Here is what the WSJ says ($) about Drive Neutral, our #1 sponsor (I'm 33% towards my Typepad bill), and other carbon offsetters:
Most carbon-offset programs require consumers to make small payments that in turn go to programs that create renewable energy or absorb carbon dioxide to counteract emissions. But while the thought of offsetting carbon dioxide is a nice gesture, it's debatable whether the small donations make a significant impact. Some companies, such as AT&T Inc. and Bank of America Corp., offer to donate money toward tree-plantings or forest conservation for those who opt for paperless statements or bills. The average global citizen emits 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to Cool Air-Clean Planet, a nonprofit group that researches ways to fight global warming. (The average U.S. citizen: 21 tons.) A grown tree, meanwhile, can absorb only three to 15 pounds of carbon dioxide per year, according to Tufts Climate Initiative at Tufts University.
Skeptical consumers are also wondering whether the programs are really offsetting their carbon footprints, or whether they're meant to just rid them of guilt. Or worse, some suspect the programs are lining the pockets of companies who don't advertise them as profitable, or that companies are using them primarily to boost their image, not to help the environment.
Note: The WSJ mentions TerraPass and other offsetters but not DriveNeutral. So, I did as suggested and re-checked the DriveNeutral website:
When you buy a carbon-neutral certification from DriveNeutral, we buy emissions reduction credits on your behalf through the the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).
OK, very reputable.