Greening up concerts with solar powered sound and carbon credits

Green Mountain Energy and Sustainable Waves, a provider of mobile solar powered sound and staging solutions in the U.S., today announced a new program for carbon neutral music tours and events.

The initiative introduces a special "Be Green Ticket" for affiliated events, a first green ticket program to be certified by Green-e, the independent certification and verification program for renewable energy in the U.S.

Buying one of the special tickets provides event goers with up to 1,000 kilowatts (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates to offset ~1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide. These offsets "can be applied towards the fan's emissions generated in traveling to the event or other household emissions," the organizers said, not bothering to explain that "applied" really didn't mean anything.

Presumably, the tickets will be at a premium price. While specifics were lacking in an announcement today, they didn't miss the obligatory well-meaning-but-inarticulate-musican quote:

"Anytime I can do something positive for the environment, I'm always ready to jump in," says G. Love, front man for the band G. Love and Special Sauce. "By making our tours carbon neutral, we embrace alternative, renewable energy sources and a cleaner, healthier future for our children. I'm down with the 'green' for sure."

Look for "Be Green Tickets" through these artists, venues and festivals: Steve Kimock, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Perpetual Groove, Orpheum Theater and Pine Mountain Amphitheater in Flagstaff AZ, Tree Sound Studios, Harmony Festival, Boom Boom Room, 12 Galaxies, Catalyst, and Sunset Promotions (provided through In Ticketing) along with Willie Nelson, Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Jake Shimabukuro (provided through All Access Today), The Joshua Tree Music Festival and Camp Bisco.