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Green Marketing Review On FTC Fast Track

The Federal Trade Commission is accelerating a review of its guidelines governing how companies market carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates that claim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in one place to offset emissions elsewhere. The agency was scheduled to review the guidelines in 2009, but will now conduct its first public hearing on Jan. 8.

"A lot of companies are making green marketing claims," says FTC spokeswoman Jackie Dizdul. "The last time our guidelines were updated was in 1998, and obviously a lot of things have changed."

An enormous variety of companies now make such claims. They include local utilities that charge premiums to subsidize wind power, as well as car-rental companies and online marketers that sell certificates whose proceeds are said to pay for projects to reduce greenhouse gases. Other firms say they use premiums to plant trees, burn methane to convert it to less potent greenhouse gases, boost recycling or use so-called sustainable materials.

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Read the whole story at The Washington Post »

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