tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1326255300774821532024-03-15T01:18:17.374-07:00BeyondOilNYCUpdates from Dan Miner. www.beyondoilnyc.org www.meetup.com/resiliencenyc/Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-17410881458737576282021-01-12T12:54:00.001-08:002021-01-12T13:05:41.571-08:00Sustainability questions for proposed residential projects - and the future of retrofits<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQboHk5nLY_Z9TKuqup9rh0IMHa88AJB9j2NcCgpO1-ZFRTmfTlnK8rcqTYGYecXX8HDUMsPzdps9UnXzp6T0M5rEvsNS2L4Q2IN2-HNZx85ovz-xTputPfs4CJOiEfUSEOPfyc6TZ4-4z/s2048/CasaPasiva-pic.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQboHk5nLY_Z9TKuqup9rh0IMHa88AJB9j2NcCgpO1-ZFRTmfTlnK8rcqTYGYecXX8HDUMsPzdps9UnXzp6T0M5rEvsNS2L4Q2IN2-HNZx85ovz-xTputPfs4CJOiEfUSEOPfyc6TZ4-4z/s320/CasaPasiva-pic.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br />Several members of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/foresthillsgreenteam" target="_blank">Forest Hills Green Team</a> also serve on Queens Community Board 6. Community Boards are entitled by City law to interview developers of proposed residential projects, and pass their approval or disapproval within NYC government decision making processes. It's a great opportunity to put developers on the spot, and officially inquire how energy efficient or sustainable their proposed buildings are. <br /><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since non-experts can only guess what the right questions are to ask, I sought advice from experts. First, here's some background. <br /><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Arial", sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">There have recently been major changes in NYC laws governing the energy use of buildings, which accounts for the
majority of the City’s energy use.<span> </span>The City passed </span><span face=""Arial", sans-serif" lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/projects/all-about-local-law-97" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0563c1; line-height: 115%;">Local Law 97</span></a></span><span face=""Arial", sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"> in 2019 to reduce carbon emissions from buildings,
with emission caps on most buildings larger than 25,000 square feet. That will
cover about 50,000 residential and commercial properties out of over 1 million
buildings in NYC. <br /><br />The law doesn't spell out exactly how each building should meet those limits. Instead, it<a href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/2020_ll97_faqs.pdf" target="_blank"> sets emission intensity limits</a> (metric tons of CO2 equivalent per square foot) for ten building categories. Building operators start with their energy use, which is already measured and collected through the City's energy use benchmarking law. A simple first step is training building staff on energy efficient operating procedures. Next is performing an audit of energy efficiency improvements and equipment upgrades, and carrying them out. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial", sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="sans-serif" style="left: 539.8px; top: 1174.87px; transform: scaleX(0.999287);">The city’s</span></span></span><span face="sans-serif" style="left: 67.5417px; top: 120.8px; transform: scaleX(0.995926);"> <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycaccelerator/index.page" target="_blank">Retrofit Accelerator </a></span><span face="sans-serif" style="left: 214.25px; top: 120.8px; transform: scaleX(1.00073);">is a free program for building owners </span><span face="sans-serif" style="left: 67.5417px; top: 139.967px; transform: scaleX(0.996434);">who need ass</span><span face="sans-serif" style="left: 170.083px; top: 139.967px; transform: scaleX(1.00022);">istance with their project.</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial", sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">These caps will start in 2024 and will become stricter over
time, eventually reducing emissions 80% by 2050. It is widely recognized as the
most ambitious building emissions legislation enacted by any city in the world.
</span></span></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />And here are questions shared by Chris Halfnight, the Associate Director of Policy for <a href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/" target="_blank">Urban Green Council</a>, that Community Board members, or any concerned citizen, can pose for any new project in NYC. <br /><br />
</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">What steps is the project team taking to reduce the carbon and general environmental footprint of this project?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">What steps is
the project taking to comply with NYC’s energy code? And is the project
exceeding the code in any way, i.e. being designed to be more energy
efficient than
required?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">How is the
project designed to ensure compliance with Local Law 97 upon occupancy
but also in future years when applicable carbon caps will become more
stringent?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Does the
project take advantage of efficient electric heating and hot water
technologies (like heat pumps), rather than relying on equipment that
uses fossil fuels?</span></i></span></li></ol><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></i><ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">If the project
involves retrofitting an existing building, has the project team
estimated the improvement in the letter grade the building will receive
from DOB’s
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/benchmarking.page&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNHgsV-DaYVvHTSiIi-CyAFeqs6etw" href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/benchmarking.page" target="_blank">Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label</a>?
If the project is a new development, the letter grade will be difficult
to estimate since the eventual grade will vary depending on the details
of actual occupancy, though it still could be a question worth asking.</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Does the
project include rooftop solar or a green roof to comply with NYC’s
sustainable roof laws? Has the project team maximized a sustainable roof
beyond what the laws
require?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Is the project pursuing any sustainability certifications, such as LEED or Passive House?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Were project materials selected to promote a healthy indoor environment for occupants (e.g. low VOC paints and carpet)?</span></i></span></li></ol><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">And here are some Urban Green resources you might find helpful:</span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></i></span><ul style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/projects/all-about-local-law-97&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNG0Hg6BXzuNXcM2Q8zPeQ6ORrFR-w" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/projects/all-about-local-law-97" target="_blank">General Local Law 97 page</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/2020.07.09_urban_green_building_emissions_law_summary_revised_11.17.2020.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNG2OZBMM27y3OoTc5cIz0Iw9tIz_g" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/2020.07.09_urban_green_building_emissions_law_summary_revised_11.17.2020.pdf" target="_blank">Summary of Local Law 97</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/2020_ll97_faqs.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNEB7Pgf6y8AHT18kNY3dV_IjgpT9g" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/2020_ll97_faqs.pdf" target="_blank">Q&A on Local Law 97</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/urban_green_retrofit_market_analysis.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNG0t2ZNJhO8p214aZGyknTl5rUrKQ" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/urban_green_retrofit_market_analysis.pdf" target="_blank">Estimate of the retrofit market</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/3.9.2020_nyc_energy_code_brief_urban_green.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNGjTSj4BdQ2pPFu9ad1ltwFqByo_A" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/3.9.2020_nyc_energy_code_brief_urban_green.pdf" target="_blank">What’s new in the 2020 energy code?</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/sustainable_roof_laws_brief_final_12.11.19.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNEtpZIeNz-29S3_WK6AsGuHsfsHNA" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/sustainable_roof_laws_brief_final_12.11.19.pdf" target="_blank">NYC’s sustainable roof laws</a></span></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/projects/state-new-york-city-grid&source=gmail&ust=1610557914557000&usg=AFQjCNF1u4oRwUbt1nk36WuDxggBGOygjA" href="https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/content/projects/state-new-york-city-grid" target="_blank">Summary of NYC’s electric grid</a></i><br /><br />= = = = = = <br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So that's a look at what the new standards will mean for new buildings. <br /><br />What will these new standards mean to NYC's existing stock of residential buildings? Many of our buildings are quite old. 90% of the buildings in NYC today will still be standing in 2050. Of the roughly 50,000 buildings larger than 25,000 square feet that will have to comply with the extremely strict Local Law 97, many will be older residential buildings. Retrofitting them to never before imagined energy efficiency standards is literally an experimental project. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All%20Programs/Programs/RetrofitNY" target="_blank">RetrofitNY</a>, a program funded by the New York State Energy Research &
Development Authority, is investing about $30 million in
experimental projects to catalyze development of
low-cost, scalable retrofit technologies. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/business/new-york-passive-house-retrofit.html" target="_blank">One of their projects is Casa Pasiva</a>, now transforming 9 aging buildings in Bushwick, Brooklyn - without tenants needing to relocate. Interior pipes, radiators and heating ducts will be removed or
sealed, and a new facade on each building will cover a new all-electric
heating and cooling system.<br /><br />This new airtight white facade - layered up to 8 inches thick on top of the existing brick and concrete exterior - </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">will help slash energy costs by 80%. It </span>will consist of a barrier to prevent air flow, rigid insulation panels, stucco, and a self-cleaning finish designed to repel water by mimicking lotus leaves. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The project will meet the <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/passive-house.page" target="_blank">Passive House standard</a>. </span></span></span></span><p class="css-axufdj evys1bk0"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was not surprised to learn that the visionary architect behind the project is Ms. Chris Benedict, who I met a few years ago in the course of various environmental volunteer projects. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Expect to hear more about Casa Pasiva. Now imagine it's 2030, and your apartment building has been upgraded with a new 8 inch thick exterior facade... <br /></span><br /><br /></span></span></p>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-2737769403891386322020-09-16T08:40:00.011-07:002020-09-21T11:05:31.489-07:00Bloomberg Should Pay Fines of Florida Citizens with Prior Felony Convictions So They Can Vote in November<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCWD57SfC-wO64T2GZU2ukq9uaz34_Y6IaJwtsoATzkWqNgT2G9bOp2dQbHGnhUHdhgSszvbZb_g7E1Zu03ZP8CFEywJlAU7pkSgV68CBMH_epfpY8HF-y3w6_viw49qzfq6d4LUIoajC/s400/vote-felon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCWD57SfC-wO64T2GZU2ukq9uaz34_Y6IaJwtsoATzkWqNgT2G9bOp2dQbHGnhUHdhgSszvbZb_g7E1Zu03ZP8CFEywJlAU7pkSgV68CBMH_epfpY8HF-y3w6_viw49qzfq6d4LUIoajC/s320/vote-felon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><a href="https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/bloomberg-should-pay-fines-of-florida-s-former-felons-so-they-can-vote?just_launched=true" target="_blank"><b>Sign the MoveOn Petition Here! </b></a></i></span><br /><br /><br />The Biden and Trump campaigns are focusing on Florida, the state so evenly
divided that elections are often won by a few thousand or even a few hundred
votes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
It was a big setback when in September a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/11/federal-court-rules-florida-felons-rights-vote-fall-election/5748335002/">Federal
appeals court dominated by Trump nominees</a> ruled that over <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/us/politics/florida-trump-biden-2020.html">700,000
former felons, many of whom lean Democratic,</a> would not be able to vote unless
they paid all their court fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
In 2019, Florida voters passed an amendment to the state constitution that
restored voting rights to those with felony convictions who had completed “all
terms” of their sentences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Republican state legislature decided that <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/516054-court-upholds-florida-law-requiring-felons-to-pay-fines-fees-before">“all
terms” also requires payment of fines and fees, overturning the will of the
voters. </a><br />
<br />
Their decision was initially struck down in Federal court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A judge found that the overwhelming majority
of former felons would be too poor to pay the amounts owed, if they could find
out what they owed, saying that the law had created an <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/17/892105780/supreme-court-deals-major-blow-to-ex-felons-right-to-vote-in-florida">“administrative
nightmare”</a> and was effectively an unconstitutional tax on voting. The
amount of fees, and the completion of their payments, can only be determined by
officials of the county in which the violations have occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the system that the Federal appeals
court just reaffirmed. <br />
<br />
Fortunately, returning citizens can turn to the Florida Rights Restoration
Coalition to navigate this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FRRC
has also taken donations of <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/felon-votes-swing-2020-races-409495">$3
million so far</a> to help them pay off fines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
Of the total number of Florida’s returning citizens <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/17/892105780/supreme-court-deals-major-blow-to-ex-felons-right-to-vote-in-florida">at
least 85,000 have already registered to vote. </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unclear how much fines those citizens
owe, or the procedures for paying off a majority of them rapidly. Since most
such fees are considered unlikely to be paid off, county officials may be open
to negotiation for part payment of back fees, according to the Fines and Fees Justice
Center. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A $5 or $10 million donation to
FRRC right now could be pivotal to the presidential race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a hypothetical question until a large
donor contacts FRRC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
There are quite a few <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Americans_by_net_worth">extremely wealthy
Americans</a> who could easily put that up, but the most likely candidate is
Michael Bloomberg. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Forbes magazine ranked him as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg">one of the richest people
in the world</a>, with a net worth of $60 billion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom Steyer, whose presidential campaign also
folded quickly, has a net worth of only <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Steyer">$1.6 billion</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bloomberg could donate Steyer’s entire net
worth to 2020 campaigns and would hardly notice it.<br />
<br />
Bloomberg spent <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/bloomberg-gave-almost-1-billion-to-his-presidential-campaign">$935
million dollars of his own money</a> on his brief presidential run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sum exceeded the $748 million Barack
Obama raised from donors in the 2008 election. After he ended his campaign, Democrats
were relieved to hear him promise a “<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/15/mike-bloomberg-plots-spending-blitz-to-back-joe-biden-campaign.html">massive
spending blitz</a>,” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in which he would donate
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/29/896545732/bloomberg-vowed-to-spend-whatever-it-takes-to-beat-trump-dems-are-still-waiting">whatever
it took</a> to beat Trump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
As of late July, <a href="https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2020/07/25/mike-bloomberg-promised-to-spend-big-against-trump--what-happened-">Bloomberg
had given</a> $18 million to the Democratic National Committee and $11 million
to the House Majority PAC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had also
spent $331 million on efforts to combat Covid-19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
In August he pledged <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/mike-bloomberg-house-democratic-national-convention-2020-presidential-election-a9675956.html">$60
million more to Democratic House races</a>. In September, he committed to
spending $100 million to the <a href="https://time.com/5888547/bloomberg-biden-funding/">Biden campaign in
Florida</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These recent donations are
laudable, but insufficient. Given our dire circumstances and Bloomberg’s
immense resources, we urge him to step up his support for Democratic campaigns
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On September 17, the Miami Herald Editorial Board agreed, calling
Bloomberg the last hope for these potential voters, as October 5 is the
last day to register. ("Write a big old check, Mr. Bloomberg, and help
Florida's ex-felons vote in November.")
<br /><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article245797425.html" title="Write a big old check, Mr. Bloomberg and help Florida">https://www.miamiherald.com/article245797425.html</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">On September 21, the New York Times published an op ed, "This is How
Bloomberg Can Help Biden Win Florida," with the same request.
</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/opinion/bloomberg-florida-felon-debts.html" title="Opinion | There Are Better Ways for Bloomberg to Spend His Money">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/opinion/bloomberg-florida-felon-debts.html</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
<br />
<b>Mr. Bloomberg, please contact FRRC and determine how best to pay the fees
and secure the voting rights for the largest number of Florida’s returning
citizens in time for this election.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<b>And next, please make good on your promise to donate whatever it takes to
beat Trump.</b> Your investments are at risk. All the previous <a href="https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Bloomberg-Philanthropies/154947">good
works of Bloomberg Philanthropies</a> - on the arts, education, the
environment, good government, and public health – will be in dire peril unless
Democrats take the White House and Senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At stake is America remaining a nation of laws, not an authoritarian regime,
and our capacity to respond to the virus and the climate crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is on the line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do as much as you can right now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
</span></span><a href="http://beyondoilnyc.org/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p>
<span class="gmaildefault"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">**** <br />
<br />
“</span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Tight Trump-Biden
Race in Florida: Here’s the State of Play,” NYT, <span class="gmaildefault"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/us/politics/florida-trump-biden-2020.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/us/politics/florida-trump-biden-2020.html</a><br />
</span><span class="gmaildefault"><br />
“Court upholds Florida law requiring felons to pay fines, fees before
they can vote,” The Hill, <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/516054-court-upholds-florida-law-requiring-felons-to-pay-fines-fees-before">https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/516054-court-upholds-florida-law-requiring-felons-to-pay-fines-fees-before</a><br />
<br />
“Supreme Court Deals Major Blow to Ex-Felon’s Right to Vote in Florida,” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2020/07/17/892105780/supreme-court-deals-major-blow-to-ex-felons-right-to-vote-in-florida
<br />
<br />
“Federal appeals court blocks Florida's felons from voting until fees and
fines are paid,” USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/11/federal-court-rules-florida-felons-rights-vote-fall-election/5748335002/<br />
<br />
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, https://floridarrc.com/<br />
<br />
“Felons Have the Potential to Swing Close 2020 Races,” Politico,<br />
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/felon-votes-swing-2020-races-409495<br />
<br />
“Bloomberg Gave Almost $1 Billion to his Presidential Campaign,” Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-20/bloomberg-gave-almost-1-billion-to-his-presidential-campaign<br />
<br />
“Bloomberg Plots Spending Blitz to Support Joe Biden’s Run for President,” CNBC,
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/15/mike-bloomberg-plots-spending-blitz-to-back-joe-biden-campaign.html<br />
<br />
“Bloomberg Vowed to Spend Whatever It Takes to Beat Trump. Democrats Are Still
Waiting,” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2020/07/29/896545732/bloomberg-vowed-to-spend-whatever-it-takes-to-beat-trump-dems-are-still-waiting<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg"><span style="font-weight: normal;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg</span></a></b><br />
<br />
“Bloomberg Promised to Spend Big Against Trump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What Happened?” NY1, https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2020/07/25/mike-bloomberg-promised-to-spend-big-against-trump--what-happened-<br />
<br />
“Mike Bloomberg gives $60 Million to help Democrats in November as former campaign
aides turn against him,” Guardian, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/mike-bloomberg-house-democratic-national-convention-2020-presidential-election-a9675956.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/mike-bloomberg-house-democratic-national-convention-2020-presidential-election-a9675956.html</a><br />
<br />
“Mike Bloomberg to Commit at Least $100 Million to Help Biden Campaign in
Florida,” Time, https://time.com/5888547/bloomberg-biden-funding/<br />
<br />
“Bloomberg Philanthropies Unveil Website and Priorities,” Chronicle of
Philanthropy, https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Bloomberg-Philanthropies/154947</span></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-90468492236779402912020-07-08T11:18:00.002-07:002020-07-08T11:20:12.273-07:00Encouraging Sierra Club's NY State Chapter to get involved with the election<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter can prevent
Trump’s reelection<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><br />
(Here's my pitch to the Sierra Club NY State Chapter leadership. We'll see if anyone writes back.)</i><br /><br />While early July polling shows that Biden has a lead over Trump in many states,
it would be extremely dangerous to assume that Biden’s victory is assured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget that Republicans are certainly
planning to cheat in many ways (see links below). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s of crucial importance that Democratic
candidates win by large enough margins, ideally landslides, to overcome dirty
tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, a Trump re-election
would be apocalyptic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All environmentalists
and progressives should put their current campaigns on hold, put aside any complacency,
and immediately join existing get out the vote efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Fortunately for Sierra Club chapters and members, there is an excellent electoral
campaign already up and running through Sierra Club Independent Action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have personally been volunteering through
their texting program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phone calling and
letter writing are also available at sc.org/gotv. The SCIA plan includes
supporting all 64 Sierra Club chapters across the country as they work to elect
pro-climate candidates up and down the ballot. After the election, the organizing
and new volunteers recruited will pivot toward advocacy. <br />
https://www.sierraclubindependentaction.org/2020-plan-to-win<br />
<br />
I urge the Atlantic Chapter to recognize that we are in a five-alarm fire state
of emergency, immediately coordinate with National staff, and recruit all
Sierra Club members and friends in the Chapter to plug in to the SCIA electoral
campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Atlantic Chapter effort could
tip tight state races from red to blue this November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking forward, this organizing could
recruit new members and expand chapter conservation efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to your reply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Sincerely, <br />
<br />
Dan Miner</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="mailto:Danminer2345@gmail.com">Danminer2345@gmail.com</a><br />
beyondoilnyc.org </span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Mueller report documented many Trump
administration efforts to collude with Russia around the 2016 election.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The US <a href="https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/press/senate-intel-releases-new-report-intel-community-assessment-russian-interference">Senate
Intelligence Committee reports</a> confirmed these efforts and warned that
Russian efforts to attack our 2020 elections should be expected. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/press/senate-intel-releases-new-report-intel-community-assessment-russian-interference<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Trump tried extorting Ukraine to announce sham
investigations into Biden by withholding military assistance, for which he was
impeached.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He made <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/trump-calls-china-interfere-2020-election/599365/">similar
requests</a> to China. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/trump-calls-china-interfere-2020-election/599365/</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/06/hackers-are-already-screwing-with-the-2020-election">Hackers
are already screwing with the 2020 election</a>,” Vanity Fair.<br />
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/06/hackers-are-already-screwing-with-the-2020-election</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-quietly-kills-measure-discourage-foreign-election-interference-n1232664">GOP
quietly kills measure to discourage foreign election interference</a>,” MSNBC.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/how-trump-could-lose-election-still-remain-president-opinion-1513975">How
Trump could lose the election and still remain president,”</a> Newsweek</span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.salon.com/2020/06/15/investigative-journalist-greg-palast-heres-how-trump-will-steal-the-2020-election/">Voter
suppression, intimidation and chaos</a>, as in the Wisconsin, Georgia Kentucky
primary elections, Salon. https://www.salon.com/2020/06/15/investigative-journalist-greg-palast-heres-how-trump-will-steal-the-2020-election/</span></li>
</ul>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
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<![endif]-->Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-36463047562004928432020-06-09T11:32:00.004-07:002020-06-09T11:34:15.226-07:00Beyond the virus: building the blue wave <div class="font_8" style="font-size: 18px;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">These are extremely challenging times, but there is a single <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk5MnlnNGI=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">crucial intervention</a></span></span> that will turn our fortunes around. Whether you're motivated by a progressive cause, whether you value the rule of law and competent government that respects facts, or whether you simply want to survive: the Democrats must take back the White House and Senate this November. A massive organizing effort is already underway to identify and catalyze Democratic voters. The more people get involved, the greater the chances of its success. <br /><br />Failure is not an option. The Reagan and Bush administrations were bad, but since the Republican Party's <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGE=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">takeover by a confederation of criminal enterprises with Trump at the center</a></span></span>, the magnitude of its evil has grown to previously unimaginable levels.<br /><br />Remember, it's not Trump alone. The entire Republican Party is complicit. The progression of demographic trends, If there were repression-free elections, and districts not twisted by gerrymandering, would have already shrunk the Republicans into a minority party. But as we've already seen, they will use every illegitimate means at their disposal to stay in power. If Trump is reelected and the Senate remains under Republican control in November, they will complete their quest for right wing, <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4enM2a2o=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">authoritarian tyranny</a></span></span>.<br /><br />However, if Democrats regain control, we can <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzNnV2cmk=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">begin repairing the damage of the last few years, </a></span></span>and implement progressive plans for a better future.<br /><br />The strategy is straightforwardly partisan. Political scientist Rachel Bitecofer, who predicted the 2018 midterm election results almost exactly, says the old focus on <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkyend6ajc=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">pursuing middle of the road swing voters is outdated.</a></span> </span>The millions of Americans brainwashed by right wing propaganda and cults probably can't be deprogrammed, but they are a</span><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"> minority of the electorate and can be outvoted</span><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">. <br /><br />The parties are coalitions of demographic groups and factions, encompassing hard-core loyalists and those who lean in that direction. What binds them together is negative partisanship: shared hatred of the other point of view. To win, Democratic campaigns have to identify and target districts with a potential majority of anti-Trump voters, and fire them up to vote, in person or by mail.<br /><br />In 2016, millions didn't bother to vote, or threw their votes away on third party and write-in candidates. The pandemic and the economic crisis should awaken many of those non-voters to the need for change. Massive campaigns to contact and organize voters are needed, and are already underway. They beat Republican voter repression plans in the Wisconsin primary. <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk5MHN6bng=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">They can beat propaganda campaigns that aim to persuade people not to vote, or that there's no point in voting,</a></span></span> which are a more likely threat than outright election theft.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's what we can do</span><br /><br />You might be cooped up at home, and have some extra time on your hands. You might be angry at what's going on, but don't have an outlet. Or be afraid to go outside and deliver meals to neighbors. If you're already doing activist work, consider redirecting it here for the next few months. Nothing can have a larger impact on your cause than whether there is a national blue wave or not. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Texting or phoning voters in swing states</span><br /><br />With in-person campaign methods like knocking on doors no longer an option, campaigns have gone fully digital. Technology allows volunteers to make phone calls or <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4cG9jYmc=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">send texts</a></span></span> from anywhere. Both methods require volunteers to sign onto a software platform, follow a script, and record voter data. Campaigns can identify supporters, send targeted information, and get them to act. <br /><br />Texting has some advantages over phoning. Instead of making one call at a time, volunteers can send large numbers of texts quickly, and respond to those who text back. Being able to select scripted text replies ensures you're never put on the spot or have to guess at a reply. But give phoning a try if you think you'd like it. Here are some options.<br /><br />As of early May, only Open Progress Text Troop has daily texting campaigns. DNC, People Power and Resistance Labls have them sometimes. Other groups are likely to start more text campaigns over time. Most of these groups offer remote phone banking.<br /><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGEx" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Democratic National Committee</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGEy" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Joe Biden campaign</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGEz" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Indivisible</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGE0" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Swing Left</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGI=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Open Progress Text Troop</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGIx" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Next Gen America Texting Team</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkxdmJ6dGIy" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Red2Blue</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4bzNldXI=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Resistance Labs Texting Team</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4bzR5emQ=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Grassroots Democrats</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4b2R1anE=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">ACLU People Power Texting Team</a></span></span><br />- <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4b2h2M2Y=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Together for 2020 Texting</a><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip of the hat to Eric Arnum, <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazluOWtvM2U=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Climate Solutions Digest,</a></span></span> for this list:<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1] Swing Left - host Zoom house parties, letter writing & phonebanking in 12 key states incl PA & FL <span class="color_18">https://swingleft.org/p/virtual-organizing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2] Turnout2020 - phonebanking to 10 swing states incl PA & FL<br /><span class="color_18">https://turnout2020.org/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3] Payback Project - texting in 11 flippable Senate races<br /><span class="color_18">https://www.paybackproject.org/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4] Reclaim My Vote - fights minority voter suppression<br /><span class="color_18">http://centerforcommonground.org/main/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5] Post Cards to Voters - focused on key FL races<br /><span class="color_18">https://postcardstovoters.org/about/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6] Progressive Turnout Project - senate and white house races in 16 key states incl PA & FL <span class="color_18">https://www.turnoutpac.org/what-we-do/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7] Vote Forward - GOTV letter writing in 8 states incl FL & MI<br /><span class="color_18">https://votefwd.org/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8] New York Census - calling or texting NY residents to fill census forms<br /><span class="color_18">https://www.mobilize.us/nyccensus/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br />We can't go back to normal. We must go forward. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">Public health experts <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazk4dzllbDQ=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">told the NY Times</a></span></span> that lockdowns and social distancing can eventually be relaxed - but only after transmission of the virus is brought under control, that we have full testing and contact tracing capacity, and be able to treat and quarantine those who are sick. That could be awhile And we're still at the early stages of the economic crisis. Both matters will expose other underlying predicaments that have been steadily growing for years.<br /><br />Systems analysts look at how political, economic, energy and environmental systems interact, and have a very different perspective than experts in single areas. They've recognized that infinite financial growth is not possible on a planet with finite resources. That because of the climate crisis, we have to move beyond our dependence on limited supplies of fossil fuels, and toward renewable energy. That the world's financial system, </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">artificially pumped up with massive debt bubbles since the 2008 financial crash, is unsustainable and much more fragile than it appears. As </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzOXVncWc=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Richard Heinberg</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">, </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzOXVncWcx" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Nate Hagens</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">, and </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzOXVncWcy" href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Nafeez Ahmed</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial,ms pゴシック,ms pgothic,돋움,dotum,helvetica,sans-serif;">have written, we must steer toward more resilient and economically just ways of operating.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The plans and the technologies to do this exist</span><br /><br />Look at <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzYjdseDk=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Project Drawdown</a></span></span>, a collection of the top 100 scientifically validated initiatives to reverse the climate crisis, create sustainable economic growth, and restore ecosystems. Look at <span class="color_18"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfazkzYjlwdnU=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Elizabeth's Warren's plans</a></span></span> to reboot the US government. Up to now, fundamental change has been blocked by powerful interests that have fought hard for the status quo, and have allied themselves with the Republicans. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biden and Obama are coming to agree with Warren and Sanders that fundamental change is needed now. The good news is that we can use this time of crisis to evolve, adapt, and build a better society.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">That evolutionary leap is only possible if there is a massive enough organizing effort to produce a blue wave. We need you. Will you help? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Besides volunteering with these campaigns, you can also help by sharing and re-posting. Write back with any feedback. Thanks!</span></span></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-19554699734545810642020-04-30T12:28:00.001-07:002020-05-04T14:36:13.004-07:00Smear campaign against Biden serves Trump and Putin - complain to MSNBC<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Smear Campaign against Biden serves Trump and Putin - Don't Fall for It!<br /><br />Send your complaint to MSNBC and NYT - links at bottom of page</b><br /><br />We know that Trump has made smear campaigns against Joe Biden a top priority: he was impeached for extorting Ukraine to announce bogus investigations into the Bidens by withholding US aid. The Mueller report, the US intelligence community, and even the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/21/us/politics/russian-interference-senate-intelligence-report.html" target="_blank">bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee</a> have all agreed that Russia succeeded in interfering with the US 2016 election on behalf of Trump, and is actively trying to tip the 2020 election as well. So other scandalous accusations against Biden should be expected - and treated very skeptically.<br /><br />Ex-prosecutor Michael Stern detailed in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/joe-biden-sexual-assault-allegation-tara-reade-column/3046962001/" target="_blank">USA Today</a> many reasons to be suspicious about Tara Reade's allegations of sexual misconduct against Joe Biden. Besides the <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/joe-biden-sexual-assault-allegation-tara-reade-column/3046962001/" target="_blank">many shifts and inconsistencies</a> in her stories, Reade has a clear agenda. She's written numerous articles advocating for Sanders and displaying a surprising infatuation with Vladimir Putin.<br /><br />In a January 2020 article, Reade advocated for Sanders as the Democratic nominee, calling Biden <a href="https://medium.com/@AlexandraTaraReade/the-politics-of-standing-in-your-truth-is-joe-biden-the-blue-trump-b70468082841" target="_blank">"the blue Trump</a>."<br /><br />In her November 2018 article, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190404043945/https:/medium.com/@shewrites94/why-a-liberal-democrat-supports-vladimir-putin-f54ca2a3a405" target="_blank">"Why a Liberal Democrat Supports Vladimir Putin</a>," Reade claims that "..Currently, President Putin has a higher approval rating in America then the American President, particularly with women. President Putin has an alluring combination of strength with gentleness. His sensuous image projects his love for life, the embodiment of grace while facing adversity. It is evident that he loves his country, his people and his job..."<br /><br />In Reade's <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190404044831/https:/medium.com/@shewrites94/who-let-the-cats-out-461cdf4dfcaf" target="_blank">March 2019 article</a> dismissing the claim of Russian interference with the US election, including: "...I love Russia, I love my Russian relatives and friends. And like most women across the world, I like President Putin… a lot, his shirt on or shirt off."<br /><br />Isn't it clear she has an ax to grind? Why is this evident bias not being included in coverage of her accusations?<br /><br />The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/us/politics/tara-reade-joe-biden.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> doesn't mention Reade's agenda - even as it repeats calls for more coverage of her claims - from a former Sanders campaign chair, and the head of <a href="https://www.democracyforamerica.com/" target="_blank">Democracy for America</a>, a pro-Sanders advocacy group.<br /><br />Chris Hayes, an MSNBC host, also made a similar omission on his 4/29/20 show, falsely <a href="https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/chris-hayes-gets-destroyed-for-running-dishonest-story-about-joe-biden/28118/" target="_blank">characterizing her story as corroborated and credible. </a><br /><br />The NYT and MSNBC, by propagating this smear without full disclosure of its context, are shamefully collaborating with the Trump campaign. They must correct and retract these stories now.<br /><br />= = = </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>Please forward this complaint to MSNBC:<br /><br />Chris Hayes spreading Biden smear</b><br /><br />I am shocked and disappointed that on 4/29/20, Chris Hayes devoted time on his show for a one-sided recap of Tara Reade's misconduct allegations against Joe Biden without mentioning that she has been an outspoken advocate for both Bernie Sanders and Vladimir Putin. (See USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/joe-biden-sexual-assault-allegation-tara-reade-column/3046962001/) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unless Hayes promptly covers this other part of the story, or issues a retraction, I will stop watching the show. Let me know your response. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Put this in your own words, and cut and paste to the following contacts:</i><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MSNBC Executives<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">philip.griffin@nbcuni.com</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">phil</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">griffin</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">@</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">nbcuni.com</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chris.berend@nbcuni.com</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mark.Kornblau@nbcuni.com</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">elisabeth.sami@nbcuni.com</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">yvette</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">miley</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;">@</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368;">nbcuni.com</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rashida.jones@nbcuni.com</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">marc.greenstein@nbcuni.com</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">denis.horgan@nbcuni.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">debbie.finan@nbcuni.com
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Please forward this complaint to the NY Times:<br /><br />NY Times spreading Biden smear</b><br /><br />I am shocked and disappointed that the 4/29/20 article, "Democratic Frustration Mounts as Biden Remains Silent on Sexual Assault Allegation," repeats an incomplete recap of Tara Reade's misconduct allegations against Joe Biden without mentioning that she has been an outspoken advocate for both Bernie Sanders and Vladimir Putin. (See USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/joe-biden-sexual-assault-allegation-tara-reade-column/3046962001/) I urge the NYT to promptly cover this other part of the story, or issue a retraction. Let me know your response. <br /><br />nytnews@nytimes.com<br />editorial@nytimes.com<br /><span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:letters@nytimes.com" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;">letters@nytimes.com</a><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><br />Paste to: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/homepage/contact-newsroom.html</span></span></span><br />
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<br />Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-75885889037257875172019-09-07T09:23:00.001-07:002019-09-07T09:44:50.083-07:00Turn NYC sewage sludge into biochar to save money and capture carbon<div class="font_8" style="font-size: 23px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAKJGrYuQZ2WQD7YQfkof6pWG3Deudhzc7sI5adnqyOZwJFzKjaS8Eo_WO98MeEsAG35eADhtDMaJ2YoYrBPyJgkM6e57oBnq-lTGb0Ly8yBd9eZ6ou-7HbHZlQoqK8CJmx2pOLcyMyPa/s1600/biochar-selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="648" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAKJGrYuQZ2WQD7YQfkof6pWG3Deudhzc7sI5adnqyOZwJFzKjaS8Eo_WO98MeEsAG35eADhtDMaJ2YoYrBPyJgkM6e57oBnq-lTGb0Ly8yBd9eZ6ou-7HbHZlQoqK8CJmx2pOLcyMyPa/s400/biochar-selection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turn NYC sewage sludge into biochar to save money and capture carbon </span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">See the biochar pages at <a href="https://www.beyondoilnyc.org/" target="_blank">beyondoilnyc.org </a>for details, and an ask for the NYC Council </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">To respond to the climate crisis, we'll have to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but that won't be enough. We'll also have to remove </span></span><span class="color_19"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfanp0NWczMjA=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">massive amounts of carbon dioxide</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> from the atmosphere as quickly as possible. Part of the strategy for removing the necessary 700 gigatons of carbon is planting trees - </span></span><span class="color_19"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a dataquery="dGV4dExpbmtfanp0NWczMjE=" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">about three trillion</a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Not just carbon emission reductions, but carbon capture</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Another part is to keep the carbon in biomass from decomposing and returning to the atmosphere by capturing it in forms that are stable over the long term. Some approaches to carbon sequestration, like capturing CO2 directly from power plant exhausts, are <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/9/4/20829431/climate-change-carbon-capture-utilization-sequestration-ccu-ccs" target="_blank">unproven and expensive</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Capturing carbon has a long history - and many uses</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">One approach has a very long history. Before Europeans came, the indigenous people of the South American Amazon created the high-carbon terra prieta soils, that are unusually fertile to this day, by controlled burning of biomass. A modern version of this approach can be widely applied in both rural and urban areas. Biochar production is recognized as one of the top 100 policy responses to the climate crisis by Project Drawdown.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ7KFPV0OuaArKEkTZrE9g2ai3sB9-Hr7q4T6sLmGs1ncnKzuVW5Z44lx12wGeOdqBfkEcFP_y3CGoOT20yvPjgBLlPHr432ZJe-MK9PGCzQ5a1WMhJKv99N28UzxNAIdRb2kM3an225y/s1600/MakingTerraPretta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="570" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ7KFPV0OuaArKEkTZrE9g2ai3sB9-Hr7q4T6sLmGs1ncnKzuVW5Z44lx12wGeOdqBfkEcFP_y3CGoOT20yvPjgBLlPHr432ZJe-MK9PGCzQ5a1WMhJKv99N28UzxNAIdRb2kM3an225y/s400/MakingTerraPretta.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">When biomass is pyrolyzed - heated in a low-oxygen environment - instead of catching on fire, it turns into a form of charcoal called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar" target="_blank">biochar</a>. In this form, carbon can be stable for thousands of years. Ideally, massive biochar production will be part of a Green New Deal package of emergency actions. Until then, we have to raise awareness of the many other benefits of biochar to make its production popular.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h6WVVMnFjN0aHbSV6IYksN6_zO3zGEaCtGtdmgZ5-2ZShg7vKNgVbqy6Q46zNgNSwK9KVCG3vNJyXwdyNDQHtIuSK7PWf_a6rxnX8lZoeT4uUlN_SB_5Kfl6JW-dQe66RG8ItQRS5tFt/s1600/terra-preta-vs-oxisol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h6WVVMnFjN0aHbSV6IYksN6_zO3zGEaCtGtdmgZ5-2ZShg7vKNgVbqy6Q46zNgNSwK9KVCG3vNJyXwdyNDQHtIuSK7PWf_a6rxnX8lZoeT4uUlN_SB_5Kfl6JW-dQe66RG8ItQRS5tFt/s320/terra-preta-vs-oxisol.jpg" width="310" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><i><br /></i><b>Biochar has many potential uses</b><br /><br />It can be a soil amendment for farming, a compost accelerator, and a substitute for peat or vermiculite in potting soil. It's chemically similar to activated carbon, and can be used as a filter for water and exhausts. It can be mixed into asphalt, concrete and steel, improving their performance and properties. It can be mixed into packaging materials, and used in a host of commercial products. Many more uses are documented in <i>Burn: Using Fire to Cool the Earth. </i><br /><br /><b>Solving waste disposal problems</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">Turning biomass into biochar reduces its volume, which can help with the many types of biomass we struggle to dispose of: crop waste, seaweed washed up on beaches, trees destroyed by drought or disease, manure, and sewage sludge. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">The City has been looking into new ways of handling its massive solid waste streams that minimize what has to be sent to landfills. A significant fraction of NYC's solid waste is sewage sludge, which after being processed at the City's wastewater treatment plants, is called biosolids.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3gCm2CW4Ri1haqzV8hNzTd1TYlSefg-aeLXZHzX_rr1GmSE4M2gVuUVBAhM8MiiQWYJD8mamUMCXouobxSPE3Egrf4uy2hZY5GZ3kf3XiD9JbbhStf9Yw6-Jcpi62pZ5LrkuIoiMyiyI/s1600/sewage-plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3gCm2CW4Ri1haqzV8hNzTd1TYlSefg-aeLXZHzX_rr1GmSE4M2gVuUVBAhM8MiiQWYJD8mamUMCXouobxSPE3Egrf4uy2hZY5GZ3kf3XiD9JbbhStf9Yw6-Jcpi62pZ5LrkuIoiMyiyI/s320/sewage-plant.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">NYC seeking new ways to dispose of its sewage biosolids</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">NYC generates 1,400 tons per day of biosolids, and pays contractors about $50 million a year to ship it to faraway landfills. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">NYC DEP has been researching biosolids alternatives for years. I've been in regular contact with a DEP staff member working on the issue. Some of DEP's planning is available to the public, but most is not. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12QbrFuEiy6Lp2bp5vKQLYlPabK2hn5Yr4-qfE2YTIHoW3wtPr5uK_wweYR7VNgvE_btOOD3SuiefK-OOnBgMe2bAcfz3yoYrLhyphenhyphenFHmTvm5MY-n7QQYVZsHxmGcWiQb2-68yL9zn0r_Lx/s1600/sewage-ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="959" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12QbrFuEiy6Lp2bp5vKQLYlPabK2hn5Yr4-qfE2YTIHoW3wtPr5uK_wweYR7VNgvE_btOOD3SuiefK-OOnBgMe2bAcfz3yoYrLhyphenhyphenFHmTvm5MY-n7QQYVZsHxmGcWiQb2-68yL9zn0r_Lx/s320/sewage-ladies.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The four main approaches that DEP has been researching</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><b><br /></b>- applying it to land;<br />- anaerobic digestion;<br />- incineration / waste to energy;<br />- and pyrolysis / gasification - the heating in a low-oxygen environment - which can yield biochar.<br /><br />While NYC biosolids could in theory be applied directly to land, in practice the market is very limited. Anaerobic digestion is already a key part of how NYC handles sewage sludge.<br /><br />The two other approaches are both forms of thermal processing, but there are significant differences.<br /><br />With incineration, the waste is heated in the presence of oxygen, so it catches on fire and burns. There are about 86 waste to energy facilities around the US, which combine incineration of mixed municipal solid waste with some materials recovery. Some of NYC's MSW already goes to the Covanta WTE in Newark, NJ.<br /><br />With pyrolysis, the waste is heated in a low- or no-oxygen environment. Both types of thermal processing will sharply reduce waste volume, lowering disposal and transportation costs. The cost per ton, energy recovery, and yields of solid and gaseous end products will all vary depending on the types of equipment, feedstock, and operating conditions.<br /><br />The crucial difference is that pyrolysis / gasification systems can be set to produce a solid end product that's not just ash, but stable carbon. Biochar made from wood has a higher percentage of carbon that biochar from sewage sludge. Exactly how much carbon could be pulled from NYC waste streams would have to be determined.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Municipal pyrolysis projects for NYC to consider</span><br /><br />Incineration has been around for a long time. Pyrolysis is a new disposal option for cities.<br />- Stockholm, Sweden has been turning municipal green waste into biochar for several years.<br />- Some cities in India have been pyrolyzing their sewage sludge.<br />- A pyrolysis facility to run on municipal biosolids is set to open in 2020 in Linden, NJ.<br />- Ithaca, NY plans to set up a pyrolysis facility for its biosolids. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eNbaWXslRwSF_gylI7ZoF2VBHuGkLzPBtYSFAbnsExiCMas8MT9KXcf8C5VT5AchAOfl0yWVQF7XrfFr04b90kV_2Bg6RWnyIonw3Eyq0Nkl0SbJOrSAb9juq8XPeArug9mlPS6nykDZ/s1600/Rendering-of-Aries-Linden-Biosolids-Gasification-Facility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="683" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eNbaWXslRwSF_gylI7ZoF2VBHuGkLzPBtYSFAbnsExiCMas8MT9KXcf8C5VT5AchAOfl0yWVQF7XrfFr04b90kV_2Bg6RWnyIonw3Eyq0Nkl0SbJOrSAb9juq8XPeArug9mlPS6nykDZ/s320/Rendering-of-Aries-Linden-Biosolids-Gasification-Facility.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 18px;">Rendering of the Aries facility in Linden, NJ</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">Since the NYC Council has already declared a state of climate emergency, shouldn't we be an early adopter of pyrolysis too? We can be a model for other governments, nationally and globally.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , , "ms pgothic" , , "dotum" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br />We don't know which vendors and facility operators DEP has been in touch with, what proposals they have already made to the City, and what the comparative costs of incineration and pyrolysis might be. But since a pyrolysis process is potentially a new, important climate crisis response, it shouldn't be evaluated just on the basis of its costs to the City. We have to educate our elected officials about how carbonizing waste streams supports the City's climate plans. Then, we have to get them to push DEP for updates - and a faster process.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NYC Council should schedule a hearing with NYC DEP on the status of research into biosolids disposal options. They should ask DEP to speed up its research, and report back regularly - not just on disposal costs per ton of each option being considered, but on how much climate-protecting solid carbon the City could produce through each option. Also, officials should consider how the City could use that carbon internally or encourage development of commercial and industrial uses for it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">See the biochar pages on <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.org/">beyondoilnyc.org</a> for an expanded version of this summary, with links to references, and for more about NYC wood wastes, pyrolysis manufacturers / system developers, and new uses of biochar, as well as a request for NYC Council.</span></span></span></span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-13644719909644893682018-10-26T10:33:00.001-07:002018-10-26T10:33:21.371-07:00Volunteer now! A blue wave is not guaranteed. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Q3f0kqHVGMNZy8iQzmQNXXozb8Z13kJcUhztmEAiN_Q0qcp47vtAdxsYRgti9SbWy_nmyGV46sEAQmUuU487riqjE-PhK9Ziv9G46HrZOBUKgFCxBP7jeObvXJe4ISSLZX_j19Z1Bga0/s1600/vol-now.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Q3f0kqHVGMNZy8iQzmQNXXozb8Z13kJcUhztmEAiN_Q0qcp47vtAdxsYRgti9SbWy_nmyGV46sEAQmUuU487riqjE-PhK9Ziv9G46HrZOBUKgFCxBP7jeObvXJe4ISSLZX_j19Z1Bga0/s1600/vol-now.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />The election is less than two weeks away. This is no time for hope, despair or complacency. Democrats will only take control of Congress if there is extremely high voter turnout - enough to counteract the many forms of Republican voter suppression. It is <u>not enough </u>for you simply to vote. <u>Please spend some time volunteering for candidates, whether knocking on doors, making phone calls, or texting. This is an emergency.</u><br /><br />There's a suitable option for everyone. If you don't want to knock on doors, you can make phone calls and send texts with other volunteers at events, or on your own, from home. Uncomfortable calling people up out of the blue, have a tight schedule? No problem, sign up to text from home - that's what I've been doing. If you can afford to donate, do that too.<br /><br />Do what's right for you, but do something. The final get out the vote phase is upon us, and it's extremely important to get to everyone who has been identified as a Democratic voter, and remind them to vote. Click on the groups below to find out about their volunteer opportunities.<br /><br />A blue wave is not guaranteed at all. Are you horrified at what is going on, but do nothing? (And no, posting articles and comments on Facebook does not count.) Your choice makes it more likely that dirty tricks will leave the Republicans in full control of the Federal government. I don't think I need to spell out the implications. Ask yourself how you'll feel if that happens - and you knew you could have done something, but chose not to. So choose differently, and let's try to make the blue wave a reality. Here's your opportunity to take action! <br /><br /><a href="https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop">https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop</a><br /><br /><a href="https://swingleft.org/resources" target="_blank">https://swingleft.org/resources </a><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.buildthewave.org/texting">https://www.buildthewave.org/texting</a><a href="https://www.buildthewave.org/texting" target="_blank">https://www.buildthewave.org/texting</a><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.buildthewave.org/texting" target="_blank">https://act.350.org/signup/2018-gotv/ </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://red2blue.org/volunteer/">https://red2blue.org/volunteer/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sign up now for The Last Weekend, and find out how you can take action between now and Election Day. <a href="https://red2blue.org/volunteer/" target="_blank">https://thelastweekend.org/ </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big Blue Dial<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Saturday, October 27, 1 – 6 PM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thoughtworks, 99 Madison Ave, 15th floor, New York, 10016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://getorganizedbk.org/event/the-big-blue-dial-call-text-post-card-to-flip-the-ny-senate-2/" target="_blank">https://getorganizedbk.org/event/the-big-blue-dial-call-text-post-card-to-flip-the-ny-senate-2/ </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sunday, Nov. 4, 1 - 6 PM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Metrotech Center North, Brooklyn, NY 11201 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://getorganizedbk.org/event/the-big-blue-dial-call-text-post-card-to-flip-the-ny-senate/">https://getorganizedbk.org/event/the-big-blue-dial-call-text-post-card-to-flip-the-ny-senate/</a></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-38623272661578875392018-10-24T09:03:00.001-07:002018-10-24T09:50:55.645-07:00Vote Yes on Proposal 3 - Term Limits for Community Boards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWVQsv3lKHE0tRxYOxlYocFzS83HA5ye0tfH0u_A2qGJY1QXRKJqd0CxuUSMyRW_dXKQ936_areRJTgsHCawjC_Eyo6k9XmLGkoiqFvyssn4M0dgSKcpxL9ap6GhGCX1gVhygUfJMXVd/s1600/community_boards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWVQsv3lKHE0tRxYOxlYocFzS83HA5ye0tfH0u_A2qGJY1QXRKJqd0CxuUSMyRW_dXKQ936_areRJTgsHCawjC_Eyo6k9XmLGkoiqFvyssn4M0dgSKcpxL9ap6GhGCX1gVhygUfJMXVd/s1600/community_boards.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />On Election Day, New Yorkers will be able to vote on <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/charter/downloads/pdf/2018_charter_revision_commission_abstracts_1_pdf.PDF" target="_blank">Ballot Proposal 3</a>, which would limit Community Board members to a maximum four consecutive two years terms, after which they would have to take at least a term off before seeking reappointment. I strongly endorse voting yes on this proposal, based on my experience as a former District Manager of a Manhattan Community Board. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Board members have often been nominated because of their political connections. This reinforces cronyism and entrenched social networks, and blocks innovation, open-mindedness and flexibility. Once on Boards, members are reappointed automatically upon their request, leading many to consider themselves essentially entitled to a lifetime appointment. I saw members celebrated for remaining on the board for decades, even though their times of significant contribution were long past. This is wrong in so many ways. Why do many elected officials and their political allies argue against term limits? They don’t want to offend board members - who are often also members of their teams. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px;">The strongest argument against term limits is that some board members have developed expertise and institutional memory, essential for making land use planning decisions. Yes, some members do have such expertise, but the argument is bogus: former members are always able to attend board meetings, which are public, and offer their input to current members. Instead, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">elected officials and board members should prioritize ongoing efforts to find, nominate and cultivate new cohorts of neighborhood leaders who can follow in the footsteps of veteran members.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After a two-year break, former members can reapply for the board, but they should</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> be encouraged to seek out new venues for community leadership.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Manhattan Borough President’s office is doing a good job of recruiting community activists and those who have demonstrated professionalism, competence and civic engagement. Other boroughs should follow this example.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Term limits would speed up a healthy evolution of board culture and membership.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check out your local community board. Many CB staff and board members are working hard to address community needs. Other boards have serious problems, and elected officials and their communities should try to fix them. Voting yes on Proposal 3, in favor of term limits, is a good next step. </span><br />
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Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-64017123869534580772018-10-10T07:49:00.001-07:002018-10-10T07:52:59.485-07:00Please volunteer - there's no Blue Wave without you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP4x88Dql8b2lakzyTv0iME4YaRUjUFAV1Nc273RJtLA-gcqrqdg6_01w6gZ2Ux8sVGObeCd6hyphenhyphenZvsu4DPHTkNN5qjpEXSUoD4xaCeQivTdJG6wULCEopnY_xM2PL37sZRNAXnmhe4ZFU/s1600/VoteClimate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP4x88Dql8b2lakzyTv0iME4YaRUjUFAV1Nc273RJtLA-gcqrqdg6_01w6gZ2Ux8sVGObeCd6hyphenhyphenZvsu4DPHTkNN5qjpEXSUoD4xaCeQivTdJG6wULCEopnY_xM2PL37sZRNAXnmhe4ZFU/s1600/VoteClimate.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br />Please volunteer - there's no Blue Wave without you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Date and time: from now until Nov. 6 - the clock is ticking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Location: from your own home, or many potential locations</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're less than a month away from a historically important election. On Tuesday, November 6, if we work very hard and we're very lucky, Democrats can gain control of the US House of Representatives and the NY State Senate, maybe even the US Senate, and put the brakes on the radical, extremist GOP administration. I don't think it's useful today to discuss the consequences if this doesn't happen. What's urgently important right now is whether you can find some time to join me in volunteering on some campaigns. I hope you can. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Volunteering for campaigns has gotten much easier in recent years. You can travel within NYC, or nearby, to knock on doors for candidates - the traditional method. There are events where you can meet up with other campaigners, and make phone calls or send texts to voters together. Or you can make phone calls and send texts from home on your own schedule. (I'm sending texts.) You can contact a candidate of your choice and see what they're doing, or visit the campaign groups listed below, and see what options appeal to you. Post a comment or contact me directly if you have any questions or thoughts. <br />Please share this with your contacts<br /><br />Thanks! - Dan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://swingleft.org/resources">https://swingleft.org/resources</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://red2blue.org/volunteer/">https://red2blue.org/volunteer/</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop">https://www.openprogress.com/text-troop</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.buildthewave.org/">https://www.buildthewave.org/</a></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-10953354637253105602018-10-09T06:47:00.002-07:002018-10-20T09:57:54.013-07:00Protecting NYC from storm surges - some ways will work, others won't<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nx_-nljkiJ8i7DxLJn0vHQftJaFK72PcSnNUTCFZT-O9l0UALnnWppYecs3emu8LqHB5TKWIkLpFuzromYqWVZqSms_nFH-vgVP7k4rxifOnqO6Mk7V4zwoenGeaJDq1S1tkW48L9MJZ/s1600/storm-surge-barrier-image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="650" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nx_-nljkiJ8i7DxLJn0vHQftJaFK72PcSnNUTCFZT-O9l0UALnnWppYecs3emu8LqHB5TKWIkLpFuzromYqWVZqSms_nFH-vgVP7k4rxifOnqO6Mk7V4zwoenGeaJDq1S1tkW48L9MJZ/s320/storm-surge-barrier-image.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /><br />The US Army Corps of Engineers is looking at building gigantic flood barriers at NYC harbor entrances to protect against storm surges. It might work for a short time, but would cost at least $30-50 billion and not offer any protection from climate change driven sea level rise. Building land-based resilience measures on our coastlines would cost only a fraction, and would address both issues. Let's not waste billions on projects that won't work - and let's stop building in flood plains like LIC and the Rockaways.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">(This letter has been sent to Queens elected officials and Community Boards)</span></span></div>
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<br />
The US Army Corps of Engineers is considering how to protect NYC from future
storm surges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They expect to narrow the
list of <u><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sample-Resolution-Language_Storm-Surge-Proposal-091718.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">six alternatives in their plan</span></a></span></u> down to two, perhaps by winter of 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ask municipal leaders to
stand with <span style="background: white;">NYC Council Member <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://council.nyc.gov/costa-constantinides/2018/09/18/406/"><span style="color: blue;">Costas
Constantinides</span></a></span>, who has called the plan woefully inadequate, and its
public notice insufficient.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Most of the Corp’s alternatives center on building gigantic flood
barriers in the water to close off entrances to the NY harbor in the event of
storms. The Corps estimates river barriers (Alternative 2) could cost up to
$140 billion dollars, without counting for annual maintenance or cost overruns.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It would be difficult to modify the gates to
cope with higher sea levels, and they could have a functional lifespan of as
little as 20 years. And as they will remain open most of the time, these in
water barriers will not address sea-level rise.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
In contrast, one of the alternatives would make </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">our
shorelines more resilient by building land-based flood walls, dunes and levees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This approach is <u><a href="https://onenyc.cityofnewyork.us/goals/coastal-defense/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">already
being taken by NYC</span></a></u>, is supported by environmental organizations,
and would address both storm surge and sea level rise. The Corps estimates this
alternative would cost between $2 billion to $4 billion. Shoreline
measures can improve quality of life for waterfront communities, can be individually
customized, can be modified or expanded over time, will have very small maintenance
costs, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">and
will be essential for local sea level rise protection, whether offshore
barriers are built or not.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<br />
New Yorkers should be able to review Federal projects to protect our shoreline,
and to reject plans likely to fail while wasting taxpayer money. We urge
all Queens elected officials and Community Boards to request that the Corps
extend its public comment period, schedule hearings in Queens, and to submit
their own responses and resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
It’s time to look more carefully at NYC’s own plans for its low-lying areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climate change guarantees that sea levels
will rise, as will the frequency and strength of storms, even if the details
are uncertain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides ensuring that
the Corps helps make our shorelines more resilient, we should do our part to minimize
future damage, by avoiding more construction in flood plains instead of
encouraging it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark Laster and Dan Miner<br />
Co-Chairs, Forest Hills Green Team<br />
<br />
= = = = = <br />
<br />Resources:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sample-Resolution-Language_Storm-Surge-Proposal-091718.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">US Army Corps NYC Storm Surge Plan</span></a><br /><br />
Council Member Costas Constantinides <a href="https://council.nyc.gov/costa-constantinides/2018/09/18/406/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">statement on the USACE plan</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
NYC <a href="https://onenyc.cityofnewyork.us/goals/coastal-defense/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">coastal resilience plans</span></a><br /><br />
NYC’s <a href="http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/big-u" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Big U lower Manhattan shoreline protection plan</span></a><br /><br />
Riverkeeper <a href="https://riverkeeper.org/barriers" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">backgrounder</span></a> and <a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Final-Storm-Barriers-Fact-Sheet-E.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">fact sheet</span></a> on storm surge barriers: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sample-Resolution-Language_Storm-Surge-Proposal-091718.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Sample municipal resolution</span></a> on the USACE Storm Surge Proposal<br /><br />
Columbia University <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/09/new-york-future-flooding-climate-change.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Professor Klaus Jacob</span></a> has long advocated relocation away
from NYC flood plains to higher elevations.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">= = = = = = = = <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Council
Member Constantinides - <a href="https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3673410&GUID=0231AF83-2EB2-4310-AC40-19632ACB45B7" target="_blank">Resolution No. 509</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />Resolution
calling on the United States Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider the
proposals made in the New York – New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal
Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) to consider sea level rise and flooding caused by rain in
addition to storm surge.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whereas,
In 2012, coastal storm Sandy ravaged the New York City metropolitan area<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">causing
60 documented fatalities and damaging significant resources throughout the
area; and<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whereas,
As a result of Sandy New York City was left without power, with damaged<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">critical
public and private infrastructure, and many New York City residents had limited
access to food, drinking water and healthcare; and<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whereas,
The storm inflicted an estimated $19 billion in damages and lost economic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">activity
across New York City; and<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whereas,
Coastal flooding and storm surge remain a significant risk six years later and<br />
present a threat with deadly consequences for people and wildlife; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The New York City metropolitan area has a gross metropolitan product
of over $1.66 trillion and there was a $15 billion federal investment in post-hurricane
Sandy recovery and resilience projects; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps), working with
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation, in partnership with the New York City
Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, have proposed to develop measures to
manage the risk of coastal storm damage in the New York City metropolitan area;
and<br />
<br />
Whereas, The Army Corps plans to address coastal risk management focus
primarily on the creation of in-water surge barriers that do not address sea
level rise; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The coastal risk management feasibility study acknowledges that no
coastal risk management project can eliminate the risk of flooding and that
given time each design will eventually be exceeded; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The Army Corps feasibility study focuses on a number of options which
involve the construction of large permanent in-water barriers that could result
in adverse impacts to the New York and New Jersey harbor ecology while still
failing to address flooding risks from sea level rise and rainfall events; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, Sea level is rising along the East Coast of the United States faster
than it has risen for the last 2,000 years, is accelerating in pace, and could
rise by one to two meters this century, threatening millions of Americans with
severe flooding; and<br />
<br />
Whereas, The New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Risk Management
Feasibility Study does not include an evaluation of the impact of sea level
rise on the study area; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The New York City panel on climate change has predicted that sea level
will rise at least a foot by 2050 and possibly more; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, Local environmentalists and community members and groups have voiced
concerns that the Army Corps needs to conduct a more thorough review of the
environmental impacts of each alternative measure and allow for more meaningful
public input and participation; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The information provided in the study’s scope of work does not give
the public sufficient ability to comment on the program design, including the
frequency and duration of barrier closures, the barrier heights or the reliance
on risk-based assessment, and fails to evaluate "ecosystem services;"
and <br />
<br />
Whereas, The extremely large in-water barriers and gates that will close or
open for shipping fail to protect New York City and the surrounding communities
against sea level rise and flooding caused by rain; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, These huge barriers are likely to restrict the migration of striped
bass, Atlantic sturgeon, herring, shad, eel and other species important to the
Hudson estuary; and <br />
<br />
Whereas, These storm surge barriers would also restrict natural flushing from
the ocean and inhibit free water movement along the length of the Hudson and
its estuary, causing contamination to once again be concentrated in New York
Harbor; now, therefore, be it <br />
<br />
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States
Army Corps of Engineers to share information about the studies it is evaluating
in this process; to evaluate "ecosystem services;" to have regular
and sustained outreach to stakeholders throughout the potential impact areas in
New York New Jersey, and Connecticut; and to reconsider the alternatives being
evaluated in the New York – New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Coastal Storm
Risk Management Feasibility Study pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) to include consideration of sea rise and flooding caused by rain in
addition to storm surge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-21054877488075572252018-07-23T11:23:00.001-07:002018-07-23T11:29:31.544-07:00CulturePass NYC: still a few bugs in the system<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZtru6_6KvlAhEEO6mx_z1cc3g2Q9GXkBBKQ0mj9yePPaXQkqnUCWROdcPcnK5B_Plz8OHwrFNm5fsyA7mL0EhhPAjhu8Nlr0mHT43WNVirQDMOyGRdgjs3qhMSxdfblOXR9Tp0A_a3Gl/s1600/CulturePass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZtru6_6KvlAhEEO6mx_z1cc3g2Q9GXkBBKQ0mj9yePPaXQkqnUCWROdcPcnK5B_Plz8OHwrFNm5fsyA7mL0EhhPAjhu8Nlr0mHT43WNVirQDMOyGRdgjs3qhMSxdfblOXR9Tp0A_a3Gl/s400/CulturePass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Many of NYC's cultural institutions are fairly expensive. To counter this, NYC introduced <a href="https://www.culturepass.nyc/" target="_blank">CulturePass.NYC</a>, through which NYC library card holders can reserve free admission to 33 cultural institutions. Sounds good, yes? <br /><br />A quick tour of the site a week after its mid-July roll-out revealed that the shelves were mostly empty, with passes available immediately for only a few of the institutions. For some others, one could reserve passes only for a future date. But many attractions had neither available passes or any link to a calendar to indicate when future dates could be reserved. What happened?<br /><br />Apparently the program was <b><i>very</i></b> popular. Four days after the CulturePass website went live, <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/new-york-free-library-card-museum-tickets-sell-out-1321196" target="_blank">passes were sold out for ten of the most popular institutions</a>. Program representatives say they are speaking with venues to offer more passes and to add new venues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The FAQ page </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.culturepass.nyc/faq" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">reveals a catch</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">: p</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">asses are made available on the website two months in advance on the first of every month. "For example, on October 1, December passes will be made available and Culture Pass patrons will be able to reserve any available passes for dates between October 1st and December 31st." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So mark your calendars for the first of the month to see if you can nab some passes far in advance. Perhaps set an alarm for just after midnight. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Maybe someday I'll be able to visit the Guggenheim without dropping $25 or enduring the lengthy wait on the around the block lines for its Saturday 5 - 7:45 PM <a href="https://www.guggenheim.org/plan-your-visit" target="_blank">pay what you wish hours</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until then, I'll appreciate the NYC museums that are always </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">pay what you wish, like the <a href="https://mcny.org/visit" target="_blank">Museum of the City of NY</a>, and my favorite, the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Metropolitan Museum</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-67397637282566082152017-10-16T16:31:00.001-07:002017-10-16T16:31:23.101-07:00Three paths to stronger NY energy and climate response<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
cope with climate change, we must aim for transition to 100% renewable energy
as soon as possible<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /><a href="http://thesolutionsproject.org/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">The Solutions Project</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> and scientists at Stanford University have come up with
plans for all 50 US states and 138 countries to transition to 100% renewable
energy. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
350.org founder Bill McKibben calls for politicians to </span></span><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/how-politicians-must-fight-climate-change-in-the-trump-era-w489549" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">commit to converting to100% renewable energy</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> while working to keep remaining fossil fuels in the
ground. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
Senators Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey have introduced the </span></span><a href="http://thesolutionsproject.org/100-by-2050/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">“100 by’50 Act” </a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">to completely phase out fossil fuel use and replace them with
renewable power by 2050, while supporting workers and prioritizing low-income
communities. </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-leads-act-end-america-s-reliance-fossil-fuels-and-transition-0" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">Legislation</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> has also been introduced at the
federal level to transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</b><a href="http://www.theclimatemobilization.org/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">The Climate Mobilization </a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">calls for a government-coordinated emergency
effort to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy as soon as possible,
modeled after the US mobilization at the outset of World War II. </span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Changing New York State’s Climate and Energy Policy<br />
<br />
</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Solutions Project’s </span></span><a href="http://thesolutionsproject.org/infographic/#ny" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">New York State plan</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> outlines how by 2030
electricity, transportation, heating/cooling, and industry energy
infrastructure </span></span><a href="https://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/NewYorkWWSEnPolicy.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">could be converted to run entirely from wind, water, andsunlight</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, provided by: 10% onshore wind (4,020 5- megawatt / MW turbines), 40%
offshore wind (12,700 5-MW turbines), 10% concentrated solar (387 100-MW
plants), 10% solar-PV plants (828 50-MW plants), 6% residential rooftop PV (5
million 5-kW systems), 12% commercial/ government rooftop PV (500,000 100-kW
systems), with smaller numbers of geothermal, wave, tidal and hydroelectric
systems. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>New York can switch to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030.</b><br /><br />New York needs to commit to this goal, and can make it by investing in energy conservation, energy reduction, wind, solar and geothermal (e.g., heat pumps) not oil, gas, coal, fossil fuel infrastructure, or nukes. We must immediately halt investments in fossil fuels and related infrastructure.<br /><br /><a href="http://gelfny.org/the-campaign-for-100-clean-energy-in-nys/">Legislationto require this </a>has been introduced by Assemblymember Colton (A5105) and Senator Hoylman (S5908). NYSERDA is working on a study on how fast NYS can move to 100% clean energy. A draft is expected by the end of 2017.<br /><br />NY must speed up its transition to renewable energy. Cuomo unfortunately is giving more money ($7.6 billion over 12 years) to bail out old upstate nuclear power plants than he is giving to renewable energy. We also need increased efforts by local governments to move to 100% clean energy (see <a href="http://gelfny.org/">GELF’s A Local ClimateAction Agenda</a>). <br /><br />We need stronger commitments by NYS and NYC re off shore wind (e.g., a commitment for New York State to purchase 5,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power by 2025, and 10,000 MW by 2030.<br /> <br /><b> Mandate that Buildings Stop Wasting Energy</b><br /> <br /> With around 1 million buildings in NYC, most of them older, only making new buildings more efficient is not enough. Large private buildings over 25,000 square feet account for just 5% of all the City’s buildings, but use more than half of the City’s total energy. Many are very inefficient. It’s crazy for apartments to be so hot in the winter than tenants have to open a window to stay comfortable – but very common. Many energy efficiency upgrades will pay for themselves in a short period of time, but building owners tend to ignore upgrades unless they are legally required, such as the City’s successful switch from dirty #6 heating oil to cleaner heating fuels. <br /> <br /> The Climate Works for All plan would require comprehensive mandatory energy use performance targets in existing buildings, instead of prescribing individual requirements via cumbersome building code. Decision-making on specific efficiency upgrades would be left to owners. By 2025, large buildings should be required to cut energy use by 10%, and then by another 10% by 2030. Requirements for rent-regulated housing should be deferred until state law is changed to prevent landlords from raising tenant’s rents using the Major Capital Improvements (MCI) loophole.<br /> <br /> Mayor di Blasio’s building retrofit proposal doesn’t hit the pace needed to reach even just the Paris agreement 80x50 cuts. It doesn’t require enough of large building owners, it lacks local hiring standards, and it will lead to rent increases on low-income tenants.<br /> <br /><a href="http://alignny.org/resource/climate-works-for-all-report/">http://alignny.org/resource/climate-works-for-all-report/</a><br /> <br /><a href="file:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/ClimateWorks_Report_R5_LowerRes.pdf">file:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/ClimateWorks_Report_R5_LowerRes.pdf</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://nycommunities.org/factsheet-energy-efficiency-requirements-large-buildings-slash-climate-pollution-create-good-jobs">http://nycommunities.org/factsheet-energy-efficiency-requirements-large-buildings-slash-climate-pollution-create-good-jobs</a><br /> <br /><a href="http://nycommunities.org/letter-mayor-de-blasio-city-council-mayors-building-proposal">http://nycommunities.org/letter-mayor-de-blasio-city-council-mayors-building-proposal</a><br /> <br /><b> NY State Climate and Community Protection Act </b><br /> <br /> The NY State Energy Plan sets positive goals for 2030. While an important roadmap, there’s a serious problem - its goals are only aspirational. NYS government agencies and officials are not legally required to put them into practice. <br /> <br /> The Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) is needed to fix this. The CCPA was drafted by climate law experts at the Sabin Center for Environmental Law at Columbia University, and is backed by NY Renews, a coalition of 110 labor, community and environmental groups.<br /> <br /> The CCPA would legally require NY State government to enforce its climate commitments, set new labor standards and worker protections for those in the renewable energy industries. It would allocate 40% of the budgets for community resilience and green jobs training projects in the State’s Clean Energy Fund to disadvantaged communities. <br /><br />The New York State Assembly voted to write the CCPA into law in both in 2016 and 2017, but the Senate won’t even bring the CCPA up for consideration. <br /><br />Senator Tony Avella of Queens and all 8 members of the Independent Democratic Conference – the group of 8 Senators elected as Democrats who now vote with the Republicans – signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. They introduced it into the Senate near the end of the 2017 session. Instead of pushing the Senate’s Republican leadership to bring the bill up for an immediate vote, Sen. Avella suddenly took a 180 degree turn, claiming profound misgivings about the bill and deciding to shelve it until further study. <br /><br /> It looks like the IDC’s last minute endorsement of the CCPA was a cynical scam to allow them to claim they support climate action, while actually helping Senate Republicans to block climate action. The IDC can disprove this theory by passing the legislation as soon as possible, by including it in their next conference budget proposal. <br /> <br />Here's <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2017/09/ny-state-climate-and-community.html">a more detailed review of the CCPA and what happened in the NY State Senate</a>. </span></span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-40631080423963980992017-10-16T16:15:00.004-07:002017-10-16T16:15:46.148-07:00Energy conservation and solar for NYC apartment buildings<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">350NYC is now organizing a series of interactive community forums on
energy and climate. The date and
location of the first one, to take place this winter, will be announced later. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Following is part two of a draft version of a handout to be distributed at the
forum, which will allow attendees to follow up on the short presentations and
learn more at home. <br />
<br />
The two hour forum will feature presenters from the official NYC programs to
facilitate energy conservation retrofit projects and rooftop solar panel
installations in apartment building, NYC Retrofit Accelerator and Here Comes
Solar, along with a property manager or a coop board leader to describe their
successful project. We’ll ask attendees
willing to connect the property managers and coop board leaders of their
buildings for their contact information, so this meeting will lead to actual
projects. <br /><br />The third part of the forum will be the next section of the handout and the next post on this blog. Five minute introductions to three campaigns to strengthen NYC and State policies will be a lot in a short period of time - but we'll have notes. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 9.6pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Energy Efficiency for your Building<br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">About
70% of NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy used to heat, power,
and cool buildings.<b> </b>Since over 90%
of the buildings that exist today in NYC will still be here in 2050, to achieve
the City’s energy conservation goals nearly all existing buildings will have to
be retrofitted to become more energy efficient.
<br />
<br />
<b>Transform your building. Explain to
management what’s in it for them.<br />
</b><br />
One of the most impactful things you can do is to encourage your building
ownership or management to take action. Contact
someone on your building’s coop or condo board, or the property manager. Explain that NYC’s free program, the Retrofit
Accelerator, will help them assess what energy conservation measures (ECMs) make
sense for them. <br />
<br />
ECMs will help owners and managers save money by reducing utility bills and
operating costs, reducing labor and maintenance, and increasing occupant
comfort. Even if they are not concerned about lessening the building’s climate
impact, they’ll recognize that green practices are increasingly standard and
have marketing benefits. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Many upgrade measures will save
enough from energy bills to pay for themselves in less than five years: LED
lighting and sensors in common areas, sub-metering, ventilation, fuel
switching, domestic hot water, HVAC controls, and distribution systems. </span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">NYC Energy
and Water Use 2013 Report, p. 30</span></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/nyc_energy_water_use_report_2016.pdf">http://urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/nyc_energy_water_use_report_2016.pdf</a><br />
<br />
Most of these upgrades are voluntary, and many building managers do only what
is required to comply with City laws.
They will be more willing to look into them if they know that help is
available – and that residents are asking. Contact 350NYC at <a href="mailto:beyondoilnyc@gmail.com">beyondoilnyc@gmail.com</a> for a volunteer
to assist you and your neighbors. <br />
<br />
<b>NYC Retrofit Accelerator <br />
</b><br />
Staff at the City’s free advisory service streamlines the process of making
energy efficiency improvements in buildings. They will work with management to
assess the building’s unique needs, make connections with qualified
contractors, find cash incentives and financing, train building staff, and
provide support even after project completion. Connect your building
representative with the Retrofit Accelerator at 212-656-9202 and <a href="mailto:info@nycretrofit.org">info@nycretrofit.org</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>Handbook for Multifamily Buildings<br />
</b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br />
Of NYC’s one million buildings, nearly 100,000 are multifamily properties. NYC has put together a handbook specifically
for them, introducing the basics of energy efficiency, incentive programs,
financing, relevant local laws, and technical training programs. <span style="color: #666666;"><br />
<br />
</span></span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/html/challenge/multifamily-buildings.shtml">http://www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/html/challenge/multifamily-buildings.shtml</a><br />
<b><br />
Ready to Respond: Strategies for Multifamily Building Resilience <br />
<br />
</b>50 building resilience experts and staff from FEMA compiled this manual
detailing 19 practical strategies for building owners to make their properties
more resilient against the effects of extreme weather events. Determine your property’s
vulnerability to various hazards, find which strategies are relevant, and how
to get started. <br />
<b><br />
</b><a href="http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/resources/ready-respond-strategies-multifamily-building-resilience-13356">http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/resources/ready-respond-strategies-multifamily-building-resilience-13356</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<b>Solar Panels for your Roof</b> <br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<i>Fix the areas where your building is
wasting energy before you install solar power. Otherwise, much of the additional
electricity added by the solar project will be wasted!</i><b><br />
<br />
Rooftop Solar Power<br />
</b><br />
Solar electric systems convert sunlight into electricity, and can reduce a
building’s need to purchase electricity from a utility. Any excess electricity produced
that your building does not use is credited to your building’s utility bill through
net metering. Solar panels can be expensive, but financial incentives from
NYSERDA and government tax incentives can cover as much as 80% of the costs. They
can also be financed or leased to install solar for little or no money upfront.
<br />
<br />
If you own a house, you can buy or lease solar yourself. If you live in a coop or condo apartment
building, the building’s board and management must agree to consider and then
install a solar project. For large, tall buildings, the solar yield from
relatively limited rooftop surface area will not cover as much of the
building’s common area electricity needs as in six story buildings with more
roof space compared to building volume. <br />
<br />
<b>Community Solar <br />
</b><br />
Solarize NYC brings together groups of potential solar customers, using group
purchasing power to reduce prices 10-20% from individual pricing. A community
can include a neighborhood, a group of buildings, or an association such as a
labor union or property management firm. Solarize NYC will assist in choosing a
solar installation company that offers competitive, transparent pricing. <br />
<br />
<b>Community Shared Solar<br />
</b><br />
This model allows building owners and renters in multifamily buildings without
adequate solar access the opportunity to subscribe to portions of a large solar
array located on- or off-site and managed by a third party. Each individual
subscriber’s share of production will appear as a credit on their utility bill,
offsetting their monthly electricity charges. If the solar array generates more
electricity than subscribers use, the excess generation credits will be
distributed to individual subscribers on an annual basis.<br />
<br />
<b>Solar PV Online Resources</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">• NY-Sun: <a href="file:///C:/Users/Dan%20Miner/Documents/Climate%20Action%202017/www.ny-sun.ny.gov">www.ny-sun.ny.gov</a><br />
• Solarize NYC: <a href="http://nysolarize.com/">http://nysolarize.com/</a><br />
• Sustainable CUNY. NYC Multifamily Solar Guide: <a href="http://www1.cuny.edu/sites/sustainable/">http://www1.cuny.edu/sites/sustainable/</a>
<br />
• Here Comes Solar: <a href="http://www.herecomessolar.nyc/">http://www.herecomessolar.nyc/</a><br /><br /><i>To put the brakes on climate change, we have to do much more. Next, we'll earn about three initiatives to make NYC and NY State energy policy much stronger.</i><br /><span class="MsoHyperlink"><br />* * * * *<br />
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Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-25153488136435989232017-10-16T16:01:00.002-07:002017-10-16T16:01:52.362-07:00Envisioning NYC Community Energy Forums<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">350NYC is now organizing a series of interactive community
forums on energy and climate, with the first one to take place this winter. <br /><br />About 70% of of NYC's energy use goes to heat, cool, light and power buildings, and most of us live in apartment buildings, so that's where we'll focus.<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
The two hour forum will feature presenters from the official NYC programs to
facilitate energy conservation retrofit projects and rooftop solar panel
installations in apartment buildings, NYC Retrofit Accelerator and Here Comes
Solar. We'll invite a property manager or a coop board leader who can describe their
successful project. Then, we’ll ask for attendees
willing to connect the programs with the property managers and coop board leaders of their
buildings, so this meeting will lead to actual
projects. <br /><br />Next we’ll hear briefly from
representatives of three campaigns to strengthen NYC and NY State policies.
Lastly, we’ll facilitate discussion among small groups of neighbors in the
audience. <br /><br />It's a lot in a short period of time, but very doable. We’ll distribute print copies
of the following draft backgrounder<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, which will allow attendees to follow up on the forum's short presentations and learn more at home.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <br /><br />Want to get a forum in your neighborhood? Let's start with an introductory talk to one of your local groups. Contact <a href="mailto:beyondoilnyc@gmail.com">beyondoilnyc@gmail.com</a>. </span><b><br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
= = = = = = <br />
<br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Draft Handout for Attendees <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Climate
Change and NYC<br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The NYC Panel on Climate
Change includes scientists and legal, insurance and risk management experts. Their latest report, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Building the Knowledge Base for Climate
Resiliency</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, contains their predictions for the direct challenges to
city infrastructure.<br />
<br />
<b>- Increasing temperatures: </b>From
1900 to 2013, mean annual temperatures in NYC rose 3.4 degrees F. A further 4-5 degrees F increase is expected by
2050. By 2080, the City will experience
6 heat waves per year.<br />
<b>- Sea level rise: </b>NYC sea levels
have risen a foot since 1900. By 2050,
one to two feet more is expected. Sea
levels could rise as much as six feet by 2100.<b> <br />
- Dangerous storms: </b>Precipitation will increase and become more erratic
leading to more frequent and more intense storms, and both more droughts and
floods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">- <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12591/full">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12591/full</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">- <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/122-15/mayor-de-blasio-releases-npcc-2015-report-providing-climate-projections-2100-the-first">http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/122-15/mayor-de-blasio-releases-npcc-2015-report-providing-climate-projections-2100-the-first</a><b><br />
<br />
</b>Many other indirect impacts - on agriculture, public health, the economy –
in the US and around the world – will affect us.<b> </b>Some scientists claim that
the scenarios put out by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are
too conservative. A recent article in New York Magazine illustrates other
possible scenarios. <b><br />
<br />
</b><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/climate-change-earth-too-hot-for-humans.html">http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/climate-change-earth-too-hot-for-humans.html</a><b> <br />
<br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">What
do we do?<br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
We must try to slow down and reverse climate change – while making ourselves
and our communities more resilient to its impacts.<b> </b>The Paris Agreement, aimed at limiting global warming to under 2
degrees C (3.6 F), was a step in the right direction, even though its measures
wouldn’t have been sufficient. With the
US federal government captured by fossil fuel corporate interests, and in full
denial of reality, US cities and states are acting independently. NYC and the US Conference of Mayors have
agreed to commit to the Paris goals. There
is no time for complacency. Fortunately,
there are many ways for New Yorkers to take action. <br />
<br />
Individual green lifestyle choices are necessary, but not enough. NYC plans are quite good, but also not
sufficient. We can help NYC implement and
strengthen its plans by plugging our neighbors and communities into current
programs to increase energy conservation and renewable power in City buildings.
Expanding these local efforts builds the foundation for the next steps: organizing
to massively upgrade City, State and National responses.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NYC’s
Plans for Sustainability and Climate Change Response<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PlaNYC,
the City’s first sustainability plan, was released in 2007 by Mayor Michael
Bloomberg. <span style="background: white; color: #13266f;"> </span><span style="background: white;">In 2014,
Mayor Bill di Blasio updated the plan as OneNYC, detailing hundreds of</span>
initiatives underway at City agencies. NYC’s
Roadmap to 80 x 50 report<span style="background: white;"> of 2016 analyzed
potential emission reductions from the city’s energy, buildings, transportation,
and solid waste sectors. It found that </span>the
City is on track to meet its 2030<b> </b>target,
but still has to work harder to get to 80%. <b><br />
<br />
</b>- <a href="https://onenyc.cityofnewyork.us/">https://onenyc.cityofnewyork.us/</a>
<br />
- <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/386-17/mayor-de-blasio-signs-executive-order-adopt-goals-paris-climate-agreement-new-york-city#/0">http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/386-17/mayor-de-blasio-signs-executive-order-adopt-goals-paris-climate-agreement-new-york-city#/0</a>
<b><br />
</b><br />
Many reports on NYC sustainability, resilience and energy use are at: <br />
<br />
- <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/about/reports-publications.page">http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/about/reports-publications.page</a>.
<br />
- <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/codes/80x50.page">http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/codes/80x50.page</a><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
you can do personally</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
There are many ways to lower your personal carbon emissions: <br />
- use mass transit<br />
- turn off and unplug electronic devices when you leave home<br />
- limit the amount of materials you use and the waste you produce<br />
- recycle, compost and donate wherever possible<br />
- support local farmers and buy organically grown food.<b> </b><br />
<b><br />
</b>- <a href="http://www.wehatetowaste.com/">http://www.wehatetowaste.com/</a><br />
- <a href="https://www.grownyc.org/">https://www.grownyc.org/</a><br />
- <a href="https://www.coned.com/en/save-money/energy-saving-programs">https://www.coned.com/en/save-money/energy-saving-programs</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><br />
</span><b><br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Switch your personal
electric use to wind and solar energy</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><b>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">350NYC makes this green action very easy. Electricity
can be generated by a fossil fuel burning power plant, a nuclear power plant,
hydropower, or a utility scale wind or solar facility. Only 2% of the electricity used by most NYC
residents comes from renewable power: the other 98% is from other sources. <br />
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you rent or own an apartment, and pay
your own utility bill, the easiest way to change that is to switch to a
wind or solar energy provider. They will
contact ConEd, modify your account, and will purchase the power you use each
month from renewable sources. You will have personally divested from fossil
fuels. <br />
<br />
Choosing among many suppliers of green and renewable electricity can be
confusing. After 350NYC reviewed over 30
independent energy suppliers in 2014, we decided to recommend and partner with
Clean Choice<i> </i>Energy (previously known as Ethical Electric). If
you sign up with them, 350NYC will receive a $150 sign-on bonus. Go to:<br />
<span style="color: #17292e;"><br />
</span><a href="https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/Partners/350NYC/">https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/Partners/350NYC/</a><span style="color: #17292e;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />* * * * *<br /><br /></span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-63390474035229637562017-09-05T11:44:00.000-07:002017-09-05T11:49:59.923-07:00NY State Climate and Community Protection Plan Blocked by Rogue Democrats in the State Senate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbbuUaveLpITUs0TEL33YAMT4oJCa6H6Otlf_xwXaV247_77lcDmm8IgFbIjY2gNlQx36L7GFWqybZBiMSHlUc5grjquo7JZsKm7YwHaeUhhtMQIMvIrdu56ncMP7xLO0EzImiUThbBHf/s1600/ny-state-senate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1160" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbbuUaveLpITUs0TEL33YAMT4oJCa6H6Otlf_xwXaV247_77lcDmm8IgFbIjY2gNlQx36L7GFWqybZBiMSHlUc5grjquo7JZsKm7YwHaeUhhtMQIMvIrdu56ncMP7xLO0EzImiUThbBHf/s320/ny-state-senate.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">NY State Senate</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With climate change accelerating and Federal government policy in full reverse,
it’s urgent for city and state governments to take the lead on climate change, environmental and energy policy. Despite being one of the bluest states,
New York State, and its government, could be doing much more. Here’s an
example.</span><br />
<br />
The <a href="https://energyplan.ny.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">NY State Energy Plan</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, released in 2015, sets
positive goals for 2030: reduce greenhouse gas emissions within NY State by
40%, have 50% of electricity come from renewable sources, and cut energy
consumption in buildings by a quarter. While an important roadmap, with
detailed policy recommendations, there’s a serious problem with the plan - its
goals are only aspirational. NYS government agencies and officials
are not legally required to put them into practice.<br />
<br />
The Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) is critically needed to fix
this. The CCPA is backed by </span><a href="https://www.nyrenews.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">NY Renews</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, a coalition of 110 labor, community and environmental
groups. It was drafted by climate law experts at the </span><a href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Sabin Center for Environmental Law</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> at Columbia
University, and then reviewed and refined by the policy staff of the coalition
member groups.</span><span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br />
<br />
</span><span class="im"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">According
to Jessica Wentz of the Sabin Center: “With the Trump administration working to
dismantle federal climate protections, it is essential for states and cities to
take action to address climate change. The Climate and Community Protection Act
is an ambitious piece of legislation that would make New York State a leader in
U.S. efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. It
creates a comprehensive and legally enforceable framework for meeting emission
reduction goals, decarbonizing the state economy, and preparing communities for
the impacts of climate change.”</span></span><span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span><span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br />
</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6Lv5gaY8yMukxLVrrInF8oB38CFz-YZQ9mgiz0Jd7F6xlwKCIrqdmqNVKSthpp6HIywMi0J5FVUcvWE-2hL7Gi_ATolgUktZZX-fuZfQBhfg0Cx40i-IHthQvZNOpCA1qTm86H7kSvcN/s1600/Wind-turbines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6Lv5gaY8yMukxLVrrInF8oB38CFz-YZQ9mgiz0Jd7F6xlwKCIrqdmqNVKSthpp6HIywMi0J5FVUcvWE-2hL7Gi_ATolgUktZZX-fuZfQBhfg0Cx40i-IHthQvZNOpCA1qTm86H7kSvcN/s320/Wind-turbines.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.nyrenews.org/what-we-do/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The CCPA would</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> legally require NY
State government to enforce its climate commitments. The law would authorize
funds for new renewable energy projects, mandate the formation and reporting
activities of a 25 member NY State Climate Action Council, require the DEC to
set new regulations, and require that the State get 50% of its electricity from
clean, renewable energy sources by 2030.<br />
<br />
The CCPA would also complement the NY State Energy Plan in other ways. It
would set new labor standards and worker protections for those in the renewable
energy industries. It would allocate 40% of the budgets for projects in the
State’s </span><a href="https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Clean-Energy-Fund" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Clean
Energy Fund</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> to
disadvantaged communities, making them more resilient to extreme weather events
such as Hurricane Sandy, and also making green job training more widely
available.<br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbeKwQ4JRFa96DHuUlSgwA0XWlesQmXCCTX6K-vERX5Lt41lmfFHSETbYzA5eOdbBMjC9HpC255O5viwRITRMQBqFKW9ATDHjke9XXDLh9gtIGxqiJz15u7eL-ubbBN4MMd0vy6xbpU8R/s1600/solar-green-jobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="525" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbeKwQ4JRFa96DHuUlSgwA0XWlesQmXCCTX6K-vERX5Lt41lmfFHSETbYzA5eOdbBMjC9HpC255O5viwRITRMQBqFKW9ATDHjke9XXDLh9gtIGxqiJz15u7eL-ubbBN4MMd0vy6xbpU8R/s320/solar-green-jobs.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
Assemblyman Steve Englebright, chair of the Environmental Committee, </span><a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01062016/new-york-climate-change-legislation-zero-emissions-2050" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">introduced
a bill to write the CCPA into law</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> in the New York State Assembly; it </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://nyassembly.gov/Press/20170619a/" target="_blank">passed in both in 2016 and 2017</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">.
For a bill to become State law, a companion bill must also be passed by the
State Senate. Last year, the Senate didn’t even make an effort to
consider the proposed law.<br />
<br />
On <span class="aqj">June 1</span>, Donald Trump made the historically
destructive decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. One
might hope that in the aftermath, with the need for state leadership on climate
change never clearer, New York State would finally pass the CCPA, which had
been sitting on the legislative docket for over a year.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydp1fd06f72yiv9321986708gmail-msolistparagraph" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Senator Tony
Avella of Queens and all 8 members of the Independent Democratic Conference –
the group of 8 Senators elected as Democrats who now vote with the Republicans
– signed on as co-sponsors of the bill. They introduced it into the Senate on <span class="aqj">June 19</span>, near the end of the 2017 session. <span style="color: #500050;"><br />
<br />
</span></span><a href="https://www.nyrenews.org/news/2017/6/12/statement-on-senate-sponsorship-of-climate-and-community-protection-act" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Instead
of pushing the Senate’s Republican leadership</span></a><span style="color: #500050; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">to
bring the bill up for an immediate vote, Sen. Avella suddenly took a 180 degree
turn, claiming profound misgivings about the bill and deciding to shelve it
until further study. <span style="color: #500050;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CtU5P08X_zorMJ-H9nfcO5wJBlQyigV8Ei5GA4EeCuzWHBnfD5uttUt164grOkXhRGvsy3NvDTiB6UduL0OoGfVQF2pthofZi9b5EeUBQG6nfthsKIz71of5DIGfxYxkYhEcqye3HhA/s1600/lucy-pulls-football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CtU5P08X_zorMJ-H9nfcO5wJBlQyigV8Ei5GA4EeCuzWHBnfD5uttUt164grOkXhRGvsy3NvDTiB6UduL0OoGfVQF2pthofZi9b5EeUBQG6nfthsKIz71of5DIGfxYxkYhEcqye3HhA/s1600/lucy-pulls-football.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Originally,
the bill was supported by all eight members of the IDC, self-described “pragmatic
progressives” who claim to be able to work with Republican leaders to pass
progressive priorities. But apparently, this was only for show; the
real plan was to sit on the bill and block action.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The IDC’s support for Republicans gives the latter majority
control of the Senate. Combined, these Senators are the single biggest
obstacle to passing ambitious climate legislation in New York State. Avella’s
manipulation of the CCPA demonstrates standard IDC practice -- t</span><a href="http://www.noidcny.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">he IDC is a pack of con artists</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> in
service of the Senate’s Trump-aligned Republicans. <br />
<br />As the IDC’s excuse for burying the bill it had just agreed to sponsor, its members point to a letter from three individuals denouncing the bill and questioning
its provisions - a remarkably weak claim given the bill's broad support by
labor, community and environmental groups.<br />
<br />
Their delay and deception during this time of climate crisis is unconscionable.
The only way the IDC can prove that its endorsement of the CCPA wasn’t a
cynical scam is to pass the legislation as soon as possible, by including it in
their next conference budget proposal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">= = = = = = =</span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>A closer look at Avella’s CCPA con game</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In late June 2017, after signing on as a sponsor of the CCPA, Avella suddenly reversed himself and announced plans to block action on the bill until after completely reexamining it at a forum to be held in the fall of 2018. The forum would only feature testimony from witnesses invited by Avella. Supposedly, the reason for the IDC’s complete reversal on the bill was a letter Avella received - dated June 19. Three people signed off on a nine page letter with a laundry list of criticisms of the CCPA. They clearly had it ready and were awaiting the precise final day to send it. Its release was nicely timed to provide the IDC a threadbare excuse to delay action.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq0x7w6ik_mZsq6rziJx-zuYJx2J_lSzj5ayiyr0iuv9JDdyUwHhj1k4XRVpiFBOYVrVmsu1wDFcOfRZc51-kmNI284kOCUyCL-wxrrE-SSyHAJhx8SRdH6mcT7AVoYf4UISL9MFlrA2V/s1600/20170629_103313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZq0x7w6ik_mZsq6rziJx-zuYJx2J_lSzj5ayiyr0iuv9JDdyUwHhj1k4XRVpiFBOYVrVmsu1wDFcOfRZc51-kmNI284kOCUyCL-wxrrE-SSyHAJhx8SRdH6mcT7AVoYf4UISL9MFlrA2V/s320/20170629_103313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">At a rally in front of Senator Avella’s offi</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">ce later in June, Avella’s chief of staff Rebecca Sheehan attempted to explain to activists how Avella and the IDC did a complete turnaround in less than two weeks. Sheehan wrote:</span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"As I informed you yesterday, given the serious issues raised in the June 19th letter he received, Senator Avella has decided to hold a "Climate Forum" sometime this Fall to hear public testimony from experts on these issues, including environmental justice professionals, labor representatives and climate science professionals so that a full throated discussion can be had about any concerns with the current language of the bill, how those can be addressed and the best way to ensure that this legislation is drafted and moved forward to meet its intended goals. It is Senator Avella's intention to have this hearing open to the public, although testimony will be by invitation only, and he hopes it will also be available to be "live streamed". "</span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There is no end of technical and procedural objections that can be made toward any plan, especially when the scope of the challenge is as large as moving New York State from fossil fuel to renewable energy as quickly as possible. The letter is an exercise in the generation of objections. It should not be taken seriously. </span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If the IDC were serious about improving the bill they could have scheduled hearings in the fall of 2016 and winter of 2017. </span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Before it momentarily met with the approval of the IDC, the CCPA had already been crafted with the input of experts on environmental and climate issues, as well as environmental justice and labor advocates, through the participation of over 100 groups representing tens of thousands of New Yorkers. For Avella to ignore the participants and process that led to the bill and claim it needs to be rewritten, ostensibly based on criticisms from three individuals, is implausible, arrogant and condescending.</span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The forum being discussed may not even take place. Even if it did, with testimony only from those that Avella invites, the forum would just be a charade designed to delay action indefinitely, propose legislation entirely at odds with the advocates of the CCPA, create confusion, and demand endless research into unresolvable conundrums that no one is assigned to fund or evaluate. Avella’s response cannot be taken seriously. It is a scam.</span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sheehan handed activists a statement from IDC Director of Communications Candice Giove that was surprisingly open in its contempt for environmentalists and confident in the gullibility of voters: </span></div>
<div class="m1246096059053334615ydpe3401da1yiv9321986708msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“It’s disappointing that these protesters senselessly killed trees to create misleading placards since the members of the IDC are fighting to protect our environment. We are working with climate science experts to strengthen the recently introduced Climate and Communities Protection Act so that New York can act as an example for other states in the face of federal failure. And, we proudly passed the Community Risk and Resiliency Act that makes our state monitor climate change risk such as sea level rise, flooding and storm surges, and use data to predict extreme weather. This major law included investments in environmental infrastructure projects to revitalize waterfronts, clean up coastlines and protect farmland. It also included revolving funds to address water pollution and drinking water concerns. The members of the IDC are committed to combating climate change and will continue to fight for this issue.” </span></div>
<div>
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Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-16965596977828954102017-08-02T08:17:00.004-07:002017-08-14T20:16:43.707-07:00Can NYC's 1,400 tons per day of sewage waste be turned into biochar?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgUDH0cMTVXvjjIOKzfRVzrq6ty3pb_ptxKlzpPPcZEDF_UuYEoRcriGGNFPEmMuCUA6R0YZ6eRdxgDrULcK5z7L5ksL-lQZsKnUh0dA3_tYSnM1FYp_Udirgzk7dzrq45eifHhXOJwRg/s1600/biochar-in-hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgUDH0cMTVXvjjIOKzfRVzrq6ty3pb_ptxKlzpPPcZEDF_UuYEoRcriGGNFPEmMuCUA6R0YZ6eRdxgDrULcK5z7L5ksL-lQZsKnUh0dA3_tYSnM1FYp_Udirgzk7dzrq45eifHhXOJwRg/s320/biochar-in-hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NYC is lowering its carbon emissions, mostly through
energy efficiency and conservation measures, and to a lesser degree, by adding
more solar and wind power. There’s an
entirely different avenue that so far, NYC hasn’t ventured into: carbon sequestration. <br />
<br />
Carbon can be sequestered, or captured for long-term storage, before it can
escape into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which is what usually happens
when fossil fuels or organic solids are burned or decompose. <br />
<br />
The most widely discussed methods of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration">carbon sequestration</a>
propose removing CO2 from exhaust gases at fossil fuel burning power stations,
and storing it in underground reservoirs, but these are unproven as well as
costly. Proven natural methods, such as
reforestation and raising carbon content of soil through regenerative
agriculture practices, don’t directly apply to urban environments. <br />
<br />
However, it’s possible for NYC to sequester the carbon in sewage sludge, one of
its biggest municipal solid waste streams, by turning sludge into a type of
charcoal called biochar that can be reused or disposed of locally – potentially
saving many millions a year in dumping fees.<br />
<br />
When organic solids are heated in the absence of oxygen, instead of catching on
fire, they turn into charcoal. Most
charcoal is burned as a fuel, but when made to meet certain standards, for a
wide range of specific applications, it’s referred to as <a href="http://www.biochar-international.org/definitions">biochar</a>. <br />
<br />
Production of biochar is a known way to stabilize carbon <a href="http://www.biochar-international.org/biochar">for hundreds or thousands
of years</a>. It’s one of the <a href="http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/food/biochar">top 100 climate change
solutions</a> researched by scientists of the Drawdown Project.<br />
<br />
When added to soil, biochar improves agricultural productivity and water
retention. The structure of wood is preserved at the microscopic level, providing habitat for beneficial soil microbes and fungi.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uWVEpc9soYIKLYKEPOpi54ALZ2PyhxcEFTJGfJaGn5GuWaPc44zzjmWe8fdkCYUtlEoeYa78jZdMgGuXfk8Q74qaHID-kv-HZTpZFHxw1emFZdE0lkVOKpNxExlgHLT-goJe2k-eHkwr/s1600/biochar-microscopic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="260" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uWVEpc9soYIKLYKEPOpi54ALZ2PyhxcEFTJGfJaGn5GuWaPc44zzjmWe8fdkCYUtlEoeYa78jZdMgGuXfk8Q74qaHID-kv-HZTpZFHxw1emFZdE0lkVOKpNxExlgHLT-goJe2k-eHkwr/s320/biochar-microscopic.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">This was common practice in South America’s Amazon region before the European arrival, as layers of unusually dark and fertile soils with high charcoal content attest. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpNNeuEZDxrcZJ0O-6Pwtw6syGiQETaY57y_IDTH51W-ZnZUSQRuGNfQu3q2j2cZ07X_hdMJBsndfE2LmU9w6bfhuECnS4s9sSrK-LYG3fzm0RphdLQbyLbeGUxhlJuWVq19iSSqZnqkq/s1600/terra-preta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpNNeuEZDxrcZJ0O-6Pwtw6syGiQETaY57y_IDTH51W-ZnZUSQRuGNfQu3q2j2cZ07X_hdMJBsndfE2LmU9w6bfhuECnS4s9sSrK-LYG3fzm0RphdLQbyLbeGUxhlJuWVq19iSSqZnqkq/s320/terra-preta.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Scientific study of biochar has revealed </span></span><a href="http://www.ithaka-journal.net/55-anwendungen-von-pflanzenkohle?lang=en" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">many
potential industrial uses</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, such as in water filters and building
materials. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
Many forms of organic waste in NYC, such as paper, cardboard, yard waste and
leaves are already being recycled. Food
waste is increasingly being collected for composting. However,
the sewage waste biosolids left over at the end of the City’s water treatment
process are more difficult to dispose of. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection </span></span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wwsystem.pdf" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">manages the City’s 14 wastewater
treatment plants</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, which together treat 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater
daily. Methane, the main constituent of
natural gas, is always produced in the anaerobic phase of sewage treatment, and
when waste decomposes in landfills. It’s
increasingly common for methane to be captured and burned at these locations to
heat water into steam, run a turbine, and produce electricity. Not only does this harvest a lucrative
resource, it also avoids serious harm:
methane escaping into the atmosphere has over 25 times the greenhouse gas
impact as carbon dioxide. There’s a
major initiative underway to collect methane at all 14 of the City’s plants and
to put all of it to beneficial use. </span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvASEd-3Xdbx6x5CxkGv4afL38ktT9lU9ueZXOb0KnbHa1fCGPAs3VrM8PxLBniPjcCz0Qaz-IAEhceoQdkhj1zyITBFaPD95Hue4Ap2h_HOwB6YGqu6jn7bxkT37eXSUmu4291lRArdb/s1600/NewtownCreekEggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvASEd-3Xdbx6x5CxkGv4afL38ktT9lU9ueZXOb0KnbHa1fCGPAs3VrM8PxLBniPjcCz0Qaz-IAEhceoQdkhj1zyITBFaPD95Hue4Ap2h_HOwB6YGqu6jn7bxkT37eXSUmu4291lRArdb/s320/NewtownCreekEggs.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
Whether or not gas is extracted from sewage, there’s still a lot of sludge at
the end of the process. </span></span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/wastewater/biohome.shtml" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">NYC produces
1,400 tons per day of biosolids</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Until it
was legally prohibited in 1988, the City was dumping it in the ocean.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the City’s 2006 <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/about/laws/solid-waste-management-plan.shtml">Solid
Waste Management Plan</a> and its <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/docs/about_swmp_attach5_0815.pdf">Biosolids
Management</a> appendix explain, biosolids can be used as fertilizer when spread
on farms, parks, lawns, golf courses, and cemeteries, or it can be less
usefully dumped in landfills. <br />
<br />
According to anecdotal reports from DEP staff, NYC biosolids are free of metal
contamination or biological risk.
They’re even safe to use as fertilizer for growing food for human
consumption. However, because of the
availability of other inexpensive fertilizers, the market for sewage biosolids may
be limited. NYC is paying contractors to
take virtually all of NYC’s biosolids into landfills. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">At
$108 per wet ton, the City is now paying $151,200 per day in hauling fees, or
about $55,188,000 per year. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
NYC may be better off turning its biosolids into biochar. Relatively low carbon organic solids like sewage
sludge or food waste must be mixed with woody biomass, high in both carbon and
lignin, before it can be used as a good feedstock for biochar. <br />
<br />
<b>Next questions for exploring biochar as
an option for NYC<br />
</b><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before the operating costs
of using this approach for NYC’s biosolids can be estimated, agency staff will have to consult with biochar scientists
and other experts and stakeholders to assess what feedstocks are needed to mix with
it, and what are available; the capacity of various biochar systems, their
purchase cost and costs of operation. <br />
<br />
Even if turning some or all of the City’s biosolids to biochar would cost more than the $55 million annually in shipping costs paid now, other benefits (in addition to carbon sequestration) may outweigh the
extra cost.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b>Potential feedstocks<br />
</b><br />
The NYC Parks Department, the Department of Transportation, and Con Edison are
constantly pruning and removing trees within the City. How big is NYC’s supply
of waste wood chips, and where it is going now?<br />
<br />
How much wood is in NYC’s construction and demolition waste stream, and how much
is being productively reused, or is going into landfills? </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even if construction waste wood is chemically contaminated, charring it before
landfilling would permanently sequester much of its carbon content and reduce
its volume. Some contaminants can be rendered chemically inert or biologically unavailable
after the material they’re in is turned into biochar.<br /><br /><i>August updates: According to the NYC Department of Sanitation's 2013 <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/docs/2013-Waste-Characterization-Study.pdf" target="_blank">Waste Characterization Study,</a> the City produces </i></span><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">3.25 million tons of waste annually. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Debris from construction and demolition has stayed the same as a percentage of aggregate discards between 2005 and 2013.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><i>In 2013, treated / contaminated wood made up 1.3% of that total, and 0.8% was untreated lumber, pallets and crates. That may be 42,000 tons of contaminated wood and 26,000 tons of untreated wood. <br /><br />Staff at NYC Parks Department report their inventory of wood chips ranges from anywhere from 35,000 - 70,000 cubic yards annually. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
<b>Biochar production systems<br />
</b><br />
NYC will have to research which of the many manufacturers of biochar production
systems have a successful track record with municipal sewage biosolids, will be
best suited for a pilot project, and can potentially scale up to NYC-sized
volumes of sludge. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.biochar-international.org/">The
International Biochar Initiative</a>, the <a href="http://biochar-us.org/">US
Biochar Initiative</a>, and <a href="http://www.ithaka-institut.org/en/fingerlake">the Ithaka Institute</a>
are biochar advocacy groups that can provide guidance among vendors.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">C</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ombined heat and power
plants increase the energy efficiency of the fossil fuels they burn both by
generating electricity and creating steam or hot water at the same time. Can heat from existing in-city power
generation facilities also be used simultaneously to produce biochar? Does this
mean locating biochar ovens at power plants, and shipping waste for processing?
Or if biochar ovens are best located at sewage treatment plants, can captured
methane be burned for some or all of the heat they need?<br />
<br />
<b>Uses of biochar<br />
</b><br />
In a project recognized by the <a href="http://mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org/ideas/biochar-for-a-better-city-ecosystem/">European
Mayors Challenge</a> and <a href="http://www.c40.org/case_studies/cities100-stockholm-world-s-first-urban-carbon-sink-with-biochar">C40
Cities</a>, the City of Stockholm has started turning plant waste into biochar,
and using it as a soil amendment for the city’s trees. <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ithaka Institute
cites <a href="http://www.ithaka-institut.org/en/ct/99-Biochar-as-key-material-for-the-future-of-civilisation">55
uses for biochar</a>. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some biochar </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">processes can yield chemical byproducts that can be sold profitably to
industrial users. <br />
<br />
If NYC can demonstrate a financially viable pathway for charring sewage
biosolids, the model could be applied globally, boosting NYC’s role as a leader
in climate response - and multiplying our carbon sequestration impacts.<br /><br /><i>Have some answers or suggestions? Please add your comment or contact me at danminer2345@gmail.com. </i></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-85100779361490679952017-07-21T19:18:00.001-07:002017-07-21T19:29:36.620-07:00LED lighting for NYC – and your apartment building<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />LED lighting for NYC – and your apartment building<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<i>Upgrading to energy efficient LED
lighting is one of the easiest ways to reduce electricity use and greenhouse
gas emissions. Now that cities and states
are leading the US response to climate change they can follow NYC’s example by
supporting LED upgrades. Building owners and managers should carry out upgrades
now while utility rebates are still available. Here's how residents can get involved.</i> <br />
<br />
With our national government doing everything it can to support the fossil fuel
industry and block climate change response, it’s urgent that cities and states
lead the transition to a post-carbon economy.
Members of the <a href="https://www.usmayors.org/mayors-climate-protection-center/">US Conference
of Mayors</a> have agreed to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-conference-us-mayors-may-shape-national-climate-policy-2017-6">work
towards the Paris climate agreement</a>, as have members of <a href="http://www.c40.org/">C40</a>, a network of the world’s largest cities.<br />
<br />
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has already set the City’s goal of reducing its
greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. He
recently signed <a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/386-17/mayor-de-blasio-signs-executive-order-adopt-goals-paris-climate-agreement-new-york-city#/0">an
executive order</a> committing the City to the goals of the Paris Agreement, which includes holding the
increase in the global average temperature to below 2° Celsius above
pre-industrial levels. </span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/sustainability/downloads/pdf/publications/New%20York%20City's%20Roadmap%20to%2080%20x%2050.pdf">New York City's Roadmap to 80 X 50</a> is a dense report that recaps the City's extensive research into local energy use, and the changes proposed to meet those goals. About
70% of NYC’s energy use involves buildings (p. 56). <br /><br />The Buildings Technical Working Group "</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">analyzed nearly 100 low- and medium-difficulty e</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">nergy conservation measures (ECMs) in existing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">buildings (typically with paybacks of 10 years or less) and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">found that these measures could reduce current building-based </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by up to 33 percent." (p. 59) One of those was the expansion of Local Law 88 to cover the common area lighting in residential buildings. We'll get to that in a moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Lighting is the
third-largest user of energy in the City’s buildings after heating and
electronic appliances, responsible for 13% of the total. (<a href="http://urbangreencouncil.org/sites/default/files/nyc_energy_water_use_report_2016.pdf">NYC
Energy and Water Use 2013 Report</a> , p. 17, graph on p. 11)<br />
<br />
Lighting is one of the top uses of power globally as well, accounting for about
15% of the world’s electricity use. One of the easiest ways to cut energy use
and carbon emissions is to replace incandescent and fluorescent lights with
LEDs (light emitting diodes). <a href="http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/buildings-and-cities/led-lighting-household">LED
lighting</a> is one of the <a href="http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/buildings-and-cities/led-lighting-commercial">top
100 solutions</a> to reverse global warming, as researched by scientists of <a href="http://www.drawdown.org/">Project Drawdown</a>. </span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2O2B4H6jlTZ3Z1GlcfZImBPG2z7vlQbb91J-5W1en50ZGbl1w8etJ8uiqEPMYvilerQ8bn3GaZwBb3WXD4lSgIEO3nNGO2I8VLpLYz2F_e-EPEFGZWVeCcUzoSUXSoVkhAuHhy8Lllnz/s1600/LED-diode-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="293" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2O2B4H6jlTZ3Z1GlcfZImBPG2z7vlQbb91J-5W1en50ZGbl1w8etJ8uiqEPMYvilerQ8bn3GaZwBb3WXD4lSgIEO3nNGO2I8VLpLYz2F_e-EPEFGZWVeCcUzoSUXSoVkhAuHhy8Lllnz/s320/LED-diode-image.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />Diodes – crystal semiconductors that conduct electricity in only one direction –
were first discovered in 1874. Hundreds
of applications for diodes have been developed since then, including LED bulbs
in 1994. While solar panels convert
photons to electrons, LEDs convert electrons to photons. They use 90 percent less energy than
incandescent bulbs, and 50 percent as much as compact fluorescent bulbs, to produce
the same amount of light. Incandescent lights turn most of the energy they use
into waste heat, while LEDs turn 80 percent of the energy they use into light. Also,
LEDs last much longer than the other two types of bulbs – according to Project Drawdown, 27 years if used for
five hours a day. <br />
<br />
It’s just a question of time until LEDs become the standard lighting
technology. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">General Electric is <b><a href="http://www.gereports.com/say-goodbye-say-hello-ge-stops-making-cfls-says-go-go-go-to-leds/"><span style="font-weight: normal;">phasing out production of compact fluorescents</span></a>.
</b> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">The<b> <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/5-charts-that-illustrate-the-remarkable-led-lighting-revolution-83ecb6c1f472#.vlfadwfj5"><span style="font-weight: normal;">rapidly accelerating deployment of LED bulbs</span></a></b>
is on track to save U.S. consumers and businesses $20 billion a year in electricity
costs in a decade, which would lower U.S. CO2 emissions by 100 million
metric tons a year. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">LED lighting is especially
valuable for low-income communities around the world without access to
electric grids. They can connect LEDs to small solar
panels instead of costly, polluting kerosene lamps, for enormous quality of life benefits.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd76bqA6s0lAYTJaoO02eZIB2O1ofByDQqbsltTiv_mcnTGOKBxbiZFtDHSDw6dYpdE4JTRfLbA9wcZ5_nJpksvyLSDlYeAV0xKz3bCNarwEZ192iqcbO-ONPp41jmLMBO9kyuV5S4J61/s1600/LED-third-world-classroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="630" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd76bqA6s0lAYTJaoO02eZIB2O1ofByDQqbsltTiv_mcnTGOKBxbiZFtDHSDw6dYpdE4JTRfLbA9wcZ5_nJpksvyLSDlYeAV0xKz3bCNarwEZ192iqcbO-ONPp41jmLMBO9kyuV5S4J61/s400/LED-third-world-classroom.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br /><br />While economic factors are moving the world toward near universal adoption of LED lighting, NYC is trying to speed up the process with its recent change in Local Law 88. This law had required LED lighting in the common areas (lobbies, hallways and fire stairs) of large buildings over 50,000 square feet in size. In a few years, the requirement will be expanded to the much larger number of medium sized buildings above 25,000 s.f. Here are two ways you can participate in NYC's push toward energy efficient lighting.<br />
<br />
<b>Upgrade your apartment with LEDs</b><br />
<br />Join the LED revolution by replacing the lights in
your home or apartment. Here are</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> light bulb guides
from <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/lightbulbguide.pdf">NRDC</a>
and from the US EPA’s <a href="https://www.energystar.gov/products/lighting_fans/light_bulbs/energy_star_choose_light_guide?s=mega">Energy
Star program</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o780INQ2vLDgdOJg3E4IpMAQNPQmKJ5S2EK31yXB_-5UYTKo34cXwJB31w3eBTbhm1O6S6qMqsRGBgZE6wLwdJ14NMB4r9uQC7w7_4_yXirNyaVkRMBxlE0wgVhtanlZRGvao0yOpAxH/s1600/LED-hallway-lighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8o780INQ2vLDgdOJg3E4IpMAQNPQmKJ5S2EK31yXB_-5UYTKo34cXwJB31w3eBTbhm1O6S6qMqsRGBgZE6wLwdJ14NMB4r9uQC7w7_4_yXirNyaVkRMBxlE0wgVhtanlZRGvao0yOpAxH/s320/LED-hallway-lighting.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br /><br />
<b>Upgrade your building with LEDs<br />
</b><br />
For a much, much bigger impact, get your entire apartment building to upgrade the common area lighting – lobby, hallways, basement, fire stairs – to LEDs. These projects provide</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> a number of benefits for building managers, owners and coop
/ condo boards, and indirectly, to building residents. </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Electric
costs for lighting are sharply reduced.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The
savings will enable management to pay for other projects. Since LEDs are very long lived, building staff
will spend much less time replacing lights.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Con
Ed rebates will pay for up to 30% of the cost of the project. Building management
must engage a Con Ed Market Partner to provide a lighting assessment, recommend
and install Design Lights Consortium certified LED products, and apply for the
rebates.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Between
the savings and the rebates, LED lighting upgrades will generally pay for
themselves in about two years.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">LED
upgrades of common areas will be required for all NYC buildings larger than
25,000 square feet to comply with Local Law 88.
While the law won’t take effect for several years, the Con Ed rebates
for LED upgrades will be phased out before they are legally mandated. Here’s <a href="http://greenpartnersny.com/multifamily-buildings-local-law-88-compliance/">how
building managers should address LL 88 compliance.</a></span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Here
<a href="http://greenpartnersny.com/how-to-jump-start-your-led-retro-fit-project/">are
initial steps for building managers</a> considering LED upgrade projects. To ensure the financial success of these
projects, managers should look for <a href="http://greenpartnersny.com/the-new-math-for-led-retrofits/">LED products
with very long warranties</a> to guarantee they will be around, providing
savings, for many years.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://greenpartnersny.com/">Green Partners</a> will provide building
management with <b>a free lighting assessment, </b>which will include estimated
project costs, Con Ed rebates, electricity savings and return on investment. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Green Partners, as a Con Ed Market Partner, is authorized to apply for Con Ed
funding for these retrofits, and works with a Con Ed authorized
electrician to install the upgrades. Con
Ed inspects the project before and after installation to ensure quality. <br />
<br /><b>Invite your building management to
consider an LED upgrade</b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><a href="mailto:danminer2345@gmail.com" target="_blank">Connect me</a>, as a 350NYC volunteer and the business development rep for Green
Partners, with your building manager or coop board leader. If your building goes ahead with an LED lighting upgrade, Green Partners will make a
significant donation to 350 NYC, and will arrange a presentation for residents
on LEDs and energy conservation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-KUPdQ1hIT9463m-Zcj0X8FWt267eUynb5_cT1U64nGTdzUp_VQdeonk-tXEQ4Pb34lX-TBbK8OY53ngaIr0Hj5wLgpluWP4eeCQ7TIRoZgdd4QhYBkb-jvOjSI5RA_izg8themHptCI/s1600/Wind-turbines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-KUPdQ1hIT9463m-Zcj0X8FWt267eUynb5_cT1U64nGTdzUp_VQdeonk-tXEQ4Pb34lX-TBbK8OY53ngaIr0Hj5wLgpluWP4eeCQ7TIRoZgdd4QhYBkb-jvOjSI5RA_izg8themHptCI/s320/Wind-turbines.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Switch
to renewable energy for your home or apartment.<br /><br />You can personally divest from fossil fuels.</b><br />
<br />
Here’s another easy way action for
individuals: switch to wind power. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">For most NYC residents,
only 2% of the electricity from Con Ed or National Grid comes from renewable
sources, the other 98% is from a mix of oil, gas, coal, hydroelectric and
nuclear power. <br />
<br />
If you’re a homeowner, or live in a coop or condo in a small apartment
building, you could install solar panels, so contact <a href="http://herecomessolar.nyc/">Here Comes Solar</a>
for free guidance.<br /><br />But most New Yorkers
who pay their own utility bill will find that the easiest thing to do is switch
to wind. Con Ed or National Grid will buy power from a wind farm. You get the same monthly bill. It will cost a few cents more per KWh
(kilowatt hour) than your current electricity from fossil fuels, but you’re
personally divesting from fossil fuels and investing in wind energy
production. As more people follow, the
demand for wind will increase, more wind turbines will be installed and the
price will drop further.<br />
<br />
There are many energy service companies (ESCOs) that supply green energy. You
can buy directly from <a href="http://www.conedsolutions.com/GoGreen/Residential/NewYork_Green_Residential.aspx">Con Ed</a>. You might be able to find green
energy suppliers through the <a href="http://www.newyorkpowertochoose.com/">NYS Public Service Commission</a> - but good luck navigating through their website. <br /><br />Or you can sign up with <a href="https://cleanchoiceenergy.com/Partners/350NYC/">Clean Choice Energy</a>.
Volunteers with <a href="http://world.350.org/nyc/">350NYC.org</a> researched and have endorsed
Clean Choice Energy. And, for each new
subscriber, the company will make a donation to 350NYC. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-25632203602176488802017-06-03T13:25:00.001-07:002017-06-03T13:31:37.057-07:00Local climate leadership opportunities for New Yorkers after the Paris withdrawal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trump recently announced his intent to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord. While this may not be as catastrophic as some suggest, as a reflection of the administration's evil, insane climate denial, it's still pretty bad. NYC environmental and progressive groups quickly organized a rally downtown in front of City Hall. Protests, as well as progressive campaigns to pressure elected officials, are necessary but not enough. The elites running the show have enormous power, and many Americans are asleep. How do we leverage our limited resources? Organize for NYC and NY State initiatives that advance our climate agenda, and also align with organizing for the 2018 midterms and other elections.<br /><br /><b>Some silver linings? For perspective, here are some reasons the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement is not completely bad news. </b><br /><br />- - The process for withdrawing the US from the treaty <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/wont-always-have-paris-agreement-sad-1d718470b3de">will take four years</a>, so the final decision goes to US voters, making climate potentially a major topic in the next presidential election. <br /><br />- - Perhaps without the US blocking international action as it has in the past, the world's nations will be better able to agree on more demanding actions. <br /><br />- - Under the Paris agreement, the national contributions to carbon emission reductions were voluntary and unenforceable. While it was good that countries agreed to the goals of keeping global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees C and preferably 1.5 C, we were going to blow past those limits anyway. Stronger and faster action would still be needed. <br /><br />-- Even North Korea ratified the Paris agreement. Besides the US, only Nicaragua and Syria are not part of the agreement. Nicaragua doesn't think it goes far enough, and Syria is distracted by its current civil war. Highly visible and embarrassing actions like this may serve </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to rouse the complacent, distracted and propagandized citizens of the US. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />- - The Trump administration's display of greed, ignorance and insanity in the face of global crisis is accelerating the growth of climate leadership around the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>Many nations, states and cities are stepping up their climate responses. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>China is making massive investments in renewable energy. The new French President Macron <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2017/6/1/15727140/emmanuel-macron-trump-paris-agreement-make-our-planet-great-again">made an epic reply to Trump</a>, in English, inviting America's engineers and entrepreneurs to come to France and help "make our planet great again."<br /><br />The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations">Commonwealth of Nations</a>, an intergovernmental organization made up of former British Empire states, may emerge as an international climate response force. Paul Hawken and a team of scientists</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> researched </span><a href="http://www.drawdown.org/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">the 100 most promising solutions to climate change</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and ranked them on cost, feasibility and effectiveness. The Drawdown team </span><a href="http://peaksurfer.blogspot.com/2017/05/rollerblading-halls-of-power.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">spoke to a rapt and supportive audience of Commonwealth leaders</a>. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine if they were able to get that kind of response from the US Congress and Senate. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Governor Jerry Brown of California </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-gov-jerry-brown-calls-trump-s-1496352008-htmlstory.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">announced a new alliance of US states</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, starting with California, New York, and Washington State, that will comply with the Paris accord even without Federal support. Many </span><a href="http://www.c40.org/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">large cities</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> around the world and in the US are acting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But as evidence of the Trump administration's climate denial it's still pretty bad news. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's no point in speculating about how much damage the administration wi</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ll cause in the next few years. Our situation is clearly much worse than it was in 2016. So what's next?<br /><br /><b>Effective ways to resist includes contacting elected officials.</b><br /><br />This blog will keep exploring the complex question of what to do next. Future posts will look into how New Yorkers can effectively combine resistance to the administration while advocating for more renewable energy and lower fossil fuel use and carbon emissions. <br /><br />After the election, progressive former Congressional staffers issued <a href="https://www.indivisibleguide.com/">the Indivisible guide</a>. They learned from the Tea Party protests that coordinated campaigns to call and write elected officials, as well as showing up at public meetings, are effective ways to apply pressure. There are now nearly 6,000 local Indivisible groups. <br /><br />The <a href="https://5calls.org/">Five Calls app</a> provides a list of progressive issues and connects users with the offices of their representatives. It's simple: citizens can call the offices with their requests without reading off the entire script or becoming experts on the issue. <br /><br />By the way: emailing elected officials or signing online petitions is pretty much a waste of time, so don't bother with it.<br /><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Protests are important too. </b><br /><br />Go to protests, like the Climate March in DC in April 2017 and smaller ones since then. Show with your presence that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">many Americans do not consent to the actions of their national government.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Protests can counteract <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect">the bystander effect</a>. Experiments have shown that people are less likely to help a victim or respond to an emergency when all the other bystanders are ignoring the problem. It increases apathy. So try to join protests about your priority issues or spread word that they happened, to remind the public that some of us are jumping in. <br /><br /><b>Why is only a minority actively pushing for progressive change? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The musician <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASywEuqFd8">Moby has a great animated video</a> accompanying one of his songs. It illustrates the mind-numbing power of the matrix of commerce, entertainment, and social media. It will remind you of what you already know. Take a break to watch it now...<br /><br />Many Americans are aware that climate change exists, and believe something should be done about it, but are not doing anything differently, let alone going to rallies. Maybe they're distracted, hypnotized, brainwashed, looking at their phones, or busy with their own lives. Or they don't believe that climate change will affect them directly. <br /><br />Maybe they bought into the subliminal stories that someone else will fix it, or that new technology will be invented that will erase the problem. There's a body of literature on communicating about climate change. I recall that messages that do well beyond the choir of activists include the creation of green jobs and economic growth from embracing renewable energy, so those should be key themes. That needs more research.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Either way, when only a tiny minority is willing to get involved, and the majority does nothing, the kleptocratic </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rule of thieves</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Trump administration and their allies </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> will plunder and destroy the nation and the planet for short term profits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>How do we wake up more people and get them involved? </b><br /><br />Since we're in New York City, what can we do locally? How do we focus our actions so they generate yet more positive social change, in NYC, in New York State, nationally and globally?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I'm a volunteer with <a href="https://350nyc.org/">350NYC</a>, the local chapter of the international climate change group <a href="http://350.org/">350.org</a>,<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #17292e; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "arial" , sans-serif;">"350 uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #17292e; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> to oppose new coal, oil and gas projects, take money out of the companies that are heating up the planet, and build 100% clean energy solutions that work for all. 350's network extends to 188 countries."<br /><br />350NYC has focused on the campaigns to divest NY City and State pension funds from fossil fuel companies. Group members have been very involved with campaigns against fracking and fossil fuel infrastructure. To get more New Yorkers involved with our group and the climate movement, we're looking for City and State initiatives that we can get behind and for which we can build grassroots support. <br /><br />This is not a simple task. Since Mayor Bloomberg launched PlaNYC in 2007, the City has been making continual improvements in sustainability, energy use and resilience. Many of the initiatives have been within City agencies and go unnoticed by the public.<br /><br />Some trigger public controversy. Bloomberg offered congestion pricing, a plan to raise fees on vehicles driving into midtown Manhattan during peak traffic hours, to encourage more use of mass transit, as part of the original PlaNYC rollout. State legislators from suburban areas fought back against imagined inconvenience to their constituents and the initiative was withdrawn. More recently, legislation to put a small fee on plastic bags at grocery stores was defeated by State legislators.<br /><br />This may be an ideal time to raise the bar and push for climate initiatives that may have been easily beaten in the past, and to shine a light on officials who oppose them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #17292e;"><br /></span><b>What are the best NYC initiatives for environmental groups to support?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Criteria include </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">how much the initiative will</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />- reduce energy use, costs and carbon emissions<br />- increase renewable energy production capacity<br />- reduce pollution and waste<br />- reduce human health consequences<br />- address environmental justice issues (the siting of polluting facilities in economically disadvantaged and minority neighborhoods)<br />- support green economic development and green jobs<br />- make NYC more resilient to extreme weather events such as flooding and heat waves<br /><br />Also, is the initiative:<br />- capable of gaining the support of the NYC Council and the di Blasio administration<br />- offer perceived benefit to a wide range of New Yorkers<br />- get more New Yorkers involved beyond the narrow demographic of environmental activists<br />- offer benefits rapidly and widely enough to generate public appeal<br />- not be so technical or abstract in its benefits that it can't be easily explained<br /><br /><b>NYC is perceived to be a blue city in a blue state, but we are not homogenous and should not be complacent. Further, if campaigns for NYC / NY State climate friendly initiatives aren't aligned with 2018 midterm election organizing, we're missing the point and dispersing our energies, perhaps fatally.</b><br /><br />350.org and 350NYC are not partisan and do not focus on specific elections. One climate group that does is <a href="http://www.theclimatemobilization.org/">The Climate Mobilization</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TCM says we are in an urgent climate emergency and need a World War II scale climate mobilization to lower carbon emissions much more rapidly than commonly discussed. For example instead of 80% reductions by 2050, their goal is 100% renewable energy and zero carbon emissions by 2030. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByftlCTrJRYVZW9jYlZMQURBcFU/view">strategy report</a> analyzes political, economic and social factors, and calls for electing Congress members in 2018 and a new President in 2020 that support emergency climate action.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There may or may not be members of the NYC Council who are standing in the way of climate initiatives. This needs to be researched.<br /><br />Organizing in support of City initiatives can at the same time identify and recruit activists for NY State initiatives. <br /><br />There are certainly going to be members of the New York State Assembly and Senate who are standing in the way of climate initiatives. This needs to be researched. <br /><br />Are there progressive candidates who plan to challenge non-supportive Councilmembers, Assemblymembers and Senators? That too needs to be researched.<br /><br />Efforts to promote climate-supporting initiatives can be specifically targeted to particular districts. Identifying and recruiting pro-climate activists in those districts will lay the groundwork to make climate an issue in that district for the next election.<br /><br />NY State climate initiatives, and NYC initiatives that can be easily replicated by small cities and towns, can be offered to NY State activists and candidates in swing districts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://swingleft.org/"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://swingleft.org/">Swing Left</a> has identified 65 Congressional districts in which the last House of Representatives election was determined by 15% or less of votes. "If we hold the 17 vulnerable Democratic-held districts, we only need to flip 24 House seats—exactly half of the 48 Republican-held districts on our list—to take back the house in 2018."<br /><br />For example, two NY State swing districts not far from NYC are #3, the north coast of Long Island, whichTom Suozzi won by only 17,241 votes (5.6%), and #19, the mid-Hudson. John Faso won it by only 26,000 votes (8.6%)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions. </b><br /><br />Future posts will include close looks at upcoming and potential NYC legislation, and climate initiatives for NYC. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- - - - - - -<br /><br /><b>Addendum: my personal opinions on a few background factors to the 2016 election</b><br /><br />- - The trends taking us to this point have been going on for a long time. <a href="http://storyofstuff.org/">The Story of Stuff </a>traces the history of our consumer economy. In the early 1970s, <a href="http://billmoyers.com/content/the-powell-memo-a-call-to-arms-for-corporations/">the Powell memo</a> catalyzed decades of massive big business funding of anti-progressive lobbying and propaganda.<br /><br />- - The Democratic National Committee and Hilary Clinton, as well as the Republicans, were captured long ago by big business and military interests. Those interests have been making the rich richer at the expense of the working class, the middle class, and a sustainable infrastructure and energy system, both in the US and globally, for a long time. <br /><br />- - Bernie Sanders offered a genuine populist response and would have beaten phony populist Trump. Hilary was unable to speak out against the neoliberal, corporate consensus, which she basically supported. Hilary and the DNC squelched Sanders, refused to reach out to his progressive movement, and ran a bad campaign. Many desperate but ignorant voters were conned into voting for Trump. Many didn't bother to vote. Those non-voters may be more easily convinced to vote in 2018 and 2020 than members of the pro-Trump base.<br /><br />- - The Republicans have expanded their control over US government by massive voter suppression (<a href="http://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/">Operation Crosscheck</a>, as documented by Greg Palast), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering_in_the_United_States">gerrymandering</a> (drawing election districts so that districts include a majority supporting the party drawing up the districts, leaving supporters of other parties as permanent minorities), propaganda networks like Fox News, and powerful stealth social media operations like <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-our-likes-helped-trump-win">Cambridge Analytica</a> (connected to Steve Bannon) that played Facebook. <br /><br />- - It will take a massive and focused progressive organizing effort to overcome these factors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-59779554806297333802016-07-25T07:13:00.000-07:002016-07-25T07:16:08.092-07:00Biochar - a low-tech way to store carbon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Charcoal is produced when biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen, which
prevents it from bursting into flame and burning up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charcoal produced specifically to be used as
a soil amendment is called biochar - which can be beneficial for plants, and is also a low-tech, low-cost way to capture carbon and store it in the soil. <br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcVh2gEP3edyBR3uokyB3mO-KrNS-LK4-M4M7sAVO6TWWEoFqGL2hDjY9UyZyu_nvMtN91u_YR_dZXP84QFuaPA6c2jaii_8O-DJx4avLFcZ49sTDMerBnwMUmvTVTAROlksXe37ycjdx/s1600/biochar-in-hand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcVh2gEP3edyBR3uokyB3mO-KrNS-LK4-M4M7sAVO6TWWEoFqGL2hDjY9UyZyu_nvMtN91u_YR_dZXP84QFuaPA6c2jaii_8O-DJx4avLFcZ49sTDMerBnwMUmvTVTAROlksXe37ycjdx/s320/biochar-in-hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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This was a widespread practice throughout the Amazon region before the
Europeans arrived, as layers of unusually dark and fertile soils with high
charcoal content attest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scientific
study of biochar has surged due to its potential importance in carbon sequestration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWf8edtxV1zT-C_dO-MOkwzI4QOJCzPYUvz6ikqKwJCn7aO-JkEPnG8ceJydlqyvVXLLdbOVvWWIO0azpR3yrTffczcXsyO1Sv0BeLQhjKaS7JG39Qg-Z3c8KMvo52-BHvpAFY8XgxlfR/s1600/terra-preta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWf8edtxV1zT-C_dO-MOkwzI4QOJCzPYUvz6ikqKwJCn7aO-JkEPnG8ceJydlqyvVXLLdbOVvWWIO0azpR3yrTffczcXsyO1Sv0BeLQhjKaS7JG39Qg-Z3c8KMvo52-BHvpAFY8XgxlfR/s1600/terra-preta.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ordinarily, the carbon in wood, plant materials or manure is released into the
air as carbon dioxide when the material decomposes or is burnt in a fire. When
biomass is turned to charcoal, the carbon becomes extremely stable and won’t
reenter the atmosphere for a thousand years, maybe longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />As you know, climate change is accelerating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/weather/hottest-june-record-world/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NASA
just announced the first six months of 2016 were the hottest ever recorded</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. So a closer look at
biochar and its climate regenerating potential is very timely. <br /><br />In July 2016 I traveled to the Eco-Village Training Center in Summertown, Tennessee, to meet with its director Albert Bates, author of <i>The Biochar Solution</i>. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2016/07/summer-camp-at-farm-in-tennesse.html">See my previous post on the visit here</a>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One day, Albert, I and John went for a ride, stopping for
lunch buffet at a Chinese restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Pondering how convenient it is that there are Chinese restaurants everywhere, I did a little looking and found that there</span> are apparently over </span><a href="http://time.com/4211871/chinese-food-history/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">45,000 Chinese
restaurants in the US</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, more than the number of all the McDonald’s,
KFCs, Pizza Huts, Taco Bells and Wendy’s combined.)<br />
<br />
That was the weekend of the truck attack in Nice, France and the attempted coup
in Turkey. Albert is concerned about cyber terrorism, and is reading Richard
Clarke’s book on the subject. We recalled how in the early 2000s, observers of
the converging crises in environment, economy and natural resources were
certain that major disruptions were imminent, and are still perplexed that
business as usual has continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
massive digital money printing after the 2008 financial crisis certainly
helped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long can the current
superficially stable state of affairs continue? We can’t really tell. <br />
<br />
Albert had two observations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is that
the stability of the economic / political system depends on public confidence,
and disruptions large enough to make the public lose that confidence could pop
bubbles and trigger unknown consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other parallels the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which tells us
that physicists can know the speed or position of a subatomic particle but not
both. We’re operating in a very complex world system. So the more we know about
a particular dynamic in society, the more we risk over-focusing that and less
likely we can predict with accuracy how that particular issue will play out,
and when.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsSdmsKcTT4I1L5P8tzamUhJKXlDQJHSfn781fGLCbHBuQR_OG5ZCEgFawgfcc0HCefdlz_ez94J6RjHPZnAPL6Syt_ZDnfyYRBKxeez5vGJnMTN-qglmv1zEP2jZViyUKi6YdnJCXrBc/s1600/20160716_131028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsSdmsKcTT4I1L5P8tzamUhJKXlDQJHSfn781fGLCbHBuQR_OG5ZCEgFawgfcc0HCefdlz_ez94J6RjHPZnAPL6Syt_ZDnfyYRBKxeez5vGJnMTN-qglmv1zEP2jZViyUKi6YdnJCXrBc/s320/20160716_131028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the way we saw very ominous clouds and stopped to look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> It didn’t get close or turn into a tornado, but easily could
have. Tennessee is one of the states in the US </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_Alley"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">where tornadoes commonly
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But back to carbon management and biochar. Whether you’re in Tennessee, Mexico or NYC there are still opportunities
most people are not aware of to better manage our resources and safely store
carbon in the soil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />One of the high carbon materials mentioned in the last post is the solid
organic matter left over at the end of the sewage treatment process, sometimes
called biosolids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NYC’s Department of
Environmental Protection manages wastewater treatment plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their </span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wwsystem.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">method of operation
is described here</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
It explains that biosolids may be used as fertilizers or soil conditioners
spread on parkland, farmland, lawns, golf courses, cemeteries and landfills,
and that NYC has long term contracts with companies to manage the biosolids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The City’s 2006 </span><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/about/laws/solid-waste-management-plan.shtml"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Solid
Waste Management Plan</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and its </span><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/docs/about_swmp_attach5_0815.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Biosolids
Management</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> appendix partly address how those biosolids are
used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vendors and their details have certainly changed since then.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The numbers are going to be big. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/wastewater/biohome.shtml"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NYC
produces 1,200 tons per day of biosolids</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. Until it was legally
prohibited in 1988, the City was dumping them in the ocean.<br />
<br />
While methane is always produced in the anaerobic phase of sewage treatment, as
well as in the decomposition of waste in landfills, NYC is making a particular
effort to collect methane from the </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/03/11/287310897/turning-food-waste-into-fuel-takes-gumption-and-trillions-of-bacteria"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Newtown
Creek sewage treatment plant</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each of its eight gigantic steel digester eggs holds millions of gallons of
sewage waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Held at a steady 98 F in
the absence of oxygen, bacteria are digesting the waste and producing gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a closer look into </span><a href="http://gizmodo.com/where-new-york-citys-poop-goes-1622426763"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Newtown
Creek’s operation</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Methane has about 25 times the greenhouse gas effect as carbon dioxide, so
capturing and burning it to produce electricity offers environmental as well as
financial benefit.<br />
<br />
The One NYC Plan’s </span><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC-2016-Progress-Report.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2016
Progress Report</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> reaffirms the administration’s goals of
reducing the City’s carbon emissions 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the City’s energy use is centered on
heating, cooling and lighting of buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However upgrading composting, anaerobically digesting organic waste, and
capturing methane from wastewater treatment are also prioritized (p. 112).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Turning sewage digester gas into electricity at several of the City’s
wastewater treatment plants was set out in the original </span><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2015
One NYC Plan</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> (p. 171). The Administration aims to reduce
the amount of solid waste disposed of by the City 90% from its 2005 level by
2030, partly by expanding organics collection and processing (p. 176, 179). “…</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The City will also explore options
to beneficially use biosolids resulting from the processing of organic waste at
WWTPs…”</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
Perhaps sewage biosolids, food waste and
other waste flows can make a much larger contribution to the City’s carbon
emission reduction goals than has been anticipated so far by sequestering some
of them as biochar?<br />
<br />
When Mayor de Blasio raised the City’s carbon emission target from the
Bloomberg era 30% by 2030 to 80% by 2050, the goal didn’t come out of a vacuum.
A number of cities around the world had already put that figure out as their
goals. </span><a href="http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/planyc2030/pdf/nyc_pathways.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
2013, the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning reported on how a new goal of 80
by 50 could be met</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />The
report focuses on reducing energy use or greenhouse gas emissions, but does not seem to recognize or address
the potential for direct carbon sequestration. <br />
<br />
The solid waste section, starting at p. 99, notes that whatever cannot be
composted or recycled is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">taken
to waste-to energy facilities outside of the city or to transfer stations in
the city that coordinate delivery to landfills as far away as Virginia and
South Carolina. Could some of that waste flow, such as the wood component of
construction waste, be sorted out for turning into biochar? <br /><br />Graphs on pages
102-03 give more insight into the City’s residential, commercial and
construction waste flows and their destinations as of 2011. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some questions about potential
biochar <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">production</span> in NYC <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</b></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">W<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ho are the contractors responsible for hand<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ling NYC's </span></span></span>1,200+ tons per day of
sewage biosolids<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">How are those wastes currently</span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">being used and handle<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">d? How much if any is being landfilled, and for what reasons?</span></span> </span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How much money is the City getting from
vendors who are selling NYC biosolids for agricultural / soil amendment
purposes? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How much if any is NYC currently paying contractors
to dispose of the biosolids?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Would the City <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">be willing to</span> turn<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> some of</span> that biosolids waste
flow (and giving up the associated income) to convert it, combined with
other NYC woody biomass sources, into biochar? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How much would the City be
willing to pay to add the amount of carbon it sequesters, to accelerate its
progress toward its 80 x 50 goals?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Could biochar produced in this way be
productively used in or near NYC, either by City agencies or private
purchasers?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What if any are metal or chemical
contamination issues with NYC biosolids that restrict its use?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are there any metal or chemical contamination
issues with potential NYC biochar feedstocks that would limit its agricultural
use, and if so, are there other uses that would still be suitable?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li> <span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Could the wood in construction waste, wood
chips, wooden shipping pallets, or other high-carbon and high-lignin components
of NYC’s solid waste stream, be used as biochar feedstock?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How conveniently could waste products suitable
for biochar production be diverted from current uses or disposal arrangements? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The City’s organic waste flows are
about to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">get even bigger</span>.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
<br />
</span><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/zerowaste/businesses/food-scraps-and-yard-waste.shtml"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NYC
is now requiring food service businesses above a certain size to collect
organic wastes</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. Food and yard waste makes up about a third
of the solid waste from the City’s businesses. The businesses or a private
carter they hire <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">must</span> either compost or anaerobically digest the waste.</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Does Dept. of Sanitation currently have a
plan for the increased flows of organic waste to be collected either by DOS or
private carters? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What is the range of tons per day of new
organic waste the City anticipates will be collected under these new
regulations?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who is expected to provide the municipal
scale composting services? </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How much chemical or metal contamination of
these waste streams is expected, and how much may that affect the resulting
compost?</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Any
feedback on these questions, or additional questions that need to be addressed,
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! </span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Beyond-Oil-NYC-121325941270116/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1080360805366620"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Pictures o<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">f Dan's visit to the EcoVillage Training Center on Facebook.</span></span></i></a> </span></b></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-42791004767394088402016-07-24T19:44:00.002-07:002016-07-25T06:50:34.459-07:00Summer camp at The Farm in Tennessee<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgvYLWtk9otSmb5dS9e0vxgndCJW17jiVTmXw4l3VA1zuHnxVPHtO3sF-6cVuSIIupE1GyKn_XcutcRpvb-gazr66bWcwuiyqogyrJ7wSCBZxgIP1UTbl1VZEe1wpQ-3vcvtRow6vmUYz/s1600/20160711_113759.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaving one job and not having to jump directly into
another gave me time to do something I had been thinking about for years:
visiting Albert Bates at his Ecovillage Training Center at the Farm in
Summertown, Tennessee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I first met Albert at the NYC peak oil conference I helped organize in
2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then I have followed </span><a href="http://peaksurfer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">his blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and
read his books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was at the 2014 Age of
Limits conference at which he shared the stage with John Michael Greer, Dmitry
Orlov, Guy McPherson, Gail Tverberg and Dennis Meadows himself, the lead author
of the Limits to Growth report. (Here’s </span><a href="http://peaksurfer.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-gathering-of-silverbacks-age-of.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Albert’s
summary of the conference</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.)<br />
<br />
For many years I worked at a thoroughly conventional economic development </span><a href="http://www.licpartnership.org/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">nonprofit in Queens</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
while carrying out </span><a href="http://www.beyondoilnyc.org/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a
series of work-related and volunteer green projects</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it was time to move on I looked for jobs
that were more aligned with my values and reality picture<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">...and </span>wound up working
for two years as district manager of the community board in East Midtown
Manhattan. Then I took a six month contract to promote a NY State energy agency
program to Bronx homeowners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Tired of the conventional wisdom that I needed to find a new job to go to before
leaving a current job, I simply gave notice that I was not renewing my contract and would time out at the end of June.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am planning to sell an energy
conservation product to large commercial customers, it is on commission and I
will be working from home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am less
formally employed than I have been in a long time, and so far it feels good. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A</span>fter July 4<sup>th</sup> I visited relatives in Kentucky, then headed south
by Greyhound bus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During a long layover in
Louisville, KY I discovered that </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmsted"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Frederick
Law Olmsted</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> designed its Central Park as well as the one
in NYC. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, that Kentucky’s largest
city, pronounced “Lu-uh-ville,” is known for its baseball bat factory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
I spent the night in downtown Nashville, passing many bars featuring live
country music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After enjoying a fine BBQ dinner whose leftovers were ample enough for a good breakfast, I
stayed at a large, pleasant and modern hostel. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjPVJshX8XNR-vw1Z46z42FElOTOKnIGY6J972Xrp2cO05DehzYrVgv7cpCmRgq2az6L1vIQTqZv2L68DaOoawltnzWKA04CjKYUXrpYTSzk5hyphenhyphenQ66kQ3oBeIysPo9B1LeRh40CuCxtBl/s1600/20160711_234653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjPVJshX8XNR-vw1Z46z42FElOTOKnIGY6J972Xrp2cO05DehzYrVgv7cpCmRgq2az6L1vIQTqZv2L68DaOoawltnzWKA04CjKYUXrpYTSzk5hyphenhyphenQ66kQ3oBeIysPo9B1LeRh40CuCxtBl/s320/20160711_234653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrOJqFGsl5JjiFcqAEuXqbTKnUylhmvVeALw7TPIOovhz5mZKvZiDaox7blSk3VcGGTxjX_wPI3yKes0NkD97dPkB-QFh2EatyAtS65JyzgX_L_n1n1shzC0y6rONIsX2WzDWqIsibn_W/s1600/20160711_154621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrOJqFGsl5JjiFcqAEuXqbTKnUylhmvVeALw7TPIOovhz5mZKvZiDaox7blSk3VcGGTxjX_wPI3yKes0NkD97dPkB-QFh2EatyAtS65JyzgX_L_n1n1shzC0y6rONIsX2WzDWqIsibn_W/s200/20160711_154621.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Outside of Tennessee’s major cities, mass transit is in short supply. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to get to most places, if you
don’t have a car, is by taking the county-subsidized van which runs twice a day
from the Nashville to points south, several days a week. The driver of the noon
van told me he was overbooked with pickups on the route and that I would have
to come back for the 4 PM. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>He finally allowed me to board if I got out at a town
halfway between Nashville and Summertown, from which Albert had said he could
pick me up if needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one stop I took
a picture of an Amish woman in a horse-drawn carriage, thinking that was pretty
exotic, but it got better.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZUE09QSUvwSsza17RKmnV2p8EcZPwfuCRCpzGnFkBCMlhgSGRH9_eu7y8wXBmgjeMJO6f8uKOfOaoRoRPLefnTLIYcqU-J1equYduXdgcdtJGjIeqsmIwJMU_lrZ7Dm0IZHuKP2Ll43t/s1600/20160712_134420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZUE09QSUvwSsza17RKmnV2p8EcZPwfuCRCpzGnFkBCMlhgSGRH9_eu7y8wXBmgjeMJO6f8uKOfOaoRoRPLefnTLIYcqU-J1equYduXdgcdtJGjIeqsmIwJMU_lrZ7Dm0IZHuKP2Ll43t/s200/20160712_134420.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the next few stops, Amish got on the van.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My apologies for being a city slicker objectifying the Amish, but when
the guy next to me took a nap I took a selfie with him.
The driver was curious about my visit to the Farm. I explained that there are
many modern people, even in cities, who think that we need to relearn some old
time country ways, and I wanted to meet people at the Farm who are studying how
to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The driver was sympathetic to this, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">not being a close follower of popular cultu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">re who<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span></span></span>grew up with relatives canning
vegetables and eating squirrels and possum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Amish might have been
listening, but did not enter into the conversation at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Albert picked me up at <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">the halfway town</span> and we had lunch
at a Mexican place, sharing updates on what each of us had been up to lately.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An introduction to </span><a href="http://www.thefarm.org/the-ecovillage-training-center/etc-staff/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Albert</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is
in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>After graduating from New York Law School in 1972, Albert was hiking down the
Appalachian Trail, stopped off to visit </span><a href="http://www.thefarm.org/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
Farm</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">,
and has been living there ever since. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once one of the largest and most influential
communes, it was formed by school bus caravans of San Francisco hippies led by
spiritual teacher Stephen Gaskin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
the 1970s they launched projects in midwifery, soybean–based foods such as
tofu, tempeh and soymilk ice cream, and international disaster relief. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He has long played a
significant role in the Farm as the founder and director of the </span><a href="http://www.thefarm.org/the-ecovillage-training-center/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ecovillage
Training Center</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Albert practiced environmental and civil rights law, and founded and
directed the Global Ecovillage Network, representing GEN at United Nations
climate conferences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has taught the
72 hour Permaculture Design Course fifty times, all over the world. He wrote
one of the first books about climate change way back in 1990.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His other books include the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peak Oil Survival Guide and Cookbook </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Biochar Solution</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<br />
We drove back to the Farm and he gave me a tour<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Besides the</span> sites pictured here<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, we saw </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">a</span> theater made completely from recycled materials, the Farm’s woodland cemetery, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> field of blueberry bushes, and several <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">businesses<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> operated by Farm residents. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f3wMuzwJPmputN1vKsVZiBwXZmyH2fwLgJ13g7BEXauXRm7VB3D2RbqP-t8UNUygeR_PSvyr8yNiqB3SNbQYLzZQtPtIUJacXIL0QFM0Uqn5YMFUaXuw2yMr-okOKurrxiEWBhRgigsf/s1600/20160717_092107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f3wMuzwJPmputN1vKsVZiBwXZmyH2fwLgJ13g7BEXauXRm7VB3D2RbqP-t8UNUygeR_PSvyr8yNiqB3SNbQYLzZQtPtIUJacXIL0QFM0Uqn5YMFUaXuw2yMr-okOKurrxiEWBhRgigsf/s320/20160717_092107.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><br />
The gate house at the Farm entrance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBdA2iJVgz44GTPyU-B40mtd4GKMc_Bl_2zxiHyjjhwJkacy4Onx_fGLDBPRM6ZEY7mv4y-FgN9xiZN47Hx3XiTmsxI6qdfTswoxsKPrB0jJM_yHkQcTcIdkZDvViCQLXH8hCxD_lKKNW/s1600/20160717_101318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBdA2iJVgz44GTPyU-B40mtd4GKMc_Bl_2zxiHyjjhwJkacy4Onx_fGLDBPRM6ZEY7mv4y-FgN9xiZN47Hx3XiTmsxI6qdfTswoxsKPrB0jJM_yHkQcTcIdkZDvViCQLXH8hCxD_lKKNW/s320/20160717_101318.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br /><br />The octagonal Farm store</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLK6PSwk6MuFKM5WhppzPqNldZXlSY3B-K9wEfTwa3ieHRO0N1lR998iwbw9UML9fyeuFOKX6k_8nchcalRGOxvRZiMIX7SDglwL_U2H8Rlee64k2_ZplLhmq4RvAfuGXcM515LuSlbHm/s1600/20160717_095711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLK6PSwk6MuFKM5WhppzPqNldZXlSY3B-K9wEfTwa3ieHRO0N1lR998iwbw9UML9fyeuFOKX6k_8nchcalRGOxvRZiMIX7SDglwL_U2H8Rlee64k2_ZplLhmq4RvAfuGXcM515LuSlbHm/s320/20160717_095711.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bAJn5ZsLfHe0nJl8cT_1cWVjsJKOCuCMevpda38EhLBk_TiVec8AZjM8wQxAtiuq2wx5trBitvnihxMoFV0nl5d1Z57bOvGL8LMWOxN9cCIJRldDDcOI31n6Y8pDhMSFhODkrvCwCKK3/s1600/20160716_111438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bAJn5ZsLfHe0nJl8cT_1cWVjsJKOCuCMevpda38EhLBk_TiVec8AZjM8wQxAtiuq2wx5trBitvnihxMoFV0nl5d1Z57bOvGL8LMWOxN9cCIJRldDDcOI31n6Y8pDhMSFhODkrvCwCKK3/s320/20160716_111438.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />A huge outdoor gazebo, the site of gatherings such as the Farm’s monthly
market</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3z3zobgDYpvXnDhvkP_53v6Ou1aMoYc65C7pgTK_Kphy9vfTB03_SMEvFZ6SJzy3Ca9u2svvu4Myg3ZQLg00ejZi92DfJ-SEWEV3dQCDdv3ZSgjPzR9aPdif3Sg_sq0FyxwL_-DcopL3/s1600/20160717_085159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3z3zobgDYpvXnDhvkP_53v6Ou1aMoYc65C7pgTK_Kphy9vfTB03_SMEvFZ6SJzy3Ca9u2svvu4Myg3ZQLg00ejZi92DfJ-SEWEV3dQCDdv3ZSgjPzR9aPdif3Sg_sq0FyxwL_-DcopL3/s200/20160717_085159.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVMeIYzBIcXaKqqCj7OB1nBb2R1xRAtKGed0Qy-A-tesCRkzj1fy-lOPyqjYzVdz0sU-ljCyxBG03thnYvayVOi1WnxkEeEml1SGXS1YhBBiGsrjoiAAsZmeDHlo68BWJxkk40GMoxyV/s1600/20160714_083217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVMeIYzBIcXaKqqCj7OB1nBb2R1xRAtKGed0Qy-A-tesCRkzj1fy-lOPyqjYzVdz0sU-ljCyxBG03thnYvayVOi1WnxkEeEml1SGXS1YhBBiGsrjoiAAsZmeDHlo68BWJxkk40GMoxyV/s320/20160714_083217.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">T</span>he ETC hostel, in which I stayed for much of
the week, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">is one of several buildings </span>dating from the Farm’s origins in the early 1970s</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Close to the ETC hostel are a number of newer structures made with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_building"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">natural building</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
materials such as cob (clay, sand, straw, and earth) and straw bale. The hostel
expansion, still under construction, is the largest natural building I’ve ever
seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5cElxmQXyBkw7aZtx_CrKvboVNN1X29sWPjJdySy_fX-9Y1dT9IwgsIU0isyORcuncN4XVLzBgct_S6vaeaI_ewvns1R7owtoUea1G77hh1gdU8BRTLbeti7n6GR66-iZjAwwytzRg5H/s1600/20160714_083222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5cElxmQXyBkw7aZtx_CrKvboVNN1X29sWPjJdySy_fX-9Y1dT9IwgsIU0isyORcuncN4XVLzBgct_S6vaeaI_ewvns1R7owtoUea1G77hh1gdU8BRTLbeti7n6GR66-iZjAwwytzRg5H/s320/20160714_083222.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN8WhCm51uQCR9UPZFyNVh2M-w5KvjosTJnE2NBfPrE8hvzAj26ORpVyYIKaO7eBOjyHaKYjqOOAmNOc6lbmu1cSNgRDHgW_J3lnHTYTHkfosMtjytzdNka_qn10iE1dknmadrhTgKllT/s1600/20160713_142723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN8WhCm51uQCR9UPZFyNVh2M-w5KvjosTJnE2NBfPrE8hvzAj26ORpVyYIKaO7eBOjyHaKYjqOOAmNOc6lbmu1cSNgRDHgW_J3lnHTYTHkfosMtjytzdNka_qn10iE1dknmadrhTgKllT/s320/20160713_142723.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgKRiLs9CK6_sdTkz3gVpcIvXwcr0ApaQnWG43Af87KMaekSZPIYxa21RPZBEpVBWOM8b11fm8JyVAE84BCUZlYGDJ1pEx5rprttDICg19NmQXky6ixkJ2yIJiYeAbT6RhQAv3KZLHn_y/s1600/20160712_170746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgKRiLs9CK6_sdTkz3gVpcIvXwcr0ApaQnWG43Af87KMaekSZPIYxa21RPZBEpVBWOM8b11fm8JyVAE84BCUZlYGDJ1pEx5rprttDICg19NmQXky6ixkJ2yIJiYeAbT6RhQAv3KZLHn_y/s320/20160712_170746.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Albert in t</span>he</span> hostel expansion, which <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">now hosts some</span> meetings and events</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMiep0rnYWsqGE27J-SJt0aFtuei5wTr3LvdnwmbSrRL3n-Is2k3We-VFe1B08X6nplczg4yYkatjnlos1sBYkiQTuNlX-wlg06-Uqj5ilozlf5__q0G0KD0Ka3KDIwWSS0HLIoAoXORq/s1600/20160713_142749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMiep0rnYWsqGE27J-SJt0aFtuei5wTr3LvdnwmbSrRL3n-Is2k3We-VFe1B08X6nplczg4yYkatjnlos1sBYkiQTuNlX-wlg06-Uqj5ilozlf5__q0G0KD0Ka3KDIwWSS0HLIoAoXORq/s320/20160713_142749.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A composting toilet next to several water filtration ponds</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacKQ7xETGjAN9PIxMw4qdyM8lz0rWL1Z7CwfqGG8iTx5MyL0Dae4MUeM9zBPfSbAidpl_yABSKDhryTqja_x6jaHjP3WmCMFS4I5TC66m-29aSDzVXZuoryXwcFmempwWHXPOhq3AJNdi/s1600/20160714_083533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacKQ7xETGjAN9PIxMw4qdyM8lz0rWL1Z7CwfqGG8iTx5MyL0Dae4MUeM9zBPfSbAidpl_yABSKDhryTqja_x6jaHjP3WmCMFS4I5TC66m-29aSDzVXZuoryXwcFmempwWHXPOhq3AJNdi/s320/20160714_083533.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<br /><br />The ETC garden in which I spent a good amount of time weeding</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Internet access at the Farm is very limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Wednesday we drove into nearby Hohenwald
to use the excellent internet connection at a railroad station restored to its
appearance in the late 1800s, which is now used as a community center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was able to listen in on the video
conference Albert had with staff at the NYC office of a very well-known
international architecture firm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
the permaculture design consultant for a green hotel project planned for Tulum,
Mexico. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Waste disposal is a big challenge. The other hotels in this tourism district already
send a stream of sealed trucks containing human waste slurry to be emptied in
the Tulum municipal sewage treatment system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The architects wondered if some of the waste could be converted to
biochar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt6feqJCN5zyB711UnF_ygAI9SyrBSOhYrBawScLt_2DY1b-mex8JKWI38YyHb32TLvYt0vPyvxktTDKzkzM9AwdiqTASuXNNGOpgfzeZflrJQ8xcenXddx3FXXSFKCyHQR7TwYz3GB2k/s1600/biochar-in-hand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt6feqJCN5zyB711UnF_ygAI9SyrBSOhYrBawScLt_2DY1b-mex8JKWI38YyHb32TLvYt0vPyvxktTDKzkzM9AwdiqTASuXNNGOpgfzeZflrJQ8xcenXddx3FXXSFKCyHQR7TwYz3GB2k/s320/biochar-in-hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charcoal is produced when biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen, which
prevents it from bursting into flame and burning up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charcoal produced specifically to be used as
a soil amendment is called biochar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
This was a widespread practice throughout the Amazon region before the
Europeans arrived, as layers of unusually dark and fertile soils with high
charcoal content attest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scientific
study of biochar has surged due to its potential importance as a low-cost form
of carbon sequestration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxfx14yXs7m8OwvZVfRkTcD7Aa8OvYZo-lxf3clS0tVJinAg4z457oWPLgi93q3U4iXE4gGyLcjtFtZSxfz6bDz0UOKSxmWCvhTIIBYyfF0_HThf6YKRWK96xlao3QBKgJveZ2DOzkF2O/s1600/terra-preta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxfx14yXs7m8OwvZVfRkTcD7Aa8OvYZo-lxf3clS0tVJinAg4z457oWPLgi93q3U4iXE4gGyLcjtFtZSxfz6bDz0UOKSxmWCvhTIIBYyfF0_HThf6YKRWK96xlao3QBKgJveZ2DOzkF2O/s1600/terra-preta.jpg" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ordinarily, the carbon in wood, plant materials or manure is released into the
air as carbon dioxide when the material decomposes or is burnt in a fire. When
biomass is turned to charcoal, the carbon becomes extremely stable and won’t
reenter the atmosphere for a thousand years, maybe longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know, climate change is accelerating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/weather/hottest-june-record-world/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NASA
just announced the first six months of 2016 were the hottest ever recorded</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. So
a closer look at biochar and its climate regenerating potential is very timely.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCEfcaHK-FokW0A1QkQoikg_Z2c3iiwvAK_IZzaguAo9nzTO6Qczekze8xfnXK6WA9kTPAU_kYjUw_hBf04cQ70FBCtQWPxvZ3nqYjfDRvFePEfANjV0lj8MeaJXoLubfU_JexpnneeP3/s1600/biochar-microscopic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The slurry containing human waste, more politely referred
to as sewage, can be processed by bacteria in oxygen-free tanks to produce
methane, the main constituent of natural gas. It can be burned to heat water
into steam, run a turbine, and produce electricity. To produce biochar, it’s
best to mix dried sewage remains with a high-carbon woody material, which can
then be mixed with compost and added to soils. <br />
<br />
A unique feature of biochar made from woody feedstocks heated within a certain
range of temperatures is that the original structure is preserved at a
microscopic level, creating housing for beneficial bacteria and fungi,
introduced via the compost.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCEfcaHK-FokW0A1QkQoikg_Z2c3iiwvAK_IZzaguAo9nzTO6Qczekze8xfnXK6WA9kTPAU_kYjUw_hBf04cQ70FBCtQWPxvZ3nqYjfDRvFePEfANjV0lj8MeaJXoLubfU_JexpnneeP3/s1600/biochar-microscopic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCEfcaHK-FokW0A1QkQoikg_Z2c3iiwvAK_IZzaguAo9nzTO6Qczekze8xfnXK6WA9kTPAU_kYjUw_hBf04cQ70FBCtQWPxvZ3nqYjfDRvFePEfANjV0lj8MeaJXoLubfU_JexpnneeP3/s1600/biochar-microscopic.jpg" /></a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another element of the toolkit is bamboo, as some of its many species are among
the world’s fastest growing sources of woody biomass. Most tropical bamboo species
grow in clumps and can produce large strong stems suitable for construction
purposes. <br /><br />Temperate zone species tend to spread quickly through underground
runners, which have to be blocked, cut or controlled to prevent them from
becoming invasive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Albert recommended that
the hotel plant lots of bamboo on its property to provide for biochar feedstock,
and elevate its buildings on stilts for better air flow as well as flood
protection. <br />
<br />
While there is a great deal of seaweed cast up on Caribbean beaches<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, t</span>he preferred raw materials for biochar are
high in lignin, such as wood and bamboo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Since</span> seaweed, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">like</span> paper, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">is</span> made up of
less desirable hemicellulose<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, i</span>t would be better to simply add seaweed to the
soil after washing away the salt. <br />
<br />
After the call, I toured downtown Hohenwald and visited its natural history
museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a surprisingly good
exhibit on Meriwether Lewis, who as part of the duo Lewis and Clark explored
the Louisiana Purchase and the American west in the early 1800s and was
apparently assassinated near the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
former resident donated a disturbing number of animal heads, obtained through
decades of big game hunting. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That afternoon Albert gave me and ETC program director
Hayley Smith an update on his other project. In addition to his Tulum project,
Albert is on the team of a design firm for rural economic development projects
that are carbon neutral or negative. That is, they will deposit or sequester
carbon in the soil instead of releasing it into the atmosphere while creating a
variety of yields and economic returns, using </span><a href="https://www.resilience.org/stories/2015-10-21/burning-down-the-house-2015"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">a
full suite of permaculture and climate farming approaches</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Permaculture integrates knowledge, experience, research and practices from many
disciplines to restore landscapes and communities on a large scale. These
strategies include:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A spectrum of safe, renewable energy
technologies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scientific research and exchange of
knowledge, information and innovations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Water harvesting, retention and
restoration of functional water systems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Forest conservation, reforestation
and sustainable forestry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Regenerative agricultural
practices—organic, no-till and low-till, polycultures, small-scale intensive
systems and agroecology.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Planned rotational grazing, grasslands
restoration, and silvopasture systems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Agroforestry, food forests and
perennial systems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bioremediation and mycoremediation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Increasing soil organic carbon using
biological methods: compost, compost teas, mulch, fungi, worms and
beneficial micro-organisms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sustainably produced biochar for
carbon capture and soil-building.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Protection and restoration of
oceanic ecosystems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Community-based economic models,
incorporating strategies such as co-operatives, local currencies, gift
economies, and horizontal economic networks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Relocalization of food systems and
economic enterprises to serve communities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conservation, energy efficiency,
re-use, recycling and full cost accounting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A shift to healthier,
climate-friendly diets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Demonstration sites, model systems,
ecovillages and intentional communities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conflict transformation, trauma
counseling and personal and spiritual healing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Transition Towns and other local
movements to create community resilience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And many more!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The firm’s approach is informed by Malcolm Gladwell’s </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tipping_Point"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Tipping Point</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
law of the few holds that whether an idea spreads to become a social epidemic
depends on the involvement of certain types of people with unique social gifts:
connectors are the people in a community who know lots of other people and can
make introductions; mavens are trusted information specialists and brokers; and
salespeople are charismatic persuaders. <br />
<br />
The book speaks of whether an idea is sufficiently sticky or memorable, and the
power of context – whether the time and place is right for it to spread. Albert
and the group hope to portray the new, carbon negative way of doing things as
cool, and the old carbon polluting, wasteful way of doing things as old, stale
and unfashionable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, the time
is right.<br />
<br />
There’s lots of proprietary information involved, so I’m leaving out names and
links, but I think this much is appropriate to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many extremely wealthy and accomplished
individuals are involved, and they’re starting with a big eco-tourism project
in the Dominican Republic.<br />
<br />
Two young Argentinian guys who are experts in geographical information systems
came to the DR on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found
that few residents of the DR countryside had formal legal title to their land,
and parasitical developers and lawyers were already starting to close in,
potentially dispossessing multitudes. The pair offered an innovative service to
rural Dominicans: mapping their land and getting the paperwork to provide them
with clear legal title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made a
fortune, may have prevented a civil war, and are now revered across the island.
<br />
<br />
The<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> Argentinians then</span> acquired a big parcel of beachfront, with allied investors buying
nearby properties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government fully
supports their plans to create a regional eco-tourism center and nature
preserve. <br />
<br />
The design group was brought in to ensure that the project is as green as
possible, and gets community support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Albert’s best, most sociable, Spanish-speaking permaculture students are
already on the ground. They’ve found that folks living in the area want to
continue making a living fishing and harvesting coconuts, so the group is
figuring out how to help them do just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Biochar production is part of the plan.<br />
<br />
The rest of my week at the Farm was less eventful, but had a very unique
texture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birds start to chirp as the sky
became light in the morning, followed by remarkably loud insects from dusk
through much of the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zeOFYUF410g0pwjCehCiglvJzUyGmiwTP8WdEgJ_dRe64w900eal5QkCoJwHxbVezzWkjQRe8gbG56VOcCM2gfRlUtcn5Pjq5brmNGaNB_O8kr67aPTByxIhC3DBQRXZMKDEU0RSXPjL/s1600/20160716_081110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zeOFYUF410g0pwjCehCiglvJzUyGmiwTP8WdEgJ_dRe64w900eal5QkCoJwHxbVezzWkjQRe8gbG56VOcCM2gfRlUtcn5Pjq5brmNGaNB_O8kr67aPTByxIhC3DBQRXZMKDEU0RSXPjL/s400/20160716_081110.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br />J<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ohn, Albert, John, Laetitia and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Noa, Dan, Marty and Laura</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></span></span><br />There were many conversations with other residents of the ETC hostel. Marty, a
retired math teacher and sometime poet, moved from Seattle senior housing to live
on the Farm permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Program
director Hayley, a fulltime resident, has formal training in geology combined
with passions for teaching, travel in developing countries, and wastewater
systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
A few others are like me, between things. John, a tai chi practitioner, had
ended a long career in the Florida construction field and wants to relocate to
South Carolina. I learned from him that rolled oats don’t have to be cooked;
you can just pour boiling water over them and let them soak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stevie from Illinois interested in herbs and
holistic practices. A second John is a musician carting his electronic keyboard
who hoped to stay at the Farm for a few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Laetitia<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, </span>Yannik<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> and Noa,</span> a Canadian <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">family,</span> w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">as</span> travelling in a trailer to
the Southwest and planned to wind up in Ecuador. <br />
<br />
I did a lot of weeding in the ETC vegetable garden<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> (</span>which will bear <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">lots of </span>tomatoes
and squash later <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">this summer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">),</span> joining the</span> chickens, who <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">patrol for bugs, and a recl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">usive turtle. </span></span> One
night I made pasta with some string beans which were past their prime, but
certainly high in fiber. There were a few big cucumbers, and an abundance of
basil and parsley, as well as comfrey, which is unfortunately not so
edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw_6IaEtirs_3mNMaLa49pjbypow1PqphM7BW0_E4xJjwZ0zPQOb96NHbABCFPgg5_9UAUvYJXOn1s26q57MvIed9wAJrFb2i_Vf9NCs6pNKfJPi76n-g2ohEMRjPsEevETqhL6SoCD-r/s1600/20160714_144353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw_6IaEtirs_3mNMaLa49pjbypow1PqphM7BW0_E4xJjwZ0zPQOb96NHbABCFPgg5_9UAUvYJXOn1s26q57MvIed9wAJrFb2i_Vf9NCs6pNKfJPi76n-g2ohEMRjPsEevETqhL6SoCD-r/s320/20160714_144353.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDSIOsxVydYh-4uu8qv5KVge9iTqGguxkvy870iwP3dSzV4HrPltepxdnyVz78-cqx0UZGRMPtNXpHT2deZAGLXidEhE0xZ4uiRaTeMXQZIDjApdd7AdCfEKaqt2ZLjXaDF0v7aTLfL8k/s1600/20160714_175940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDSIOsxVydYh-4uu8qv5KVge9iTqGguxkvy870iwP3dSzV4HrPltepxdnyVz78-cqx0UZGRMPtNXpHT2deZAGLXidEhE0xZ4uiRaTeMXQZIDjApdd7AdCfEKaqt2ZLjXaDF0v7aTLfL8k/s320/20160714_175940.jpg" width="180" /></a></span><br />
<br />
There was no meal service at the ETC, but ample supplies of free staples like
pasta, grains and dried beans that we could cook ourselves in the same kitchen
used since the beginning of Farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
In the surrounding ETC grounds, I used a weed wacker with a long extension
cord, and a tool I used early in life but just now learned its proper name - a
grass whip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One afternoon I wiped all
the tools in the tool shed down with oil-soaked sand. Given the hot sun and
humidity, and a few itch-inducing insects, these were not the easiest of
tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It heightened my appreciation for
urban areas, with air conditioning, unlimited access to internet access,
consumer goods and instantly available mass transit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I was daunted to think of how the original residents of the Farm worked <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">extremely</span> hard under austere, vow-of-poverty conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the early 70s the Farm residents gave up drugs, were vegetarian and
had no alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the Farm today, at
least coffee is still allowed! <br />
<br />
In part two of this post, look for a few more recollections about my week at
the Farm, and thoughts about how the biochar discussion could be applied to New
York or other cities.<br /><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Beyond-Oil-NYC-121325941270116/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1080360805366620">More pictures on Facebook</a>.</span></i><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-17962478212606155772016-06-04T11:31:00.002-07:002016-06-24T17:01:47.259-07:00Summer 2016 Update<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's what I'm up to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in Summer 2016. I have <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ended my</span> six month contract to do community outreach for a New York State <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">home energy conservation program. I don't have another <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">conventional job lined up, and it feels grea<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This spring<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>I went to a weekend retreat with futurist Chris Martenson, and took <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">notes. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As Martenson often says, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">given the increasingly volati<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">le trends in the environment, ener<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gy and the economy, the next 20 y<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ears <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">will look nothing like the last 20. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conventional <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">employment options in NYC seem even less interesting to me than they did before, and this <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">seems to be a good time to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">speed up exploration of unconventional options.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I also completed the Building Performance Institute's Building Analyst c<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our</span>se, a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nd have learned how to do blower door tests, so this summer I p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lan to volunteer with some home energy contracto<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rs and get practice.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>In July I'm going to visit Albert Bates at his Ecovillage Training Center<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, help out on the farm for a few days, and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ask him <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">possible ro<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">les for biochar in NYC. I met a guy in the Bronx who has a magical energy conservation widget and when I get back in town, will try doing sales for him. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Nothing is <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">certain, and I will certainly be living off savings. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">more</span> details. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">= = =</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From </span>January to June I've had the opportunity to test some of the ideas I set out in my fall 2015 post. I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was</span> working at Sustainable South Bronx, a community organization which is the outreach partner for NYSERDA's home energy conservation program in the Bronx. NYSERDA, also known at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is the State energy agency, and it has a lot of programs. The Home Performance with Energy Star program, available around the state to owners of 1-4 family homes, offers a free home energy assessment by a specially trained, NYSERDA-monitored contractor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The assessment tests for gas and carbon monoxide leaks, and how much air leakage is taking place in various parts of the home, which suggests where insulation and air sealing should be installed. The contractor provides the homeowner with a report which lists the most cost-effective home improvements, how much they would cost, and how long it would take for the energy savings to pay for the cost of the measures. If the homeowner decides to go ahead with some of the projects proposed in the report, they can get discounts on the measures and put them on a 3.5% interest loan, compared to the standard commercial loan rate of about 8% interest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The program - also known as the Green Jobs Green NY program - was introduced around 2009. Many have observed that the number of New Yorkers signing up to participate in the program has been far less than originally anticipated. <a href="http://citylimits.org/series/greenjobs/">In January 2016, City Limits published a series of articles on the program</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bronx, like Bro<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oklyn and Queens, has a vast number<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">individual homes and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">small apartment buildings with 1-4 units<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, mostly in the north an<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d east sections of the borough. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just as SSBX <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is NYSERDA's community outreach partner for the program in the Bronx, the service is promoted by the Staten Island and Que<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ns offices of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neighborhood Housing Services<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and El Puente, a Brookl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">yn group serving the Latino community. S<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SBX has had 11 actual retrofit projects take place be<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tween 2014 and now<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The NYC housing services groups, with their internal streams of already existing </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">clients, have numbers that are high<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">er<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. In upstate, all the contractors are housing services groups. Several ha<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ve between 100 - 200 <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">retrofits <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">during this time<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. R<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">UPCO, serving the Hudson Valley, accrued around 350. </span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, only a small fraction of</span> th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e vast numbers of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">individual homes in</span></span> upstate counties <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">have participated in the program.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each step of the process is challenging: getting in front of homeowners when they're in a receptive mo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">od<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">;</span> getting them to sign up for a free home energy assessment<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">; having them choose from a list of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NYSERDA<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> participating contractors<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and schedule <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the actual assessment; <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and finally to purchase recommended energy conservation measures. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At first I spoke at many community board meetings<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gave presentations to civic groups and homeowners associations. Responses were quite limited. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">O</span>ther community outreach partners said th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at
they too started with presentations to groups, then scaled back to
having exhibit tables at community events set up by other groups. So
that's what we did too. Me and my two young colleagues <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">just went</span>
to a Bronx Chamber of Commerce event at <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the Bay Plaza mall and got <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the contact information for 20 people, who w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e will count as leads <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">toward our quotas. <br /><br />We<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> started <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">going to sidewalks outside of sub<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">way stations<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. One innovation I was pleased with was printing out the talking points for the program on large sheets of car<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">dboard so it could be easily ready by pedestrians. Here's Matt Caruso and Danny Castro.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />We spent a few hours <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at the Par<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">kchester stop on the 6 train. The <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">indifferent responses of passe<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rsby confirmed that mostly apartment dwellers live <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">near this stop. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another afternoon, we tried a station<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in ano<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t</span></span></span></span>her northeast Bronx <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with lots of homes in the </span>neighborh<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ood<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The reaction was similar. Well, we tried...</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We contact<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed</span> Bronx h<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ospitals and colleges to ask if we can table outside their staff cafeterias or <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in building lobbies. I'm waiting for NYSERDA to approv<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e my proposal to offer houses of worship and community groups referral fees of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">$50 </span>for each of their leads that signs up for an energy assessment by a given date. That might get some traction.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">contract is up at the end of Jun<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span> Matt and Danny <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">can sta<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y busy for the rest of 2016<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> expediting </span></span>retrofit projects <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">already in the pipeline </span>at a low-rise condominium community, and do as many of these challenging community outreach events as they can cope with<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I've pointed them to the <a href="https://fiveoclockclub.com/">job search gurus at the Five O'</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://fiveoclockclub.com/">Clock Club</a> and encouraged them<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to fix up their resumes and LinkedIn profiles and keep looking.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My situation is different. </span>A<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fter</span> many years of full-time employment, at Long Island City Partnership, then Manhattan Community Board 6, I am much less interested in permanent employment<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> or conventional options<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> than I was before</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- In April I joined about sixty oth<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">er readers of <a href="http://www.peakprosperity.com/">futurist Chris Martenson</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> at a retreat in western Massachusetts. As C<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hris writes, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">trends of accelerating environmental degra<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">dation, eco<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nomic volatility and depletion of fossil fuel resources means that the next twenty years are going to be unlike the last twenty. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are opportunities for better quality of life through <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">building community<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">while localizing production of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">renewable energy<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <a href="http://www.peakprosperity.com/discussion/98723/notes-rowe-2016-and-whats-next"> I took extensive notes on the weekend, which <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I shared with PeakProsperity readers here.</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.peakprosperity.com/discussion/98723/notes-rowe-2016-and-whats-next"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I completed the </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Building Performance Institute's </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Building Anal<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">yst course at the Green Jobs Training Center in Howard Beach, Queens. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's an intro to building scien<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ce, and the basics of conducting home energy audits u<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sing the blower door test. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later this summer, I'll ask a few of the </span>home performance contractors I know if <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can volunteer with them a few times to get more practice<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- A<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lbert Bates, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">director of the <a href="http://www.thefarm.org/the-ecovillage-training-center/">Ecovillage Training Center</a> in Tennessee<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">has kindly <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">invited me to stop by for a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> visit</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I've know<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n him for many years through very specialized <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">conferences, not unlike the Martenson workshop I mentioned. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After all this office work, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">helping out on the farm for a few days w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ill</span> be </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">very therapeutic. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=132625530077482153" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=132625530077482153" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=132625530077482153" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><i>The Ecovillage Training Center is a living laboratory with a mandate
to contribute to a more sustainable planet. We offer a unique
environment for folks who are just beginning to learn and think about
implementing more sustainable practices and others who have dedicated
their lives to topics around permaculture. We believe being transparent
about what has worked and what has not is the best possible way to train
farmers and citizens for the future. We learn, practice, teach, and
share what we know about how to make the world a better place.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Ecovillage Training Center began in 1994 as an effort to break
new ground in education by teaching people the skills necessary in the
21st Century. Over the past 20 years we have evolved into a center where
students can learn from the mistakes and the successes of others.
Appropriate technologies and permaculture consciousness are infused
throughout the buildings, organic garden, water systems, and the 4000
acres of protected woods and meadows of the greater Farm Community. It
is not enough to understand the challenges; what is needed are viable
strategies and, more importantly, the capacity to think, improvise, and
create. Those skills do not come out of a book or DVD. They come from
hard won experience, trial and error, and the chance to make
mistakes, regroup, and try again. This is one way to truly experience
what it means to live more sustainably.</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />As an <a href="http://peaksurfer.blogspot.com/">author, master permaculture teacher and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">climat</span>e change pundit</a>, Albert is al<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so an advocate for biochar as<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> part of a suite of regenerative agriculture practices. Biochar is<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">made by heating biomass like <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wood chips<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> or corn husks to several hundred degrees in the absence of oxygen, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">so it <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">oes<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n't catch fire. The resulting charcoal can be composted, to infuse it with healthy bacteria <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and fungi, and added to farmland to improve water retention and soil health - while permanently and inexpensively storing carbon dioxide. I expect to visit him sometime in Jul<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">get his input on <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">what</span> NYC could<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> do with</span> biochar. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carbonize</span> some of our sewage sludge <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">perhaps? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through my Bronx outreach I met with an energy ser<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">vice<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s company that has a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.dabxdemandsidesolutions.com/nifty-tech.html">fairly unique technology to reduce</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dabxdemandsidesolutions.com/nifty-tech.html"> electrical system</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dabxdemandsidesolutions.com/nifty-tech.html"> waste</a> in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">large buildings by 10-<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2</span>0%<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I'm calling it the magi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">c energy widget, but it's no joke. I </span>will try doing commercial sales<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And see what happen<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s next. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In honor of</span></span> the summer solstice, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/the-faces-of-the-2016-coney-island-mermaid-parade-8767295/20">here are some pictures</a> of the Coney Island</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Mermaid Parade...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/newyork/images/4/42/Mermaid-parade-5.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120329215737" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="irc_mi iej_oexYRKS4-pQOPx8XEepE" height="213" src="https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/newyork/images/4/42/Mermaid-parade-5.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120329215737" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , 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, "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-48008889955616633972015-10-01T14:02:00.002-07:002015-10-01T15:12:59.379-07:00Sustainability options for NYC communities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqmt9ZepniRL3S6NLsRWQ8Y2jMDkFPBq9VFcVuI2FSjdms25RYjNgFloWMp3fdbqBnnpzjEv65APo-uHR-KbAbMnRFBGjowgE-QdAtrETpQ5rfFkZ6hNLooW53D5cxZrVvKoUuoyXYgBU/s1600/BdB_SolarPanels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqmt9ZepniRL3S6NLsRWQ8Y2jMDkFPBq9VFcVuI2FSjdms25RYjNgFloWMp3fdbqBnnpzjEv65APo-uHR-KbAbMnRFBGjowgE-QdAtrETpQ5rfFkZ6hNLooW53D5cxZrVvKoUuoyXYgBU/s320/BdB_SolarPanels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Based on a presentation at "Climate Crisis and Community: Mobilizing for a Safe Future," a 350 NYC teach-in, September, 2015. </span></i><br />
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moving NYC toward renewable power will require massive tangible changes that present organizing opportunities, and will help build the climate movement locally. Even though both activists and some within government and policy circles understand the need for urgent climate action, most are at best distantly aware of the issue. Some will buy into </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://350.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0f08f7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">350.org's</span></a></span></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> ‘turn off fossil fuel, turn on renewable power’ message fully. Some will at least be willing to take practical actions and get involved with existing programs that move NYC toward resilience and renewables gradually. Green programs can be promoted in terms with broader public appeal: quality of life or financial benefit. So u</span></span>se different messages for different audiences. </span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #605e5e; font-family: din-next-w01-light, din-next-w02-light, din-next-w10-light, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NYC government climate response is evolving. Starting with 30% carbon reduction goals by 2030, set out in early PlaNYC reports, and adding a resilience focus after Hurricane Sandy, the de Blasio Administration’s One NYC plan adds the goals of addressing equity to the new carbon emissions goal of 80% reductions cuts by 2050. They will be figuring out the details of how to do this for some time, and have probably not thought out how neighborhood organizing and climate advocates can help them achieve difficult but essential City goals.<br /><br /><b>Leveraging local connections</b><br /><br />Neighborhood groups can be valuable partners to </span></span>resilience / sustainability programs that offer tangible quality of life or financial benefits by <span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">referring their local contacts. When Con Edison representatives contacted Long Island City businesses about free energy surveys and discounted energy upgrades directly, 27% of those who got the free survey wound up purchasing recommended upgrades. When LIC Partnership, a local business group, referred its contacts to Con Ed, the percentage that bought the recommended upgrades went up to 45%. Many groups can do this, but few have the motivation to push for green programs. Some energy conservation and renewable power contractors offer referral fees to community groups, based on a percentage of new project income resulting from clients referred by the community group. For marketing materials and sample referral contracts, see </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #1405ee; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.beyondoilnyc.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.beyondoilnyc.org</a>.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><b>Lessons from the Transition movement and WEACT</b><br /><br /><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Transition movement is a community level response to climate change, resource depletion and economic instability that encourages grassroots driven community planning to increase local resilience and start local projects. Its success in the UK is likely due to cultural characteristics. Folks in big US cities don't have the same habits of group participation, and are too busy for long open-ended planning discussions. Despite extensive outreach, a Transition-inspired resilience festival in the Rockaways didn't catch on. See </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.transitionus.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0a20f7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.transitionus.org/</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> and </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0d1afa; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.transitionnyc.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.transitionnyc.org/</a><br /><br />However, if a major community group puts all its weight behind a climate response project, and pours in massive resources, the results can be very different. </span></span></span>WEACT, a community environmental group active in Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods for three decades, created a climate action plan for northern Manhattan based on four principles: energy democracy, emergency preparedness, social hubs and participatory governance. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.weact.org/nmca-report">Check it out here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>Where to start in your neighborhood? Perhaps by finding some neighbors and local advocates to focus on one or more targeted interventions, from which other relationships and collaborations may arise. Here are a few.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Cut energy use</b></span><br /><br />NY State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has an overwhelmingly </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #3305f8; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">large number of programs</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. Narrow it down to their </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Home-Energy-Efficiency-Upgrades" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #081ef5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Home Energy Efficiency Programs</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. Options will vary for each project, but you don’t have to sort it out. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Contractors/Find-a-Contractor/EDGE" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0d1af7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact your NYSERDA representative</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, who will determine exactly what programs and incentives can apply. <br /><br />NYSERDA contractors will perform free home energy assessments, and provide reports of recommended improvements, such as added insulation and energy efficient lighting to high-efficiency heating systems and Energy Star certified appliances. The report will include upgrade costs, energy savings, incentives, and time until the energy savings will pay for its cost of installation. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://nyserda.energysavvy.com/start-your-project/hpwes/?s=contact" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2108f3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Click here to start the process</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.<br /><br />Manhattan: Samuel Man, 212-505-6050, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:samuel@solar1.org?subject=NYSERDA%20Inquiry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0a0df7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">samuel@solar1.org</span></a></span><br /><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brooklyn / Queens: Simon Mugo, 718-637-8652, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:smugo@prattcenter.net?subject=NYSERDA%20inquiry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2d0bf0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">smugo@prattcenter.net</span></a></span><br /><br /><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Con Edison also offers </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.coned.com/energyefficiency/%C2%A0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0828f3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">energy saving programs for residents, small business, multi-family and commercial buildings</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. Small businesses can qualify for up to 70% off the cost of recommended lighting upgrades. Ask your NYSERDA rep whether the Con Ed or NYSERDA programs are a better value for your situation. Of course you can contact both.<br /><br />Contact your building management agent or coop board members. Ask them what if any energy upgrades have already been done, and encourage them to contact your NYSERDA rep to discuss the costs and savings of other measures. </span></span></div>
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<span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Big buildings with high energy use may benefit from </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Combined-Heat-and-Power-Acceleration-Program" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0525f1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">combined heat and power systems</span></a></span></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, in which both electricity and steam heat are generated on site from a natural gas fired generator. CHP offers big increases in energy efficiency, and can maintain some power if the grid goes down.<br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Install solar energy</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rooftop solar technology allows homeowners and multi-family buildings to generate part of their own electric supply. According to </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.solar1.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0f08f7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Solar One</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, the price of solar has decreased over 60% since 2011. Incentives and tax benefits cover up to 75% of system costs<br /><br />- NY-Sun incentive: $0.70 / watt, so a 4,000 watt (4 kW) PV system would receive a $2,800 rebate.<br />- NYS Residential Solar Tax Credit: 25% of post-rebate system costs or $5,000, whichever is less<br />- Federal Residential Solar Investment Tax Credit: 30% of post-rebate system costs<br />- NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement: 20% of post-rebate system costs<br /><br />A 4 kW PV system with an installed cost of $24,000, minus the NYSERDA rebate and the Federal, State and City tax incentives, only costs $5,400. Innovative financing options mean that most homeowners can go solar with zero money down and monthly payments that are the same as or cheaper than your current electricity bills.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://herecomessolar.nyc/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #070af7; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here Comes Solar</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a program that supports solar advocates within co-ops and condos. It helps them recruit and organize fellow residents; provides building-specific analysis on costs, benefits and performance; obtain proposals from multiple certified and vetted solar contractors at the same time; help building reps review and compare proposals; and supports building reps for each stage of the installation process. Contact Angelica Ramdhari at <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:angelica@solar1.org">angelica@solar1.org</a></span>. <br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Recycling and composting</b></span><br /><br />What other interventions could you explore? Our food and agriculture system uses incredible amounts of energy in transportation and processing. For the big picture, look at the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://council.nyc.gov/downloads/pdf/foodworks_fullreport_11_22_10.pdf" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0638f0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foodworks Report</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. A report is expected soon from the NY State Food Hubs Task Force on increasing consumption of food grown in the state. Simple choices include supporting farmers markets. Lots of groups in NYC promote urban agriculture. Rooftop gardens are a trendy concept, but right now there are very few of them. What's an easy place to start? If your neighborhood has lots of backyard space, consider encouraging neighbors to start gardening.<br /><br />About a third of all waste generated by NYC residents is organic waste including yard waste, food scraps, and compostable paper. Since the City has to pay landfills to accept our waste, and to ship it long distances, composting saves us money. By storing food waste in special rodent-resistant bins, it can make sidewalk trash less of a food source for rats. The City is picking up organic compostable wastes from houses and small buildings in a growing number of neighborhoods. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dsny/contact/programs/apartment-programs-inquiry.page" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2c0af3; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you live in a building with over 10 apartments, you can request bins for clothing donations and electronics recycling, and organic waste collection</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. <br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Emergency preparedness</b></span><br /><br />NYC Office of Emergency Management offers the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/community_business/nyc-cert.page" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0f12fd; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, which raises awareness about emergencies and disasters and provides basic response skills needed for fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and traffic control. The three hour interactive class meets one night a week for ten consecutive weeks, with discussions, exercises and group building activities based on the Incident Command System. NYC CERT instructors are active FDNY, NYPD, and NYC Emergency Management personnel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Organize an event in your neighborhood</b></span><br /><br />How do you find collaborators, and test which projects appeal to your neighbors? Consider organizing a community forum co-sponsored by climate activists, elected officials, City sustainability programs, and civic groups. A very successful forum like this took place in July 2015 in Park Slope and can be easily replicated, with local variations, in your neighborhood.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />For more information, contact Dan Miner at </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:beyondoilnyc@gmail.com" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #0d1afc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">beyondoilnyc@gmail.com</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, or visit </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.beyondoilnyc.org/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #1c0dee; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.beyondoilnyc.org</span></a></span><span class="color_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-27973545115904728192015-03-10T18:46:00.000-07:002015-03-10T19:03:54.092-07:00Spring - and a look back at projects of 2013-14<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been a long time since my last entry in this blog - nearly a year - but the return of spring seems a good time to refresh it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For many years, I've had parallel lives. A conventional day job that pays the bills, and a string of volunteer sustainability projects. The latter is chronicled here. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a look back at my green projects in 2013 and 2014.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />In 2013 I wrote a series of blog posts. They summarized my research into sustainable project areas that I might have been able to transition into from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long Island City Partnership. Not that it worked out that way. </span></span><br />
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">People are more likely to sign up for a program after being contacted by
a community group they know than by the program’s outreach staff, who they
don’t know. W</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">e proved
this at LICP with our successful promotion of an energy efficiency program to
western Queens businesses. We were
motivated because of our environmental agenda.
Many other nonprofits could do the same – but would find money a better
motivation. What sustainability programs
could offer enough income to get community groups to promote them? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Community groups can promote solar for income<i>.
</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last year, Beyond Oil NYC has explored how
community groups could earn income from sustainability initiatives. There’s
probably no easy money in either compost or urban agriculture.
Good news: <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/04/community-groups-can-promote-solar-for.html">CBOs can earn money from promoting solar energy systems right now </a>–
and start conversations on sustainability and resilience. It's easy and we'll
show you how, on request.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Can <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/04/can-compost-replace-girl-scout-cookies.html">NYC community organizations earn income from neighborhood scale food waste collection andcomposting</a>? Can industrial tricycles make a difference? Could bags of
compost with the name of your block association or church ever be used for
fundraising - like Girl Scout cookies? </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">In 2013, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">this blog has explored how community-based nonprofits could
earn income from promoting sustainability. In <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/04/engaging-nyc-community-groups-to.html">fall 2012 we published a reportlooking into potential projects in composting, urban agriculture, energyefficiency retrofits and solar power</a>.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Here's
a summary, starting with lessons from white roof painting.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
</h3>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Green building expert and Mayoral task force member
<a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/beyond-green-building-alex-wilson-on.html">Alex Wilson explains that energy efficiency isn’t enough</a>. Here’s how to make NYC buildings more
resilient, to prepare for future extreme weather events and other disruptions.</span></strong></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Seeking <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/food-bank-grows-vegetables-at-nearby.html">urban agriculture business opportunities for community groups with limited budgets</a>. If your group has lots
of cash, you can build costly rooftop greenhouses for very profitable
year-round production. Can’t afford that? Maybe your group would be satisfied with
starting more gardens, boosting local environmental literacy and food security.
Combining two innovations could dramatically increase the amount of gardening
space in your community, at minimal cost.</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Promoting urban agriculture
in NYC.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">While there are 3,000 acres of
flat roof space suitable for farming, <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/opportunities-for-urban-food-production.html">it’s easier to start with vacant lots.</a>
Here’s how to engage community-based nonprofits as local organizers: </span><strong style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">movable farming projects on vacant lots. </span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Food Bank for Westchester has set up
vegetable gardens on the lawns of nearby nonprofits. <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/01/food-bank-grows-vegetables-at-nearby.html">How can we adapt theirmodel for NYC nonprofits to encourage gardening on vacant lots?</a> Starting with
green marketing narratives grounded in real community improvements, the goal is
identifying micro-business opportunities. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June 2013 I accepted an offer to work as </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">District Manager at Manhattan Community Board Six, and left LICP. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Queens Gazette <a href="http://www.qgazette.com/news/2013-09-18/Features/Dan_Miner.html">ran a very positive interview with me</a>, in which I pitched my green projects, and a series of sustainability film screenings I hosted at Coffeed Cafe from fall 2013 to spring 2014. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Screenings would start with one of these fine short videos:</span><br />
<div style="background: white;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="line-height: 11.4pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v-w8Cyfoq8" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.4pt;">"ClimateChange 101</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.4pt;">" from Climate Reality Project</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-J91SwP8w" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.4pt;">"300Years of Fossil Fuels in 300 Seconds"</a>, <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.4pt;">Post Carbon Institute. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uKgU7krWzE" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Don't worry, driveon: fossil fools and fracking lies</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">," PCI</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqDS9wGsxQ" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Who Killed EconomicGrowth?</a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">," PCI</span> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Besides the screenings, I also pitched my proposal for community groups to refer their constituents and neighbors for energy conservation and solar energy projects. Why would they bother? The financial motivation of referral fees from contractors for a small percentage of any jobs that were installed. It had worked in LIC, and the community solar models being touted by the big solar institutions seemed suspiciously optimistic on why community groups would go out of their way to promote solar with nothing in it for them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I wrote an article <a href="http://beyondoilnyc.blogspot.com/2013/11/rob-hopkinsintroduces-new-yorkers-to.html">about Transition founder Rob Hopkin's NYC presentation</a>, and the UK movement's focus on local economic development.<br /> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The
Transition movement is a unique organizing method that catalyzes community
level responses to climate change. Co-founded by Rob Hopkins in England
in 2005, there are now over 1,400 Transition initiatives in 44 countries.
They all support a transition to clean renewable energy, which is often blocked
at national and international levels by politics, the domination of big over
small businesses, and the myth that endless economic growth is possible on a
finite planet. As Hopkins explained to a small NYC audience, Transition
is increasingly focused on local economic development. A series of
reports on the financial benefits from localizing food production, energy
conservation and renewable energy capacity, and case studies of entrepreneurial
ventures in these sectors, outline building blocks of a new green economy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carried along by the rare burst of enviro fervor that accompanies Earth Day, in 2014 I did three enviro events in a row: </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a s<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">creening
of "Do the Math" at North Presbyterian Church in Flushing, Queens</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">was a p</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">anelist
at <a href="http://worldpeaceearthday2014.weebly.com/">World Peace Earth Day</a> Celebration, 230 West 29th Street, NYC</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and was a p</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">anelist again at
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlocksforBlocks">Coalition for Block and Community Leaders</a> annual symposium on the UWS. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In spring 2014 I attended </span><a href="http://www.4qf.org/ageoflimits/108-event-pages/age-of-limits-event/287-age-of-limits-presenters-2014" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Age of Limits</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, a tiny conference in rural Maryland. A big perk was lots of personal time with the presenters - John Michael Greer, Albert Bates, Dmitri Orlov, Gail Tverberg, climate scientist Mark Cochrane, Peter Kilde of Community Action Partnership. It was everyone's collective honor to have as keynote speaker Dennis Meadows, the lead author of the original Age of Limits report from the 1970s. That report was one of computer analyses of population, environmental and natural resource trends. It concluded that either the world slows growth in the 70s and 80s to attain a sustainable plateau of resource use, or if growth continued, would push us over the cliff followed by sharp declines in human population and resource use in the 21st century. He said recent data was right on track with the original report. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The conference was rare for him in that everyone listening was already thoroughly familiar with this discussion. </span><a href="http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-06-03/a-gathering-of-silverbacks-age-of-limits-2014" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Albert Bates wrote a great article</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> about it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Radio podcast host KMO </span><a href="http://c-realm.com/podcasts/crealm/349-message-discipline/" style="font-size: x-large;">interviewed me.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>KMO
welcomes Dan Miner of Beyond Oil NYC to the C-Realm to talk about talking about
Peak Oil, Climate Change and other big picture, existential issues with busy
New Yorkers. A messenger who presents the situation in its full gravity to
people caught up in the collective trance will seem like a lunatic, but how
much sugar-coating is too much? Does it make sense to humor people’s
expectations that renewable sources of energy will power the lifestyle that citizens
in the heart of empire have come to regard as normal? Are minor gains that pale
in comparison to the scale of industrial civilization’s dilemma worth the
effort? The conversation turns to “Preppers” and the way that they are
portrayed as clueless and damaged social rejects in the corporate media…"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June 2014 I was on a peak oil panel at Left Forum. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Ejg8zd8pI">Here's the video</a>. My 20 minute presentation starts at 39.30. They asked me back again so I guess someone liked it. (BTW, h</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ere's </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llUWHQ7-Aok" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a short video of me speaking</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> about climate change and fuel depletion for five minutes to a small group in Tompkins Square in Dec. 2012.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the film series didn't start off any sparks and the solar referral pitch didn't have any takers... so at that point I was out of gas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around that time my longtime colleague John Bell, organizer of Transition in Westchester, said that he would introduce me to the new northeast regional organizer for Transition, Pamela Boyce Simms. Like him, I quickly signed up as a volunteer for the Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub, and a new chapter began.</span></span><br />
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Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-18048268337389702672014-05-07T17:28:00.000-07:002014-05-07T17:28:13.983-07:00<div style="background-image: none; border: none; box-shadow: none; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
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" /></span><span style="color: #555555; font-weight: 700;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Free Screening of Documentary<br /><i>The Next American Revolution </i><br />Monday, May 19, 7 PM <br />Coffeed Cafe in Long Island City, Queens </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Resilience NYC Meetup is hosting a free screening of the documentary<i> The Next American Revolution</i> on Monday, May 19, 7 PM, at Coffeed Cafe. Located at 37-18 Northern Blvd., LIC, NY 11101, near the 36th St. stop on R & M trains, Coffeed is just a few minutes from midtown Manhattan, downstairs from Brooklyn Grange. No charge to attend. Free homemade pastries and coffee provided. It will be followed by facilitated discussion about themes in the film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's clear that the American economic and political system is in crisis: from wage stagnation and chronic unemployment to unchecked corporate and state power and growing inequality. Here's one of the few analyses that offer practical, politically viable solutions to these problems. The documentary "The Next American Revolution," featuring historian and political economist Gar Alperovitz, points to efforts already under way in thousands of communities across the U.S., from co-ops and community land trusts to municipal, state, and federal initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and sustainability. (47 minutes)<br /><br /><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYUNa2LqSm4wZCnkXvWxF524xOsAim73NTIdya7g0QzmXCL-6W" /><br /><br />Alperovitz marshals years of research to show how bottom-up strategies can work to check monopolistic corporate power, democratize wealth, and empower communities. The film is based on his book, "What Then Must We Do?" Alperovitz has served as a legislative director in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and as a special assistant in the Department of State. See more at: <a href="http://www.garalperovitz.com/" style="color: #3987cb; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">http://www.garalperovitz.com/</a><br /><br />‟Alperovitz imagines a new way of living together, and then brings that vision back into reality with a set of eminently practical ideas that promise a truly democratic society.”<br />—the late Howard Zinn, Boston University<br /><br /><b style="font-weight: 700;">Next month: <i>In Transition 2.0</i>, June 9</b><br /><br />This is part of a unique series of monthly free events taking place this winter and spring at Coffeed. Films about our interwoven challenges are followed by facilitated discussion. The last event of the season at Coffeed will be Monday, June 9, with <i>In Transition 2.0</i>. The Transition Movement aims to build community resilience in the face of peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/transition-2" style="color: #3987cb; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">http://www.transitionnetwork.org/transition-2</a><br /><br />Contact beyondoilnyc@yahoo.com to host a screening of climate change doc <i>Do the Math</i> in your neighborhood. We'll bring organizers from 350.org. Visit <a href="http://www.meetup.com/resiliencenyc," style="color: #3987cb; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">www.meetup.com/resiliencenyc,</a> and <a href="http://www.beyondoilnyc.org./" style="color: #3987cb; cursor: pointer; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">www.beyondoilnyc.org.</a> </span></div>
Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132625530077482153.post-57364775132418482772014-04-08T19:10:00.001-07:002014-04-08T19:10:16.643-07:00"Passive House Revolution" comes to Long Island City on Mon. April 14<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.6pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="aqj"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On Monday, April 14, 7 - 9 PM,</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Resilience NYC Meetup will host a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">free screening of the documentary "<a href="http://passivehouserevolution.org/">Passive House Revolution</a>," its NYC premiere. It's produced by Community Solutions, the same folks who put out "<a href="http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php">The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil</a>." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one of a series of monthly free film screening events I've been organizing this winter and spring at </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.coffeednyc.com/">Coffeed Cafe</a> on the second Monday of the month at 7 PM. Coffeed, at </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">37-18 Northern Blvd., LIC, NY 11101, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">downstairs from the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm, is providing free coffee and home-baked pastries for the events.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />"Passive House" is a new standard of energy conservation in buildings. It's been spreading around Europe for the last twenty years, based on the low tech building energy studies pioneered in the 1970s. You could say that Passive House has returned to the country of its origin, and just in time. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Buildings use nearly 50% of all energy used in North America today.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> The</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Passive House set of practices for building and retrofitting structures use 80% less heating and cooling energy than average, much less than those from LEED-certified buildings, the green building standard common in the US.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Maybe you've never heard of Passive House, but you've probably heard of the LEED standard. While many serious people doubt whether LEED is actually much good at all, it can't deliver the energy saving results we need. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Climate scientists say we need to reduce our </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CO</span><sub style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">2</span></sub><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> emissions by 80% as quickly as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Lester Brown, founder and president first of Worldwatch Institute, then of Earth Policy Institute, said way back in 2008 that we need to <a href="http://www.earth-policy.org/press_room/C68/80by2020">cut emissions 80% - by 2020</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">We cannot afford to let the planet get much hotter. At today’s already elevated temperatures, the massive Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets—which together contain enough water to raise sea level by 12 meters (39 feet)—are melting at accelerating rates. Glaciers around the world are shrinking and at risk of disappearing, including those in the mountains of Asia whose ice melt feeds the continent’s major rivers during the dry season. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">Delaying action will only lead to greater damage. It’s time for Plan B. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">The alternative to business as usual, Plan B calls for cutting net carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2020. This will allow us to prevent the concentration of CO</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">in the atmosphere, already at 384 parts per million (ppm), from exceeding 400 ppm, thus keeping future global temperature rise to a minimum. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">Cutting CO</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'sans serif';">emissions 80 percent by 2020 will take a worldwide mobilization at wartime speed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">PlaNYC, the City's long term sustainability plan, projects reducing carbon emissions at least </span><a href="http://nytelecom.vo.llnwd.net/o15/agencies/planyc2030/pdf/planyc_2011_climate_change.pdf" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">30% below 2005 levels by 2030</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. It cites the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change for the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 60-80% below 1990 levels by 2050 to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. (P. 155) </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Given the most recent IPCC report - which has been called overly conservative despite being fairly alarmist - the City's timeline needs to be accelerated. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I'll be looking for other more current recommendations - but back to Passive House. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Promoting its widespread use </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">will be an important part of our response to
climate change.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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Following the screening, we'll hear from architect Tom Paino, who renovated his Long
Island City row house to become the first Passive House in Queens. As the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/passive-house-architect-rebuffs-critics-article-1.1710746">NY Daily News</a> and<a href="http://queens.brownstoner.com/2014/03/architect-responds-to-critics-of-his-tile-facade/"> Queens Brownstoner</a> noted, some Queens residents found the dramatic black, grey and white tile
facade to be unattractive. However, the
project was hailed in an extensive and positive review by <a href="http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/brief.do?mitssId=9932">US Dept. of HomelandSecurity</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As usual we'll facilitate discussion we can about how to make our neighborhoods more sustainable and more resilient, and hand out our resource guide with links to existing NYC programs. </span></span></div>
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Dan Minerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06007749533419038962noreply@blogger.com0