Ford Launches Customer Carbon Offset Program
Source: GreenBiz.com
 

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 27, 2006 - Ford Motor Company and TerraPass have announced "Greener Miles, a program offering Ford vehicle owners the opportunity to offset the climate impact of their driving through the support of projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Through Greener Miles drivers can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions they generate in one year of driving by visiting www.terrapass.com/ford. Customers then have the opportunity to purchase an offset that supports the production of renewable clean energy from wind or dairy farm methane. This pilot program gives customers a simple way to be voluntary, active participants in addressing the challenges of climate change.

"Ford is tackling the challenge of climate change from all sides – reducing the emissions from our factories, increasing the efficiency of our vehicles, expanding the availability of E85 ethanol in the American Midwest and developing new low-carbon engine technologies," said Niel Golightly, director, Sustainable Business Strategies. "With Greener Miles we're engaging customers as well – raising their awareness of the climate change issue and offering them a tool to get involved themselves. Greener Miles and Ford’s partnership with TerraPass is the latest in our portfolio of innovations for reducing the impact of cars and trucks on the climate. "

As part of his remarks on innovation last September, Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, William Clay Ford, Jr. pledged a two-pronged approach to take on the challenge of offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. First, Ford committed to its own corporate action. A pilot program is underway to offset the greenhouse gasses emitted in the manufacture of our hybrid electric vehicles with investments in projects, such as renewable clean energy production that reduce emissions elsewhere. (Ford manufactures the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid at its vehicle assembly plant in Kansas City, MO.)

The second part of the commitment is to engage individual customers on carbon offset efforts beginning today with the launch by Ford and TerraPass launch of the Greener Miles program. The Ford-customized offset program invites vehicle owners to visit www.terrapass.com/ford, where an annual enrollment fee buys them a TerraPass based on the type of vehicle they drive and their annual vehicle mileage.

Sample Ford-TerrPass Greener Miles carbon offset program vehicle decals.

Ranging from $29.95 to $79.95, depending on the type of vehicle and miles traveled, purchases of Greener Miles TerraPasses contribute to investments in U.S.-based renewable clean energy projects such as wind power energy or making power from dairy farm manure. All of the carbon offset purchases are third party verified by the Center for Resource Solutions, one of the country’s leading authorities on renewable and clean energy issues. Customers receive a vehicle decal as a visual symbol of their participation in the Greener Miles program.

"More and more customers around the world are concerned about the challenge of climate changes caused by the emissions or greenhouse gases," said Golightly. "We’re pleased to offer consumers one easy, affordable way to engage in a meaningful and measurable step to fight climate change and be a part of the solution."

"Your purchase of a TerraPass supports energy projects that balance out your car’s climate impact and moves us all ahead on the road to a future of clean, renewable energy," said Tom Arnold, TerraPass chief environmental officer. "This is a way for individuals to take personal action and take advantage of our efforts at getting the maximum environmental benefit from every dollar. We are excited to have Ford as a partner in helping us address this very important issue."

"Greener Miles is just one piece of our comprehensive strategy on climate change," said Golightly. "It is not a substitute for our continuing work on vehicle fuel efficiency. It does provide an incremental, short term action to help bridge the gap until we are able to implement longer term solutions. And it allows individuals to take positive, direct action now to share in the solution."

In addition to the Greener Miles offset program, Ford will launch an Eco-driving online training program through Ford’s public web site www.ford.com in early May. By logging on, consumers will be able to find tips for operating and maintaining their vehicles in the most fuel efficient ways possible. Eco-driving will show individuals how to conserve fuel, save money at the pump and reduce their driving emissions.

Since 2000, Ford has reduced its manufacturing CO2 emissions by 15 percent worldwide through implementation of energy efficiency measures in its facilities. The company was a founding member of both the United Kingdom Voluntary Emissions Trading Program and the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Ford addresses vehicle emissions through ongoing efforts to increase the fuel-efficiency of its fleet. Ford has announced several actions including: plans to increase global production capacity of hybrid vehicles to 250,000 annually by 2010; the availability of four new vehicles that can run largely on ethanol for production of 250,000 Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in 2006, and continued innovative research into development of clean diesels and hydrogen powered vehicles.


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