Green Delegate Challenge

By Rep. Robbie Wills

You may notice many state delegation stanchions are capped with a little green sign. This signifies that the state's delegation is participating in the DNC Green Delegate Challenge. As part of an ongoing effort to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention the most environmentally-sustainable Democratic Convention in history, House Speaker and Permanent Convention Chair Nancy Pelosi announced the challenge, offering special rewards for the delegation or delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attending the Convention.

As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition "green" prize. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable "green item" for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com.

The Arkansas Delegation isn't formally participating in the challenge, although Rep. Kathy Webb is individually participating by offsetting her carbon footprint for attending the convention.