CERC Press Release
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COALITION BRINGS CLEAN POWER TO POLITICAL CONVENTIONS
Boston, July 2, 2004. The Coalition for Environmentally
Responsible Conventions (CERC) is working to provide clean, renewable
energy for both the Democratic and Republican national conventions. The
Democratic National Convention (DNC) 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 of more than 50 environmental groups in the
Boston and New York areas.
CERC has completed most of the arrangements
for the Democratic convention, to be held the week of July 26 in Boston
at the Fleet Center. These arrangements employ most of the unique financial
instruments that have been developed in recent years to harness commerce
as the engine for the transition to clean energy.
CERC began by working with the DNC, Fleet Center
and NStar to estimate the amount of energy needed to power the convention.
Based on that estimate, CERC raised $11,000 which it used to purchase
500 "renewable energy certificates" (RECs) to match the anticipated
electricity use at the Fleet Center during the convention. These RECs
represent the "non-emissions" credits attached to units of
wind power generated at sites in Massachusetts and Colorado, hydro power
generated in Connecticut and landfill gas power generated in California.
The RECs are being reviewed by Trexler and Associates, a greenhouse gas
(GHG) auditing firm in Oregon.
In addition, Constellation New Energy, the company
that purchases electricity for the Fleet Center, has agreed to donate
300 additional RECs plus the electricity associated with those RECs.
(In electricity markets, electricity bundled with the RECs for that electricity
is referred to as a "linked product.")
Electric power requirements for the DNC extend
beyond electricity use within the Fleet Center. Parked next to the Fleet
Center will be media trucks equipped either to generate
their own power, typically with diesel generators, or else to receive
power from an external source. CERC is working with the DNC to supply
biodiesel to those trucks that are generating their own electricity and
to larger diesel generators that may be supplying multiple trucks.
Construction of staging and other structures
inside the Fleet Center is under way, and this activity, too, requires
electricity. Independently of CERC's efforts, a fuel cell is being brought
in to provide some of this power.
CERC is also employing "greenhouse gas
offsets" (GGOs) to "green" the energy that will be expended
to transport delegates to and from the convention. GGOs are like RECs,
in that they represent an accounting of emissions. (GGOs are more flexible.
For example, you can earn GGOs by planting trees, switching a heating
system from oil to gas, or installing energy efficient light bulbs.)
Emissions trading through these instruments is now a widely accepted
method for achieving emissions targets in a cost-effective manner. GGOs
and RECs are both ultimately worth money to energy producers. Producers that have accepted emissions targets have an option
of achieving their target reductions on site (by reducing fuel use or
by cleaning their exhaust stream) or else purchasing emission reductions
(through RECs or GGOs) from others that are producing energy cleanly. CERC's goal is to offset over 100,000 tons of GHG emissions.
GGO credits for transportation will be obtained either by delegate financial
participation or by other donations.
On Tuesday, July 27, delegates will take a boat
cruise and tour of the wind turbine in Boston Harbor owned by the Town
of Hull. That turbine, currently the only large scale wind turbine in
Massachusetts, will provide a portion of the wind RECs for electricity
used to power the convention. The purpose of the boat trip is to educate
delegates about renewable energy and let them experience wind power first
hand. CERC plans on making this its premier event and attracting high
profile speakers - providing great exposure to its sponsors. The emissions
associated with the boat's fuel for this harbor cruise will be "offset" as
well through the purchase of additional credits to finance new renewable
energy.
"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," said
CERC executive director Daniel Ruben.
CERC has organized a "New Energy for America" event
in Boston on Wednesday, July 28, promoting polices for renewable energy
and energy efficiency that support the creation of jobs in America. Speakers
will include former EPA Administrator Carol Browner and United Steel
Workers of America President Leo Gerard. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and
Senator Tom Daschle are the honorary co-hosts. Three corresponding concerts
for young people will be held at the Middle East club in Cambridge.
CERC is also organizing a number of activities
involving green construction, buildings, hospitality, and transportation.
Shawmut Design and Construction will employ green building practices
and materials in their $3.5 million construction project at the Fleet
Center. Delegates will tour two of Boston's new and innovative green
buildings; Genzyme's new Cambridge headquarters and the Artists for Humanity
Epicenter in Boston. The Saunders Hotel Group, which owns several Boston-area
hotels, organized a Green Hotels Workshop on May 28 to educate and encourage
Boston-area hotels to use green practices in their operations, including
food waste composting, energy conservation, water conservation, recycling
and use of environmentally preferable products for laundry, cleaning,
lighting and grounds maintenance. The Workshop attracted a dozen hotels
and about 50 participants. CERC is also arranging training for bus drivers
to limit idling of their diesel buses, as required by a recent Massachusetts
law.
A similar comprehensive program of practices
and events is planned for the Republican convention, which begins in
New York City on August 30.
CERC's membership includes some of Boston's
leading environmental groups, such as Union of Concerned Scientists,
the Conservation Law Foundation, CERES, New England Aquarium and Environmental
Defense. EPA and MA DEP are also active participants.
In 2003, US oil imports hit a record high of
63% while coal continues to be burned to produce over half of the country's
electricity. With 95% of US energy subsidies going to traditional energy
sources like oil, coal, nuclear, and natural gas, the US will continue
to rely on foreign countries and dirty fuels to satisfy our energy needs
if no action is taken to reverse this situation. The mission of CERC's
Energy Committee is to reduce the environmental impact of energy used
during the conventions, offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated
with convention energy use, and educate delegates and the public about
alternative energy. CERC's mission overall is to promote environmental
best practices at the 2004 national conventions and to establish a legacy
for future conventions and hospitality events.
For more information on CERC's activities, visit www.cerc04.org.
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