Harrah’s, the World Series of Poker(R) and NativeEnergy
Category: Sports

From Casino City Times Gaming News - 2 July 2008

Harrah's teams up with NativeEnergy

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., announced another collaboration with NativeEnergy, an international marketer of high quality carbon offsets, at the World Series of Poker(R). Through NativeEnergy, Harrah's purchased carbon offsets to mitigate the global warming impact from energy use and waste at its six and a half week event at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino. Harrah's will also offer players in the WSOP Ante Up For Africa charity and celebrity tournament event and the WSOP Main Event the option of offsetting the carbon emissions from air and ground travel to and from Las Vegas, and their hotel stays.

"Harrah's continues to look for innovative ways to conserve energy and demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability," said Gary Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah's Entertainment. "Our collaboration with NativeEnergy allows us to reduce the environmental impact of the world's largest poker event. We'd like to challenge WSOP players and guests to join us and also purchase carbon credits to make this a more eco-friendly event."

The purchase of carbon offsets at the WSOP will support NativeEnergy's farmer-owned distributed wind program. With financial assistance from NativeEnergy, new wind turbines on farms throughout the Midwest will help farmers reduce their global warming impact from energy use and reduce their long-term electricity costs, while helping to stabilize the electricity grid with distributed, small scale, renewable power generation.

The Williamson family farm turbine is an example of the type of project that the WSOP carbon offsets will help support. Located just south of Jasper, Minnesota, the Williamson farm raises beef cattle and crops on more than 2,000 acres. Its 35 kilowatt wind turbine began generating renewable energy in the spring of 2007. "We're very grateful for the support of companies like Harrah's and participants in the World Series of Poker who, working with NativeEnergy, help family farms across the country diversify our energy supply and fight global warning," said Wayne Williamson.

Carbon offsets can be purchased at the Harrah's booth off the main floor of the WSOP tournament area directly from NativeEnergy. Carbon offsets will be offered based on the average estimated travel distance and hotel stay. Carbon offset packages will also be offered which include an eco-friendly souvenir with the offset purchase.

"Harrah's continues to be a leader in environmentally sustainable programs. The collaboration with NativeEnergy allows Harrah's to provide their guests the opportunity to participate in effective solutions to the climate crisis that can be implemented today," says Tom Boucher, President and CEO of NativeEnergy. "Environmentally conscious companies like Harrah's and their guests are reducing and offsetting their own emissions, directly supporting specific new projects and helping at-risk communities develop sustainable economies in harmony with core cultural values."

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NativeEnergy’s New Digs

NativeEnergy Makes The Move
Leading renewable energy company relocates to larger,
energy efficient offices in South Burlington, VT

June 30, 2008 –South Burlington, VT— NativeEnergy, an international marketer of high quality carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), has relocated from its renovated farmhouse in Charlotte to larger, more energy efficient space in South Burlington. The move will help the company accommodate business expansion and new staff as NativeEnergy continues its rapid growth.

While NativeEnergy's decision to move was a result of an effort to better meet the rising demand for carbon offsets and support the company's continued success in establishing new partnerships, the criteria for the new office was neither typical nor simple. NativeEnergy committed to find space that reflects company goals, promotes energy efficiency, and reduces the company's global warming impact; all of which has been found at their new office suite on Kimball Avenue.

"We will miss the farmhouse and our dairy and crop farm neighbors, but our new views of Mt. Mansfield and the Green Mountains are a great consolation, and we are clearly walking our sustainability talk by reducing our environmental impact while growing our business," says Tom Boucher, President and CEO. NativeEnergy estimates its relocation will help reduce its corporate footprint by at least 10 tons annually from shortened staff commutes, its new policy encouraging staff to telecommute at least 1 day per week, and from many energy efficiency measures.

The company's new office space features low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) paints and wall-to-wall windows, which maximize daylight and passive solar heat, while promoting a healthy and productive work environment. In addition to all new T-8 energy efficient lighting with dual switches in every room – low and high setting options mean full light output will be used only when absolutely necessary – the office uses natural ventilation to supplement the HV/AC system to circulate air, heat, and cool individual offices. NativeEnergy is also utilizing one of its partner's products: InterfaceFLOR's "Cool Carpet", a 'climate neutral' product, which has the greenhouse gases emitted during the life cycle of the product offset or balanced by high quality carbon offsets.

Business and employee energy use activities contribute to the climate crisis, which is why NativeEnergy is working to raise awareness around these issues while also taking responsibility for its own impact. "We all have the means to reduce our global warming impact and promote clean energy. It's up to individuals to make changes throughout their work and home environments, and companies to provide the resources and encouragement," continues Boucher. "NativeEnergy is looking forward to settling in, bringing native species and other plants to our new office space, and continuing our mission to create sustainable energy and economic benefits for Native American tribes, family farms, rural communities, and our home: the Earth," he says.

About NativeEnergy
NativeEnergy leverages market demand for carbon offsets to bring on line new Native American, family farmer and community-owned renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy offers third party verified and certified renewable energy credits and offsets from a variety of operating projects across America and internationally. Through its novel approach of bringing upfront payment to renewable projects for the estimated future carbon offsets, NativeEnergy enables its clients to help directly finance the construction of specific new wind farms and other renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy continues to focus on real, additional offsets that provide both an environmental and a social benefit, for both people and planet. More information is available at www.nativeenergy.com.

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Old News That Rocks - Bon Jovi and NativeEnergy
Category: Music

March 25, 2008

BON JOVI OFFSETS LOST HIGHWWAY WORLD TOUR
WITH NATIVE ENERGY

Charlotte, VT— Bon Jovi has again selected NativeEnergy, a leading provider of high quality carbon offsets and climate crisis solutions, as the official carbon offset provider for its international Lost Highway Tour. Working directly with NativeEnergy, Bon Jovi has calculated and offset the carbon impact its 2008 world tour will have on the climate; offsetting more than 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the six-month tour.

Bon Jovi's decision to work exclusively with NativeEnergy was a result of the offset provider's commitment to help build new renewable energy projects by working directly with family farmers across the U.S. The Lost Highway World Tour is Bon Jovi's second tour to be offset by NativeEnergy - the relationship began with the band's Have A Nice Day World Tour in 2005/2006.

"As displayed through Bon Jovi's efforts, the positive effect that leaders in the entertainment industry can have in the fight against global warming is significant," says Tom Boucher, President and CEO of NativeEnergy. "Demonstrating to Bon Jovi's millions of fans that there are exciting and valuable things we can each do to help build a clean energy future will greatly amplify the band's impact. It makes you realize how much we can accomplish if we all pitch in together."

Working directly with Bon Jovi, NativeEnergy calculated emissions from touring activities, which will be offset through a combination of specific American family farm wind and family dairy farm methane energy projects. Accordingly, the Lost Highway Tour's carbon offset of 5,264 tons accounts for:
        • Venue electricity use at every performance
        • Hotel energy use of both the band and crew
        • Private and commercial air travel of both the band and crew
        • Fuel consumption by the tour's buses and trucks

"Through NativeEnergy we are making an investment in renewable energy projects that we hope will result in efficient alternatives to power our tours in the future," says Jon Bon Jovi. "Until then, we want to help those who are seeking solutions to a problem we can't afford to ignore."

About NativeEnergy
NativeEnergy leverages market demand for carbon offsets to bring on line new Native American, family farmer and community-owned renewable energy projects, NativeEnergy offers third party verified and certified renewable energy credits and offsets from a variety of operating projects across America and internationally. Through its novel approach of bringing upfront payment to renewable projects for the estimated future carbon offsets, NativeEnergy enables its clients to help directly finance the construction of specific new wind farms and other renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy continues to focus on real, additional offsets that provide both an environmental and a social benefit, for both people and planet. More information is available at www.nativeenergy.com.

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Native Energy CARBON OFFSETS BUILD WIND TURBINE FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

CARBON OFFSETS BUILD WIND TURBINE FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

Construction Begins For A Colorado School District's Community-Owned Clean Energy Project

WRAY, CO—January 31, 2008—With a modest population of 2,500 located just miles from the Nebraska border, some may think Wray, Colorado is simply another sleepy agricultural town facing increasing economic challenges. But through progressive initiatives led by Wray's school district, this community is rallying together to fight budget cuts and population loss in a very unconventional manner—by building a 335 ft. wind turbine. Construction is under way this week, and on February 15th at a ceremony with Governor Ritter, the Wray School wind turbine will propel this quiet town into a clean energy economy and as a leader in community-owned renewable energy projects.

Despite an ideal geographic location for wind energy development and generous funding; project start-up costs proved to be too vast. Having exhausted every resource, the Wray School wind project stalled in development, lacking further access to necessary investment capital. NativeEnergy, the leading marketer of high quality carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs), stepped in to bridge the roughly 14-percent funding gap the project needed. Without NativeEnergy's upfront purchase of the project's projected lifetime REC output, Wray's community wind turbine would not have been built.

"Once I had NativeEnergy's contract in hand, that did it. I had what we needed and I called the manufacturer and placed the order," says Ron Howard, Wray School District Superintendent. "The funding made available by selling the RECs to NativeEnergy makes up substantially the amount we were in deficit, and enabled us to see this project finalized. What a day this is, to see that tower going up finally after we thought the project was dead."

Enduring several years of extreme budget cuts and declining student attendance, the Wray School District looked for opportunities to establish an additional revenue stream and enhance the educational curriculum. A high school instructor introduced the idea of reducing the district's annual energy costs while providing a unique educational component: a 900 kW community-owned wind turbine. Seeing a special opportunity, the project was approved with support of Wray's school district.

"The Wray School District wind turbine project again demonstrates our commitment to supporting only high-quality projects that have both a positive impact on the environment and incorporate social values," says Tom Boucher, President and CEO of NativeEnergy. "Our strong commitments to community engagement and real, effective solutions to the climate crisis make the Wray School wind project a perfect fit."

The magnitude that one up-front investment can have on determining if a project becomes a reality serves as a concrete example of the importance of "additionality" and supporting the creation of truly new renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy's involvement in the project demonstrates the power that forward stream carbon offset purchases have on the success of projects that can't rely on the expectation of carbon revenues over time, in an uncertain market. Through the support of NativeEnergy's clients, who offset their carbon footprints, the Wray project will come online February 15th — generating enough energy to power the school district, most of the town, and will create a stream of revenue that will be invested back into the school and the community.

NativeEnergy offers a means to compensate for global warming pollution and effectively power businesses and homes with renewable energy. Offering RECs and offsets from a variety of operating projects across America, NativeEnergy has a direct relationship with the communities where the projects are located. Through its novel approach of bringing upfront payment to renewable projects for the estimated future carbon offsets, NativeEnergy enables its clients to help directly finance the construction of specific new wind farms and other renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy continues to focus on real, additional offsets that provide both an environmental and a social benefit, for both people and planet. More information is available at www.nativeenergy.com .

5:07 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

NativeEnergy -- LA Times story
Category: News and Politics

Regarding the LA Times story –

The reporter, Alan Zarembo, did get some things correct, but he failed to communicate some critical facts and background that complete the picture without a misleading slant.

We have posted our Letter to the Editor of the LA Times on our website

http://www.nativeenergy.com

And, we have posted a more powerful and personal message in response, the Van Gilders' Letter to the Editor

http://www.nativeenergy.com/News/LATimes_Dovan_letter_9-7-07.pdf

Recognizing the complexity of the carbon offsets market; NativeEnergy has had to correct similar media inaccuracies during the past 7 years.

Aware of the factual errors made in this article, we simply wanted to bring the accurate details to your attention and clarify the misleading statements, as they could be further mistaken as legitimate in future media coverage.

First, NativeEnergy typically contracts with projects before they are constructed and begin operation. We then turn to the marketplace to allow individuals or businesses, to purchase the offsets — together they fully subscribe the offsets, enabling the payment that is made to the project for its expected lifetime of carbon offsets.

A project may be fully funded and operational by the time the offset is sold – but this does not invalidate the carbon offset.  Rather, it is NativeEnergy's promise to the project that helps it secure the other necessary financing, such as grants. And as you know, when done properly and with a reputable carbon offset partner, offsetting is absolutely real and does make a difference in reducing the amount of CO2 that otherwise would be emitted.

Next, in reality, the offsets for "An Inconvenient Truth" related carbon footprints are actually from 4 different, new 'help build' projects that were moving toward construction; 3 of which have now been completed. Indeed, the footprint of  "An Inconvenient Truth" is relatively small – that's a good thing – and offsetting is a good deal. There is no other way to get to zero global warming impact. It's easy, effective and inexpensive.  And, in this country, it is currently 100% voluntary.

In regards to NativeEnergy specific projects, we began discussions with the Van Gilder family at their kitchen table in 2003 – not in 2006, as Alan writes – and agreed to purchase carbon offsets from the Van Gilder's to allow them to meet their portion of the financing package early in 2004.  The project proceeded with construction in 2006 after additional funding from other sources was secured, including additional payments from NativeEnergy. Certainly we were not the reason the farm wanted to build the project, but we were an important funding component.  Although they may have been surprised that there was a market for the carbon offsets – an unexpected bonus, perhaps – the role in helping them finance the project is an indisputable fact.

David Van Gilder has confirmed this in his Letter To The Editor of the LA Times.

Concerning the Alaska Native Village wind project, Mr. Zarembo got some facts right, but missed a few and trivialized an important feature of the complete "barriers" tests used to assess project-specific additionality. The situation was quite different for AVEC's wind project in Alaska. As we openly discussed with the reporter, the role of offsets in this case was to provide operations and maintenance funding – not to add more capital dollars that were being met mostly by federal grants. This important distinction was not mentioned in the LA Times story. In this instance, the issue is not "whether the blades turn or not," but whether they turn often enough. This project met NativeEnergy's strict additionality criteria due to the first of its kind installation and technology barriers. Performing a critical role in enabling the replicability of these projects is a creditable use of carbon offset funding.

These are a few of the misconceptions and errors conveyed in this article. We hope this clarifies some of the murky waters and prevents perpetuating inaccuracies to the general public. NativeEnergy highly values education and transparency; as this complex issue quickly becomes mainstream, the truth emerges, and with increasing community and business support we continue to succeed in building a more sustainable energy future.

Thank you again for your continued interest and partnership, for working with us to help support high quality carbon offsets from new projects like the Dovan Farm project.

Respectfully,

Your Friends at NativeEnergy

www.NativeEnergy.com

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NativeEnergy responds to LA Times story on carbon offsets

Dear Partners and NativeEnergy Community,

Some of you may be aware of the recent Los Angeles Times article, "Can you buy a greener conscience?", which looks at carbon offsets while referencing NativeEnergy. The reporter, Alan Zarembo, did get some things correct, but he failed to communicate some critical facts and background that complete the picture without a misleading slant.

Recognizing the complexity of the carbon offsets market; NativeEnergy has had to correct similar media inaccuracies during the past 7 years. Aware of the factual errors made in this article, we simply wanted to bring the accurate details to your attention and clarify the misleading statements.

As you know NativeEnergy increasingly values education and transparency as this complex issue quickly becomes mainstream, the truth emerges, and with your support we continue to succeed in building a more sustainable energy future.

We have posted our Letter to the Editor http://www.nativeenergy.com/News/LATimesResponse%209-5-07.doc.pdf
of the LA Times on our website.

We hope this helps clarify any questions you may have had.

As always, we thank you for your continued support!

Sustainably yours,

Your Friends at NativeEnergy

www.NativeEnergy.com

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NativeEnergy Providing Carbon Offsets For Live Earth

NativeEnergy Selected to Provide Carbon Offsets For Live Earth

Continuing To Serve As A Trusted Leader In New Renewables

(CSRwire) CHARLOTTE, VT - July 13, 2007 - American Indian majority-owned NativeEnergy, a leading national marketer of renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets, has been selected to serve as a U.S. provider to offset the global Live Earth concert series that took place on July 7, 2007. Described by many as the music event of the year, if not the decade, Live Earth brought together two billion people and more than 150 of today's prime artists for 24 hours; focusing the world's attention on the global climate crisis and effective solutions already being employed by organizations like NativeEnergy. Live Earth will be a carbon neutral event - but more importantly, Live Earth has "designed out" carbon emissions and waste from its overall production before completing carbon neutrality through offset providers like NativeEnergy. Live Earth's green event guidelines become a model for future live entertainment events and bestow an eco-friendly legacy on the live event industry.

"NativeEnergy is excited to work with Live Earth as a U.S. provider," says Tom Boucher, President and CEO of NativeEnergy. "Live Earth shares our goal of establishing long term partnerships to grow renewable energy. And as a trusted leader within the renewable energy and carbon offsets industry, NativeEnergy continues to provide high quality options for all of our clients."

NativeEnergy is involved with multiple aspects of Live Earth's groundbreaking international effort and global call-to-action. In addition to serving as the U.S. provider of carbon offsets, NativeEnergy is also offsetting both the production emissions of the Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook and, through a partnership with Esurance, the ground travel emissions generated by the U.S. concert attendees.

NativeEnergy offers individuals and organizations a means to compensate for their global warming pollution or to effectively power their homes and businesses with renewable energy. NativeEnergy offers RECs and offsets from a variety of operating projects. Through their novel business process of bringing upfront payment to renewable projects for the estimated future carbon offsets, NativeEnergy enables its clients to help directly finance the construction of specific new wind farms and other renewable energy projects. NativeEnergy has become the trusted choice of many leading environmentally and socially responsible businesses and organizations. More information is available at www.nativeenergy.com.

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Supreme Court rules on car carbon emissions

Here's a preview of the full article at the International Herald Tribune! This is GREAT news!

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Supreme Court rebuked the Bush administration Monday for its inaction on global warming in a decision that could encourage faster action in Congress on climate change and lead to more fuel-efficient cars as early as next year.

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NativeEnergy Makes 578 Campus Screenings Carbon Neutral Events
Category: School, College, Greek

NativeEnergy Makes 578 Campus Screenings Carbon Neutral Events

Sole provider of carbon offsets for 'an inconvenient truth' offsets emissions from more than 578 screenings of award-winning film as part of international 'Week of Action', Jan. 29th - Feb. 3^rd

JAN.30, 2007, CHARLOTTE, VT – NativeEnergy, the leading carbon offsets company and sole provider of carbon offsets for 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH' – the first carbon neutral documentary film, book, and DVD – announced today that it has offset carbon emissions associated with every campus screening of the film, estimated at 100 tons, to support the 'Week of Action'. 

Screening the award-winning film will use energy, which is generated mostly by burning fossil fuels. By helping to build truly new renewable energy projects that will displace fossil-based energy NativeEnergy is effectively making the screenings carbon neutral events. 

"This is the largest mobilization in the history of the youth global warming movement, and students are demanding immediate action to fight the climate crisis, so we are showing our support by making sure these important actions don't contribute to the problem," says NativeEnergy President & CEO Tom Boucher.  The company hopes that all participants will follow its lead and offset travel emissions to and from all campus events – making the events, not just the screenings, carbon neutral.

NativeEnergy also announced new DORM OFFSETS for students committed to easily and cost-effectively offset the estimated emissions from dorm room energy use, estimated at 3 tons (6,000 pounds) of carbon dioxide (CO₂), for only $3 per month ($36 annually).  Students can purchase online at www.NativeEnergy.com.  Rather than support projects that are already up-and-running, students can join NativeEnergy's customers and help build  new renewable energy projects, which also help communities in need develop sustainable homeland economies in accordance with core cultural values.

The company permanently retires its Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and direct CO₂ offsets through its non-profit partner, Clean Air – Cool Planet, which ensures that the environmental rights are taken off the market and not resold in the future. 

Events, including rallies and educational forums, are planned on college and high school campuses in 49 states and 8 Canadian provinces.  In partnership with The 11th Hour Project and Truth on Campus, copies of the DVD and public screening licenses were made available to college and high school campuses.   For a complete list of events during the week of action, please visit http://www.climatechallenge.org/woa.

About NativeEnergy
American Indian majority-owned, NativeEnergy is a leading national marketer of renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets, offering individuals and organizations a means to compensate for their global warming pollution, or to effectively power their homes and businesses with renewable energy.  NativeEnergy's patent-pending business process brings upfront payment to renewable projects for their estimated future REC output, enabling its customers to help directly finance the construction of specific new wind farms and other renewable energy projects, such as tribal wind projects and methane digesters and wind turbines on America's family dairy farms.  These projects reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to meet the nation's electricity needs.  NativeEnergy is the choice of leading environmentally and socially responsible organizations, including the film AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (www.ClimateCrisis.net), Ben & Jerry's, Clif Bar, Stonyfield Farm, Interface, Aveda, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Co-op America, NRDC, the Clinton Global Initiative, Bonnaroo Festival, and thousands of individuals.  NativeEnergy also offers Green-e certified RECs from operating wind farms and Climate Neutral Network certified offsets from operating CO₂ mitigation projects. Online at: www.nativeenergy.com.

About Clean Air - Cool Planet

Clean Air - Cool Planet is the leading non-profit working in the Northeast to find and promote solutions to global warming.  From offices in New Canaan, CT, Boston, MA, and Portsmouth, NH, CA-CP works with corporations, campuses, communities, and science centers to implement solutions to climate change and build constituencies for effective climate policies and actions.  The third in its highly regarded Climate Solutions conferences, will be held in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Manchester, NH, October 12^th and 13^th, 2007. For more information: www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.

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LARGEST YOUTH MOBILIZATION ON GLOBAL WARMING: EVENTS ON 575 CAMPUSES

Largest Youth Mobilization on Global Warming:  Events on  5 7 5  Campuses 

• Students at Rutgers University have collected 200 invitations

sent to Rep. Frank Pallone D-NJ to at a screening and discussion of An

Inconvenient Truth. The screening will also kick-off a campus- wide

dorm competition to save energy.

• Students from Ivy League universities are joining together to

• January 30: Billionaires for Coal will be rallying outside the

• January 31: West Virginia elementary school students will be

http://www.climatechallenge.org/woa.

6:00 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment