DNC green planners frustrated by lack of 'carbon-neutral' states
By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News
Published June 27, 2008 at 6:32 p.m.
Just three of 50 state delegations have committed all their delegates to being "carbon-neutral" during their stay at the Democratic National Convention, a fact that has green planners wringing their hands over how to get more states signed up, faster.
California, Nevada and Vermont have met the challenge. Eleven other states have agreed to participate to some degree, according to Damon Jones, spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee.
But the majority of Democratic delegations haven't purchased offsets for their delegations. They have until Aug. 1.
Money spent on the environmental credits goes to specific climate-friendly undertakings, such as tree plantings and wind farms, which reduce the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere and help offset the effects of jet travel, which puts more in. Delegates can buy the offsets individually for $7.50.
On a DNC map that tracks state participation, large chunks of real estate remain starkly white, nearly three months after the party announced the initiative. Those states that are 100 percent committed are coded dark green, and those that are partly participating, are pale green.
Colorado, the host state with 70 delegates, is among those that remain white on the map.
"I've been talking back and forth with the mayor's office and others in the community to decide how we want to move forward," said Pat Waak, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party.
Some delegations, such as Nevada and Vermont, have had generous donors contribute or raise the money to buy the carbon offset for their delegates.
"We could purchase the offsets," Waak said. "But we wanted to do something a bit more exciting."
Waak said the Colorado delegation hopes to make a decision soon on how to meet the challenge.
The DNC's director of greening, Andrea Robinson, estimates that each delegate's trip to Denver will generate roughly 1 ton of carbon. About 5,000 delegates will attend.
She hopes to make a strong pitch to state party executives when they gather in Denver this weekend for more convention planning.
"For some of them, it's not that tangible yet," she said.
The DNC is posting the names of all delegates who go carbon-neutral on its Web site.
The Republican Party has no similar program under way for the Minneapolis-St. Paul convention and labeled the Democratic call for purchasing carbon offsets "elitist" and "out-of- touch."
"The GOP convention is implementing numerous conscientious and realistic environmentally friendly initiatives," said spokeswoman Joanna Burgos. "After all, the Republican Party is the party of Teddy Roosevelt and many other notable environmentalists."
Taylor Bates, an 18-year-old Democratic delegate from Vermont, opted to fund the full cost of his state's delegate challenge - about $200 - because, he said, the donations go to the fight against global warming.
"The challenge hits at the heart of the problem. It funds enterprises that can make this world a greener place. It's going to wind turbines and organic farms. I don't see how that's elitist," he said.
Bates said he plans to raise the money to cover the carbon offset costs by selling memorabilia from the convention.
"I can find the money somehow," he said.
smithj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5474
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June 28, 2008
2:07 a.m.
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vudumom writes:
What a bunch of crap!
June 28, 2008
2:45 a.m.
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clyde writes:
Purchasing carbon credits... Sort of like buying mouse milk futures.
Is this for real, or just a bad dream? Do people actually fall for this crap? Given public schooling, I guess I can see why.
June 28, 2008
9:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
jacka writes:
I and many other Coloradans are concerned about our global clean water complex too. I propose the delagates, Barack, demonstrators, Hillary, the media, party support executives, hollywood types and other hanger-ons use this rule:
If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down.
June 28, 2008
10:10 a.m.
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RJS07 writes:
If they truly want to set an example and put their money where their mouth is, I'd suggest that not using the air conditioning at the Pepsi Center during the convention. That would go a HUGE distance toward reducing the carbon footprint of the convention and save a lot of energy as well. If they were really sincere about all of this, they'd do it. Buying carbon credits is simply lip service. And it might help the budget shortfall as well..
June 28, 2008
10:14 a.m.
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LatkaGravitz writes:
Froward69 writes:
. . ."I would rather buy carbon credits, than into the inflated Oil speculation market."
Make your check for 1000 carbon credits ($7,500) to LatkaGravitz. If you wish you can write Carbon Credits on the memo line. I'll send a picture of a tree being planted in some exotic far away tropical paradise. . . if I can find a spot to put down my drink. Or maybe I'll just visit the Gore mansion and check on his greening progress.
June 28, 2008
11:49 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Sounds like this is just an extension of the Al Gore version of environmental responsibility. Use energy but buy carbon credits so it seems like everything's good. That's like being a child abuser and donating money to Children's Hospital. I wonder why the DNC just doesn't shove it down the delegates throats like they do with citizens when it comes to bad legislation? Not to say Republicans don't either, but this isn't about the Republicans.
Speaking of which, froward........ this is about the DNC and them being "green", or not. Don't you think it's hypocritical of the Democratic party to say they're environmentally friendly yet the message coming from this is that most delegations don't give a ****? Don't avoid talking on tough subjects about the party you bow to, you know..... by changing the subject to Republicans, it's not hard to criticize either party right now.
June 28, 2008
11:50 a.m.
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Dhakala writes:
If delegates won't spend $7.50 on a warm fuzzy feeling like carbon-offset, it doesn't bode well for the supposed economic benefits of hosting this circus in Denver.
June 28, 2008
12:24 p.m.
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SukieTawdry writes:
When I was in Aspen, a bastion of environmental right thinking greenness, I couldn't help but notice that the local airport looks like a Lear-Jet sales lot. What's the offset cost for running one of those babies for an hour?
June 28, 2008
12:43 p.m.
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MattGuyver_007 writes:
Another selfish idea that does nothing but provide feel-good conversation at the next Democratic, left wing wacko cocktail party.
June 28, 2008
6:43 p.m.
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samsmargolis writes:
So tell the DNC to throw out the delegate votes for all the states that don't play along with the charade. That way, Michigan and Florida won't feel so left out and the party can carry on the leverage legacy. Maybe algore can loan the delegations that aren't participating some of the stock fallout from his insane ethanol legislation. Forget the fact that countries are having food riots now because of the shortage of corn, algore is making big bucks in the ethanol/carbon credits scam. And, all the while pointing their crooked little fingers at the oil companies....tsk, tsk, tsk.
June 29, 2008
8:06 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Hey, were on to something here; it's called prepaying your way out of responsibility. I hope we take this wonderful theory and make it applicable to all human actions. It's just another way to avoid responsibilty. Buy some game credits.
June 29, 2008
9:34 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
I may have to vote Democrat this time! The majority were smart enough not to buy into this load of garbage! Carbon offsets, what a joke!
June 30, 2008
9:43 a.m.
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Cabermon writes:
Delusional idiots. Four dollar gas, Islamofascists approaching nuclear capability, signs of inflation and an economic slowdown, and a pitiful public education monopoly and these idiots are concerned about "carbon offsets" and the color of their food.
Andrea Robinson is the DNC's "Director of Greening". You couldn't make this stuff up! She says "For some of them, it's not that tangible yet." Of course it isn't! Religion is never tangible, and carbon offsets are a tenet the New Green Religion.