Purchased carbon offsets? Check.

So my carbon emissions for the convention have been neutralized...sort of. For those of you not familiar with the concept, a carbon offset is a carbon emission reduction that helps decrease the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that otherwise would be in our atmosphere.

Through an initiative it's calling The Green Delegate Challenge, the DNC is encouraging delegations from every state and territory to help make the convention this year be the most environmentally-sustainable ever. By doing so, the DNC is "offering special rewards for the delegation or delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attending the Convention. As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition "green" prize. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable "green item" for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com."

The approximately 1.5 tons of carbon that I am creating by participating in the convention has been offset by the $12.00 I paid to nativeenergy.com. That $12 is then invested in renewable energy projects that reduce the amount of power generated by burning fossil fuels. According to Native Energy my offset went towards:

• The Wray, CO, School District Wind Turbine in Wray, CO, a community-owned utility-scale wind turbine built in January, 2008 in reliance on exclusive carbon funding from NativeEnergy (10% of blend).
  
  
• The Focus the Nation Wind Turbine at the Williamson Family Farm in Rosedell Township, Minnesota, a distributed-scale wind turbine built in January, 2008 in reliance on exclusive carbon funding from NativeEnergy (10% of blend).
  
  
• The Hillcrest Saylor dairy farm methane project located in Rockwood, PA, built in early 2007 in reliance on exclusive carbon funding from NativeEnergy (20% of blend).
  
  
• The Des Plaines Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project located in Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois (60% of blend).

Although I'm not completely sold on the impact of purchasing offsets has on the environment, I appreciate the fact that the DNC is encouraging the attendees to participate in the challenge program.