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Carbon credits. What a farce

Faster horses

Well-known member
The following was an editorial in our weekly newspaper. I thought
it had enough merit to share here. Might belong on Political Bull,
but I am putting it here for more to read.

Carbon Credits - what a farce
By Dorothy Stieg
There's been much talk recently about global warming caused by carbon
emissions. Ex-vice president Al Gore won an oscar for his documentary on
the subject and what people need to do to stop global warming. What a
hypocrite.
Gore uses much more fossil fuels in his fancy mansion in Nashville, TN
than most average families use in a year's time. He uses $500 a month in
natural gas just to heat his swimming pool, and he has a long line of
natural gas lights lining his driveway.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, as
well as many affluent people are equally guilty in using large quantities
of fossil fuels in their mansions, corporate jets, gas burning vehicles,
etc.
These people are trying to absolve their guilt for using so much energy
by buying carbon credits. The money raised with carbon credits goes to
developing alternative cleaner fuels but it pays for only a minute portion
of the development. The way the formula is set up for the carbon credits,
most of these wealthy people pay an average of $115 a year. What a farce!
The whole carbon credit business is about on par with rich people buying
their way out of military service as was done in some previous wars.
If these people are going to talk the talk, they'd better learn to walk
the walk. If not, this reporter will not give them much credence for their
talk.
Someone suggested the world wouldn't have a global warming problem if
all the cattle (livestock) in the world were eliminated. What a joke! Why
wasn't there as much warming years ago when millions of bison roamed the
plains?
One has to remember, there are still many scientists who do not believe
in the global warming theory.
One other food for thought - the push to develop ethanol is having other
consequences. Last year 25 percent of the U.S. corn crop went into ethanol
production and it is predicted more will be used this year. This is going
to make the cost of beef, pork and poultry go up because producers are
having to pay more for feed for their animals. Higher costs of food will
hurt the poor much more than rich people.
Some companies are working to develop ethanol from human garbage. That
makes a lot of sense because it would also help solve the major landfill
problem in this country. Corn is a renewable source of energy but there is
less space all the time to grow crops because of human development.
What a quandary! Do people use crops for cleaner fuel or have them as a
food source? There are many questions to answer and it is hoped those in
power come up with the right answers.

Fallon County Times
Box 679
Baker, MT 59313
406-778-3344
Fax 406-778-3347
 

Jason

Well-known member
The carbon credit industry hasn't quite settled in yet, but Nexen Energy did lay out over $100 million for a wind farm here just for the green credits.

There is talk that farmers that use environmentally friendly practices will have the ability to sell green credits too.

Ranchers, who knows? The grass has been grass for a long time, but planting grass is certinally eligible.

I don't totally buy global warming, but the climate is different. Maybe it is reverting to a previous standard.

MRJ talked about a 7 year drought in another thread, maybe it is no longer a drought but a drier normal.
 

Red Robin

Well-known member
"The Green Movement"
Agriculture's Carbon Opportunity
Carbon Credits Conference
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM ~ Thursday, August 2, 2007
C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, Ferndale, Arkansas
This conference is designed to help landowners, foresters, farmers and
others understand how they can benefit from carbon credits. This
conference will bring together all aspects of carbon trading including:
* Chicago Climate Exchange
* To explain how the carbon market operates
* To explain what agriculture products are eligible for credits
* Carbon verifiers from the Illinois Conservation Districts
* Discuss carbon verification process
* Discuss cost associated with verification
* All of the Carbon Aggregators working in Arkansas
* Delta Institute
* Dogwood
* Iowa Farm Bureau
This conference will give landowners a strong understanding of how the
carbon market operates. In addition, landowners will be able to compare
all three aggregators working in Arkansas to determine who they feel is
most qualified to handle their credits at the most affordable price.
Registration for the conference is only $30, so register today as space
is limited. For information on this conference please contact Matt King
at (501) 228-1297 or [email protected]
This conference is presented by: Arkansas Farm Bureau, University of
Arkansas Extension Service, Arkansas Conservation Districts, Arkansas
Forestry Commission, Arkansas Forestry Association, USDA/NCRS, Reynolds
Forestry, and other partners
Arkansas Carbon Credit Conference
Registration Form
OrReturn Form toRegister online at: www.reynoldsforestry.comArkansas
Farm Bureau Attn: Arkansas Carbon Credits Conference P.O. Box 31Little
Rock, AR 72203Conference Pricing:
$30 Early registration
Early registration ends Tuesday July 24th.
After July 24th registration will be $40
(Space permitting participants can register at the door; however only
cash will be accepted)
Please print carefully
NameBusiness NameAddress
City, State and Zip Code
Day Time PhoneEmail
Attendees Names As Will Appear on BadgesName$30Company or
CountyName$30Company or CountyName$30Company or CountyName$30Company or
CountyName$30Company or CountyGRAND TOTALPlease enclose full payment
payable to: Arkansas Farm Bureau
ARKANSAS CARBON CREDITS CONFERENCE
AGENDA
8:00 A.M. Registration
9:00 A.M. Introduction: How Carbon credits can benefit Arkansas
DICK BELL, ARKANSAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
9:15 A.M. What is a Carbon credit and how are they traded
NATHAN CLARK, Director, Emission Offset Projects
CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE (CCX)
9:45 A.M. what soil practices are eligible for credits
NATHAN CLARK, Director, Emission Offset Projects
CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE (CCX)
10:00 A.M. what Forestry practices are eligible for credits
NATHAN CLARK, Director, Emission Offset Projects
CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE (CCX)
10:30 A.M. BREAK
10:45 A.M. Real world experiences with carbon credits
, International Paper
KATHEY WEBB, ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE
11:20 A.M. What is the process for verifying carbon Credits
THOMAS
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
11:45 A.M. LUNCH
1:00 P.M. Purpose of an Aggregator
, Arkansas Forestry Commission
1:15 P.M. Presentations from Aggregators
DELTA INSTITUTE
ABBY CORSO
IOWA FARM BUREAU
DAVE MILER
DOGWOOD
JAKE DAVIS
2:00 P.M. QUESTION AND ANSWER PANEL OF ALL PRESENTERS AND
Government Agencies
3:20 P.M. CLOSING REMARKS
GEORGE RHEINHARDT,
USDA - NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
3:30 P.M. DISMISS
Morning Moderator: Randy Veach Arkansas Farm Bureau
Afternoon Moderator: Tom Riley, U of A Extension Service
What is a Carbon Credit?
A carbon credit is a measure of the amount of carbon sequestered or
"held" in the soil through various conservation and planting
techniques: for example, "no-till" conservation methods and planting
trees sequester carbon, which can be traded.
Who trades Carbon credits?
In North America,
carbon credits are traded at the Chicago Climate
Exchange (CCX). The CCX is comprised of many large corporations, who
upon joining voluntarily agree to reduce their emissions 6 percent below
a 1998-2001 baseline period by 2010. While joining the exchange is
voluntary; the agreement is legally binding. Under the agreement, half
of the reduction must come from emission reducing technologies, while
the other half can be purchased from the CCX.
How can Carbon Credits benefit farmers?
* Carbon Credits provide a new income source for landowners
* Rewards sustainable forest management
o CRP and other conservation lands are eligible for the program
o Credits vary by tree species
* Rewards sustainable farming
o Credits of up to 0.6 metric tons of carbon per acre per year for
enrolled no-till acres
o Minimum four year contractual commitment is required from farmers to
practice continuous no-till on enrolled acreage
* Credits are trading between $3.50 - $4.00 per ton currently
o At these prices carbon on a no till operation is worth between $2 and
$2.50 an acre
o At these prices carbon on a 10 year pine stand is worth between $25
and $30 an acre
o For forestry payments are retroactive back to 2003
Where does the CCX purchase carbon credits?
The CCX primarily purchases carbon credits from aggregators through
three main carbon offset programs:
Methane destruction
* Initiating and operating landfill methane collection and destruction

* Farmers initiate methane collection and destruction systems at
livestock operations
* Municipal waste water treatment plants anaerobic digestion co-ethanol
facilities
Agricultural practices:
* Farmers commit land to continuous no-till or strip-till cropping
* Farmers initiate grass cover planting in specified states, counties,
and parishes in the U.S.
Forestry practices:
* Farmers initiate forestation and forest enrichment projects
* Forest projects initiated after January 1, 1990 on non forested land
* CCX is working to initiate a working forest initative
What is an aggregator?
An aggregator is an individual or company approved to trade credits on
the CCX. Landowners go through an aggregator to sell their sequestered
carbon on the exchange. The primary difference between aggregators is
the commission they charge. All aggregators are charged 15 cents per
trade by the CCX to register and facilitate the trade. There are three
main aggregators operating in Arkansas: Iowa Farm Bureau, Delta
Institute, and Dogwood. Once you sign with an aggregator, they may send
someone out to verify the land is eligible for the carbon offset
program.
What is a carbon verifier?
Verifiers are independent contractors who are hired by the aggregators
to verify farming practices on land under a carbon contract. Around 10
percent of an aggregator portfolio must be verified every year; however
large projects must be classified every year.
Driving Directions
Arkansas 4-H Center
 

Doug Thorson

Well-known member
What gets me is all this talk about ethanol having a net increase in energy but they don't count the fuel use in growing corn and then hauling it into the plant and then hauling the ethanol all over the country.
The average water use for a bushel of corn is 230 gallons.
The catalatic convertor on your car creates carbon dioxide but it is illegal to take it off.
Given the opportunity the Goverment will fix it until broken.
 
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