Mitakides for Congress is First Carbon Neutral Campaign in Ohio

Walking the Talk, Campaign Leads the Way by Offsetting Carbon Footprint

Dayton, Ohio, April, 22, 2008 – In conjunction with the 38th annual Earth Day, Jane Mitakides, Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District of Ohio, announced that she will work with Carbonfund.org to make her campaign carbon neutral, becoming one of the first congressional campaigns in the nation, and the only one in Ohio, to make such a move.

Mitakides sees the decision as another display of real solutions for America’s challenges.

 “Global climate change requires everyone to do their part,” said Mitakides.  “I can walk the talk of green solutions by neutralizing my campaign’s carbon footprint.”

Carbonfund.org works with individuals, businesses, and organizations to reduce and offset their carbon emissions through a combination of investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation.  The Mitakides campaign will be supporting all three methods, in an effort to raise awareness of the many approaches to addressing climate change.

“We’re extremely pleased to be working with Jane Mitakides to bring more attention to climate change,” Carbonfund.org Executive Director Eric Carlson said. “While Carbonfund.org is a nonpartisan organization, we are firmly in support of better climate change policy at the federal level. The Mitakides campaign is taking action to offset its own carbon footprint, while sending a signal that she intends to work toward solving the climate crisis if elected to Congress.”

Mitakides’ actions are in sharp contrast to those of her opponent, Republican Mike Turner, who has a 4.8% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters. During his time in Congress, he has voted against investments in renewable energy, higher fuel standards, and stronger air quality controls.

“Preserving the planet for future generations is imperative.  We have a tremendous opportunity to protect the environment and strengthen our economy by investing in green industry, creating new jobs in the process,” said Mitakides. “Ohio is perfectly suited to be the center of such new technology, manufacturing, and research.”