Chestnut Carbon, a leading developer of nature-based carbon removal, has successfully executed its first issuance and sale of Improved Forest Management (IFM) credits under its conservation membership program, Forest Carbon Works.

Chestnut Carbon sold more than 64,000 tons of carbon removal credits to corporate clients such as JPMorgan Chase, raising $2.2 million. This is a huge step towards Chestnut’s vision to scale high-integrity forest conservation and give landowners access to carbon markets.

Scaling Carbon Markets for Forest Conservation

Forest Carbon Works, Chestnut’s US-based International Forest Management membership program, provides private forestland owners with a second source of revenue that enables them to keep their land instead of resorting to commercial logging.

Membership in the program has expanded quickly, covering over 150,000 acres in 36 states through February 2025. Through membership, landowners can support carbon removal and also keep the ecological health of their forests intact, yielding long-term climate benefits.

A Long-Term Carbon Storage Commitment

Chestnut differs from other IFM projects by placing long-term conservation easements on member land deeds, ensuring permanent forest preservation. These legally binding contracts guarantee carbon storage for over 60 years—well above the industry standard of 40 years for IFM projects. Additionally, by securing long-term carbon sequestration, Chestnut provides corporate buyers with a reliable and lasting impact on climate mitigation.

Ben Dell, CEO of Chestnut Carbon and Managing Partner of Kimmeridge, said, “We’re extremely proud to bring this issuance of IFM carbon removal credits to market. The high quality and integrity of our product offering is reflected in the premium pricing we’re receiving for our credits.”

Also read: Chestnut Carbon and Microsoft Sign Carbon Removal Agreement

Rigorous Standards and Verified Carbon Credits

Chestnut’s carbon credits meet Verra’s global certification standard for voluntary carbon markets. The credits go through rigorous third-party vetting to verify their authenticity, durability, and additionality. Chestnut focuses solely on carbon removal, ensuring its credits represent emissions pulled from the atmosphere and stored in growing forests, unlike many IFM projects that mix avoidance and removal.

Clearloop, a carbon solutions platform under Silicon Ranch, has announced a multi-year partnership with Microsoft to deploy up to 100 megawatts (MWAC) of renewable energy in historically underinvested American communities over the next three years. This initiative aims to accelerate decarbonization and drive capital investment in approximately 20 diverse communities across the country.

Clearloop, an early pioneer in leveraging emissions data to maximize carbon reduction, has worked with environmental tech nonprofit WattTime to identify strategic locations for new solar projects. Strategic project placements will cut 5 million metric tons of carbon and boost Arkansas and Louisiana’s energy mix.

Building on a Successful Collaboration

Clearloop and Microsoft’s new agreement expands on their first 6.6 MWDC solar project, launched in summer 2024. That project alone will displace 200,000 metric tons of carbon while driving economic investment into Panola County, Mississippi, an area at the crossroads of the Mississippi Delta and the Appalachian Foothills.

Laura Zapata, Clearloop CEO and Co-founder, said, “We applaud Microsoft for using its purchasing power to pilot and scale innovative structures that accelerate grid decarbonization in a way that ensures all American communities can see themselves represented as we transform our economy with clean, innovative technologies.”

She added, “Community-centric climate action by forward-thinking companies like Microsoft—recognizing that not all megawatt hours have the same carbon impact—are making access to carbon-free energy by more Americans possible.”

Advancing Microsoft’s Carbon-Negative Goals

The partnership aligns with Microsoft’s ambition to become carbon negative by 2030. The initiative boosts solar power on the grid, providing clean energy and economic benefits to underserved communities.

Danielle Decatur, Microsoft’s Director of Environmental Justice, said, “Clearloop helps Microsoft achieve its carbon negative goals by supporting renewable energy projects in communities across the country that might otherwise miss out on the economic and environmental benefits of the energy transition.”

Also read: Chestnut Carbon and Microsoft Sign Carbon Removal Agreement

The first four projects will start construction soon and will be up and running by year’s end. These will be some of the first big solar farms powering local grids in parts of Arkansas and Louisiana, boosting clean energy.

As with all Clearloop projects, Silicon Ranch will develop, own, and also operate the new solar portfolio for its entire lifespan. Additionally, the partnership will establish a Community Benefits Fund, managed by the nonprofit Sustain Our Future Foundation, to support local communities facing social and environmental challenges.