The headlines last week talked all about how Al Gore went before Senate and House committees to talk about global warming and the "planetary crisis" we now face.  Do you know the full story?  Did you know that he refused to "walk the talk" and reduce his own energy usage? 

I assume by now everyone is aware of the reports on just how much energy Al Gore uses at his "house" in Tenneessee.  In a nutshell, the Gore's mansion uses more electricity in a month than the typical American family uses in a year! 

 At the Senate hearing, Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe asked Al Gore, "Are you willing to make a commitment here today by taking this pledge to consume no more energy for use in your residence than the average American household by one year from today?"

You can of course imagine the response!  Gore refused the invitation, and added that he and Tipper live what he calls a "carbon-neutral" lifestyle, by "purchasing verifiable reductions in CO2 elsewhere."  So, while Al Gore expects the average American conserve, he doesn't have to. 

Talk about a boon to the rich environmentalist.  You can use all the energy you want – just make sure you pay someone to plant a tree somewhere.  "What" you say?  Yes, that is exactly what carbon credits or carbon offsets as they are called do.  You use all the power you want but you buy "credits" that in theory offset the emissions that this power usage generates. 

In a nutshell, you do nothing to reduce your own energy usage – you just pay someone to assuage any guilt you might have over using all you want.  These "environmentalists" can sleep well at night that by shuffling some paper, they can live in carbon neutral ignorance while consuming as much power as they want.  Best of all, this allows them the moral high ground to lecture the rest of us to cut back our own energy consumption. 

In the case of Al Gore, according to the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, there is another little side benefit.  Who does he buy these "credits" from?  Generation Investment Management- a company he co-founded and serves as chairman for.  In other words, he buys the offsets from himself and his own investment!  It is good to be green and rich! 

Much more will come out about these carbon offsets in the future.  I would encourage you to do your own research and make your own decision.