Congressmen Want Carbon Offsets Investigation
Two Republican Congressmen want an investigation of the carbon offsets business:
In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, Republican Reps. Tom Davis of Virginia and Darrell Issa of California asked for an investigation into emission offset programs.
About 60 different companies sell carbon offsets to U.S. consumers but operate under virtually no standards, the congressmen said. They cited reports alleging that some organizations get money for emissions that don’t exist and that others make large profits on cleanups that would have taken place anyway.
“We want to understand the products sold in these markets and make sure they are doing what they say they are,” said Davis, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“Offsets are becoming a convenient shortcut for individuals and industry to become ‘carbon neutral.’ Now that we see legislation introduced to direct the federal government to do the same thing, we need a complete picture,” Davis said.
Getting a standard for offsets would transform this nascent industry from the joke it is into something substantial and possibly effective in helping the environment (assuming reducing artificial carbon emmissions will stop global warming).
Politically if the GAO investigates it could prove to be embarrassing for AlGore who’s entire being revolves around saving the environment. That’s why the Congressmen are going to the GAO instead of asking a House committee to delve into the carbon offset issue.
“Probe Carbon Offsets, Congressmen Say”
I don’t see how this is bad for Al Gore, unless you’re under the impression that Republicans have always been proven right on climate issues. *Snicker*