I'm a little late getting to this one, but the Winston-Salem Chronicle, which 'strives to be the definitive choice for African-American and community news for the Piedmont Triad,' had some great coverage of our Cool Cities event last month.
You can see the front page here and the article here. Thank you to the Chronicle for its good work!
7.31.2007
Sierra Club Statement on S3
The North Carolina Sierra Club today expressed continued and significant reservations about an omnibus energy bill that received tentative approval today in the House. But the group also expressed appreciation to the House and Governor Easley for making several important improvements to the bill.
“We are pleased to be the first state in the South to adopt a renewable and energy efficiency standard. We appreciate the leadership of the House and Governor Easley for their diligence in making needed changes to the energy bill that better protect the environment and the consumer,” said Jerry Varner, Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Chapter, which has 19,000 members in the state
S. 3, Promote Renewable Energy/Baseload Financing, by Sen. Charlie Albertson was one of two companion bills introduced this session to require the state to acquire a portion of its energy from efficiency and alternative sources. The Senate version of the bill, however, became a vehicle for several changes to current regulation sought by the utilities that could encourage the building of new coal and nuclear plants, contrary to the purpose of establishing a renewable energy portfolio standard.
Most controversial is a provision that reverses a decades-old policy of not allowing utilities to recover costs for new nuclear facilities until they are producing energy. The ban against “construction work in progress” (CWIP) was put into place after consumers bore the costs of abandoned plants in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
“The incentive provided by CWIP for continuing the prevailing orthodoxy is a powerful one,” said Len Griffiths, a member of the Chapter’s steering committee.
Another key area of controversy is a provision in the bill that directs that a certain portion of energy come from swine waste. Sierra Club has advocated that those funds be linked to use of waste management systems that generate electricity while also reducing ammonia and odor and protecting water quality and public health.
“Sierra Club will work for improvements to the legislation in future sessions to address SB 3's weaknesses,” said Ginny Kloepfer of Greenville, also a member of the Chapter’s Steering Committee.
A list of improvements made to S.3 in the House follows:
Environmental issues:
• Strict air quality controls on burning of wood waste and poultry litter to make sure that that using these sources for energy will not create more pollution than power plants. These controls take into account the concentration of such industries in proximity to each other.
• Clarifies that the Environmental Management Commission has the authority to set standards for renewable energy technologies and to develop an environmental regulatory program to implement these standards.
Financing of new coal and nuclear plants:
• Requires utilities to prove to the Utilities Commission that nuclear and coal plants are more cost-effective and reliable ways to meet energy demands than efficiency, renewables, demand-side management and/or combined heat and power.
• Requires the Utilities Commission to take into account the inclusion of construction work in progress in a utility’s rate base. Because CWIP reduces utilities’ risk for building long-term projects such as coal and nuclear plants, it may in turn lower the rate of return, and thus save rate-payers money.
“We are pleased to be the first state in the South to adopt a renewable and energy efficiency standard. We appreciate the leadership of the House and Governor Easley for their diligence in making needed changes to the energy bill that better protect the environment and the consumer,” said Jerry Varner, Vice-Chair of the North Carolina Chapter, which has 19,000 members in the state
S. 3, Promote Renewable Energy/Baseload Financing, by Sen. Charlie Albertson was one of two companion bills introduced this session to require the state to acquire a portion of its energy from efficiency and alternative sources. The Senate version of the bill, however, became a vehicle for several changes to current regulation sought by the utilities that could encourage the building of new coal and nuclear plants, contrary to the purpose of establishing a renewable energy portfolio standard.
Most controversial is a provision that reverses a decades-old policy of not allowing utilities to recover costs for new nuclear facilities until they are producing energy. The ban against “construction work in progress” (CWIP) was put into place after consumers bore the costs of abandoned plants in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
“The incentive provided by CWIP for continuing the prevailing orthodoxy is a powerful one,” said Len Griffiths, a member of the Chapter’s steering committee.
Another key area of controversy is a provision in the bill that directs that a certain portion of energy come from swine waste. Sierra Club has advocated that those funds be linked to use of waste management systems that generate electricity while also reducing ammonia and odor and protecting water quality and public health.
“Sierra Club will work for improvements to the legislation in future sessions to address SB 3's weaknesses,” said Ginny Kloepfer of Greenville, also a member of the Chapter’s Steering Committee.
A list of improvements made to S.3 in the House follows:
Environmental issues:
• Strict air quality controls on burning of wood waste and poultry litter to make sure that that using these sources for energy will not create more pollution than power plants. These controls take into account the concentration of such industries in proximity to each other.
• Clarifies that the Environmental Management Commission has the authority to set standards for renewable energy technologies and to develop an environmental regulatory program to implement these standards.
Financing of new coal and nuclear plants:
• Requires utilities to prove to the Utilities Commission that nuclear and coal plants are more cost-effective and reliable ways to meet energy demands than efficiency, renewables, demand-side management and/or combined heat and power.
• Requires the Utilities Commission to take into account the inclusion of construction work in progress in a utility’s rate base. Because CWIP reduces utilities’ risk for building long-term projects such as coal and nuclear plants, it may in turn lower the rate of return, and thus save rate-payers money.
7.30.2007
Good work by the Henderson County Commissioners
With two new schools coming online in Henderson County, the County Commissioners decided to spend an extra 750k to make sure they were models of environmental design.
As this article points out, it's likely the money will more than repay itself over the years.
The County Commissioner lauded in this editorial for pushing it from the start? None other than our good friend and former national President Chuck McGrady.
As this article points out, it's likely the money will more than repay itself over the years.
The County Commissioner lauded in this editorial for pushing it from the start? None other than our good friend and former national President Chuck McGrady.
Gastonia Cool Cities Event
All are invited to Gastonia City Hall at 11 AM on Monday, August 13th where the North Carolina Sierra Club will honor Mayor Jennie Stultz for signing onto the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and making her community a 'Cool City!'
There will also be an event later that day to honor Salisbury as a Cool City, details pending.
Gastonia and Salisbury are the first Cool Cities in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg region but we certainly hope they won't be the last! E-mail me to help get something going in your community.
There will also be an event later that day to honor Salisbury as a Cool City, details pending.
Gastonia and Salisbury are the first Cool Cities in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg region but we certainly hope they won't be the last! E-mail me to help get something going in your community.
Simpsons Movie and the Environment
So I went to the much anticipated Simpsons Movie Friday night and lo and behold it was about a hog lagoon! Homer dumps a silo full of pig waste into a lake and it spurs such a large environmental crisis that the EPA puts a dome around Springfield and the Simpsons are run out of town.
There are many other environmental surprises in the movie but I don't want to spoil it so I'll just give it a hearty recommendation and say check it out.
There are many other environmental surprises in the movie but I don't want to spoil it so I'll just give it a hearty recommendation and say check it out.
7.26.2007
Local Papers Agree: Clean Jordan Lake Now!
The News&Observer and Herald-Sun both weighed in today in support of prompt protection of Jordan Lake.
Wake County Cool Cities
While we have been emphasizing getting Raleigh on as a Cool City, we'd be pretty happy to bring along any community in Wake County- Cary, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Zebulon, anyone who wants to do their part locally on climate change.
So we invite all in the county to next week's event:
So we invite all in the county to next week's event:
7.24.2007
How I Spent $20 and Saved $720 and Also Helped the Environment
Guest Post by Marvin Woll:
Alright I know you are saying to yourself this must be some kind of joke or scam. Well it is neither one and I am going to tell you how you can do it too!
Your first step is to purchase a 20" box fan. Then either late at night(usually 11:00p.m) or early in the morning(usually 6:30a.m.) turn on the weather channel or your computer and see what the outside temperature is. If the temperature is 70 degrees or lower put the fan in the window, turn it to the high setting and either push air into or draw outside air through the house. If possible let the fan run for an hour. You will notice your thermostat fall by five degrees. If you have a two story house you can do this upstairs and downstairs. It only takes a minute to glance at the weather and put the fan in the window.
When I do this my main air conditioning unit does not come on until four or five in the evening instead of ten or eleven in the morning. My house is 1,800 square feet. I do this activity in the spring, summer and fall and my electric bill decreased to $100. Normally it is $180. I am able to do this for nine months out of the year. So as you can see 9 x $80 = $720!
But I have to be honest. We also set our thermostat at 79 degrees in the summer and 70 degrees in the winter. We use cfl's and turn our appliances off when they are not in use.
This fan technique has certainly saved us a lot of money. The money you save is your own! The Environment we save is our own!
______________________
Our thanks to Marvin for sending along these great tips. Relevant guest posts are always welcome- just e-mail me at tom.jensen@sierraclub-nc.org
Alright I know you are saying to yourself this must be some kind of joke or scam. Well it is neither one and I am going to tell you how you can do it too!
Your first step is to purchase a 20" box fan. Then either late at night(usually 11:00p.m) or early in the morning(usually 6:30a.m.) turn on the weather channel or your computer and see what the outside temperature is. If the temperature is 70 degrees or lower put the fan in the window, turn it to the high setting and either push air into or draw outside air through the house. If possible let the fan run for an hour. You will notice your thermostat fall by five degrees. If you have a two story house you can do this upstairs and downstairs. It only takes a minute to glance at the weather and put the fan in the window.
When I do this my main air conditioning unit does not come on until four or five in the evening instead of ten or eleven in the morning. My house is 1,800 square feet. I do this activity in the spring, summer and fall and my electric bill decreased to $100. Normally it is $180. I am able to do this for nine months out of the year. So as you can see 9 x $80 = $720!
But I have to be honest. We also set our thermostat at 79 degrees in the summer and 70 degrees in the winter. We use cfl's and turn our appliances off when they are not in use.
This fan technique has certainly saved us a lot of money. The money you save is your own! The Environment we save is our own!
______________________
Our thanks to Marvin for sending along these great tips. Relevant guest posts are always welcome- just e-mail me at tom.jensen@sierraclub-nc.org
7.23.2007
Women are smarter than men...
At least that's the conclusion I drew from a new poll released today by our friends at the Conservation Council of North Carolina and Public Policy Polling.
It shows that 62% of North Carolinians think global warming is a serious threat. But there's an enormous gender gap on the issue! 72% of women agree with that statement while only 49% of men do.
Gender gaps on various political issues and candidates are nothing new. But they're rarely this large!
The results of the poll are pretty heartening. North Carolinians do not want new coal. They are most supportive of developing solar and wind power sources.
It's an interesting poll, check out the full results here.
It shows that 62% of North Carolinians think global warming is a serious threat. But there's an enormous gender gap on the issue! 72% of women agree with that statement while only 49% of men do.
Gender gaps on various political issues and candidates are nothing new. But they're rarely this large!
The results of the poll are pretty heartening. North Carolinians do not want new coal. They are most supportive of developing solar and wind power sources.
It's an interesting poll, check out the full results here.
Filing closes across the state
The filing period for municipal elections across North Carolina ended Friday and I was watching closely since the success of the Cool Cities program is of course predicated on who's in local office across the state.
I've already heard from one candidate, Chris Smithson. He is a Council member in Southern Pines and is seeking the Mayor's seat. Part of his platform is to make his community a Cool City! You can see his environmental platform here and his main website here.
Does anyone out there know of other candidates who have Cool Cities as part of their platform this fall? If you don't live in a Cool City and wish you did, one of the best ways to do it is encouraging your candidates to take a stand on the issue this fall.
I will be happy to showcase here anyone across the state using this as part of their campaign.
Thanks to Chris for his leadership, and good luck!
I've already heard from one candidate, Chris Smithson. He is a Council member in Southern Pines and is seeking the Mayor's seat. Part of his platform is to make his community a Cool City! You can see his environmental platform here and his main website here.
Does anyone out there know of other candidates who have Cool Cities as part of their platform this fall? If you don't live in a Cool City and wish you did, one of the best ways to do it is encouraging your candidates to take a stand on the issue this fall.
I will be happy to showcase here anyone across the state using this as part of their campaign.
Thanks to Chris for his leadership, and good luck!
7.20.2007
BlueNC live blog
I had a great discussion this morning with the folks over at BlueNC about Cool Cities. To read it click here.
And of course if a Republican leaning blog would like to have a discussion of Cool Cities, I'd be happy to do it there too! It's a bipartisan program all the way.
And of course if a Republican leaning blog would like to have a discussion of Cool Cities, I'd be happy to do it there too! It's a bipartisan program all the way.
7.19.2007
7.18.2007
Making a push in eastern North Carolina
As we've written about previously, we had quite a successful event last week honoring Greenville as a Cool City.
We hope Greenville will be just the first of many in the region to come online, so we sent a mailing out today to about 85 other Mayors in the Greenville/Washington/New Bern tv market.
If you live in one of those communities, contact your Mayor and ask them to have your community join the crowd of Cool Cities in North Carolina.
We hope Greenville will be just the first of many in the region to come online, so we sent a mailing out today to about 85 other Mayors in the Greenville/Washington/New Bern tv market.
If you live in one of those communities, contact your Mayor and ask them to have your community join the crowd of Cool Cities in North Carolina.
Jordan Lake stories
7.17.2007
Triad Jordan Lake Hearing Tonight
The second and third Jordan Lake public hearings are today. Probably too late if you're reading this to make it to the one this afternoon, but hopefully you can make it to the one tonight at 6:30. It's at the Koury Business Center Room 101, 401 North O'Kelly Avenue in Elon.
We're expecting a tough crowd so the more environmental voices the better. More information here.
We're expecting a tough crowd so the more environmental voices the better. More information here.
Cool Counties
Yesterday at 1 PM the Sierra Club unveiled its new Cool Counties program in Richmond.
Just one hour later at 2 PM, OCG Conservation Chair Judith Ferster presented it to the Chatham County Commissioners! Thank you to Judith for being so on top of things- that has to have been the first presentation about it made in the country after its formal unveiling.
We had already recognized Orange and Mecklenburg as Cool Counties under a previous more informal system but if you want to get a Cool County campaign rolling with the new one shoot me an e-mail.
The full press release is here.
Just one hour later at 2 PM, OCG Conservation Chair Judith Ferster presented it to the Chatham County Commissioners! Thank you to Judith for being so on top of things- that has to have been the first presentation about it made in the country after its formal unveiling.
We had already recognized Orange and Mecklenburg as Cool Counties under a previous more informal system but if you want to get a Cool County campaign rolling with the new one shoot me an e-mail.
The full press release is here.
7.14.2007
Hampton Dellinger's statement on preserving the Dix property
Lieutenant Governor candidate Hampton Dellinger posing at the Dorothea Dix property. As always, we are willing to post the pro-environmental stances of any candidate for statewide office.
Dorothea Dix devoted her life to caring for those who could not fully care for themselves, and to building a community that was willing and able to follow her example. By protecting and wisely developing the land surrounding Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, we can honor both pillars of her life’s work, revitalizing our mental health system and furnishing for this generation, and the ones to come, an incredible gathering place.
These 306 acres are truly unique. Few cities, and no growing state capitals, can claim the kind of natural beauty that these rolling hills, lush meadows, and ancient oaks give us. Anyone who has paused for a moment among the trees that give the City of Oaks its nickname cannot help but appreciate this rare urban oasis.
In a magnet city like Raleigh, large public spaces like this one are all but impossible to create. Fortunately, the Dix campus has been publicly owned for more than a century and a half already, so unlike most major projects this one can be achieved simply by working out an agreement between the state, which now owns it, and the city, which seeks to become its new custodian. This kind of opportunity comes along once in a city’s lifetime, and I hope that Raleigh and state officials will quickly reach an agreement that serves the needs of all interested parties, including the city, the state, and the mental health community.
We North Carolinians know that the best traditions of the past always go hand-in-hand with building a better future. The Dix 306 is no exception. Already, the City of Raleigh and groups like Dix Visionaries and the Friends of Dorothea Dix Park have proposed plans that would use a mix of public and private financing to preserve the historical heritage of the Dix 306 while encouraging economic growth in surrounding neighborhoods. Whatever the ultimate details of the adopted plan, the important thing now is to commit ourselves to protecting the land and listening to the voices of all interested parties, including nearby property owners, private developers, state agencies, and the mental health advocates. Like all great urban green spaces, the Dix 306 could become an “active oasis” that encourages surrounding targeted and sustainable growth, while providing a scenic connection between downtown Raleigh and the North Carolina State campus.
7.13.2007
More good news for Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson, whose green commitment we've blogged out before, has been named by Blue Ridge Outdoors as the 'greenest college in the southeast.'
Check out the story here. Congratulations to Warren Wilson!
Check out the story here. Congratulations to Warren Wilson!
Pictures from Greenville
About 50 folks came out to see Greenville honored as a Cool City.
Ginny Kloepfer and Art Langrish posed with the Greenville Fire and Rescue Department's new hybrid!
Thank you to Bill Kloepfer with his help taking the photos!
Jordan Lake Hearing Wrapup
The public hearing about proposed Jordan Lake rules in Carrboro tonight was pretty fascinating. A wide variety of perspectives were represented to say the least.
First things first- Orange/Chatham Group Conservation Chair Judith Ferster did an outstanding job representing the Sierra Club on the issue. We were also lucky to have a former OCG ExCom member, Marsha Stephens, give some great comments on behalf of the New Hope Group of the Audubon Society. Sierrans Ed Harrison and Sally Greene gave a ringing endorsement of the rules in their roles as Chapel Hill Town Council members, as did Sierra endorsed Chatham County Commissioner George Lucier. Thanks to all these great speakers.
They sure had some opposition though! The sprawl lobby was out in force with numerous representatives of home builder and developer organizations present and expressing their strong opposition to the rules.
You'll be heartened to know though that these folks weren't against the rules because they were afraid they would hurt their profit margins.
Nope, they said they were against the rules because it would hurt their ability to provide affordable housing and because they weren't sure they would really help clean the lake.
If their idea of providing affordable housing is that the $600,000 houses they're building in the watershed in Chatham County might cost $602,000 now maybe they're right.
If their idea of environmental protection is to discard all the proposed rules and allow conditions to remain as they are in a watershed that has been classified impaired for ten years and redo a rulemaking process that has already taken an eternity, then maybe they're right.
The proposed rules are not perfect. The Sierra Club would like to see some changes itself, and some of the speakers tonight made some reasonable suggestions for how they could be improved.
But the complete disingenuousness of the sprawl lobby in expressing its opposition to the rules was frankly appalling. I would have had a lot more respect for them if they had just come right out and said they opposed the rules because they were concerned about an adverse impact on their profit margins.
So there were plenty of folks representing environmental groups there pushing their interests and there were plenty of people representing sprawl lobby groups there pushing their interests. Hopefully the Sierra Club's position was heard loud and clear.
What was heartening about the hearing was what the folks who don't meet either of those descriptions had to say.
Folks who use the lake for recreation said it needed to be cleaned up. Folks who drink water from the lake said it needed to be cleaned up.
And then there were the folks who in some sense met both descriptions. One gentleman said he was a realtor and a Sierra Club member and expressed his strong support of the rules. A builder, Bert Gurganus, also outlined the importance of their being enacted.
I hope the EMC listened hard to what those in between had to say.
First things first- Orange/Chatham Group Conservation Chair Judith Ferster did an outstanding job representing the Sierra Club on the issue. We were also lucky to have a former OCG ExCom member, Marsha Stephens, give some great comments on behalf of the New Hope Group of the Audubon Society. Sierrans Ed Harrison and Sally Greene gave a ringing endorsement of the rules in their roles as Chapel Hill Town Council members, as did Sierra endorsed Chatham County Commissioner George Lucier. Thanks to all these great speakers.
They sure had some opposition though! The sprawl lobby was out in force with numerous representatives of home builder and developer organizations present and expressing their strong opposition to the rules.
You'll be heartened to know though that these folks weren't against the rules because they were afraid they would hurt their profit margins.
Nope, they said they were against the rules because it would hurt their ability to provide affordable housing and because they weren't sure they would really help clean the lake.
If their idea of providing affordable housing is that the $600,000 houses they're building in the watershed in Chatham County might cost $602,000 now maybe they're right.
If their idea of environmental protection is to discard all the proposed rules and allow conditions to remain as they are in a watershed that has been classified impaired for ten years and redo a rulemaking process that has already taken an eternity, then maybe they're right.
The proposed rules are not perfect. The Sierra Club would like to see some changes itself, and some of the speakers tonight made some reasonable suggestions for how they could be improved.
But the complete disingenuousness of the sprawl lobby in expressing its opposition to the rules was frankly appalling. I would have had a lot more respect for them if they had just come right out and said they opposed the rules because they were concerned about an adverse impact on their profit margins.
So there were plenty of folks representing environmental groups there pushing their interests and there were plenty of people representing sprawl lobby groups there pushing their interests. Hopefully the Sierra Club's position was heard loud and clear.
What was heartening about the hearing was what the folks who don't meet either of those descriptions had to say.
Folks who use the lake for recreation said it needed to be cleaned up. Folks who drink water from the lake said it needed to be cleaned up.
And then there were the folks who in some sense met both descriptions. One gentleman said he was a realtor and a Sierra Club member and expressed his strong support of the rules. A builder, Bert Gurganus, also outlined the importance of their being enacted.
I hope the EMC listened hard to what those in between had to say.
7.12.2007
Raleigh dumping normal light bulbs
Marvin Woll has been the driving force in trying to get Raleigh to become a Cool City.
Tuesday night he took a petition to the City Council and asked it to start using CFL's instead of incandescent light bulbs.
Turns out the city has already frozen the purchase orders of standard light bulbs and will be purchasing CFL's for subsequent replacements.
Another example of good leadership by Raleigh that hopefully will soon be put into an overall set of goals and vision by signing the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and becoming a Cool City.
Thanks to Marvin for his hard work and vigilance.
Tuesday night he took a petition to the City Council and asked it to start using CFL's instead of incandescent light bulbs.
Turns out the city has already frozen the purchase orders of standard light bulbs and will be purchasing CFL's for subsequent replacements.
Another example of good leadership by Raleigh that hopefully will soon be put into an overall set of goals and vision by signing the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and becoming a Cool City.
Thanks to Marvin for his hard work and vigilance.
Official NC Sierra Club statement on Jordan Lake rules
The Triangle’s population is booming, with new construction beginning every day. This rapid pace of growth has had an adverse effect on the health of local water sources. In response to these issues the Environmental Management Commission will hold public hearings to take comment on proposed rules to clean up Jordan Lake. The first hearing is 6:30 Thursday the 12th in Carrboro at the Century Center. The other two will be in Elon next Tuesday the 17th.
The North Carolina Sierra Club supports these rules but would like to see a speedier timetable for the requirement that wastewater treatment plants upstream from the lake reduce nitrogen. Sierra Club believes that change should take effect in 2011 rather than 2016 as currently proposed in the rules.
Statement of NC Sierra Club Chapter Chair Pat Carstensen:
“We need to take forward looking measures now to ensure a future healthy water supply as the Triangle grows,” says Pat Carstensen, chair of the North Carolina Sierra Club. The Sierra Club joins the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Chatham County Board of Commissioners in expressing its strong support of the proposed rules.
For more information contact Molly Diggins, chapter director of the North Carolina Sierra Club, at 919-833-8467 or visit http://cleanjordanlake.org/
The North Carolina Sierra Club supports these rules but would like to see a speedier timetable for the requirement that wastewater treatment plants upstream from the lake reduce nitrogen. Sierra Club believes that change should take effect in 2011 rather than 2016 as currently proposed in the rules.
Statement of NC Sierra Club Chapter Chair Pat Carstensen:
“We need to take forward looking measures now to ensure a future healthy water supply as the Triangle grows,” says Pat Carstensen, chair of the North Carolina Sierra Club. The Sierra Club joins the Chapel Hill Town Council and the Chatham County Board of Commissioners in expressing its strong support of the proposed rules.
For more information contact Molly Diggins, chapter director of the North Carolina Sierra Club, at 919-833-8467 or visit http://cleanjordanlake.org/
7.11.2007
Another clip from the Greenville ceremony
I must say, I am quite impressed with Greenville's Public Information Office.
They wrote this great story about the event yesterday, and they also had a very professional television crew doing a story for their public access station.
Not many cities do this good a job of showcasing themselves.
They wrote this great story about the event yesterday, and they also had a very professional television crew doing a story for their public access station.
Not many cities do this good a job of showcasing themselves.
Jordan Lake Hearing Reminder
The first Jordan Lake hearing is tomorrow night at 6:30 PM in the Carrboro Century Center.
OCG Vice Chair Loren Hintz had a great letter about the issue in the Chapel Hill News today.
We hope to see a lot of folks speaking out for clean water Thursday.
OCG Vice Chair Loren Hintz had a great letter about the issue in the Chapel Hill News today.
We hope to see a lot of folks speaking out for clean water Thursday.
Baseball and the Environment
Well it's been a while since I tied baseball into the environmental movement so don't begrudge me this opportunity!
Last night was the All Star game, and MVP Ichiro Suzuki's grand prize for the honor?
A Chevy Tahoe Hybrid!
Probably not the best car they could have given out but it was still good national publicity for more fuel efficient vehicles.
Last night was the All Star game, and MVP Ichiro Suzuki's grand prize for the honor?
A Chevy Tahoe Hybrid!
Probably not the best car they could have given out but it was still good national publicity for more fuel efficient vehicles.
Greenville Cool City event coverage
We had an outstanding event yesterday in Greenville to honor it as the first Cool City in eastern North Carolina. Thank you and congratulations to the folks in the Cypress Group who have worked to make this possible.
There were stories about the event on WITN and WNCT.
The Daily Reflector also had a good news story about the event and an editorial lauding Greenville for its actions.
There were stories about the event on WITN and WNCT.
The Daily Reflector also had a good news story about the event and an editorial lauding Greenville for its actions.
7.09.2007
Solar Panels at UNC
I walked down to the South Campus at UNC on Saturday and saw that the renovation of Morrison Residence Hall, one of the university's notorious 'skyscraper' dorms was nearly complete.
More specifically, what caught my attention were the solar panels on the roof!
In 2003, and then again in 2005, students at UNC passed a voluntary student fee increase to incorporate renewable energy into campus building projects.
One of the projects they chose to fund was the use of solar power in the renovated Morrison Hall. You can read more about it here.
The leadership UNC students took in pushing this through (with some help from national Sierra Club president Robbie Cox) is virtually unprecedented anywhere else in the country as far as I know. It's a good sign for the future of our state, and a good example for other campuses to follow.
More specifically, what caught my attention were the solar panels on the roof!
In 2003, and then again in 2005, students at UNC passed a voluntary student fee increase to incorporate renewable energy into campus building projects.
One of the projects they chose to fund was the use of solar power in the renovated Morrison Hall. You can read more about it here.
The leadership UNC students took in pushing this through (with some help from national Sierra Club president Robbie Cox) is virtually unprecedented anywhere else in the country as far as I know. It's a good sign for the future of our state, and a good example for other campuses to follow.
Some good leadership from Mayor Meeker
Raleigh is a boom town and that means all the construction occurring is producing a lot of trash.
Most of it is ending up in the landfill.
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker thinks there needs to be a plan for recycling that stuff.
And he's right.
Check out the full story in the N&O here.
Thank you to Mayor Meeker for his leadership...now if Raleigh would just become a Cool City :)
Most of it is ending up in the landfill.
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker thinks there needs to be a plan for recycling that stuff.
And he's right.
Check out the full story in the N&O here.
Thank you to Mayor Meeker for his leadership...now if Raleigh would just become a Cool City :)
7.08.2007
A green church in Chapel Hill
There is a very neat story in today's Chapel Hill News about local churches putting green features in their new buildings and renovations. An excerpt:
It's great to see these folks incoporating environmental imperatives into their spiritual lives and they've set a tremendous example for other congregations.
The full story is here.
The age of green building has arrived with Chapel Hill worshippers practicing what they preach as several churches renovate old structures and build new ones, expanding to accommodate a growing community.
It's great to see these folks incoporating environmental imperatives into their spiritual lives and they've set a tremendous example for other congregations.
The full story is here.
7.05.2007
Yes Weekly surveys the Greensboro environmental scene
The Yes Weekly took a wide look at the Greensboro City Council and its actions on the environment this week.
The JFL has its usual snide comments.
Since there seems to be overall strong support on the Council, we hope that Greensboro will soon become our newest Cool City.
The JFL has its usual snide comments.
Since there seems to be overall strong support on the Council, we hope that Greensboro will soon become our newest Cool City.
Speak out on Jordan Lake next week
One of the most important upcoming conservation issues in North Carolina is saving Jordan Lake.
There will be a public hearing on proposed rules next Thursday the 12th at the Carrboro Century Center at 6:30 PM.
You can read background information about Jordan Lake at our website here.
You can also e-mail me if you would like talking points. My address is at the top of the page.
There will be a public hearing on proposed rules next Thursday the 12th at the Carrboro Century Center at 6:30 PM.
You can read background information about Jordan Lake at our website here.
You can also e-mail me if you would like talking points. My address is at the top of the page.
7.03.2007
Make it 19 Cool Cities
The number of western North Carolina counties with multiple Cool Cities just continues to proliferate- when Clyde came on it made two in Haywood County, Black Mountain made three in Buncombe County, Fletcher made it two in Henderson County, and now Franklin has made it two in Macon County. WNC is leading the way!
Franklin unanimously passed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at its May board meeting.
The town is currently working on reworking its land use plan, and the ideas it's looking to emphasize sound pretty 'cool' to me!
You can read all about their efforts here. Congratulations to Franklin for its leadership!
Franklin unanimously passed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement at its May board meeting.
The town is currently working on reworking its land use plan, and the ideas it's looking to emphasize sound pretty 'cool' to me!
• Encourage mixed land uses to promote “connectivity, walkability and a sense of community.” That means allowing different forms of development to take place in certain districts, and to promote transportation alternatives such as walking, bicycling and public transit.
• Take advantage of compact building design so that the town grows vertically rather than horizontally.
• Create a range of housing opportunities.
• Develop “walkable” neighborhoods.
• Work to foster a distinctive, attractive community, which includes protecting historic buildings.
• Preserve open space, natural beauty and critical environmental areas.
• Funnel new development into existing infrastructure to help preserve open spaces and improve efficiency in delivering town services.
• Provide a variety of transportation choices.
You can read all about their efforts here. Congratulations to Franklin for its leadership!
Coming to Greenville next week...
Next week we'll be honoring our first Cool City east of 95! At a 10 AM ceremony at City Hall on Tuesday, July 10th Greenville will be recognized for its commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
We are very appreciative of the leadership their Mayor and City Council have shown (it was a unanimous vote) and we hope that their leadership will provide a strong model for other communities in the eastern part of the state.
Please join us in Greenville next Tuesday!
We are very appreciative of the leadership their Mayor and City Council have shown (it was a unanimous vote) and we hope that their leadership will provide a strong model for other communities in the eastern part of the state.
Please join us in Greenville next Tuesday!
7.02.2007
WRAL Global Warming Documentary
Bill Leslie of WRAL narrated a great documentary about Global Warming in North Carolina this weekend. Among many experts it featured Stan Riggs, who is the hit speaker for our Cypress Group in eastern North Carolina every year.
You can view the whole thing online here.
BTW, in addition to being a great journalist, Bill is also a very good musician. It is a joy to hear his Christmas music on the radio every winter.
You can view the whole thing online here.
BTW, in addition to being a great journalist, Bill is also a very good musician. It is a joy to hear his Christmas music on the radio every winter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)