Facilities can reduce emissions to earn ERCs by a variety of methods, including:

• Permanently curtailing production or hours of operation, which results in actual emissions reductions;
• Using new technologies, materials, processes or equipment modifications that are not required for compliance;
• Installing improved control measures that decrease actual emissions;
• Implementing a pollution prevention program;
• Shutting down an existing source or facility.

Within one year after facilities take steps to reduce emissions, they may apply to DEQ for an air quality permit to bank an emission reduction credit.  If all requirements have been met, DEQ may issue the permit and a "Certificate of Ownership" for an emission reduction credit.  The certificate identifies the owner of the credits, quantifies the credited emission reduction, and describes the characteristics of the emissions which were reduced and emissions units which emitted them. 

DEQ is required by state air pollution control rules to maintain a public registry of all banked ERCs, indicating the current holder of each certificate of ownership and the amount and type of credited emissions.