Green Goodness: a Grounded Look at Being Green

From my inbox to you:

Swap-O-Rama Rama! at the CCB Plaza, July 18, 6 - 9pm  Featuring The Scrap Exchange, the Scene of the Crime Rovers, and the Triangle Sound Painting OrchestraThe Scrap Exchange will produce an outdoor Swap-O-Rama Rama including a giant clothing swap and DIY stations for altering clothes. We will also provide a hands-on Make-N-Take with materials for participants to make birthday hats. FREE EVENT

Happy swapping ~ Ashley Sue

From my inbox to you: 

Crucial Hearings - Climate Protection or New Power Plants

New industry data prove new coal and nuclear plants are not needed!

Speak out for climate protection.

Duke Energy, Progress Energy and their political allies want to gamble tens of billions of public dollars to build (lucrative) coal and nuclear power plants. That path is already squandering our chances to avert climate catastrophe. Continuing disclosures prove that energy efficiency, cogeneration and renewable power can meet our growing population needs while cutting greenhouse gases and power bills.

The NC Utilities Commission will address the power companies’ forecasts for supply and demand – new power plants vs. clean, efficient energy:

June 30, 7pm, Public Testimony July 1, 9:30 am, Legal Hearing

NC Utilities Commission – Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC

Clean energy advocates and experts have won these debates before, but without public and media scrutiny, the politically appointed Commissioners usually rule for the power companies. It’s very important that you attend, give public testimony, and if able, show the commissioners the public is watching THEM, as our experts make winning arguments. If you can make the daytime legal hearing, please do! You will find it interesting.

If these new coal and nuclear-fired dinosaurs had to compete in open markets, they’d never be built. They’re alive due to regulated (protected) utility status and rates in the Southeast, billions in federal subsidies – and because in 2007 North Carolina’s legislators shifted the immense risks of new plants, including prepayment, onto customers.

Plants planned by Duke and Progress in the Carolinas have tripled in estimated cost while still on the drawing board – now around $35 billion. This could cost the average family over $12,000 in higher bills in just the first 10 years - less than half that amount could make every home energy efficient, add solar hot water, and rapidly reduce greenhouse gases.

? New industry data confirms a large surplus of regional electric capacity.

Data from the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council shows that Duke, Progress and other regional utilities plan to overbuild by more than 60 large power plants so they can increase sales to other regions with higher electricity rates. See more at the top of www.ncwarn.org <http://www.ncwarn.org/>

? Duke Energy’s own study shows Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.

A newly exposed 2007 study commissioned by Duke Energy proves the company could reduce nearly one-fifth of its electricity demand through cost-effective efficiency programs over 18 years. Progress Energy could achieve similar savings. But despite Duke CEO Rogers’ much-hyped “Save-a-watt” proposal, Duke’s filings project less than 2% energy savings over 20 years.

? Energy experts confirm that Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.

Duke University economist John Blackburn further dispels the need for Duke and Progress Energy to gamble tens of billions of public dollars on new coal and nuclear plants. He shows that with only 10% energy efficiency, along with minimal renewable energy and cogeneration (a huge resource that remains untapped due to utility obstruction), Duke can avoid building risky new plants.

? The NC legislature’s study shows Cliffside, new nukes aren’t needed.

A 2007 state-commissioned study found that across NC, 14% in energy-saving is achievable, even without including key technologies such as solar water heating.

? So why haven’t Cliffside and new nukes already been cancelled?

Because our democracy is wounded – with most elected officials and news media deferring to the power companies and accepting their money instead of scrutinizing their actions. Because our perverse rate system rewards Duke and Progress for building the most expensive power plants. Because those corporations impede energy efficiency and renewables even while spending millions of customer dollars painting themselves “green.”

Both Duke and Progress operate programs that encourage customers to waste energy. In March, the Commission forced them to stop expanding one such program – but allowed 160,000 customers to keep using it.

Efficiency and conservation are urgently needed for reduction of greenhouse gases. The world’s top scientists warn that current weather extremes and wildfires will keep increasing, and that global warming is very close to irreversible, catastrophic tipping points.

The Commission, elected officials and news media must require the power companies to fully explain why they should be allowed to spend public money on high-risk, dangerous new plants that are not needed – while stifling efforts for widespread efficiency and renewables.

“Sinking tens of billions of dollars into new nuclear power plants and large coal plants will significantly limit the expenditures on other sources of energy … a series of reasonable adjustments to the demand forecasts can postpone or eliminate the need for new and expensive generating plants.”

-Dr. John Blackburn, former chair of economics at Duke University and renewable energy expert.

Read his pre-filed testimony for NC WARN: http://ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/cgi-bin/webview/senddoc.pgm?dispfmt= <http://ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/cgi-bin/webview/senddoc.pgm?dispfmt=&itype=Q&authorization=&parm2=GBAAAA55180B&parm3=000127213> &itype=Q&authorization=&parm2=GBAAAA55180B&parm3=000127213

Please also send written comments: NC Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4325 or email Chairman Edward Finley: <mailto:finley@ncuc.net> finley@ncuc.net Re: Docket number E-100, Sub 114

Candidates, public officials and news media need to hear from you. Most have ignored arguments for statewide clean energy – including the urgency of climate change.

June 2008

NC WARN
N.C. Waste Awareness & Reduction Network
P.O. Box 61051
Durham, NC 27715-1051
919-416-5077
email: ncwarn@ncwarn.org

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

From my inbox (thanks to WakeUp Wake County) to you, a recap on last week’s Triangle Transit forum:

TRANSIT FORUM HUGE SUCCESS!

The June 26 forum Transit: Is Wake County Ready for it? attracted almost 300 attendees, and the enthusiasm in the room was palpable!   Transit is an issue clearly gaining public support, and this event hopefully ignited the spark needed to bring a bold transit plan to our county and region.

Keynote speaker Carol Coletta CEOs for Cities, commented that our region has many assets that make a great city, minus one important component - transit. We risk losing what is great about our home if we fail to plan for future growth.  Transit and coordinated land use planning must be a priority for our community.

Other speakers talked about Charlotte’s success story, and the new proposal for regional transit recommended by the Special Transit Advisory Commission. Elected officials from across Wake County attended the event, as did representatives of community organizations, business leaders and local government staff. Forum panelists were engaging and explained what opportunities transit can provide for economic development and a better quality of life. To view tv press coverage, go to www.wakeupwakecounty.com.  WakeUP plans to work with community leaders and organizations to build public education and support for transit in Wake County and the Triangle.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS of the Forum:
Capital Group Sierra Club, Raleigh Wake Citizens Assoc., NC Conservation Network, Downtown Housing Improvement Inc, Society of Women Environmental Professionals, WTS-NC Triangle Chapter. 

I wish I had been there to round out that 300…

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

From my inbox to you:

Transit:  Is Wake County ready for it?
A community forum on transit

Thursday, June 26, 2008
7 pm – 9:30 pm
NCSU McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC

Community Partner Host Groups:
Downtown Housing Improvement Corp., North Carolina Conservation Network, Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, Sierra Club Capital Group, Society for Women Environmental Professionals, WakeUP Wake County, WTS NC Triangle Chapter

Forum Sponsors:
Community Leaders: City of Raleigh, Dean Debnam, Falcon Engineering, Triangle Community Foundation

Community Builders: Capitol Broadcasting Company, Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association, Carolina Cottage Company, Cherokee, NC Go!, PBS&J, Stewart Engineering

Community Supporters: Community United Church of Christ – Justice in a Changing Climate, Greg and Anita Sawhney Flynn, Anne S. Franklin, Kimley-Horn & Associates, The Louis Berger Group, Inc., North Carolina League of Municipalities, Stan Norwalk, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Mack Paul, Ralph Urban Development I, LLC, Josh and Anna Stein, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh Social Action Committee, Carter Worthy, York Properties

We also would like to extend a special thanks to RTN and WRAL for taping and airing the forum.
 
Forum Agenda

Welcome and Overview     7 -7:10 pm
Karen Rindge, Chair, WakeUP Wake County
Joe Bryan, Chair, Wake Board of Commissioners

Keynote Address    7:10 – 7: 45 pm
“By Choice or by chance:  How can transit help us plan for a future of growth?”
Carol Coletta, CEO, CEO’s for Cities
Q&A: 7:45 – 8:00 pm

The Charlotte Transit Story    8:00 – 8:15 pm
Keith Parker, CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System
Introduction by Jonathan Parker, Sierra Club Capital Group
Q&A: 8:15 – 8:25 pm

SHORT BREAK  8:25 – 8:30 pm

Panel Discussion on Local Perspectives on Transit    8:30 – 9:25 pm
Community leaders respond with their perspective to questions related to the future of transit in the Triangle.

Moderator and introductory remarks:
Nina Szlosberg, board member, NCDOT, and NC 21st Century Transportation Commission

STAC overview:
John Hodges-Copple, Triangle J Council of Governments

Panel Participants:
Mary Ann Baldwin, Raleigh City Council
Matt Christensen, Division Vice President, KB Home
Courtney Crowder, SE Raleigh Assembly
Sig Hutchinson, Board Chair, Triangle Transit
Smedes York, Co-chair, Special Transit Advisory Commission
Kirsten Weeks, Cisco Systems

Closing Remarks    9:25 – 9:30 pm

Presenter Biographies
Carol Coletta is president and CEO of CEOs for Cities and host and producer of the nationally syndicated public radio show Smart City. Before moving to Chicago to head CEOs for Cities, she served as president of Coletta & Company in Memphis. In addition, she served as executive director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Architectural Foundation. Carol is a passionate advocate for cities, and she has devoted her life to answering the question: What makes cities succeed?

Keith Parker is the Director of Public Transit for the City of Charlotte and the Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). As one of the fastest growing transit systems in the country, CATS provides bus, paratransit, and light rail service to Charlotte area residents and visitors. Mr. Parker’s prior positions include Assistant City Manager for the City of Charlotte, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of CATS, Chief Executive Officer for the Clark County Transit Authority in Vancouver, Washington, and Assistant General Manager for the Greater Richmond Transit Company in Richmond, Virginia. In 2004, Keith was recognized as a “40 Under 40” award winner by the Charlotte Business Journal as one of the region’s most promising young leaders.
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I very much wish I were going, but instead I’ll be in Chapel Hill at the MyNC.com launch party!

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

Please pardon me for cheering yet another business, but I’m going to toot Winston’s Grille’s horn for their efforts in water reuse and conservation. 

Lately, I feel like a cheerleader for businesses that have greened up their efforts a couple notches, and I apologize if you find it annoying.  I promise my roots are in skepticism and interrogation, but I find myself feeling the need to share truly interesting information shared with me.

My pal Raleigh Native (I know him as Doug) called me a couple days ago, blown away with a little something he stumbled upon while visiting Winston’s Grille in Sutton Station in Raleigh.  I like that he shares Raleigh efforts with me, as I don’t tend to stumble onto anything except neat Durham stuff.

Doug was so excited by Winston’s efforts to reuse and conserve water that he posted it on MyNC.com too.

More and more companies are “going green” (a phrase that frankly makes me ill deep in my gut) in the Triangle, and of course, not everyone is living up to their hype. 

Winston’s, on the otherhand, seems to be proceeding quietly when it comes to their cistern, which collects rainwater from their 8,000 sq. ft. rooftop.  After the cistern is complete, it will look like a giant cedar wine barrel, which is pretty neat.  I have to say, I’m genuinely thrilled about the step they’ve taken toward conserving in an area riddled with drought concerns.

While I have no intentions in making this the one-stop resource to hear or showcase how a local business is getting with the program, being grounded in the Green movement requires cheering on proactive solutions and initiatives in our community.  Cheering on those who take on more than the minimum requirements (ie, most of the local restaurants and chains) is an important step in letting businesses know that our dollars will support business practices we believe in. 

And with the way money flows in the Triangle, not to mention the muriad of competitors in the Triangle food scene, it’s more important than ever to bypass the Crapplebee’s and head for a place with a sense of spirit, vivaciousness and community. 

Locally-owned restaurants are important in supporting sustainability.  But locally-owned options are not necessarily the answer either.  We ate at one of a five-restaurant Raleigh chain, and there is *nothing* sustainable or vegetarian about it… and we won’t be going back.  Sheerly because it’s locally-owned and I’m not into bashing any small business owner, I won’t mention the name.

But next time we dine in Raleigh, I’ll be suggesting Winston’s (hoping I can cheer them for vegetarian options beyond “house salad” as well). 

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

A colleague of mine recently had me meet Pete Pagano of Green Planet Catering here in Raleigh, NC.

NBC 17 covered the company recently.  The catering company has only been catering for about half a year, but the concept has been growing much much longer.

I have to admit, the “greenie” in me is deeply suspicious anytime someone mentions to me a business claiming their “greenness”. I agreed to meet and told myself I would keep an open mind, but truthfully, I expected very little as we met at Tir Na Nog’s “The Cottage” room.

Pete quickly wowed us, however, with sharing that Green Planet Catering uses as much local and/or organic produce as possible. They use spudware and compostable materials. They create their own bio-diesel and work with a farm, headed by Ben and Charles Keefer here in Raleigh. “We work to be as sustainable as possible,” Pete says.

Green Planet Catering, a team comprised of six members with over a 100 cumulative years of restaurant experience (at least a decade under each of their belt’s), also collaborates with other area partners for composting events. Partnerships for composting and events they’ve covered include Burt’s Bees (headquartered in Durham), NCSU, UNC, Matchbox 20, the Cary Wine Experience, Southern Energy, weddings and private parties.

While the company is already taking impressive strides to show their dedication to a healthy environmental philosophy, Pete’s own education and passion is what sold me.

Referencing Native American philosophy, the Weston A. Price Foundation and movement toward traditional food and knowledge of pesticide and chemical use in mainstream American food industries, I found myself enthralled with Pete’s passion and mission. And I liked that he was not one to put down other companies and their efforts, or arrogantly praise all of their own implemented environmentalism. He is about encouraging the movement by spotlighting positive steps of each company.

Pete explained the importance of educating yourself and making your own decisions for your health and beliefs, saying that eating better and taking care of the environment can go together beautifully. “You’re not twisting your arm. It’s not a New Year Resolution. It’s a way of life.”

“Some people say ‘green’ is a fad. It’s not a fad. It’s a necessity,” Pete says. “We have to do something. We have X amount of resources, and we have a growing population.”

Pete furthers his point, explaining “Seventy-thousand new chemicals have been added to our daily lives in the last 50 years.” Put that together with dramatic increases in unexplained diseases such as autism, ADD and Alzheimer’s, and I myself am asking Read the rest of this entry »

Want to win a $10,000 US Savings Bond (I wouldn’t mind it myself)?  Three Durham students of the NC School of Science and Math each received a $10,000 bond (as well as the pleasure of meeting with Bill Nye the Science Guy) for their project-winning proposal for CHIRP, a new renewable and biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics that would help usher in a new era of environmentally friendly bioplastic materials.

The students see practical applications from consumer goods to medical practice, including life-saving devices.

Check out the full story on MyNC.com to watch the video where they and Bill Nye explain the competition and how they won out of 4,500 project submissions!

Sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

The wildfire last week had Raleigh (and other parts of the state) looking like Houston in the late 1980s.  My girlfriend from the VA beach area said it covered them last week as well.

The smoke lifted by Friday, but in case you missed it, were out of town, or just want to know what Raleigh could look like if we don’t pursue alternative fuels, here are some pics from last week as well as a rockstar live stream (live at the time) from my pal Wayne Sutton on his way into the station that day.  Read the rest of this entry »

I’m guessing unless you’ve sat in your home the last day, you’ve also inhaled the warm smolder lingering in the air.

Both Durham and Raleigh are feeling the effects of the 42,000 acre wildfire burning in Eastern NC.  Which is a huge ordeal, and with rain levels lower than average, the fire could continue burning and smoldering for months. 

I ponder what further consequences this fire has.  What else is burning besides the soil and trees?  What toxins are becoming a further aspect of our atmosphere?  How many animals will lose their homes, forcing them to evacuate into unsafe territories, like our sprawling road system?  How many animals will lose their lives, and how will that affect the balance of our local ecosystem?

I remain positive, however, that no human injuries have been reported, and that this was caused by nature (lightning), thus stopping me from feeling angry at someone who threw out a cigarette or was irresponsibly burning leaves or garbage, or even worse, simply wanted to be an arsonist.  Just keep the firefighters in mind as they continue to fight this mess.

As for the current haze and stench, it should lift from the Triangle in time for the weekend… so long as wind patterns don’t bring it back again, I suppose. 

Until it lifts, avoid spending time outdoors or performing vigorous activity outdoors if you have any allergy and respiratory sensitivities.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue

Water, sugar, sugar, sugar… and Glaceau claims Vitamin Vater is healthy for you!  I repeat… vita-what?!

OK, Marc and I went to Earthfare up at Brier Creek last week and got hypnotized by the huge selection of beautifully-colored (BPA-leaching irresponsibly plastic bottled) VitaminWater selection.  After all the hype of how this beverage is made fully of natural ingredients to boost your health and dyed only with vegetable and fruit pigments, we caved under our thirst.

We got the XXX flavor (”triple anti-oxidants”!) and drank it.  It reminds me of Propel by Gatorade.  Subtly flavored sugar water.

Then we checked the ingredients (which, by the way, is the reverse order that we usually do things ~ We like to check first, buy second… oops).  The first two ingredients… water and crystalline fructose (aka derived from high fructose corn syrup).

Nice. 

I’m with The Office Meathead on this… the healthy ingredients added into this just don’t make up for the gross facts that calling this vita-anything or healthy is a stretch.

Whatever… next time, we’ll stick to water or tea or just straight juice.

Sustainably yours, Ashley Sue
BTW, This post was pre-produced due to the fact Green Grounded is vacationing a la mountain hiking this week.