Hood River County Commissioners gave their blessing for the County’s Forestry Department to continue exploring a forest carbon project.  County Forester Doug Thiesies told Commissioners they have been talking with The Climate Project, an Oregon-based non-profit that has a portfolio of 111 of these kind of projects around the country.  Josh Fila of The Climate Project told Commissioners that Hood River County could get a premium for the carbon credits from maintaining forestland without changing its current management practices.  County Commissioner Arthur Babitz summarized the proposal as being paid not to change their management plan, but also pointed out he would like to see how it would fit in a longer financial stability model for the County.  Commissioner Les Perkins said looking down the road, involvement in a carbon project could put the County out in front of future regulation and create goodwill.