Ten states urge the FTC to set marketing guidelines for carbon offsets

 Debra Kahn, Greenwire reporter

Attorneys general from Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Vermont asked FTC in a letter in January 2008 to define terms like "carbon neutrality" and "baseline emissions."

The FTC is considering revisions to its environmental marketing guidelines. First on FTC's agenda are carbon offsets and renewable energy credits, both of which have seen a boom in sales as consumers seek to reduce their carbon footprints.

The agency is planning to hold more public hearings on other aspects of environmental marketing before it issues a decision on offsets, FTC attorney Hampton Newsome said. An initial public comment period had several organizations weighing in on the need for further guidelines.

Michael Gillenwater, of Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs, said consumers were confused by the murky terms of the emissions-reduction industry. "It is unreasonable to expect consumers to be sophisticated about these matters. It is up to entities such as the FTC and standard setting and policing bodies to simplify choices for the consumer."

The Forest Service's Amanda Cundiff, representing her own views, said that offsets should not be used for reforestation projects on public lands, as "when carbon credit retailers fund projects on public land, it means that green consumers are stepping in to make up for lower appropriations from Congress for reforestation of federal lands."

The legitimacy of offsets has become a political issue on Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader John Boehner's office trumpeted a story in the Washington Post questioning $89,000 worth of offsets purchased as part of House Democratic leaders' $4 million "Greening of the Capitol" initiative (see related story).

"It is outrageous that [House Chief Administrative Officer] Dan Beard would unilaterally waste taxpayer dollars on carbon 'indulgences' with no accountability whatsoever," said the Ohio Republican's spokesman Kevin Smith. "It's the height of irresponsibility, and most Americans would be infuriated if they knew it was happening."

Wray, Colorado School District Installs Wind Turbine

WRAY, CO—January 31, 2008—With a modest population of 2,500 located just miles from the Nebraska border, some may think Wray, Colorado is simply another sleepy agricultural town facing increasing economic challenges. But through progressive initiatives led by Wray’s school district, this community is rallying together to fight budget cuts and population loss in a very unconventional manner—by building a 335 ft. wind turbine. Construction is under way this week, and on February 15th at a ceremony with Governor Ritter, the Wray School wind turbine will propel this quiet town into a clean energy economy and as a leader in community-owned renewable energy projects.

Despite an ideal geographic location for wind energy development and generous funding; project start-up costs proved to be too vast. Having exhausted every resource, the Wray School wind project stalled in development, lacking further access to necessary investment capital. NativeEnergy, the leading marketer of high quality carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), stepped in to bridge the roughly 14-percent funding gap the project needed. Without NativeEnergy’s upfront purchase of the project’s projected lifetime REC output, Wray’s community wind turbine would not have been built.

"Once I had NativeEnergy's contract in hand, that did it. I had what we needed and I called the manufacturer and placed the order,” says Ron Howard, Wray School District Superintendent. “The funding made available by selling the RECs to NativeEnergy makes up substantially the amount we were in deficit, and enabled us to see this project finalized. What a day this is, to see that tower going up finally after we thought the project was dead.”

“The Wray School District wind turbine project again demonstrates our commitment to supporting only high-quality projects that have both a positive impact on the environment and incorporate social values,” says Tom Boucher, President and CEO of NativeEnergy. “Our strong commitments to community engagement and real, effective solutions to the climate crisis make the Wray School wind project a perfect fit.”

NativeEnergy offers a means to compensate for global warming pollution and effectively power businesses and homes with renewable energy. Offering RECs and offsets from a variety of operating projects across America, NativeEnergy has a direct relationship with the communities where the projects are located. More information is available at www.nativeenergy.com.

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