BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering. For information on assisting with the response efforts, please contact BP’s community information line at (866) 448-5816. When calling, interested parties should communicate what they are volunteering for what areas they are available to work in. In addition, potential volunteers may call this line to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations.
Those wishing to submit alternative response technology, services or products, contact (281) 366-5511. For information on the vessels of opportunity (boats) program, call (425) 745-8017.
"I highly recommend Susan Nilon's blog. She has a strong grasp of the environmental and climate changes issues in Florida." - Stephen Hinton, HintonHuman Capital
Susan Nilon - Creator/Editor of The Nilon Report, located in Sarasota and Tallahassee, Florida
Reporting from the U.S.and Europe. We are connecting the issues of Florida to: politics and the environment; energy and green initiatives; global concerns with solutions.
Quite often, I find the interviews of Jon Stewart to be the most real on national television. At least, he usually asks the questions that I would ask myself.
As much as I am always in support of moving beyond legislation, we can't ignore the fact that we need it. Legislation creates a base line for us to measure ourselves with and creates incentives for others who wouldn't normally do anything if it wasn't there.
If you watched Jon's show in it's entirety, you saw his depiction of the good intentions that the Waxman/Markey Energy Bill came in with and what happened to it when it ran the gauntlet of the United States House of Representatives. It's almost shameful. We might have a Democratic Congress...but it sure reeks of the Bush Era when it comes to climate policy.
Do we give up? Do we say, "It now offers so little, why bother?" Well, very soon it will come up again in the U.S. Senate. We should be sharpening our swords and getting ready for battle, because we should not give up. Each step of the way is just that...a step. Very much like what happened to the Medicare overhaul a few years back, we need to continually work at it to make it better and not accept whatever comes through the Senate as "that's all we are going to get."
The argument for Climate Change has never been stronger. The support for Climate change has never been greater. The need for Climate Change has never been more apparent. The opportunity is there for everyone. We have in place the people that can help us in our mission to do something. We need to keep up the pressure on our government and not let anyone - local, state, or federal - think that they can take a pass.
While a good portion of the show made me laugh at the naked truth of the issue, I feel that this portion is the only one I should post. For the entire show, you can go to: The Jon Stewart Show
If you want to look to the future of development, take a look at a project that is going on in Dallas this year. A San Francisco non profit group called Urban Re:VISION began talks with the city of Dallas in August, 2008 to be one of the first to host their project: to transform a single block into a place that
"creates economies, supports community, facilitates relationships and generates resources."
The city selected a parking lot downtown and by December 2008, the project was on it's way. A planning session was held that lead to a day-long charrette where the city officials sat with architects, urban planners,and green building experts to work on this "truly visionary project".
"to build affordable housing, develop communities, and establish economic opportunities for the people of Dallas County"
fit nicely into the underlining goal of the project.
Holding a nationwide competition for design, Urban Re:VISION received hundreds of design entries for building this sustainable block. By May 2009, the group narrowed the entries to the top three and now the developer has the task of choosing the actual winner. The key is that even though this project held a nationwide competition, having a local developer involved will bring this to a local level. The city of Dallas will directly benefit from the jobs this project creates from the moment they break ground.
To take a look at one of the top three entries, the design firm, Little - Charlotte, North Carolina, presents a video of their vision:
Now the question is, "Can this be done in your city?"
This is a reprint of my article for Creative Loafing
Lighting a fire for a renewable energy pilot program in Sarasota
While the citizens of Sarasota are very supportive of renewable energy and promote sustainability, our state representatives pretty much ignored any renewable energy legislation that was introduced this past legislative session. Rep. Keith Fitzgerald wrote a bill for a Feed-In Tariff (now called the Renewable Energy Dividend) that would have created legislation requiring all utilities within the state of Florida (municipal or otherwise) to purchase energy at a retail rate from residents and businesses who elected to participate in the program. These participants would generate energy themselves by placing solar panels on their homes, fields, or buildings and hooking up to the grid through net metering. They would then sell any unused electricity back to the utility company for a profit to help offset the costs of the equipmen
The purpose of this bill was to support a renewable energy market that would create jobs and promote industry. This bill had bipartisan support in the House, but was never introduced for a vote.
On June 19, at a Florida Power and Light (FPL) hearing in Sarasota that allowed our residents to voice their opinions about a rate hike request, the attendees also saw in attendance our elected officials: State Reps. Keith Fitzgerald and Doug Holder, Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner, County Commissioners Jon Thaxton and Joe Barbetta, and representatives of the office of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. A coalition had been formed with these elected officials just prior to the event to promote a pilot program in Sarasota that would establish a Renewable Energy Dividend (RED) program for residents. Sarasota does not own its own utility company and a few years back signed a 30-year lease with FPL. Wanting to have a similar RED program that is working right now in Gainesville, Sarasota will need to partner with FPL in order to do so.
Solar power is the main way most Floridians choose to create renewable energy. Here in Sarasota, the Triple J Ranch has installed a $500,000 solar array on two of its horse barns; they now provide more than 90 percent of the ranch’s energy. The owners of the Triple J felt a responsibility to not only make their operation more energy-efficient, but they also wanted do their part in protecting the environment against climate change. Taking advantage of the state and federal stimulus programs that are in place to support such efforts, they are also expecting to receive a good portion of their costs back, along with a tax credit.
So far, Triple J’s experience has been far from perfect. The ranch claims that FPL unnecessarily held up installation for months before they were granted the proper certification for the project. The Triple J is also unhappy with the amount of money FPL actually pays for the energy it purchases. FPL sells the Triple J energy to its other customers at almost three times what it originally paid. The Triple J is also ahead of the curve on the stimulus programs and are finding that there are kinks in the system that have to be worked out before they receive the money that was promised. Altogether, it’s been a trying time for a company that was trying to do the right thing. This is where Rep. Fitzgerald’s bill would have offered help. The bill would have regulated this business arrangement between them and FPL.
Even though FPL is regulated by the Public Service Commission (PSC), they are still the only game in town when it comes to our energy. When others have decided to take on FPL through the state legislature, they are met with an incredible army of well-paid lobbyists who are prepared to protect FPL’s interests. Just recently, a viable contender met up in Tallahassee to support Fitzgerald’s bill: Florida Crystals (aka Domino Sugar). Wanting the same thing as the Triple J, Florida Crystals went to FPL first to see if a better deal could be worked out. FPL wasn’t interested in doing anything beyond what the state allowed, so Florida Crystals started pounding the pavement up in Tallahassee this past session pushing for a statewide RED. Even with Florida Crystals’ money and influence, the Renewable Energy Dividend went nowhere.
So where does this leave the citizens of Sarasota?
Well, a few local politicians have decided to do what the state couldn’t. This coming Monday, in partnership with FPL, there will be the first in several meetings that are planned to work out the details. They want Sarasota to be the first to have a pilot program that would incorporate the main idea of Fitzgerald’s bill and satisfy Sarasota’s desire to become a sustainable city, create green jobs and keep FPL’s commitment to a renewable energy future. When asked about his expectations of the upcoming meeting, Vice Mayor Kirschner replied, “We’re appreciative of FPL being so receptive to initiate this dialogue and looking to use Sarasota as a launching pad and test ground for their commitment to community and renewable energy in the state of Florida. It is our hope that FPL will be true partners with the greater Sarasota area to help us immediately strengthen and diversify our local economy with a future dedicated to renewable energy.” Creative Loafing
In June of 2005, the Army Core of Engineers gave the go ahead for the Coeur d'Alene Mines to dump 4.5 MILLION TONS of TOXIC SLURRY (WASTE) into a nearby lake. Environmental agencies were up in arms and challenged that decision by taking it to a higher court. In May of 2007, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the favor of the environmental agencies who said that the mining company’s permit was found to be in clear violation of the Clean Water Act.
The waste that will be dumped in the lake will contain: aluminum, copper, lead, mercury and other metals. Fish in the lake are not expected to survive the dumping process. The dumping is also expected to raise the lake bed by 50 feet and increase the size of the lake by 60 acres. It also has the potential to have an effect on, not only the environment, but also the salmon industry as the waste begins to filter into the headwaters of the salmon streams.
While researching this article, I was able to pull up the Coeur d' Alene Mine's website where they have published their commitiment to environmental responsibility. It is stated below.
The Company has a strong regard for environmental stewardship. We conduct our activities in such a manner as to protect the physical environment in which we operate. We comply with applicable enviromental and product safety laws and regulations and develop and implement a program to ensure compliance. We are both responsible and responsive to the concerns of stakeholders relating to the environment.
In carrying out our Environmetal Policy we: • Adhere to environmentally sound practices for cyanide managment; • Plan for and conduct reclamation which returns mined lands to productive land uses; • Conduct mining activities to minimize their effects on climate change; and • Manage mine waste safely and responsibly.
It is good to feel that not only the goverment of Alaska, the Supreme Court, the Army Core of Engineers, and the Couer d' Alene Mines are watching our backs when it comes to protoecting, not only the environment, but also the future of us all. This is the lake in 2006 - getting ready for the toxic fill, they cut down the trees in preparation. Photos come from the Environmental Defense Fund
To see how this lake is situated on the map of Juneau, take a look here:
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