Is carbon offset a boon or a scam?

US Olympic sweater made with wool from Shaniko Wool Company. Author’s own photo.

Jeanne Carver runs Shaniko Wool Company. The company is new but the family has been sheep ranching on their family land since the 19th Century under the name Imperial Stock Ranch for much of that time. Since the 1970s, Jeanne told us, American businesses have been choosing to save cost and increase profits by importing wool and lamb instead of buying them from American ranchers. Consequently many ranchers have gotten out of…