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Statement from Daniel Beard Regarding House's purchase of Carbon Offsets

February 5, 2008

STATEMENT OF DANIEL P. BEARD

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCERNING THE PURCHASE OF CARBON OFFSETS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Recently, concerns have been raised about the decision by the House of Representatives to purchase carbon offsets as a means of attaining carbon neutrality for its operations.  That concern springs from two issues: (1) the maturity of the carbon exchange marketplace and (2) the process through which the House purchased the offsets.

The Government Accountability Office has been asked to examine whether the carbon trading marketplace is mature enough to substantiate the spending of taxpayer dollars on offsets.  The Federal Trade Commission has already launched a similar examination. 

We welcome these efforts.

Oversight and built-in controls of the carbon trading system are needed. Primarily, because this evolving marketplace could help government organizations and private sector companies have a positive impact on the environment and play a critical role in their efforts to operate in a carbon neutral manner.

A regulated carbon exchange market would allow those organizations interested in reducing their carbon footprints to do so without being concerned that their investment was not soundly spent or that the legitimacy of an offset purchase would come into question.

The House’s decision to purchase and retire credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange was the right decision and it was made after careful review by all the relevant committees. The decision was vetted with the authorizing and appropriations committees.

If we purchase offsets to maintain our carbon neutrality in the future, it is our hope the market will be regulated and operating in a manner that guarantees the positive environmental impact of all investments in carbon offsets.

About the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer:

http://cao.house.gov/

About the Green the Capitol Office or Initiative:

http://cao.house.gov/greenthecapitol/

Jeff Ventura
Director of Communications
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
United States House of Representatives
202-226-5680
202-360-0450 (BlackBerry)