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Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs)

Federal Clean Air Act Compliance.

ERCs are verified, registry-listed reductions in criteria pollutants used to satisfy New Source Review, Title V, and nonattainment-area permit obligations. We source them, hold them, and broker them — across the country's most active offset markets.

Overview

NAAQS Criteria Pollutant Offsets to get your project built.

Every time a facility in a nonattainment area is built, modified, or expanded, the Clean Air Act requires emission increases to be offset by verified reductions elsewhere. Those reductions are ERCs — and they trade in fragmented, state-specific markets where information advantage is everything.





NOxNitrogen oxides

Ozone precursor. Most actively traded ERC class in nonattainment regions.

VOCVolatile organic compounds

Second ozone precursor. Traded alongside NOx in most districts.

SO₂Sulfur dioxide

Fine-particle and acid rain precursor. Active in industrial corridors.

PMParticulate matter

PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ offsets, often required in fine-particle nonattainment areas.

COCarbon monoxide

Less commonly required, but priced sharply when permit triggers apply.

Where we trade

ERC markets we actively cover.

ERC markets are radically state-specific — credits issued in one district are useful only within that district, and pricing reflects local demand. We focus on the markets where activity is highest and where our edge is greatest.

Counties designated nonattainment — number of NAAQS

Source: EPA Green Book, current as of February 28, 2026

Attainment / Unclassified 1 NAAQS 2 NAAQS 3 NAAQS 4+ NAAQS
How a trade comes together

From permit trigger to surrender, in four steps.

Every ERC transaction passes through the same basic sequence, but each district adds its own twists. Here's how we run an offset procurement engagement end-to-end.

Permit-driven sizing

We translate the permit application into pollutant-specific offset requirements — accounting for the district's offset ratio, distance rules, and any sub-area restrictions.

Sourcing & verification

We identify available credits in the relevant registry, verify vintage and ownership, confirm they meet the use restrictions of the permit, and negotiate price.

Transfer & documentation

We execute the registry transfer with the issuing agency, coordinate documentation for the permitting authority, and provide an audit trail the client can rely on.

Banking surplus

When a client owns more reductions than they need, we structure the registry filings to bank the surplus and advise on hold-versus-sell strategy across permit cycles.

EPA Green Book

Current nonattainment counties & NSR offset pollutants.

If a facility falls within one of these counties, NSR major-source permitting requires offsetting new emissions of the listed pollutants with ERCs valid in that district. Data current as of April 30, 2026 — Source: EPA OAQPS.

NOx VOC PM-2.5 PM-10 SO₂ Lead (Pb) CO * = partial county
Source: EPA Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards · NSR offsets are use-restricted to the district that issued them.
Engage

Have a permit obligation or surplus inventory?

If you're sourcing offsets for a permit, or you own reductions you'd like to monetize, send us a note — we'll be in touch within one business day.