. Wineries may find that as carbon reduction measures are phased in over time, carbon offsets would also be reduced.

What is the timeframe for meeting the goals of this initiative?

All participating wineries and vineyards are expected to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint via a combination of energy-efficiency investments and direct application renewables as soon as feasible.

All of the participants are expected to report progress to the Governor within 18 months of joining the initiative. However, it is not expected that all participants will reach the goal of carbon neutrality within eighteen months, but that each participating winery and vineyard will give their best effort to reach that goal and report on their progress within that time.

Who is providing support for this initiative?

The Governor’s office, Oregon Environmental
Council and the Oregon Wine Board welcome and appreciate the participation and support of the Energy Trust of Oregon, Ecos Consulting, Maui Foster & Alongi, Inc., Quantec, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Climate Trust.

For more information or to join the initiative contact:

• David Van’t Hof, Governor’s office: David.Vanthof at state.or.us
• Andrea Durbin, Oregon Environmental Council: andread at oeconline.org
• Ted Farthing, Oregon Wine Board: ted at oregonwine.org

*These include: Grove Mill Winery in New Zealand; Parducci Winery in California (Mendocino); ConoSur in Chile; Backberg Estate in New Zealand; Elderton Wines in South Africa. Maison Boisset (Burgundy, France) is going through the process now.