who here buys carbon offsets and where do you buy them?

Also is anyone familiar with the website: http://www.terrapass.com ?

I'd like to know who owns these companies and what is their profit margin?

But I think the concept is skewed and corporations certainly should not be allowed to do this.

It seems like this is a mostly unregulated market that is sure to attract all sorts of scam artists. While I wouldn't say that they are all necessarily crooked, I wouldn't give money to any of them without A LOT of research first.

Our electric supplier is partnered with "Sterling Planet" to purchase "Green" electricity generated in state.
http://www.sterlingplanet.com/

In reality, the electrons in our house probably get jiggled by the coal-fired electric plant in the valley. However, we're paying for just as much "green" electricity to be put on the grid elsewhere in the state.

Couple that with efforts to conserve electricity in the first place (we've been using "compact fluorescent" bulbs for several years now) and I feel we're being responsible.

http://boycottgreenmountain.com/mccain-ads-nyt.html

The production of renewable energy can be looked up.

provide it from wind power.... That, driving considerably less, recycling like crazy, and changing all my bulbs to compact florescent energy savers, is my contribution to date... I too wonder about the carbon offsets... I think when I cut way way back on consumption I'm making a difference. To pay a company for carbon offsets, I'm not sure...:shrug:

Personally, I feel it's a scam. I can't see where they explain anything that they really do to reduce carbon emissions. They are very specific, however, to tell you which package you "need" to buy.

my offset amount was not that much..I live in the south in a small house, drive very little and have a vw beatle, etc. I was about to punch the donate button, when I decided to plant my own trees in my own yard to do my own personal offset. I planted peach trees, pear trees, plum trees and then planted a very cool square foot garden and am already harvesting tomatoes, squash, beans, beats, lettuce, radishes, etc. So, now I am offsetting the cost of vegtables for myself..and they taste soooooooooo much better, but also offsetting the cost to transport them to my table. It will take a few years for the fruit trees to begin to produce, but that will be a bonus. As of now, they have many many leaves offsetting (photosynthically speaking) the CO2.

If you're looking to throw some money at the problem, just buy some stock in an alternative energy company. Goodness knows they have enough trouble attracting the level of investment they need to scale up with press like this