Green Thinktag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//82009-11-03T01:43:02ZJack Downs discusses grassroots issues surrounding climate change, sustainability and the green movement. But you won't find any eco-grandstanding here. Downs understands, it's not easy being green.Movable Type 3.33Green Committee meeting Nov. 3tag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.8002009-11-03T01:34:43Z2009-11-03T01:43:02ZDoes voting make you feel charged up: full of civic pride? It does me. Why not use that energy and, after voting, stop by the Plattsburgh Green Committee meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m. at the Plattsburgh Public Library, 2nd...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
Plattsburgh Green Committee meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m. at the Plattsburgh Public Library, 2nd floor conference room.]]>
Of numbers and pollstag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7992009-11-02T15:34:58Z2009-11-03T01:51:51ZI was inspired and uplifted, and then my hopes were dashed. Last month, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe gathered for an International Day of Climate Change. They marched, turned down thermostats, hung banners, recycled and took pictures...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
350.org cause.
More than 5,200 gatherings across 181 countries marked the event the weekend of Oct. 24. The 350 movement is the brainchild of author and activist Bill McKibben. That's 350 as in 350 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere, the level above which significant climate change becomes more likely.
Honestly, the 350 number is symbolic, and the symbolism may be unreachable for a long, long time. We're at about 387 and climbing right now. Experts involved in climate-change public policy in the United States, United Nations and Europe realize that getting back to 350 isn't the immediate goal. Slowing the increase is the first step. Still, it is heartening to see the energy and interest behind the idea.
Or at least it was heartening, until I read the new poll by the Pew Research Center.
Just as the evidence for global warming has grown to become irrefutable, just as the poles are seeing measurable and dangerous climate-related changes, the American public is less interested and less convinced.
Why? You can blame the national obsession with the health-care debate, the cooler-than-usual summer weather, the recession, the rise of the "Tea Party" movement. Whatever the reason, the decline is alarming. The poll found that: "57% of Americans think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures."
There is a bit of good news within the poll. Although the trend is still down, more than half of our population believes we should join in international efforts to control greenhouse gas emission. Let's hope that provides enough political will to keep the US in a leadership role, or at least a constructive role, as the world gathers in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference next month.]]>
A hopeful hoaxtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7832009-10-20T02:30:32Z2009-10-20T15:25:51ZI have to admit, I was fooled. A news release arrived in my inbox from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday trumpeting an about face in the important business group's position toward climate-change legislation. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
news release arrived in my inbox from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday trumpeting an about face in the important business group's position toward climate-change legislation.
"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is throwing its weight behind strong climate legislation, a spokesman for Chamber President Tom J. Donahue announced today at the National Press Club."
Wow, I said to myself. It's about time. The Chamber has taken a reactionary position on environmental issues; I was glad to see them finally come around.
It was a hoax.
As it turns out, a "Chamber spokesperson" did make the announcement at the National Press Club in Washington. He was an imposter, a member of the Yes Men. In their own words, the hoax was designed to "draw attention to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 'troglodytic' fight against climate change legislation."
You see, the real chamber seems to believe it is their business to oppose anything that might have any negative impact on any of their members -- or at least on those influential members who happen to be oil and coal companies. What made the hoax easy to believe is the fact that the business group has taken a pounding lately from within and without on their stand. Many business see profit in climate-change policies, many see the Chamber's position as bad public relations. Some high profile companies -- Apple, Levi Strauss -- have left the chamber as a result.
For more about the hoax, its impact on the media and the real Chamber of Commerce's reaction, check out this Washington Post story: Pranksters stage Chamber of Commerce climate change event.
Here's hoping that someday this won't be a hoax.]]>
Dancing into winter; Green Jobs/Homes on horizontag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7692009-10-08T14:47:10Z2009-10-08T15:03:45ZIn my house, fall is like that Caribbean dance, the limbo: How low can we go? But in our case, we're not sipping rum, waiting for our turn to shuffle through the tropical sand and arch under the dropping bar....Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
New York Green Jobs/Green Homes bill. The program would make loans of up to $13,000 to homeowners, $26,000 to businesses, for energy retrofits and other energy-saving work. The money would be paid back through utility bills. Gov. David Paterson is expected to sign the bill during the week of Oct. 12.
The Green Jobs bill is not perfect. And in the rambunctious N.Y. Senate, which recently passed the bill, a North Country lawmaker's "no" vote led to an attack from the Senate majority. Here' the a news-release statement from Shams M. Tarek, communications director for the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee:
"There can't be any reason other than the worst kind of partisanship that Senator (Betty) Little and a few of her colleagues would vote against a bill that creates thousands of jobs, helps the environment and lowers energy costs for more than half the homes in her district. Along with also voting to kill an ethics reform bill last week, this shows Senator Little not responding to what most New Yorkers want out of their government right now."
And here's Little's response, through Daniel E. Mac Entee, her director of communications:
"Betty has been a proponent, as I think most elected officials are, of weatherization and energy efficiency programs. Her objection to the initiative is that we already have in place energy efficiency programs. Her preference would be to add money directly to those programs, including expanding eligibility to middle-income homeowners who currently don't qualify. She doesn't see the point in putting funding into the creation and administration of a new program. Whatever additional funding is available should go directly to help the consumer. Also, the bill did not define how the savings would be tracked and seemed to lack accountability. I spoke with Betty a lot about this bill leading up to the vote and can assure you it had nothing to do with partisanship as the spokesman presumes."
Yes, the Green Jobs bill does duplicate efforts of some existing programs. Yes, there is a hint of partisanship — and maybe a bit of Tea Party fear — in Little's no vote. And yes, there is some partisanship in Tarek's attack.
But putting politics aside, I applaud that the creative new element in this bill: Borrow from the state and pay back through utility bills.
Could make my limbo dance obsolete.]]>
Green Committee new on the Webtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7642009-09-30T22:35:06Z2009-09-30T22:40:42ZThe Plattsburgh Green Committee's great strength, and weakness, is the group's broad scope. From transportation to heating, park cleanups to political campaigns -- the Green Committee covers a wide range of interests and has an all-embracing interpretation of the label...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
Plattsburgh Green Committee's great strength, and weakness, is the group's broad scope.
From transportation to heating, park cleanups to political campaigns -- the Green Committee covers a wide range of interests and has an all-embracing interpretation of the label "green."
On the plus side, this brings lots of people into the process. But the danger comes when the group focuses on a specific action: does their focus fail, does their effort fracture?
The committee's new Web site may help.
With forums, blogs, a calendar and more, the new site looks like a good venue for wide-ranging discussions and a useful channel for dispensing specific information.
For wide-ranging discussion, visit Doug Butdorf's blog.
Right now, Doug is writing about the environmental impact of fishing tournaments and the green issues in the local Congressional election.
For specific action, visit the calendar. There you'll find the Green Committee next meets Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The site is not perfect: content is a bit slim and some outdated postings haven't been monitored. But it looks like a good place for green thinking.]]>
Spinning greentag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7552009-09-21T01:20:19Z2009-09-21T01:35:33ZSpinning flywheels may be one of the solutions to a green-energy problem: How to temporarily but efficiently store energy while the sun is shining or the wind is blowing to meet demand when these green sources aren't as active. As...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
Associated Press article, flywheels are an old idea that has been re-thought on massive scale.
A Massachusetts company, Beacon Power, has received federal loan guarantees to build a 20-megawatt flywheel plant in Stephentown, N.Y., which is west of Albany near the N.Y./Mass. line.
Would Edison be spinning in his grave? No, he knew the value of flywheels and used them in some of his inventions. It's great to see today's innovators reaching from the past into the future.]]>
Not asleep, just restingtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7492009-09-16T03:45:00Z2009-09-16T15:40:54ZMy wife says I've been resting on my laurels. You see, "GreenThink" won an Associated Press award a few weeks ago. You can read about it in our story "Press-Republican wins seven awards." It is very gratifying to receive this...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
"Press-Republican wins seven awards." It is very gratifying to receive this recognition, especially for a blog that really only got going last year.
But what are laurels anyways?
Whatever they are, they don't feel too comfortable. As soon as I won the award, I was overwhelmed with other jobs and obligations.
Don't get me wrong, I like being busy. And my challenges are good challenges: a surprise class at Plattsburgh State, a roofing job, a rush of work here at the P-R, an over-active water heater, a burgeoning community-garden plot and a strong desire to do a bit of kayaking before the snow flies.
But my blog and readers have suffered, I know. I apologize. I'll try to get back on track.
Coincidentally, it seems that our nation has also had trouble keeping track of green issues. We've been swept up in a whirlwind health care, health care, health care. Again, don't get me wrong, I think reforming our health-care system is critical. I'm very disappointed that a single-payer proposal never made it onto President Obama's agenda. I just hope health care doesn't push Obama's green initiatives onto the back burner.
In the meantime, what green issues are catching your attention? Drop me a note or a comment.]]>
Paying on line good for environment, painful on wallettag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7462009-08-14T15:05:48Z2009-08-14T15:57:05Z(Here's a guest blog from my wife, Gerianne Wright, who pays the bills in the family. Her commentary is in response to the P-R story: City residents can pay bills online now. Check the details at the City of Plattsburgh...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
City residents can pay bills online now. Check the details at the City of Plattsburgh and the city's Pay Online Site.)
I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to learn that the Plattsburgh Municipal Lighting Department was finally joining the rest of the world by equipping itself to accept on-line bill payment options.
I was quick to sign up.
What I wasn’t thrilled about was the discovery that this so-called convenience was going to cost me nearly $15 in fees each month if I pay online with a credit or debit card or $2.40 each month if I pay by e-check.
If you venture onto the site, you’ll see it’s managed by a third-party collection agency, which makes its money by charging the fees.
Jack and I have three accounts with MLD – two electric and one water/sewer. Because the system is not set up to pay them collectively, I have to pay each separately, thereby being assessed a separate fee for each bill. Each credit or debit card transaction is $4.95; each e-check transaction is 80 cents.
I’ve always lobbied for on-line payment options with MLD, or, at the very least, pay-by-phone methods that would allow you to pay by card. My objection to the outdated paper method of payment was that you were essentially assessed a tax to mail your bill. Even though it’s only the price of a postage stamp, those “Forever Stamps” will forever go up in price. Right now they’re 44 cents. That comes to $5.28 a year to mail your bills each month, provided the cost of a postage stamp remains forever at 44 cents, and that’s unlikely to happen.
However, I can write one check and put all three bills in the MLD envelope and mail it for that one postage stamp, as opposed to paying 80 cents per electronic check – or, in my case, $2.40 – every month. That’s nearly $29 a year.
The MLD office does have the option of paying your bill in person, whether you go inside the building or through the drive-up window or drop the bill in the payment slot. But that trip takes time and gas. I have no idea how much gas, but I certainly know how much time.
To its credit, MLD is now offering clients the opportunity to go paperless for the first time, giving those of us who are taking care of our responsibilities electronically the option to save a few trees and some carbon emissions. However, if I have to pay a fee to respond to the electronic reminder that my bill is ready to pay online, I’d rather get the hard copy to mail and save myself a few bucks.
Most MLD customers have an electric bill and a water/sewer bill – two accounts that will cost you $9.90 a month for credit; $1.60 a month for e-check. If you don’t mind the fee for convenience’s sake, God bless you. I can think of other things to do with my $178.20 a year, like maybe pay one month’s MLD bills?
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Loving the lazy (green) summertag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7452009-08-12T02:47:22Z2009-08-12T14:02:26ZI hope your summer has been as lazy as mine -- and from the lack of blog posts, you can tell it has been real lazy. Still, I've felt the green shadow of environmental issues over my shoulder. Or maybe...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
offshore wind farms.
My next week, spent at Chateaugay Lake, was also great: swimming, kayaking and horseback riding. And it was gratifying to know that the region was doing its share in the move toward alternative power. In the Northern Adirondacks it is easy to see turbine towers on the horizen. Just a short trip down Route 374 takes you into a turbine forest.
And, in my laziness, I came across a fascinating television documentary that speaks to green issues: Wide Angle's "Burning Season." I don't think the episode is being rebroadcast locally, but you can view it the whole series online. In "Burning Season" the filmakers take what is a lofty and complex problem -- the links between climate change and deforestation -- and unravel it to the level of the individual palm-oil farmer in Indonesia.
Of course, I have to admit that I didn't spend all my TV viewing time on such informative fare. I'm rewatching "Star Trek: The Next Generaltion," hoping to assimilate the kids into the Trekie culture. They already think Data is hilarious. Is it easier sometimes to just think about leaving Earth behind?
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G8 climate discussion a tough story to selltag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7312009-07-17T15:38:52Z2009-07-17T15:46:40ZThe G-8 Summit has come and gone. Did you miss it? I'm not surprised. It has been hard to process international diplomacy through the haze of stories about Michael Jackson's legacy; Jon and Kate's divorce and, almost as frivolous, Judge...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
Denmark in December.
The BBC has done a good job covering this. You can go to their site and read the full text of the Energy and Climate Declaration, read about UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's surprisingly undiplomatic reaction, or review James Robbins' brief analysis.
Here's my analysis.
Until now, the industrialized nations have been like a bunch of boys, standing around a pond, peeing into the water. It's rude. It's dirty. But they don't care. After a while, the big developing nations -- China and India in particular -- show up. And they're peeing into the pond too. Why? Well, everybody else is doing it.
Then we realized that all this carbon -- or pee, if you want to continue with the potty-mouth metaphor -- is causing a global calamity. The industrialized nations turn to the developing nations and say, "Wow, we've got to do something about all this pee. Let's slow this down." China and India say, "Hey, you've been peeing here for decades and now you want us to stop? That's not fair."
Carbon-reduction agreements have been bedeviled by this, "You can't make us stop when we're just getting started" roadblock. The G-8 Summit made some progress on this front, bringing China and India into the discussions in a positive way.
But an even more positive development is China's self-interested move into green technologies. As the always inciteful Thomas Friedman writes in his New York Times column:
"Yes, you might think that China is only interested in polluting its way to prosperity. That was once true, but it isn’t anymore. China is increasingly finding that it has to go green out of necessity because in too many places, its people can’t breathe, fish, swim, drive or even see because of pollution and climate change."
China's challenge to us in green technology is a very positive development in the fight against climate change. Now we need to respond.]]>
Green summer makes it harder to blogtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7302009-07-07T20:42:42Z2009-07-07T20:48:47ZMaybe it's the summer. Or maybe the lack of blog entries is due to the fact that my plot in the community garden has a bigger pull on me right now than writing this blog. It's not for the lack...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
community garden has a bigger pull on me right now than writing this blog.
It's not for the lack of green issues. I don't have that excuse.
Locally, there is a Plattsburgh Green Committee meeting tonight, Tuesday, July 7.
The first-ever Adirondack Green Festival will be held Sunday at Marcy Airfield in Keene Valley. Here's a story by Robin Caudell that will give you all the details: Adirondack Green Festival premieres on Sunday. An interesting group called the Adirondack Green Circle is one of the organizers.
Regionally, here's an interesting tidbit. Wind turbines make life more difficult for weather forecasters. It seems that, on weather radar, the turbines look like storms. Here's a Burlington Free Press story on the topic: Wind turbines create false storms on radar.And nationally, there is plenty going on. Most important is President Obama's effort to push his carbon-cutting global warming bill through Congress. The house narrowly passed the measure in June. The Senate is just now taking up the effort. Here's an Associated Press piece for some background: Obama officials urge Senate to act on climate.
And finally, for those of you who think this cool, wet summer we're having is some kind of argument against global warming, let me remind you, climate and weather are two different things. And as far as the weather goes, my lettuce is loving it.]]>
Worry about bats: The flying kind and the baseball kindtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7282009-06-22T18:38:35Z2009-06-22T18:52:37ZThe planet is warming, the oceans are rising, and we're suppose to worry about bats, too? Yes, we need to worry about bats. The flying kind and the baseball kind. The flying nocturnal mammals are threatened by "white-nose syndrome." This...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
North Country Public Radio has done some good reporting on the story.
The baseball implement is threatened, in a way, by the emerald ash borer, a devastating pest, well established in the Great Lakes, that has now been found in New York. Most of the best baseball bats are made from ash trees harvested in New York and Pennsylvania. Again, see a NCPR story on the issue.
There is no evidence these problems are connected to global warming. Humans haven't caused these problems, although we are probably speeding the spread of the damage.
In the case of white-nose syndrome, it is possible that recreational cave explorers have helped move the fungus from one cave to another. However, this is just a hypothesis. This fast-spreading and hugely fatal plague is still little understood.
In the case of the ash borer, the connection is clearer. This is an invasive, non-native species accidentally introduced here by humans. Transporting firewood has helped the pest spread widely. We understand this pest well but are still largely helpless to stop it.
So why should we care about these two problems?
Our world would be a poorer place if it lost our nighttime insect-hunters. If this fungus continues to devastate species so common in the Northeast, we will see a surge in bug populations. And for those of us who love to sit beside a campfire at dusk and watch the aerial acrobatics, replacing bats with gnats is a poor trade.
And our world would be a poorer place if our ash trees are destroyed by the emerald borer. Sure, we'll find other materials for baseball bats. But ash are a common street tree, often used to replace elms that were the victim of Dutch elm disease.
Beyond self-interest, there is another reason to care. Even in this era of global environmental challenges, we have a responsibility to other species. Why? Because being green means caring what happens to the species we share this planet with, even if those species aren't required for our survival.
RESOURCES
For more about white-nose syndrome see the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation pages on the bat sickness.
For more about the emerald ash borer visit the DEC page about the pest..]]>
Guess what. Climate change is happeningtag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7252009-06-16T20:30:34Z2009-06-16T20:43:23ZHaven't had time to read the new U.S. Global Change Research Program report on climate change? Here are the key findings: >> We're to blame. >> It's getting worse. >> And that's worse for us, especially if we care about...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
U.S. Global Change Research Program report on climate change?
Here are the key findings:
>> We're to blame.
>> It's getting worse.
>> And that's worse for us, especially if we care about water resources, agriculture, coastal erosion, human health, the environment and ecosystems. Don't care about those things? Then don't worry about it.
>> But if you do care then we can do something about it.
There are no big surprises in the report, issued today by the White House. It is really just a compilation of other research, vetted by federal agencies. But is a useful package and a reminder that our planet is warming.
Especially interesting are the regional breakdowns. Here in the Northeast we have a special group of concerns. And here in the North Country, we should worry about agriculture and winter recreation.
The full report is available for download.]]>
Recycling Part 2: How we can do bettertag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7232009-06-10T21:06:10Z2009-06-10T21:21:17ZIn part one of this look at North Country recycling, I discussed recycling rates locally and nationally. The conclusion: We're doing OK. Our recycling rate in Clinton County, for example, is near the national average. About a quarter of our...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
In part one of this look at North Country recycling, I discussed recycling rates locally and nationally. The conclusion: We're doing OK. Our recycling rate in Clinton County, for example, is near the national average. About a quarter of our garbage is diverted into recycling.
But that national average includes cities and regions that do a great job, up to 70 percent waste diversion (San Francisco is shooting for 75%), and others that do a lousy job, below 10 percent.
With such dramatic diversity in rates, it is obvious that big improvements in our recycling rate are possible. If cities in California and Illinois can average better than 50 percent, we can certainly improve our 20 to 25 percent rate. And we should do better. Right now tons and tons of recyclable material are being thrown into our landfills.
Am I advocating mandatory recycling and trash police? Here's a news flash for you: Recycling here is already mandatory, and there are laws on the books to enforce it. In Clinton County, for example, if you slip a plastic milk jug into your garbage bag you are breaking the law. And guess what. We do have a trash cop to enforce it. But don't expect him to be waiting at the curb to check every bag.
"We really focus on the commercial haulers. We can't check every load, but we do spot checks," explained Bruce Warner, Clinton County sheriff deputy with responsibility for solid-waste enforcement.
Warner is right to target garbage services. According to Craig Squire, general manager of the Clinton County Landfill for Casella Waste Systems, 82 to 84 percent of the garbage that arrives at the landfill comes from commercial haulers. So, it would be crazily inefficient to patrol the streets, peering into garbage bags.
When Warner checks a commercial hauler's load, he uses the number 20 percent. If more than 20 percent of the load is recyclable, they get a ticket. "We write tickets, we have in the past," he said.
Warner is especially interested in resident complaints about trash haulers intentionally mixing recyclables into their loads. "If you see that, call us. We'll check them," he said.]]>
EDUCATION/MARKETING: Everyone begins with this. But how many times do we have to educate people about recycling? Come on! If you don't know by now that we recycle plastics, newspaper, cans, glass, you've been living in a cave.
Education and marketing about recycling needs a harder edge and a bigger budget. For example, the county's Web site on recycling should stress that recycling is mandatory and enforceable by law. Future contracts with Casalle should ask the waste company to fund a recycling media campaign.
ENFORCEMENT: Instead of occasional spot checks on haulers, I suggest a program where every hauler is checked at least 6 times a year, without warning. Haulers that fail two or more checks, based on the 20 percent number, would be fined and put on a probationary period during which they pay a higher tipping fee, with the extra funds going to the a recycling media campaign. Haulers that fail all the checks would have their licenses yanked.
You may think this isn't fair, penalizing the haulers for the actions of residential scofflaws. But the only way to get to the people who generate more than 80 percent of the local garbage is through those haulers. We have to create incentive for haulers to reject bags that include recyclables.
CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS: This is the first of the two large garbage classes that we ignore. A great deal of construction debris is recyclable -- wood can go to generate energy, concrete can be used to make new concrete, metal is sought after for recycling. Yet most North Country construction debris goes straight into the landfill.
There are dozens of cities, towns and counties that use some kind of construction waste diversion, enforcing separation and reuse of materials. Just because we have cheap landfill space, just because Casalle wants to take the waste and the tipping fees, doesn't mean we should landfill this waste.
An outside, non-profit organization like ReCycle North in Vermont is one model -- a group that helps deconstruct buildings and resells materials of all kinds in a thrift-store operation. The Plattsburgh Green Committee suggests this approach in its 2009 Action Plan. Another model is the San Francisco program, where all construction debris must first go to approved sorting companies.
COMPOSTABLE HOUSEHOLD WASTE: And this the other large neglected category. Although lawn waste and tree trimmings are composted at the Clinton County landfill, kitchen and restaurant waste is not.
Some motivated individuals do practice household waste composting, outside in regular compost piles or inside with their own bins and worms. But few have the time, energy or interest. Until now, we've always assumed that apple peels and bread heels belong in the garbage can.
However, the San Francisco experiment shows us another option. In San Francisco residents have three kinds of waste bins -- garbage, recyclables and compost. By centralizing the compost generation, the system is much more efficient and manageable. And special can liners solve the "gross out" concern.
CAN WE CHANGE? The biggest challenge to any of these strategies will be inertia: "We've always done it this way" or "don't fix it if it ain't broke." The second challenge will be cost. Even with volunteers, even with help from non-profits, increasing the amount we recycle will have a cost. And eventually that cost will go back to the garbage producers: you and me. That's the price tag of responsibility.
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How green is the APA?tag:blog.pressrepublican.com,2009:/weblog6//8.7202009-06-04T14:36:55Z2009-06-04T14:43:56ZReader Jim McAndrew brought this column to my attention -- "Bureaucracy holds back Adirondack wind power." In this piece, Bernard C. Melewski, writing in Times Union, notes that the proposed Adirondack Park Agency rules on small-scale wind turbines require they...Jack Downshttp://www.pressrepublican.com
"Bureaucracy holds back Adirondack wind power."
In this piece, Bernard C. Melewski, writing in Times Union, notes that the proposed Adirondack Park Agency rules on small-scale wind turbines require they be "substantially invisible."
This rule may make sense for cell-phone towers. But wind turbines can't blend in with the landscape.
If this wind-power permit language is adopted it will prohibit most turbines. On the one hand, I doubt the market for home wind generation is very large. We're probably only talking about a handful of projects.
Regardless, the APA has to make sure they're don't find themselves on the wrong side of this environmental argument. It's a public relations and policy problem.
When it comes to wind, solar and hydro, the agency should look for compromises that accept a moderate impact. We need to rebalance the scale, realizing that we're not pitting development against environmentalism. We're looking at a development that is good for the environment.]]>
Honestly, the 350 number is symbolic, and the symbolism may be unreachable for a long, long time. We're at about 387 and climbing right now. Experts involved in climate-change public policy in the United States, United Nations and Europe realize that getting back to 350 isn't the immediate goal. Slowing the increase is the first step. Still, it is heartening to see the energy and interest behind the idea.
Or at least it was heartening, until I read the new poll by the Pew Research Center.
Just as the evidence for global warming has grown to become irrefutable, just as the poles are seeing measurable and dangerous climate-related changes, the American public is less interested and less convinced.
Why? You can blame the national obsession with the health-care debate, the cooler-than-usual summer weather, the recession, the rise of the "Tea Party" movement. Whatever the reason, the decline is alarming. The poll found that: "57% of Americans think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures."
There is a bit of good news within the poll. Although the trend is still down, more than half of our population believes we should join in international efforts to control greenhouse gas emission. Let's hope that provides enough political will to keep the US in a leadership role, or at least a constructive role, as the world gathers in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference next month.]]>