Climate pilot scorecard

Blank worksheet, data-room/methodology/verifier parallel-path checklist, filled fictional example, and AI prompt for scoring a climate / MRV / carbon pilot toward MSA or PO.

Blank worksheet

Update weekly. Bring this to midpoint and to the commercial ask. Bound scope to one site / one asset / one vintage / one Scope class unless the agreement says otherwise.

Criterion	Baseline	Target	Current	Status	Owner
1. ___	___	___	___	[ ] G [ ] A [ ] R	___
2. ___	___	___	___	[ ] G [ ] A [ ] R	___
3. ___	___	___	___	[ ] G [ ] A [ ] R	___
4. ___ (optional)	___	___	___	[ ] G [ ] A [ ] R	___
5. ___ (optional)	___	___	___	[ ] G [ ] A [ ] R	___

Data room / methodology / verifier parallel-path checklist

Start these in week one of serious interest, often before or alongside site proof instead of after "liked the dashboard." Track them as first-class workstreams beside product proof.

Workstream	Status	Blocker	Owner	Due
Data room / commercial diligence	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
Methodology / protocol (Verra, Gold Standard, GHG Protocol, buyer-spec)	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
Third-party verifier path	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
SOC2 / vendor risk questionnaire	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
MRV data access (sensors / process / satellite)	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
Offtake / project-finance path	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___
MSA / PO path	[ ] Not started [ ] In flight [ ] Cleared	___	___	___

Working steps

Paste written success criteria into the scorecard before kickoff: tCO2e avoided/removed with method, measurement uncertainty, $/tCO2e, MRV uptime, reporting-cycle SLA, additionality/leakage flags. No soft "sustainability liked the dashboard" or lab-accuracy-only lines.

Score green / amber / red every week with evidence links finance or ops could re-read.

Run the data-room / methodology / verifier parallel-path checklist every week with named owners. Teams that find methodology or verifier gaps in the final week miss the IRA filing, offtake close, or reporting deadline.

At midpoint, narrow to one site / asset / vintage / Scope class if amber, and don't add portfolio sites without saying so. Keep grant demos / university / unpaid science projects on a separate clock if they exist. Keep finance in the midpoint room.

In the final week, ask for the PO or MSA schedule; if budget wobbles, cut assets, sites, or Scope class and keep the method intact.

Filled example (fictional: industrial Scope 1 MRV)

Teaching example only. Pattern-check your deal; do not cite these numbers as a real case study.

Criterion	Baseline	Target	Current (wk 9)	Status	Owner
tCO2e avoided (named method)	12.4k	≥14.0k; unc. ≤±8%	14.2k; ±6%	Green	Ortiz / you
MRV uptime + reporting SLA	n/a	≥99%; 2 cycles met	99.4%; 2/2	Green	MRV ops
Data room + methodology pack	Not started	Live before ask	Live wk 5	Green	You + legal
Third-party verifier path	Pending	LOI / path before ask	LOI wk 8	Green	Verifier lead
SOC2 / vendor questionnaire	None	Cleared or waived	Cleared wk 7	Green	InfoSec

AI prompt

Paste into ChatGPT or Claude. Replace bracketed placeholders with your deal facts.

You are helping a climate / MRV / carbon-markets founder run a paid pilot that must convert to a PO or MSA with a utility, EPC, asset owner, offtaker, or carbon-market buyer.

Company / product: [YOUR COMPANY + PRODUCT]
Buyer account: [UTILITY / EPC / ASSET OWNER / OFFTAKER / CARBON DESK + SEGMENT]
Scope in pilot: [ONE SITE / ONE ASSET / ONE VINTAGE / ONE SCOPE CLASS]
Pilot window: [START] to [END]
Target phase-two ACV / MSA intent: [AMOUNT]
Climate / sustainability champion: [NAME / TITLE]
Economic buyer: [NAME / TITLE, e.g. CFO / project finance / procurement / offtake committee]
Methodology / protocol: [Verra / Gold Standard / GHG Protocol / BUYER-SPEC / STATUS]
Third-party verifier: [NAME / STATUS]
MRV / data access: [STATUS]
Grant demo / university / unpaid science project (if any): [N/A / SEPARATE CLOCK / STATUS]
Compelling event: [PROJECT FINANCE CLOSE / OFFTAKE / IRA OR TAX-CREDIT WINDOW / COMPLIANCE OR REPORTING DEADLINE / BOARD OR LP TARGET / OTHER]

Produce:
1) A markdown scorecard table with columns:
Criterion | Baseline | Target | Current | Status (green/amber/red) | Evidence | Owner
Include 3-5 underwritable criteria (tCO2e with method, measurement uncertainty, $/tCO2e, MRV uptime, reporting-cycle SLA, additionality/leakage). No soft "liked the dashboard" or lab-accuracy-only lines.
2) A second table: Stakeholder | Role | Attitude | Next action this week
(Roles: climate champion, EB, methodology/verifier, MRV/data, InfoSec, procurement, offtake/project finance)
3) A third table for the parallel path: Workstream | Status | Blocker | Owner | Due
(Include data room, methodology/protocol, third-party verifier, SOC2/vendor risk, MRV data access, offtake/project-finance path, MSA/PO path)
4) End with 5 bullets: biggest risk, whether to ask for PO/MSA this week, scope-cut options (one site / one asset / one vintage / one Scope class; keep the method intact), one quick-win memo angle for EB + climate sponsor, one thing to stop doing.

Rules:
- Invent no fake metrics; use ___ when unknown.
- Every status needs a next action.
- Prefer reduce assets / sites / scopes over discounting list price or mushing the method.
- Climate / sustainability champion is not the economic buyer.
- Grant demo / university / unpaid science project is not a paid customer pilot. Keep the clocks separate.
- Data room, methodology, and third-party verification often start before or alongside the pilot instead of after the grant demo.