Abstract The Chinese Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) program registers and trades CCER credits compatible with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) endorsed by many other countries. This example of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has become a driving force for the regional expansion of the biogas economy in Hubei, China. Hubei is a notable case that demonstrates how China has begun to decentralize its policy approach to rural green-energy production. Hubei's rural energy agencies have taken a “learning-by-doing” approach to implementing projects under programs including CCER, which have provided both financial and technical support for implementing biogas solutions. This paper illustrates the potential of CDM tools to support the expansion of subnational biogas economies and highlights a pathway for international engagement in local projects that can provide funding, as well as the technological and human resources required for success.