 If you think of Detroit’s APBA Gold Cup hydroplane races as a guilty pleasure in an era when the fight against global warming is part of the national agenda, prepare to be reassured. The races – which will roar on the Detroit River this weekend – are going green.
The Detroit River Regatta Association, which produces the races, has joined with Carbon Credit Environmental Services (CCES) – a Detroit-based company that specializes in offsetting the carbon footprint of events and organizations – to make the 100th running of the APBA Gold Cup weekend a “carbon-neutral" event.
CCES is offsetting the carbon emissions from the Gold Cup through a project with the Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit organization that does tree-planting, park restoration and sustainability projects in the city, and other alternative-energy projects in metro Detroit. Funding will come from CCES clients, which pay the company to help offset their greenhouse emissions.
The amount of offsetting needed is based in CCES’ greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions audits, which provide an estimate of the total carbon footprint of Gold Cup weekend – including racing itself, the helicopters, navy planes, and the more than 100,000 fans expected to travel to the Detroit River for the event.
Mike Dolkowski, president if CCES said the goal is to offset the impact of the Gold Cup within one year by eliminating future emissions roughly equal to the carbon emissions generated by the event. In exchange for funding the carbon offsets, Dolkowski said, its clients get the right to market their participation in making the Gold Cup carbon neutral.
CCES clients will help will fund The Greening of Detroit's Market Garden project planned for currently vacant land in Detroit's Eastern Market District. The Market Garden will operate as a sustainable farm incorporating solar energy, as well as a green house that will be operated using alternative energy technologies such as geothermal and solar. The Market Garden will supply local vendors and residents with plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables with the aim of promoting local urban economies and alternative energy technologies as viable and economically efficient choices.
In addition, Edibles Rex, a Detroit-based caterer, is supplying biodegradable cafeteria-ware to be used in all suite food services during Gold Cup weekend – further offsetting the environmental impact of the event.
"We are thrilled to participate in an effort that benefits metro Detroit in such an important way," said DRRA Event Director Mark Weber. "This is the 100th running of the APBA Gold Cup. It's entirely fitting that part of our recognition of that significant historical milestone should be honoring the river and surrounding land that has helped make this event so great by making sure we're operating the event in a sustainable way."
The APBA Gold Cup will take place July 11-13 on the Detroit River. For all the details, visit www.gold-cup.com.
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