vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

5.30.2007

Trendsetter

You'll recall that Vermont's freshman congressman, Peter Welch, made a little splash earlier this year by establishing the first carbon-neutral congressional office. That is, all the carbon emission burned to run the office and the congressman's travel was offset by purchasing carbon credits. Welch paid $672 to support two renewable projects in Vermont.

Well, the trend is spreading. Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado went carbon neutral with his office today. He bought $830 of Colorado-based wind renewable energy credits to offset the 93 tons of carbon used his office uses in one year.

Perlmutter signed onto legislation Welch introduced that would allow members of Congress to use their office budgets to pay for the offset. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wants the whole U.S. House to go carbon neutral by the end of the two-year session.

When they're done, it'll be like they never existed, carbonly speaking.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 4:06 PM |

Comments:

Hi Terri - there is a great piece of investigative journalism just waiting for someone to dig into.

Namely - who is the beneficiary of the taxpayer money that Peter Welch has is handing over to renewable projects in Vermont?

Hint... you might want to look into a "farm" in Westminster owned by Congressman Welch's successor.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:42 PM, May 30, 2007

Just another part of the environmentalists "Green" scam where Vermont taxpayers are ripped off to benefit "connected" friends of Welch, Shumlin and the rest of the far-left idiots. Somewhere along the way I suspect Scudder Parker will be well "rewarded".

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:47 AM, May 31, 2007

It's not taxpayer money. Take a few moments and dig through Congressman Welch's web site for the original press release (hint, it was listed on February 5, 2007). Under current law, federal funds designated for congressional costs can not be used for carbon offsets. Representative Welch is instead using his own money for this initiative.

Still, there is a good story in how green credits work, and how they are regulated.

# Posted by:

Unknown | 9:13 AM, May 31, 2007

Grudgingly! With the dimos in power I suspect it won't be long before the taxpayers start paying for these phony "offsets".

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:12 PM, May 31, 2007

I'm all for reducing Carbon footprints but buying offsets is not a legitimate way to further this. You want to do something serious about your own carbon emissions? Use less power. Carbon offsets are the easy way out and I'm not sure the government should be paying for them (aren't a lot of these renewable energy projects already partially funded by the federal and local governments?). Maybe Welch could work to install some sort of solar panels on the Capital or House/Senate Buildings or at his own home.

These acts are merely symbolic and should be recognized for what they are.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:31 PM, May 31, 2007

Carbon offsets are like Mafia members dropping big money in the
plate at the Catholic church on sunday.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:26 PM, May 31, 2007

Thats right - do something - don't just throw money at it!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:02 PM, June 02, 2007