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TerraPass project comments: an update
Our inaugural comment period is getting a big response. We submit two more projects for comment.
Our new comment page. When we launched our comment period we weren’t sure how the community would react. After a week, we’re pleasantly surprised with the volume and quality of the comments. First, we want to thank all of you that wrote in. You should have received a personal email, and we’ll be gathering and responding to your feedback, questions, and comments. We got a good mix of pats on the back (thanks!) and thoughtful inquiries which we look forward to addressing. The majority of comments came from TerraPass members, and we’re excited that as a community we can work together to make sure the projects we support are the highest quality possible. If you’ve been meaning to comment and haven’t had a chance yet, don’t worry: comments on the first projects are open for another three weeks. Second, we’re adding more projects! With the growth we are seeing, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us to make sure plenty of projects make their way through the process. To that end, we’ve added two new farm power projects. They are sister projects to Scenic View I, coming online this spring. With these additions, we’ll be supporting three of the five total farm power projects in Michigan. We’re also excited that the two new projects will be validated under the new Voluntary Carbon Standard, our favorite quality standard for offset projects. But first we need feedback from you, so please dig into the Project Information Reports and comment away. Tags: Projects, TerraPass, Transparency
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Comments
Hi Jim, Thanks for your question. We wrote at length about the trouble with tree-planting offsets here. We discussed the misconception that carbon sequestration is somehow different from avoided emissions here. Tropical deforestation is indeed a huge contributor to global warming, desperately in need of good policy solutions. But TerraPass will only purchase offsets that we feel are credible. 3.
Comment by Bob
@ Feb 20, 2008 7 AM
 In response to Jim, It is not only trees that produce 02. Phytoplankton in the sea may produce more oxygen than trees. Another good reason to also protect the ocean. I would say an intact environment would be a nice gift for our children. Thanks terra pass for your share of good work. 4.
Comment by Optional
@ Feb 20, 2008 10 AM
Governmental action on emissions reductions could be very helpfull. Incentives and outright grants for industries to develop hydrogen filling stations and production will help commuters change over to hydrogen burning cars. Public transit should be using electric or hydrogen fuels by now!! Governments could help with this transition. Heavy transport could be much more efficient - the big ships with sails is one idea. Hydrogen or electric power should be used in transport trucks. And - solar panels and wind turbines EVERYWHERE I’m confused. How exactly, does offsetting my carbon footprint by investing in carbon purchasing entities who endow “green” energy producers with grants? Why can’t I just pay a bit more and buy “green” power from my utility? Better yet, why don’t I just invest in green projects in my neighborhood?
Hi Craig, Those things you’re doing are great! Some answers to your questions: Why can’t I just pay a bit more and buy “green” power from my utility? That’s basically the same thing as buying a TerraPass. Typically our prices are better and our auditing trail is more transparent, but we’re generally speaking fans of green power programs. Better yet, why don’t I just invest in green projects in my neighborhood? It’s great that you’ve put such time, effort, and money into greening your life. Highly commendable. Unfortunately, a lot of these steps are out of reach for most people. And, of course, you still have a carbon footprint from your use of natural gas and gasoline, so it’s not really an either/or thing. The Terra Pass site doesn’t seem to be able to calculate for those of us who are green but want to buy carbon credits. Well, you’re kind of an extreme case, it’s hard to make software tools that can handle every scenario, but you probably can make our tools work for you. If your house is truly off-grid for electricity, enter a value of 0 for your electric bill. Then click on the “finetune this result” link on the result page of the home calculator, and enter your natural gas usage directly. There might be some other wrinkles, but this should get you started. I’m sorry if I can’t see beyond the fog of CO2 but I do see carbon credits as I see hybrids, ineffectual; a short term stepping stone I think we agree with you about the stepping stone bit. But stepping stones can be highly effectual. Hybrids -> plug-in hybrids -> fully electric cars powerered by renewable energy. The analogy with offsets isn’t quite as clean, but offsets do provide a way to link disparate sectors of the economy into a carbon pricing scheme. Hope this helps! Adam, I thank you for your comments. Every little bit we all do can count. I wasn’t meaning to pick on Terra Pass in particular. I found that most all carbon trading sites lack a broad enough calculator allowing green users to “weigh in” so to speak. However, on another topic, including renewable energy powered vehicles (solar charged electric or captured methane powered vehicles)in the chain with hybrids is way off. Hybrids address one thing only, better TOTAL fuel economy, not emissions. In fact, hybrids running on the freeway (speeds over 50 MPH) produce as much carbon as their non-hybrid brothers. This is why tax rebates as well as HOV stickers for these vehicles are either being reduced or withdrawn completely. While its true my vehicles (running on natural gas)are existing technology and do have a carbon footprint, they’re significantly cleaner than a hybrid, (One reason they don’t make gasoline powered ranges)but definably not as good as a solar powered electric vehicle.In my view, natural gas vehicles should be the bridge technology towards self-sufficiency and cleaner air, because the development of both hydrogen (of which 80% comes from reformated cng) and carbon free electric vehicles are going to be 25 years short of the point of no return for our planet. We need to be using and spending real cash on the technology we have now. Not pie in the sky.
Heh. We seem to agree on principles but end up in opposite places. My view has always been that hydrogen is pie-in-the-sky, and that a thriving market in hybrids will lead to advances in battery technology that will eventually get us to the promised land. But, hey, this is one of those questions that truly the market will sort out. Should be fun to watch. Personally, I hope never to own a vehicle that gets less then 100 mpg-equivalent. (I’m doing well so far with my bicycle.) LOL 10.
Comment by Karlin Klavin
@ Mar 26, 2008 10 AM
TerraPass projects are some of the things that can be done to combat global warming - good job!! One of my favorite solutions is to be driving electric vehicles. They ARE workable, there are some mechanics converting regular cars to electric right now, and several small companies are producing new ones. The governments of USA and Canada are actually RESISTING any move to electric cars!! The reason must be that “the oil not yet burned” is worth $100s of Trillions of dollars, and the energy companies and car makers and governments are all sharing in that huge pie. Conspiracy? - yes; nutty? - no. Average people could reduce their costs of driving by 80% with electric cars!! The power has to come from somewhere of course, and if car owners spent the money for solar panels, they would basically be driving for FREE with ZERO emissions. The total cost for a car conversion and solar panels is about $20,000, the same as most new cars. Please consider converting your vehicle to electric and setting up solar panels on your home to power it. Post a commentSearch the TerraPass blogTurn your old cellphones and PDAs into a FREE TerraPass. |
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Part of what I don’t understand from the global warming experts is that many of them are saying it is caused by ever increasing CO2 emissions. If CO2 emissions are causing the climate change then it makes sense to me that the CO2 is also displacing O2. If so; wouldn’t it make sense to plant trees or save mature forests in the US? Only trees convert, in large quantities, CO2 to O2. Nothing else does; as much as trees. Why not plant more trees or save mature forest from harvest and timber mills? If you don’t plant a tree today you will not have a mature tree in the future. All the talk about green energy projects or alternative energy does nothing to replace the O2 that has already been burnt or converted to CO2. Alt. energy is great but it does not produce the O2 that we need to breath or what keeps us alive. If we don’t save mature forests and plant more trees are we not suffocating ourselves and our children?
So why doesn’t Terrapas include saving forests and planting trees?