Article for July, 2004 North American Wind Power
CLEAN POWER FOR NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTIONS
by Lance McKee
How many light bulbs does it take to nominate a US presidential candidate?
Add in air conditioners, ventilation fans, computers, TV cameras etc.
and you can calculate roughly how much electric power 35,000 people need
when
they gather for a national political convention. It's a lot, as you will
read below.
But Democrats convening for a week in July in Boston and
Republicans convening for a week in August and September in New York
City will get
their electricity from wind and other non-polluting sources, thanks
to a coalition
of leading environmental groups, including Union of Concerned Scientists,
Conservation Law Foundation, CERES, New England Aquarium and Environmental
Defense.
These organizations and about 50 others make up the Coalition for Environmentally
Responsible Conventions (CERC). CERC's mission is to promote environmental
best practices at the 2004 Democratic and Republican national conventions
and to establish a legacy for future events. That mission includes arranging
clean, renewable energy for the conventions. The Democratic National
Convention Committee, Boston 2004, the Republican National Committee's
Committee on
Arrangements and the New York City Host Committee 2004 have welcomed
the proposals and support offered by this non-partisan coalition.
“The 2004 national conventions provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate
the kinds of practices that are needed to address global warming and
other pressing environmental problems,” explained CERC executive director
Daniel Ruben.
The Democratic National Convention will be held at Boston’s Fleet Center.
CERC estimated the power requirement at this facility to be about 500 mWh
for the week. With donations from individuals, corporate sponsors and CERC
members, CERC matched this anticipated electricity demand by purchasing $11,000
of renewable energy certificates (REC’s). CERC's Energy Committee will
review usage during the convention and adjust certificate purchases so that
100% of the power will be supplied from clean, renewable sources. CERC purchased
wind power REC’s generated by the Town of Hull's wind turbine in Boston
Harbor from the Massachusetts Energy Consumer Alliance, and REC’s
generated by the Peetz Table Wind Power Plant in northeastern Colorado
from EAD Environmental
(New York, NY). In addition, CERC purchased hydro power certificates
from Connecticut and landfill gas certificates from California.
CERC plans to advance the use of clean energy in other ways, too. It
will educate convention delegates about renewable energy at several events.
On Monday, July 26, CERC offers a Green Building Tour of two of the Boston
area’s
most innovative and green new buildings, Genzyme’s headquarters
and the Artists for Humanity Epicenter. On Tuesday, July 27, delegates
will take
a boat cruise in Boston Harbor Island National Park to tour the Hull
wind turbine.
CERC is organizing an event called "New Energy for America" that
will take place on Wednesday, July 28. Speakers will promote investment
in American-made renewable energy and energy efficiency—and the associated
creation of American jobs. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tom
Daschle are the honorary co-hosts. Speakers will include former EPA Administrator
Carol Browner and United Steel Workers of America President Leo Gerard.
In addition to certificates to cover electrical power, carbon credits
are being sought that would offset carbon emissions stemming from other
convention
activities, including transportation of delegates to the convention.
The credits are being reviewed by Trexler and Associates in Oregon.
CERC is also organizing activities regarding waste management, green
construction, hospitality, and transportation in both Boston and New
York.
For more information on CERC's activities, visit www.cerc04.org
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