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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


3.19.2007

 

On neutrality

Rep. Peter Welch is pushing a bill in Congress (H.R. 823, the Carbon Neutrality Act of 2007) that would allow members such as himself to use office-expense money to buy carbon credits. Welch is doing it already, but with personal funds, as the law doesn't let him use our money to do that. This would allow him and others in Congress and the executive branch to offset their emissions with with tax dollars.

Welch makes contributions to two Vermont renewable energy projects for $672 to offset the 56 tons a year in greenhouse gas emissions his Vermont and D.C. offices and his traveling is estimated to produce. Thus, the theory goes, his office is not contributing to global warming.

Welch got a bunch of national press for making the move. Freshman congressman makes environmental splash.

The Middlebury College ski team has also gone carbon neutral, paying $600 to offset its trips hither and yon.

Theoretically, paying to support renewable energy projects is a good thing (that depends of course on who does what with the money and how you feel about that particular source of energy).

Is it, however, just a get-out-of-guilt free card? Does it mean college students just pay some extra money and continue on to the slopes in their gas guzzler? Does it just allow the congressman to make a donation, jet home every weekend and get lots of good press in the process?

Does Al Gore do more good putting out a movie that raises lots of people's awareness or not taking all those plane trips the movie shows him taking?

Are there other ways to fight this fight. Fire up your electric-powered computer and tell us.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
This is just a phony scam by rich leftists to live like hogs but claim they are "paying" to be energy efficient! Yeah, like Al Gore who pays a pittance in "carbon credits" and lives in a house that uses 20 times the normal electricity. I guess Welch, who has made millions suing doctors and hospitals but claims to be a man of "the people" thinks he now can live the good life guilt-free while pushing drastic measures on the less-connected like raising taxes in the name of "saving" energy.Gee, I think he may have a future as Edwards (America is two countries but mine is much better!) running mate.
 
When will Bob Hartwell make a contribution to offset the carbon cost of his gas hogs?
 
Why is Bubba so angry?

Nothing but attacks and negaitivity!

Poor guy. He's going to get ulsers if he keep it up.
 
Bubba is not the only who sees through the hypocricy of Al Bore and John Edwards. Welch is just another one of them.
 
Yeah, we're all doing so well getting our climatology lessons from ExxonMobil. How dare anyone question their integrity....
 
What a dangerous precident that has been set. A politician going carbon neutral.

Don't they give off carbon dioxide when they breath?

That means they're gonna owe us big when the hot air comes pouring out.

Rednalsi
 
Ya people that jog should pay more for the air they breathe
 
But seriously, what's so bad about investing in renewable energy?
 
Renewable energy is fine with the left until they discover THEY might have to look at a windmill on someone else's property, which of course they are "stewards" for. Look at the flatlander opposition to wind farms in the NEK. Renewable energy is just fine as long as it is done in Texas, Kansas, Nevada, or somewhere else.
 
Is there a way to filter out Bubba? I think he's being paid by the GOP to sit at his computer and blather all day on this blog. It is evidence, however, what a lone wolf he really is in Vermont. Not much support coming your way in here Bubba. Does that tell you anything?
 
I agree wholly with Bubba on this. Vermont is such a "green" state, but our people can't get past the sight of windmills on the horizon even if it means clean renewable energy.

Instead, we'd rather buy our power at a rather expensive price from hydro-quebec. A project that flooded thousands of first nations land, and is potentially contributing to methymercury contamination.

But its ok because it NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

Rednalsi
 
Nah, even the GOP isn't dumb enough to hire someone as inarticulate and foolish as Bubba to carry their flag.
 
Maybe we could harness the hot air being emitted by Douglas's mouth, every time he opens it, and turn that into usable energy. With that source, we could abandon the Middle East. Just a thought.
 
Is Peter Welch going to run for Governor? We hope so.
 
"Maybe we could harness the hot air being emitted by Douglas's mouth, every time he opens it, and turn that into usable energy. With that source, we could abandon the Middle East. Just a thought."

This could have been a clever comment, if there was any element of feasibility. Humans exhale carbon dioxide which can't be converted to usable energy. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a problem. Carbon dioxide is what's causing this problem. This comment wasn't funny, witty, or informative.

Also, opposition to NEK wind projects is not just coming from "flatlanders", it's coming from a lot of native Vermonters too. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the NEK but a lot of their economy is based on tourism which depends largely on the landscape. This wind farm in Sheffield, I believe, would be visible from Crystal Lake, one of the NEK's most popular. It would benefit one town - Sheffield which would have its grand list tripled - at the expense of all the surrounding towns. Sheffield basically has gone about this project with a completely me-first, or rather me-only, attitude. That's not the way real Vermonters do things.
 
Have lived in the NEK long enough to (1)remember when people could do what they wanted to with their own property (2) know that you can't see a Sheffield wind tower from Crystal Lake.
 
"Humans exhale carbon dioxide which can't be converted to usable energy. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a problem. Carbon dioxide is what's causing this problem."

Looks like Einstein has weighed in. People should just stop breathing--and animals too.
 
"Humans exhale carbon dioxide which can't be converted to usable energy. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a problem. Carbon dioxide is what's causing this problem."

Looks like Einstein has weighed in. People should just stop breathing--and animals too.
 
You guys were right on with the personal fuel, but had the wrong end of Douglas.

Why not hitch everyone up to a doo-hickey that converts methane to electricity.

Call it an FTSV.

Short for Farts To Save Vermont.

Has a beeter chance than siting windmills.

Rednalsi
 
The fuel is there all right, but you guys had the wrong end of Douglas. Representative Trombley inspired this one.

Hitch an FTSV machine to them.

Short for Farts To Save Vermont, convert personal methane to electrical production.

Rednalsi
 
Read this please, Bubba.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/NEWS01/702110308/1009&theme=


The towers will be visible from Crystal Lake.
 
Flatlander opposition in NEK?

How about some truth. Its not only flatlanders.
 
Bubba is an angry little man.

..or so his wife says.
 
Where is Zuckerman - he should run for Governor.
 
We need a "Green" governor.

Green Party
 
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