TerraPass offers SUV drivers a piece of green
For those of us who love driving our SUVs but feel the pressure from our peers to be more 'green', TerraPass offers a little piece of conscience. SUV drivers can now purchase the right to display a bumper sticker indicating that they're concerned for the environment. For up to $80, you can purchase a set of decals, and TerraPass then invests or donates the proceeds to environmental projects or purchases carbon pollution credits to take them off the market. There are different stickers available for different types of vehicles, and you do not have to be an SUV driver to get one. The amount for a TerraPass varies from 29.95 for a Hybrid to 79.95 for an SUV. TerraPass is a for-profit, so by purchasing a TerraPass you're putting investment money into their pockets. Deep down, something about this seems less about being green and more about getting green.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gordon 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
This is absolutely ludicrous. It's like a wife-beater wearing a T-shirt saying he gives money to a women's shelter.
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sr20de 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Reminds me of what Bill Maher said about those "support our troops" ribbon magnets people seem to like to have now.
"It's the least you can do. No, really, it's really the LEAST you can do."
This is the same sort of thing, but stupider!
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Scott 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Hey send me $80, and I'll "let" you put a bumper sticker on your car too. PT Barnum was right.
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Tom 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
One brief note from the TerraPass FAQ:
http://www.terrapass.com/faq.html#nonprofit
"Is TerraPass a non-profit initiative?
No. We struggled with this decision as many social ventures do. Ultimately we decided that timely access to capital was a critical factor. By creating a for-profit structure, we have been able to attract financing in very short order to fund critical marketing programs and spread the word.
As a social venture, our profits are tied to our social mission. Simply put, the more members we attract, the more carbon dioxide we remove from the environment."
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Poe 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
What a SCAM...
I'm sure there will be plenty of morons sending them money though. After all, P.T. Barnum was absolutely right.
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Conan the Grammarian 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Hey, for $40, I'll write "JERK" on your forehead and spray paint "PLEASE LOVE ME ANYWAY" on your liftgate.
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Arizona Slim 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
If you buy these stickers, you should be required to put one on the front of your car also. Then we could all see the stupid people coming and get out of the way.
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J ron 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
would it be possible for them to resell the co2 credits to industry for a profit? Seams like a logical path... sounds very sketchy to me.
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Dave 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Scam? Yes. But, damn I wish I had thought of this...
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iQuack 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Yes, it's a for profit enterprise.
Reminds me of the old, Tom Lehrer song about the dope peddler "doing well by doing good."
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Edsel 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Tom Lehrer's music might be "old" but it sure hasn't aged. Perhaps we should send a copy of "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" to TerraPass.
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Scott 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
Heh. Good point, sr20de! This is equally as dumb as those ribbon stickers that do nothing but line someone's pockets with cash.
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Lesley Carlson 10:44PM (12/18/2005)
To the Editor,
This week you are highlighting Terrapass for its guilt-free business to offset the climate change impact from cars for approximately $9-12 per ton of CO2.
We would like to point out that Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization offsetting CO2 in much the same way but for just $5.50 per ton of CO2. As a nonprofit, additionally, donations by individuals or companies are tax deductible.
Our goal is to make carbon offsts cheap and easy to purchase so they will become widely popular to a mass audience. By keeping costs down and not profiting from the venture we aim to reach a larger audience.
Many thanks,
Lesley Carlson
Carbonfund.org
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