Winston-Salem press conference

Top: the TV cameras lined up to see the Foothills Group press conference honoring Winston-Salem as a Cool City.

Bottom: Councilman Dan Besse, Councilwoman Evelyn Terry, Foothills Chair Dave Pritchard, Councilwoman Molly Leight, Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, Mayor Allen Joines, and Foothills Cool Cities Coordinator Elyse Jung pose with the Winston-Salem Cool Cities plaque.

The Foothills Group put on an outstanding event to honor Winston-Salem as a Cool City yesterday!

Nearly 50 people came out, including over half of the City Council- thank you to Mayor Allen Joines and Council members Dan Besse, Vivian Burke, Molly Leight, and Evelyn Terry for their presence.

It was a beautiful day downtown at Grace Court Park, and half a dozen media outlets showed up to cover the event. Check out this great story from News 14 Carolina.

While Winston-Salem's commitment was certainly worth a celebration, Councilwoman Leight made the very important point that our actions are more important than words. We look forward to educating citizens and public officials about the actions they can take to reach the goals in the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement over the coming months.

Big happenings at the US Conference of Mayors

The US Conference of Mayors, writers of the document the Cool Cities program is based on, met in Los Angeles over the weekend.

A few key things that came out of the meeting:

-They endorsed the EPA's energy star challenge as one of the outlets communities can use to help reach their Cool Cities goals. This is a national campaign to improve energy efficiency by 10 percent or more in commercial and industrial buildings across the United States. You can read more about it here.

-Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle, the visionary behind the USMCPA, will be the head of the Conference in 2009. This can only mean an even more green focus for an organization already doing a lot of impressive work.

-Arnold Schwarzenegger apparently gave quite a rousing speech, commending the assembled Mayors for their environmental commitment.

-There was an update on the progress cities across the country are making toward their goals.

Live from Nebraska...

I've been in Nebraska the last couple of days to see UNC win the national championship in baseball. Didn't work out so much...

Still been an interesting trip. I'm staying in Omaha, which is a beautiful city and has a downtown that Raleigh could learn a lot from. I drove over and spent the morning in Lincoln today, and I was very impressed with it as well. Everyone should visit Nebraska sometime. I legitimately have a straight face as I say that.

Lincoln and Omaha are also both Cool Cities!

And to top it all off, Yahoo named Hastings, Nebraska the greenest city in America today!

All this being said I am eager to be back in the Carolinas- see you tomorrow.

Durham Greenhouse Gases forum last night

The Herald-Sun has a good wrap up on last night's Durham Greenhouse Gas reduction public forum. Here's an excerpt:

The advisory board that Durham called upon to make this plan was made up of representatives from the city, the county, utility companies, the state Division of Air Quality, the sustainability coordinator at Duke University and environmental advocacy groups.

Some ideas to achieve the goals include increasing energy-efficient building techniques, encouraging mass transit, limiting urban sprawl, and promoting alternative vehicles and fuels, according to the local action plan.

Durham is also installing energy-efficient LED traffic lights and increasing the deployment of bike cops.

You can read the full story here.

Durham was one of our first Cool Cities in North Carolina. A key part of the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement is supposed to be public education, and it is great to see the community updating the public and soliciting their input at events like this. Hopefully this event won't be the last of its kind.

There's a lot to celebrate about local food!

About a month ago, I blogged about a series of events hosted here in the Triangle called "Farm to Fork" which was put on in part to honor one of the founders of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, who was speaking at an event at NC State, but to also celebrate the many local farmers we have here in the Piedmont area and all over NC for that matter.

A picnic took place at the Chapel Hill Creamery which paired up noted local chefs with Piedmont Farmers and turned out some scrumptious delights but also reminded folks about the many local food options they have right in their counties...instead of buying produce and meats grown and packaged thousands of miles away.

There's a great article in the Independent this week that recaps the "Farm to Fork" celebration. Check it out here.

Sponsors of the events were Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Slow Food Triangle and SEEDS. These events also kicked off "Eat Local Triangle", a month-long celebration, during June, of local food and farms.

Hog Vigil

Our good friends over at the Neuse River Foundation, along with a consortium of like minded groups, had an event this week that really caught the attention of the Legislature and local media.

They camped out at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh for 51 hours, utilizing a baby pool full of hog waste as well as a bunch of fake poop to help show the legislature what they live with on a day to day basis.

They're showing their support for a bill in the legislature this session that would outlaw new hog lagoons and provide money to help farmers convert to more environmentally friendly waste disposal systems.

You can get the full 'scoop' in this News&Observer story.

Money for Clean Fuel projects

One thing I'm always trying to point out to places that are thinking about or have already become Cool Cities is that in many cases the money is out there for them to implement more creative environmental programs into their city's operations. It doesn't have to be expensive- beyond the fact that newer environmental technologies often pay for themselves after a short period of time, there's also grant funding out there for special projects.

Along those lines check out this project at NC State:

The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University has $625,000 to award to governments, business, and/or non-profit fleet and fuel providers for transportation related emission reduction projects. The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project is a three year, $2 million dollar initiative of the NC Solar Center (NCSC) funded by federal dollars from the NC Department of Transportation with state support from the State Energy Office and Division of Air Quality. In addition to providing assistance for emission reduction projects such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, installing refueling infrastructure for cleaner burning alternative fuels, retrofits on older diesel vehicles and idle reduction technology, the CFAT project focuses on education and outreach to the twenty-four NC counties that do not meet national ambient air quality standards.

Project proposals must be submitted to the NC Solar Center by July 16, 2007.

Check out the full press release here.

The eligible counties for these projects are:

Cabarrus, Catawba, *Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, * Haywood, *Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Nash, Orange, Person, Rowan, *Swain, Union, Wake.

If you're in one of those places make your local government aware of these funds and tell them to apply!

Honoring Winston-Salem next week

The Foothills Group of the Sierra Club is having an event to honor Winston-Salem as a 'Cool City' next Thursday, June 28th at 10:30 a m. The location will be Grace Court Park

Mayor Allen Joines will sign the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which asks cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our community, and to urge the NC General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to do the same.

Other speakers will include a variety of Sierra Club representatives and City Councilman Dan Besse.

There was coverage about this in the Winston-Salem Journal this morning, as well as initial coverage when the Mayor signed in the early spring.

Kudos to Winston-Salem and the Foothills Group for their good work!

Global Warming could carry a big price tag in North Carolina

At least that's what a report released today by a variety of economists at North Carolina universities found.

From the N&O:

The group concluded that the state's low-lying coastline makes it especially vulnerable to erosion and hurricanes if, as projected, sea levels rise from one to three feet over the next 25 to 75 years. The researchers project private property losses in the billions of dollars as a result of higher sea levels and more destructive hurricanes.

In addition, the study authors said coastal industries, including recreational fishing and beach tourism, would also be hit hard by higher sea levels and hurricanes. They projected that hurricanes could cause $157 million in damages per storm by 2080.

Check out the full story here, and the report here.

Two new Cool Cities

Fletcher and Black Mountain have joined the program, bringing the number of Cool Cities in North Carolina to 18.

Fletcher has curbside recycling despite its small size.

Black Mountain signed on in April, and its Planning Director informs me they already have a laundry list of 'Cool Cities' related initiatives:

-Partnered with WNC Green Building Council on a grant to promote green building.

-Conducting local workshop series for contractors and developers on green approaches and technologies

-Have adopted Phase II stormwater regulations that go beyond State minimums and encourage Low Impact Development approaches

-Have installed rain garden and stormwater retention demonstration sites in a municipal parking lot and public park

-Partnered with local colleges and a nonprofit to install education signage on water quality protection and stormwater

-Working with State Water Resources and local Pigeon River Fund on stream enhancement project in conjunction with a greenway

-Developing a comprehensive pedestrian master plan that includes sidewalks and greenways

-Have permitted a local biodiesel pump for Blue Ridge Biofuels

-Are introducing alternative powered vehicle into fleet and researching other alternative fuel technologies for Town use

-Are participating in the EPA’s “Change-a Light-bulb” initiative

-Have conducted energy audits on Town buildings to look at retrofits

-Have installed solar power on Town radio tower

It's great these towns have signed the Mayor's Agreement, it's even better to see how much good work they're doing!

Asheville, Durham among greenest cities in America

Country Home Magazine has ranked the Greenest Cities in America from 1 to 379, and two of the top 25 are amongst North Carolina's Cool Cities!

Durham registered at 16th, with Asheville coming in at 25.

According to them:

The big list of the top 25 best places to live took into account all sorts of criteria—from air and watershed quality, miles of mass transit, and green power to farmers markets, organic producers and groceries, and more. Click the map for detailed results on our survey of 379 cities sorted by region

Congratulations to these two cities for their efforts. Incidentally, my home town of Ann Arbor, MI finished 11th in the country. I'm disappointed that Chapel Hill/Carrboro was not ranked because I bet it would have come out pretty darn high as well. Although I suppose it's possible they were included as part of Durham, which could explain part of that city's high rank.

Speaking of Durham, just a reminder about their greenhouse gases forum this week.

You can check out the full package here.

Catch Catharine Sutherland on TV

Our wonderful Piedmont Plateau Group chair Catharine Sutherland is making her TV debut this coming Monday the 18th at 7:30 AM on WLXI TV in Greensboro, cable channel 6 or over the air channel 61.

She'll be addressing the fact that the Sierra Club has something for everyone- folks can enjoy our outings, go to our meetings, or take action on some of our issues- our work is broad enough that most anyone can find something they'd be interested in getting involved with.

Congratulations to Catharine and if you're in the Triad check it out Monday morning!

Get involved in Land for Tomorrow

We've blogged before about the importance of the Land for Tomorrow initiative.

It's getting more important than ever:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over the next 25 years North Carolina's population will increase by about 50 percent to more than 12 million people. North Carolina, now tenth, will become the seventh most populous state — surpassing New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio.

The effects of population growth have already been felt. Over the last decade more than one million acres of natural and rural areas have been developed, or 100,000 acres lost per year. Between 1987 and 1997 North Carolina lost more prime farmland than any other state except Ohio and Texas. And for the first time since the 1930's, the state is experiencing falling forest acreage.

Click here to learn how you can help.

Interesting event tomorrow at Duke

via Bill Holman:

The Institute for Emerging Issues based at NC State is developing an "energy calculator" to illustrate the NC trade offs between energy expenditures, energy choices, and environmental impacts to assist public and private policymakers on energy and environmental policies.

Staff from IEI will demonstrate the calculator, answer questions, seek comments, and ask for recommendations on how to improve it starting at 10 am on Friday, June 15 in A158 LSRC.

The calculator compares scenarios against baseline energy use and environmental costs in NC and separately considers energy supply for industrial, commercial, residential and transportation sectors. The calculator attempts to model system shocks from rapid population growth, energy supply choices from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy portfolio standards, regulatory choices, environmental damage, and other scenarios.

IEI sponsors the annual Emerging Issues forum hosted by former Governor Jim Hunt each February. The 2008 Emerging Issues forum will focus on energy, climate and the environment. The "final" energy calculator will be presented at the forum.

Raleigh EAB vote on Cool Cities tonight...

The Raleigh Environmental Advisory Board meets tonight, and we think they're going to take a vote on endorsing the US Mayors Agreement. Hopefully that would lead to the City Council approving it so we can recognize Raleigh as a Cool City.

There was a good letter about this in the N&O today.

Great idea in Salisbury

Talked to Joe Morris, the Planning Director in Salisbury, this morning.

He told me that as part of their Cool Cities commitment they're making the city's buses free for ridership on ozone action days. Seems like a pretty good idea for working toward clean air!

Salisbury signed the US Mayors Agreement in the early Spring. We hope to have an event honoring them next month.

A chance to give some feedback in Durham

Durham was one of North Carolina's earliest Cool Cities. Mayor Bill Bell and his City Council are true environmental leaders.

The city of Durham is involved in a great collaboration with Durham County and the local MPO and they have set some ambitious targets for reducing their emissions.

They want to hear what you think in a public forum from 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, June 21st in the City Council chambers.

You can read the details on their Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Local Action Plan here.

And if you're a Durhamite, try to make it out on the 21st!

Bernadette Pelissier on Orange County environmental initiatives

Bernadette Pelissier did a great job summing up the success of the Cool Cities program in Orange County. You can see an advance copy of her column running in the Chapel Hill papers here.

Here's an excerpt:

On June 5 at an event in Hillsborough, the Sierra Club honored all five of our major local government entities for their work to reduce the effects of global warming.

Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough were recognized as part of the ‘Cool Cities’ program, while UNC and Orange County earned the Cool College and Cool County labels respectively.

These designations are earned by the governments making formal commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These words and goals are important, but more important are the actual actions that are taken to reach these targets.

That’s why the event last Tuesday, on a beautiful last spring morning at the Old Courthouse, was so heartening. Each and every one of those entities is stepping up to the plate!

Some good signs in Fayetteville!

Fayetteville's City Council has decided to implement a curbside recycling program!

Check out the story in the Fayetteville Observer here.

An excerpt:

The council agreed to start a curbside recycling program in July 2008 at a cost not to exceed the state average.

The likely fee is $39 a year. The recycling project will be for residences only, not businesses or apartments.

We would love to see Fayetteville become a Cool City, and this is a great step in the right direction. Kudos to the citizens who demanded it and to the Council for its leadership in listening to those demands.

Some more Cool Colleges

President Kent Chabotar at Guilford College has signed onto the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, as has Rose Johnson at Haywood Community College.

This brings the number of North Carolina signatories to four.

It is great to see the environmental leadership in Haywood County. Canton and Clyde are Cool Cities, making it just one of three counties in the state with multiple Cool Cities. The Community College not only has made this commitment but is working to reach its goals. You can read about the grant money they have secured to purchase an electric car here.

At Guilford College, where long time Sierra Club leader Kim Yarbray is the sustainability coordinator, they also have a long list of initiatives they will be pursuing:

Work towards adoption of green standards for buildings, following U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) construction guidelines; Develop geothermal and solar energy projects; and Encourage public transportation.These efforts build on Guilford's ongoing commitment to sustainability, including such efforts as:

Adoption of green cleaning technology; Continued use of public transit systems; Expanded and improved recycling program; Development of water reduction projects; and The recent installation of 12 solar panels on Shore Hall.

You can read the full release from Guilford here.

Colleges and Universities of course produce our next generation of leadership, and it is great to see some of the things they are undertaking.

Introducing Matt Rumsey

I have been remiss for not earlier bothering to mention that we have an outstanding Cool Cities intern, as much as it pains my Carolina soul to say, from Duke University this summer.

Matt Rumsey is a rising senior at Duke from Dunwoody, Georgia. He is the starting center on Duke's football team. I have found him to be smart, personable, and self motivated- the best qualities you could ask for in an intern.

Something folks have asked for repeatedly in my Cool Cities work is a guide to what other communities in North Carolina are doing on global warming, either as part of the Cool Cities program or independently of it. Matt is bringing that goal to fruition.

There is a good guide now available nationally, which you can check out here. But we think it's important to have one specific to our state as well.

Matt has been in touch with about 20 cities across the state so far and is pulling together some great information. We hope to make some of that raw information available to groups in the next few weeks, with an attractive 'published' version for wider distribution ready later in the summer.

Welcome Matt!

Tuesday morning's press conference

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton and Alderman Dan Coleman accept their 'Cool Cities' honor from OCG chair Bernadette Pelissier.

We had a lovely press conference Tuesday morning in Hillsborough.

Orange County's leaders really are stepping up to the plate on global warming and went through a laundry list of initiatives they have taken the lead on.

The event received a lot of press coverage, including a nice story on WUNC as well as a variety of other outlets.

Thank you to the volunteers who came out and to the elected officials for their leadership.

Chatham on TV

Chatham Olive, our Charlotte organizer, was featured in a story about the environment on Fox Charlotte.

Check it out here.

Good for Chatham! Even though Charlotte has not chosen to be a Cool City- yet- they are doing some good things and hopefully will step up those efforts in the near future.

Wilmington Global Warming Conference

I am looking forward to heading down Saturday to what seems to be an extremely well organized Global Warming conference, being held at UNC-Wilmington. The Cape Fear Group of the Sierra Club is among the co-sponors.

Here's some info from their website:

The conference includes a reception and evening talk with the marine biologist Dr. Larry Cahoon on Friday night . Saturday will begin with our keynote speaker Dr. Bert Drake of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. This will be followed by a panel presentation with local environmental groups. In the afternoon conference participants will be able to select up to 3 workshops providing the most up to date and relevant information on Global Warming. The conference will end with a wrap up discussion with David Andrews. See links above for details about conference schedule, talks, speakers, and workshops.

I am doing one of the workshops so you should come to see me speak!

Information on registration is here.

Why Raleigh should sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

The News&Observer, continuing its good coverage of Cool Cities, pointed out again this morning that Raleigh has not yet signed on.

I appreciated the piece but was a little uncomfortable with this section:

The proposal is still being considered by the Raleigh City Council. It's in committee, Jensen said.

"They move more slowly," he added.

I'm afraid my quote may be taken the wrong way. While their governance process moves slowly, explaining why the resolution is still stuck in committee, they have moved quickly with initiatives to address global warming. The CREE project is particularly good and notable.

So if they're doing good work anyway, why bother signing the Mayors Agreement, some have asked me.

The reason is that the Mayors Agreement creates an overall framework with measurable goals that good individual initiatives work toward. A good project here and a good project there is certainly something to be commended- putting them into a wide vision toward a specific reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is even better.