MA Green Delegate Challenge & DNCC Carbon Offsets
Program Description



Delegates to the DNC in Colorado have been offered the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint by purchasing offsets at www.demconvention.com/green-delegate-challenge, which creates energy offsets around the country. This is a great program, and we saw an opportunity to expand upon it, by creating a local program to offset our footprint in a local manner. The program Boston City Councilor Mike Ross has set up with LiveCooler - a Massachusetts-based non-profit dedicated to providing local charitable carbon offsets throughout the US - allows for local offsets through the purchase and installation of energy efficient CFL bulbs in low-income homes across Massachusetts.

This program is advantageous to MA delegates because:
   •  The offsets are local, directly placed in MA homes and done through LiveCooler, a MA-based non-profit.
   •  The program will assist low-income families by reducing their energy costs.
   •  The program can be localized, installing bulbs in the community in which each delegate lives.
   •  Delegates can offset their carbon emissions from travel, hotel, etc. using this program and take part in the DNCC challenge.
   •  Additional donors, not just delegates, can assist in greening the delegation through tax-deductible donations,
          and can make donations on behalf of their favorite delegate.
   •  This is good for the environment and helps build the delegation's environmental credentials.

The DNCC has approved this program, and has agreed to give the Massachusetts delegation additional recognition at the convention for our innovative and local approach.

How it works:
LiveCooler, a MA based non-profit, has designed a MA Green Delegate Challenge site (www.LiveCooler.org/MassDems) where delegates and supporters can sponsor these offsets. A $15 donation from delegates or supporters provides 5.5 energy efficient bulbs installed in the home of a local low-income family.

That amounts to:
      73.9 KWh saved per year per bulb
      $12.26 saved per year per bulb
      81.8 pounds of CO2 reduced per year per bulb

There is an assumption that some bulbs will be removed or lit more than the average (2.7 hours/day.). With that formula, after 5 years, the $15 offset has saved: 1,998 pounds and $299.50.

Supporters of specific delegates or of the delegation as a whole can also make tax-deductible contributions at www.livecooler.org/massdems. On the website, they can select the delegate they want to make the donation on behalf of, further reducing that delegate's carbon emissions.

LiveCooler operates in several MA municipalities already. Delegates who live in locations in which LiveCooler does not operate can request that a program start in their municipality. This further localizes the offsets and creates a media opportunity for the delegate either by personally joining in the installation or simply alerting the media and/or their mailing lists.

How it was was created:
Councilor Mike Ross has put together a coalition of area environmental leaders who were involved in "greening" the DNCC in Boston in 2004, in addition to LiveCooler, Governor Deval Patrick, Senator John Kerry, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, State Party Chair John Walsh, Senator Marc Pacheco, Chair, Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, and elected delegate Ben Schwartz. After extensive work, a website was built, and the DNCC joined in support of this program to green the Massachusetts delegation to the Democratic National Convention.

DNCC Challenge:
The DNCC has set up an offset challenge for all delegations. Delegates who offset their carbon emissions will receive, according to the DNCC:
   •  Recognition on the floor of the Pepsi Center if you are a part of the state with the highest percentage of carbon offsets.
   •  A limited edition Green prize will be given to the winning state.
   •  A unique wearable green item, available only to Green Delegates.
   •  The satisfaction of helping to solve the climate crisis.

Green Delegate Challenge and Campaign Finance
The law governing political donations and public employees is MGL Chapter 55, Section 13. According to the MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance Campaign Finance Guide allowable activities include:

   "Raising money for humanitarian, charitable or educational causes or other issues not related to elections."

None of the money raised will go to any candidate, party, committee or any election related entity. All money goes directly to LiveCooler, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, who will purchase and install energy efficient CFL bulbs in low-income homes.

The full OCPF guide can be read online at: www.mass.gov/ocpf/guides/guide_pub_emp.pdf. The section relative to programs like the MA Green Delegate Challenge can be seen on pages 4-6.