Collaborators

The project is proudly supported by a robust cross-cutting collaboration.

Funders

• American Electric Power
• Duke Energy
• Electric Power Research Institute
• Exelon Corporation
• Hoosier Energy
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service
• U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Technical Team

• American Farmland Trust
• Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (C-AGG)
• Delta Institute
• Electric Power Research Institute
• Troutman Sanders, LLP
• Markit Environmental Registry
• Ohio Farm Bureau
• Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
• University of California at Santa Barbara

State Agencies

• Indiana Department of Environmental Management
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture
• Kentucky Department of Natural Resources
• Kentucky Department of Natural Resources
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Collaborator Quotes

Read what some of the Ohio River Trading Project Collaborators are saying…

Jessica Fox – Technical Executive, EPRI
“EPRI is very proud to be managing this project and advancing the systems and science that may ensure the appropriate application of water quality trading as a viable approach for managing nutrient loading in the Ohio River Basin.”

Harris Sherman – Former Undersecretary, United States Department of Agriculture
“USDA is proud to be a long-standing collaborator with EPRI in advancing water quality trading in the Ohio River Basin. USDA believes water quality trading holds great promise for agricultural producers in the Ohio River Basin. We look forward to seeing how this program will benefit water quality, agricultural production and communities in the years to come.” (Source)

Tim Lohner – American Electric Power
“Participation in this EPRI project has allowed AEP to work collaboratively with major Ohio River stakeholders to help improve water quality in the watershed. As a major user of water in the Ohio River Basin, AEP supports this effort to develop more cost effective ways to protect this resource.”

Brooks Smith –Troutman Sanders LLP
“Under EPRI”s leadership, this collaborative effort with Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), EPA, states, and key industry and agricultural stakeholders will result in the first interstate water quality trading program for nutrients in the Nation. EPRI”s leadership will not only accelerate the improvement of water quality within the Ohio River Basin, but will signal an important step toward restoration of the Gulf of Mexico by cost-effectively reducing excess nutrients. I believe that EPRI”s leadership will also serve as a model for addressing nutrient problems elsewhere around the country.”

Bob Perciasepe – Deputy Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"In an August 2011 letter to ORSANCO, Bob Perciasepe noted “Thank you for your leadership role, along with the Electric Power Research Institute, in thinking proactively about achieving nutrient reductions in the Ohio River Basin, thus advancing the protection of our nation’s waters. It is the EPA’s policy that water-quality trading is an important Clean Water Act tool. Your advocacy of trading through pilot trades sends an important, material signal that finding solutions to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution is possible and must include multiple stakeholders.” (Source)

Jimmy Daukas – American Farmland Trust
“This project to develop a multistate water quality trading system is an exciting, new opportunity for agriculture in the Ohio River Basin. EPRI has brought together all the critical stakeholders to work together to develop and implement a successful trading system to improve water quality. American Farmland Trust is pleased to be a project team member engaging farmers and agriculture organizations in this effort. When this trading system is up and operating, it will improve water quality at a lower cost and create economic incentives for farmers to adopt conservation practices.”

Peter Tennant – Executive Director, ORSANCO
“The states in the Ohio River Basin, working through the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), have a proud record of collaboration to improve water quality in the Ohio River and its interstate tributaries. The initiation of a water quality trading program is the latest chapter in the effort to find innovative and cost-effective approaches to environmental improvement and success here could serve as a model for interstate trading elsewhere.” (Source )

Tom Easterly – Commissioner, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
“The more tools we give people to address and reduce environmental impacts, the more likely it is that we will succeed in improving water quality. Industry, agriculture, communities, and regulators make the most progress when we work together. There are a number of good environmental programs already in place, and it is exciting to be part of a new project that will help us be even more successful in improving water quality.” (Source )

Scott Nally – Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
“This is a win-win for everyone involved and is just another example of the innovative partnerships we are creating in Ohio to help improve water quality in our state. By leveraging the resources at our state agencies, our universities, our research institutions and private businesses, we will continue to promote a healthy economic climate while protecting the environment.” (Source )

James Zehringer – Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
“We are partnering with neighboring states to implement a cohesive interstate trading program, which will establish an efficient and cost-effective option for improving water quality in the Ohio River Basin. This partnership was established because all parties involved recognize the importance of expedited action when dealing with the cleanliness of our water.” (Source )

Bruce Scott – Commissioner, Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
In his remarks during the multistate trading agreement signing ceremony, “Commissioner Scott stated that, if successful, the trading project could evolve into a “game changer” if it is able to be scaled up to include the wide array of nutrient sources within the multistate Ohio River basin. He went on to say that this pilot project supplements and builds upon the progress that has already been accomplished in Kentucky and coordinates well with Kentucky’s current procedures.” (Source )

Andrew McElwaine - President & CEO of American Farmland Trust
“American Farmland Trust has partnered with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to promote the use of water quality trading in the Ohio River Basin.  EPRI is building a robust trading program which allows public and private wastewater treatment plants to reduce the cost of complying with water quality standards by as much as 60 percent.  It provides much-needed funding for the installation of much less costly, but very effective best management practices by farmers, rather than costly waste-water treatment facilities.  Many of these practices can improve the soil and provide wildlife habitat in addition to protecting water quality. We view this as a four way win – for the watershed, for the rate-paying utility customers, for farmers and for wastewater treatment facilities.” Andrew McElwaine, President & CEO of American Farmland Trust.

Kathy Benini – Managing Director, Markit
“We are honored to support EPRI’s innovative, multi-state program to manage water quality in the Ohio River basin.  Their comprehensive approach incorporates the key elements required for the successful creation of a market for environmental credits.  Specifically, the program is robust, transparent and provides the infrastructure needed for efficient creation, registration and, ultimately, trading of water quality credits.”