Kaleigh Harrison
Cool Effect, a nonprofit known for its selective carbon offset portfolio, has added a Direct Air Capture (DAC) project for the first time—a signal that the emerging technology is entering a new phase of scrutiny and market validation. The addition of Project Juniper, operated by LA-based Clairity Technology in Nevada, brings a technology-first approach to a portfolio typically dominated by nature-based solutions.
Representing just the second technology-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) initiative backed by the organization, Project Juniper is one of the few DAC efforts approaching carbon credit issuance. It’s currently undergoing third-party validation through Isometric, with credits expected by mid-2025. Once finalized, Clairity would become the first DAC project developer in the U.S. to issue credits and only the second globally.
Cool Effect’s evaluation focused on scalability, integrity, and lifecycle impact—factors that continue to hold back broader investment in DAC. Despite projections from the IPCC that 10 billion metric tons of carbon removal will be needed annually by 2050, fewer than 2.1 million tons of DAC carbon credits had been transacted globally by the end of 2024, per Allied Offsets data.
By adding a DAC project to its offering, Cool Effect aims to both diversify its own portfolio and signal to the broader carbon market that trustworthy, science-based removal pathways are no longer hypothetical.
Tech Innovation with Built-in Regional Benefits
Clairity’s system separates itself from earlier DAC efforts by addressing two major criticisms: energy demand and water use. Project Juniper uses a three-step process that begins by pulling ambient air across a non-toxic alkali carbonate sorbent. Captured CO₂ is then separated at low temperatures and mineralized into stable carbonates, which are permanently stored in local construction and demolition waste sites.
The project is designed to operate as carbon negative and water positive, producing usable water for drought-prone areas in Southern Nevada. Its modular setup means capacity can grow in phases, making it a more practical fit for current grid conditions. Electricity needs are met through the regional grid, which can support renewable inputs.
Cool Effect’s review highlighted the project’s comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment, which takes into account emissions from construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning. The additional social and environmental benefits—particularly the water recovery component—made the project stand out in an increasingly crowded but cautious carbon removal space.
