Pacific Gas and Electric is spending about $2 million to help restore two California redwood forests as part of a ratepayer-funded program to offset the utility’s greenhouse gas emissions, The Mercury News reports.
The “carbon offsets” are the first purchased by ClimateSmart, which allows PG&E customers to pay an extra fee to offset emissions from their electricity and gas usage.
More than 17,500 customers have enrolled in the program since it was launched in June. PG&E expects the $2 million to help remove an estimated 214,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.