"Billboards don't kill people, trees kill people"

Thus spoke Tony Adams, Executive Director of the N.C. Outdoor Advertising Association, according to attendees of a long ago NCGA committee meeting. Right now, industry lobbyists, which includes Mr. Adams, are pushing to expand the cuttable area around a sign from the state's 250-foot standard to 375 feet. What's so bizarre about the billboard industry isn't its severe irrationality, but the weird phrases that flit in and out of their tree-targeting press releases and statements.

Take, for example, the written statement quoted in the News and Observer of Betty Waller - billboard lawyer, resident of Cary - to the Department of Transportation:

"NCDOT has demonstrated an unyielding preference for vegetation, and has been unwilling to adopt a vegetation policy equally accomodating to commerce."

An unyielding preference for vegetation? As opposed to what, a realtor profile?

Betty Waller also tried to get North Carolina to stop publishing its Illegal Cutting Inventory, which catalogues every reported violation of the 250-ft cutting rule in the state. Her argument:

Including billboard company names in the document implies billboard operators are engaged in criminal conduct, damages their reputations and prejudices legislators and the public.

Well, yeah. These companies are violating state law. It follows, then, that they are engaged in criminal conduct. Perhaps there is a lawyerly distinction I'm missing here; I doubt it.

Again, to just pull from the N & O article, I'm going to give one more piece of ridiculous billboard propoganda: "An environmentalist should support this bill (in reference to the change in cuttable area)." That would be Tony Adams again. It might be my unyielding preference for vegetation, but I'm pretty positive in this case I have "unyielding preference for vegetation."

Durham - Green as anyone

Treehugger cited Durham as a model of green efficiency:

...dinky little Durham, North Carolina with a population just over 200,000 has the most LEED buildings in the state and ranks in the top five nationally on a per capita basis.

Durham was one of North Carolina's first Cool Cities. Duke ranked #5 in the national Sierra Club's list of "Cool Colleges." From that article (Oct 2007):

The Blue Devils are turning green, mandating certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for all new construction, improving on-campus bike trails, collecting 17 types of recyclables, and pouring money into wind and small hydropower projects.

All of the buildings Duke has built over the past 5 years meet LEED standards (environmental sustainability at Duke).

GHG Emissions somewhat "terminated" in California, Part II

From Wired:

"Setting California ahead of the curve on global warming will give our state a competitive advantage," said Mary Nichols, chair of the Air Resources Board. (Check out this Wired blog of how California decided to slash its emissions)

Backing up, let's take a look at what lurks under the waters of this West Coast initiative:

1. A "cap-and-trade" system, wherein the state would grant a limited number of permits (i.e. cap) for carbon emissions to industry. The titans then buy and sell (i.e. trade) said permits.
2. Renewables will power 1/3 of the state's grid.

What does this mean for North Carolina? Well, if anything, at least legislators will have a model to help craft state policy. And it seems common sense that a program where, "the savings...outweigh the costs" would work just as well here.

GHG Emissions somewhat "terminated" in California

By now, you've most likely heard about the legislature in California proposing the most comprehensive emissions standards in the country (30% of state emissions slashed by 2020). If not, check it out here (Wallstreet Journal), here (Los Angeles Times), here (Reuters UK), and here (AFP). Hopefully, this bold move will set a precedent soon to be followed across the US (and, cross your fingers, here in the Southeast, which - were it a country - would be the seventh largest GHG contributor in the world).

Under Gov Schwarzenneger, California has a reputation for quick and decisive environmental action, which is often highlighted by reluctant federal leadership. But what isn't getting press (not that much anyways) is that this act sets California ahead of the curve economically. In fact, economists predict that in light of these new rules, California will have 1% greater economic growth (compared to business as usual) by 2020 if it enables this legislation.

Hybrid SUV's for EMS Quick Response Vehicles

A 2-year study on the feasibility of hybrid-powered SUVs for EMS quick response vehicles (qrv's) was just completed, and will be published in the July issue of the Journal of EMS. Switching to hybrids would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of each unit by 50%. What's more, the upfront cost of these vehicles is 10% less than the normal EMS vehicle, and the hybrid SUV's are also wilderness approved, unlike many current qrv's.

Cities and counties hoping to lower their contribution to climate change should take a hard look at these vehicles, which would do a lot towards earning that coveted moniker "Cool City."

Lobby Day 2008

Today, volunteers ventured to Raleigh from all across the state in order to speak with members of the General Assembly on various conservation bills before the House. Chapter lobbyist Christa Wagner gave an in-person legislative update, and Rep Pricey Harrison discussed state water policy.

Make sure to head to the Capitol next session if you couldn't get here today. We'll provide the coffee and biscuits, you engage your legislators.

Lightbulbs to Leadership second ad

Film

Keep a look out this fall for Encounters at the End of the World, a Discoveries film by noted director Werner Herzog. The NY Times gave it a glowing review. Apparently, only Herzog and his cameraman made the journey to Antarctica - i.e. no film crew - to meet with a community of scientists living at the poll.

The pictures are gorgeous.

Meet Sierra Club President Allison Chin

Lightbulbs to Leadership ad

Lightbulbs to Leadership

Did you know your small switch from a conventional lightbulb to an energy saving bulb is an act of leadership on the issue of global warming? The small changes made by Americans like you everyday to save energy and reduce emissions should be a signal to lawmakers that we are ready for action on the issue of global warming. In this light, the Sierra Club is proud to roll out it's new video campaign: Lightbulbs to Leadership calling for urgent and bold action to curb global warming.

Check out the latest video and sign a petition for higher fuel economy standards at http://www.lighbulbstoleadership.org

Energy-Climate Debate

Recently, an emissions bill before Congress died a legistative death. While said bill may not have had the emissions targets many wanted, it was important for obvious reasons. Whether or not it was effective is now moot.

You can watch the US Senate Debate on DotEarth.

Other countries are playing hardball. Japan recently announced its plans to slash 80% of all carbon emissions by 2050, vowing to usher in a "low-carbon revolution." Read about it here (AP), here (BBC), here (Reuters UK), and read of its far-reaching economic and environmental implications here (The Australian).

Green Job Report

Check out press coverage of the green job report, which the Sierra Club helped role out.

It is being released in cooperation with the Green Jobs for America Campaign, a partnership of the Sierra Club, Blue Green Alliance, United Steelworkers, NRDC and with the Center for American Progress and Green for All.

You can download the full report at the website of Green Jobs for America. Here's a preview:

The vast majority of green jobs are in the same areas of employment that people already work in today in every region and state of the country. For example, constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and truck drivers, among many others. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through retrofitting relies on roofers, insulators, building inspectors and many others.

New Env Magazine

Those media wonks over at Yale have put together an extensive, well written, highly important new magazine: Environment 360.

Just cherrypicking a few of the articles with blatant relevance to NC:

Water Scarcity: The Real Food-Crisis
The Myth of Clean Coal
States Take the Lead on Climate
A Conversation with Nobel Prize Winner Rajendra Pauchauri (audio)