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Cost of Saving the Climate Meets Real-World Hurdles
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But this year, Carlson said, the organization stopped counting offsets from these projects and is using others whose benefits are more certain.
Also, Carbonfund.org bought renewable energy certificates, often from middlemen, that came from a number of wind farms in the western United States. But, at several facilities, officials said the group's donations had not produced anything new.
"We've invested in wind generation" as a way of having a diverse portfolio, said Melissa McHenry of American Electric Power, whose subsidiary buys power from an Oklahoma wind farm that Carbonfund.org says it supports. "It's not related at all to Carbonfund."
Carlson responded that, even if a particular utility is not aware of Carbonfund.org's purchases, buying the certificates is a good thing overall -- as it stimulates the building of wind farms.
Still, in response to a reporter's queries, Carlson said that the Carbonfund.org Web site would add a clarification, reading in part, "The above carbon offset figures are ESTIMATES."
Recently, U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) asked the EPA and the FTC to consider setting standards for the industry.
The Sierra Club advises avoiding offsets, unless you have remade your life to be climate-friendly.
"We would recommend that, instead of taking that $100 and buying a carbon offset, that you take that $100 and invest in something" such as energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs or an insulating blanket for a home water heater, spokesman Joshua Dorner said.
