One State's View of new EPA Regs/WRPI News

We touched on this yesterday and gave our assent to Obama's crackdown on coal-fired plant emissions.  RI, according to WRPI News, has similar praise:

AG praises EPA on new greenhouse regs

Regulations will limit greenhouse gas emissions

Updated: Thursday, 29 Mar 2012, 5:20 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 29 Mar 2012, 5:19 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin says he's happy with the newly proposed limit on greenhouse gas emissions by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of new coal-fired power plants by roughly 50 percent over the plant's life.

“Addressing the threat posed by climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time – one that demands attention, leadership and action at all levels of government and by the private sector," said Kilmartin, calling the new regulations "common-sense" and "cost-effective".

The EPA’s action is in response to litigation filed by a number of state and local government groups involving Rhode Island, which asked the environmental group to comply with the federal Clean Air Act limiting power plant pollutants.

Copyright WPRI

In this case, the Feds are following the States' lead in attacking our greenhouse gases.  Better, still, would be to, ultimately, take this coal-fired plants totally off line, while invested heavily in clean energy.  The financial returns would be fantastic.

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Obama's line in the sand on global warming‏

In case you did not see this previously:

When the coal companies get going on this it is going to be brutal.   

Yesterday, President Obama drew a historic line in the sand with an EPA proposal that puts strong limits on the power plant pollution that causes global warming. This is the pollution that leads to worse air pollution, more devastating floods, and more extreme weather — with low-lying coastal states like Rhode Island especially vulnerable. Join us in showing your support for the first-ever nationwide limits on carbon pollution from new power plants.

This action is a huge step toward tackling this huge problem. But now comes the hard part. 

The coal companies, utilities, and other special interests are furious that these rules could force them to stop spewing unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into our air — and they're sure to launch a well-funded and ruthless campaign to force President Obama to back down. They'll spend millions on lobbying and run paid ads saying that the science isn't settled, that cutting carbon pollution will completely destroy our economy, and that the sun sets in the east.  

As we gear up for what could be the year's biggest fight, I know that there's only one force strong enough to defeat industry dollars: People power. That's why I need to know — will you join us today and add your name in support of these historic standards?...


If you'd like to read more, click on the embedded links.


We'd like to hear your comments on this.  We believe a transformation to cleaner domestic energy production, absolutely, away from coal, is one of the best investments we can make into our future economic growth and environmental protection.  Combine that with transforming over to EV's, using cleaner domestic energy production, and we'll bring money, jobs and clean air back to our nation...and help the world balance as well.


What do you think?

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See who contacted the PSC and add your comment about Focus on Energy!

272 days since Focus on Energy "suspended" the renewable energy business program!

88 days since Focus on Energy "suspended" the renewable energy residential program!

Dozens of people submitted comments asking the PSC to restart Focus on Energy renewable incentive.

Have you?

You’ll be in good company if you comment. Go to this PSC Web page, then click on “Documents” to see who already signed.

You have only until the end of next week, March 30 to tell the Public Service Commission to RESTART the incentives.

Remember when Wisconsin used to give incentives, as directed by state law, to people, organizations, and businesses that installed renewable energy systems – solar, wind, biodigesters, and more – through Focus on Energy, which the Public Service Commission oversees.

Not any more!

Since the first of this year, Focus on Energy stopped giving renewable incentives to homeowners as well!

Incentives would again be offered in the spring, said Shaw Environmental, the state-contracted administrator of Focus. Not!

Put a comment in the PSC's official proceeding (5-GF-191) for Focus on Energy. Click here to get to the comment form.

Here’s a sample message to deliver in your email or on the phone:

The Focus on Energy program used to have a successful renewable energy incentive program, but now the program has been completely dropped. Homeowners and businesses that want to improve the environment, support local jobs, and promote energy independence need the incentives and services to make installations affordable and easy to implement.

RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that advocates for businesses, organizations, and individuals who want more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW's vision, 2012 action plan, and how to become a member can be found on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.com. Join or donate today! Click here.

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Pawtucket, RI

As many of you know, we started our 12 City tour in Pawtucket with four great shows.  This week, on Thursday, we film the next 4 in Woonsocket.

We hope you've had a chance to watch the opening four shows.  With an amazing history and, we found, a very bright future, Pawtucket became the perfect launching pad to the series.

Interestingly, right after our shows aired, The Providence Journal, a major newspaper in town, focused--from a different perspective--on the same city and story.  Here's the link to their video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvidenceJournal.

Don't forget, too, we have followed up our great success broadcasting the compost conference with a media sponsorship of the upcoming Grow Smart Summit in Providence.  Take a look at the video promoting the event here on our blog, and please make sure to come if you are close by.

Let us know what you think on the Journal video.  And listen to our radio show tomorrow, 12-1p, EST, on WARL 1320 AM.

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We ran this last year and had a great response

This from Nature's Conservancy:  

• ou're Invited: Picnic for the Planet‏

Newsletters |1:36 PM

Reply  ▼

 The Nature Conservanc​y

 Schedule cleanup

To peterarpin@msn.com

Trouble viewing this email?

You’re invited to celebrate with us on Earth Day, Sunday April 22! Attend a picnic, host one of your own or find other ways to join in the fun. Get Involved You’re invited to Picnic for the Planet — our global Earth Day celebration! On the weekend of Earth Day, April 22, people in Rhode Island and around the world will celebrate the planet we live on, the food that it provides and the people with whom we share it. There are many ways to participate:  1) Attend a Picnic — The Nature Conservancy is holding picnic events all around the world. Locations are added weekly, so check out our map to find events in your area 2) Host a Picnic — Don’t see an event near you? Host your own picnic and invite family and friends. Your picnic could even help us set a world record3) Donate or Fundraise — Help us protect green space, and the lands that provide our food and clean water. Make a donation, or turn your picnic into a fundraising event We want to make this the world's largest picnic celebration, so let us know if you are planning to join or host a Picnic for the Planet! Be sure to R.S.V.P. today. Please follow @allhandsonearth on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest news about Picnic for the Planet. We just finished writing a closing for our show that we shot in Boston at Carbon Day.  The mission of Carbon Day is to get everyone, everyone, to contribute towards a reduction of our collective carbon footprint.  We know this has to be a collective effort. If you can treat everyday as Earth Day, do something to create less waste, use less energy, support companies and organizations that are making a difference, you win, we win and both the environment and economy takes one step closer to sustainability.

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Thanks to Barbara Seeley

For sending us an excellent article on RI (but it could be any state) standing in the way of destructive, devastating weather as the environment changes around us.  This from the Warwick Beacon:

Environmentalist warns RI 'in path of storm'

By Kim Kalunian

The sun has been shining and the birds have been chirping in the unseasonably high March temperatures, but environmentalists see this season as a possible effect of global warming. Channing Jones, field associate with Environment Rhode Island Research and Policy Center, said yesterday at a press conference that pollution and emissions have a direct correlation to natural disasters, and if action isn’t taken now to reduce our collective carbon footprint, the state can look forward to many more floods, hurricanes and hefty cleanup bills.

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency data, every county in Rhode Island has experienced a weather-related federally declared disaster between 2006 and 2011. Kent County has experienced two in the last two years: the floods of 2010, and the wrath of Irene in 2011.

“The entire state of Rhode Island has seen the effects of weather-related disasters and the great threat they pose to Rhode Island’s safety and economy,” said Jones at a press conference yesterday...

The link to the balance of the story:  http://warwickonline.com/detail.html?sub_id=68967

Take a look at that last line:  "...the great threat they pose to Rhode Island’s safety and economy,"  That is the key:  our economy, across the world, depends heavily on our management of the environment and our natural resources.  We pay a huge financial price for creating waste, pollution and failing to safeguard earth's gifts.  And, that relates to everyone of us--not just businesses and governments.

Our investments in clean companies, technology and restoring ecological balance clearly, then, have a huge, and sustaining, ROI.  Make the investment.

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Enjoy the show on Saturday at 2:30p, EST on ABC 6 and on line

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Session wrap-up: Wind lives! Bad bills stopped!

A wrap-up of the 2011-2012 legislative session from Michael Vickerman:

As RENEW Wisconsin’s new Program and Policy Director, I would like to report on recent results of the 2011-2012 legislative session. Though the session as a whole presented Wisconsin’s renewable energy community with unprecedented challenges and a few setbacks1, we were able to fend off a number of bad proposals in the final days. Had these proposals been adopted, Wisconsin’s ability to support and host investments in renewable energy would have been permanently damaged.

Wind-siting
As you probably know, the Legislature adjourned March 16 without taking any follow-up action on the wind siting rule (PSC 128). In doing so, the Legislature allowed the rule, which had been in a state of suspension for more than a year, to take effect. PSC 128 is now in effect, and it can’t be suspended by future Legislatures. More than four years has elapsed since RENEW spearheaded the process of forging a coalition (initially called the “Campaign for Sensible Wind Permitting”) to pass a bill requiring uniform standards for permitting wind turbines. Much blood, sweat and tears went into that legislative campaign (renamed “Wind for Wisconsin”) which culminated in the passage of 2009 Act 40 with bipartisan support. Then followed the drafting and redrafting of the siting rule itself, which proved to be more difficult process than we had first imagined.

Nevertheless, the PSC issued a strict but workable rule in December 2010. Even though what had emerged from the rulemaking process was a product of compromise and deliberation, the rule came under fire virtually the moment the Legislature convened in January 2011. After holding a stacked-deck hearing in February, the Legislature suspended PSC 128 on March 1, the day the rule was to take effect. Shortly thereafter, antiwind legislators circulated bills to repeal the rule outright (SB 50 and AB 72).

On a separate track, Sen. Frank Lasee, a Republican from Brown County, introduced a series of bills aimed at permanently crippling the wind industry in Wisconsin. Though these bills went nowhere, they succeeded in presenting an unwelcoming face to wind developers, and they responded by suspending or cancelling about a half dozen prospects throughout the state.

By March this year, it seemed to us that the momentum had shifted in our favor. Since the suspension of PSC 128, more than 17 or so newspapers had written editorials decrying the destructive nature of Lasee’s jihad and reiterated their support for a clear and consistently applied permitting process – exactly what PSC 128 rule was intended to provide. The signals coming from the legislative leadership strongly suggested that none of the antiwind bills referred to committee, including SB 50, the senate bill to permanently repeal PSC 128 and direct the PSC to issue a new rule , would be scheduled for a floor vote in the final two weeks of session.

But something happened around March 1st that changed the political calculus, and to everyone’s surprise, SB 50 appeared on the Senate calendar for the week of March 5. Theories abound as to why Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald reversed himself and allowed SB 50, which the wind industry viewed as the functional equivalent of a death warrant, onto the Senate floor. Unconfirmed reports attribute this last-minute switcheroo to extreme pressure that Sen. Lasee and his allies (former senator Bob Welch, now lobbyist for the Brown County antiwind group, and the Wisconsin Realtors Association, which had contributed generously to Republican office-seekers in the fall 2010 elections) exerted on Sen. Fitgerald.

When the Senate took the floor that Tuesday, the outlook looked grim. It appeared that the antiwind faction had at least the minimum 17 votes required to pass the bill. Wind energy supporters had little time to turn an unpromising situation around and build a firewall of support. But in those few hours they succeeded in denying Sen. Lasee the 17th vote he needed to send this bill to the Assembly. The following day, Lasee admitted defeat, and SB 50 was referred back to committee, a startling turnaround from the situation 24 hours earlier. The bill stayed there until its death the following Thursday, when the State Senate gaveled itself into the history books.

Notwithstanding PSC 128’s roller coaster ride culminating in the late-session cliffhanger vote that staved off its repeal, Wisconsin can now say, for the first time since 2007, that it is open for business in the wind energy development arena.

We are indebted to the law firm of Cullen, Weston Pines and Bach for their heroic efforts in keeping wind development alive in Wisconsin. Special thanks are in order for Lee Cullen, Jeff Vercauteren, Curt Pawlisch, and Chris Kunkle for building a firewall of support for PSC 128 that held firm under the extreme pressure applied by antiwind forces.

Further information on wind siting: RENEW Cheers End of Wind Siting Impasse
March 16, 2012

Legislature lets wind turbine placement rules stand
March 19, 2012

AB 146 (Extending the Life of Unused Renewable Energy Credits) Under current law, a Wisconsin electric provider can bank an unused Renewable Energy Credit (REC) for up to four years before using it to comply with Wisconsin’s Renewable Energy Standard. If not used within that four-year window, the REC expires. Last May, a bill was introduced (AB 146) to eliminate the shelf life of an unused REC. Passage of this bill would allow REC’s to be bankable into perpetuity, which would have the effect of diminishing the need for new sources of renewable electricity.

The Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee held a hearing on the bill in September. Among those in support of AB 146 were Wisconsin Utilities Association and various individual utilities. Among those joining RENEW in opposition to the bill were the American Wind Energy Association, Wind on the Wires and several independent wind developers; Wisconsin Counties Association; several private waste haulers; Dairy Business Association; Clean Wisconsin; Sierra Club; Citizens Utility Board, and the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. As events unfolded, the committee never did vote on AB 146. The bill died last Thursday, and is not likely to be resurrected in 2013.

Allowing Third-Party Sales of Energy to Host CustomersIn an effort to expand and invigorate small-scale renewables in Wisconsin, RENEW asked two legislators (Rep. Gary Tauchen of Bonduel and Rep. Chris Taylor of Madison) to sponsor the drafting of legislation to authorize sales of energy from third party-owned renewable energy systems to host customers. The legislation would accomplish that objective by exempting renewable energy systems that serve the owners of the premises where they’re located from being regulated as public utilities. The exemption would be narrowly constructed to restrict the sale of that energy only to the host customer or the local utility.

Last Thursday, the Legislative Reference Bureau produced a revised bill draft that appears to be ready for introduction ... next year, when a new Legislature is convened. In the meantime, RENEW plans to solicit support for this bill from such influential constituencies as farm groups, local governments, WMC, and large commercial enterprises. While the utilities may not support this kind of legislation, they could decide not to oppose the bill, especially if we build a bipartisan coalition of supporters.

1 In June, the Legislature took two steps back on renewable energy policy. First, it passed a bill watering down the state’s Renewable Energy Standard by allowing large-scale Canadian hydroelectric generation to become eligible renewable energy generators. Later that month, the Legislature approved a substantial cut to the annual budget of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program. The budget for 2012 will be $20 million less than last year’s budget, which will diminish the supply of financial incentives available to support customer-sited renewable energy systems.

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Thank you to Mark Learn

For a great update, from Technology Review, on some amazing advances in the solar cell production process:

Startup Aims to Cut the Cost of Solar Cells in Half

A new process uses a high-energy ion accelerator to make thin silicon solar cells.

• TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012
• BY KEVIN BULLIS

Audio »

Twin Creeks Technologies—a startup that has been operating in secret until today—has developed a way to make thin wafers of crystalline silicon that it says could cut the cost of making silicon solar cells in half. It has demonstrated the technology in a small, 25-megawatt-per-year solar-cell factory it built in Senatobia, Mississippi.

Siva Sivaram, the CEO of Twin Creeks, says the company's technology both reduces the amount of silicon needed and the cost of the manufacturing equipment. He claims the company can produce solar cells for about 40 cents per watt, which compares to roughly 80 cents for the cheapest solar cells now. Twin Creeks has raised $93 million in venture capital, plus loans from the state of Mississippi and other sources that it used to build its solar factory...."

Here's the link for the balance of the story:  http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/39887/

The long-term health of the renewable energy industry will depend on lowering production costs and being able, based on that and other factors, to deliver competitive products, with good ROI's, that don't depend on government subsidies or credits.  This kind of innovation will push them much closer to that goal.

Yesterday, on our radio show (WARL 1320AM, Wed's, 12-1P, EST), we talked to Winston, from the Conservation Law Foundation, about our collective need to get off fossil fuel, particularly imported oil and gas. The reasons span every kind of environmental and economic benefit.  We hope companies like this, funded to create technology that balances the financial scale, will succeed and quickly.

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Grow Smart's Power of Place Summit Highlights

We are thrilled to be one of the media partners to this year's Summit, and are happy to post some highlights below.  Also, take a look at the video we have posted on our site as well:

Keynote Presentation:

How 21st century development trends can be a competitive advantage for Rhode Island

 

Demand for more walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods is growing across the United States. However, the challenges associated with financing and permitting these developments are allowing much of this demand to go unmet. There's demographic evidence; there's consumer research evidence; there’s economic evidence, but probably the most compelling evidence is the price premium people are willing to pay to live and work in a walkable urban place.  Hear from one of the nation’s leading thinkers and doers about adapting to these demographic trends and economic forces and reaping the economic and community benefits of doing so.

Rhode Island Smart Growth Progress Report

Hear from officials in Rhode Island who are among the leading change agents shaping Rhode Island’s quality of place and economic future.

  

Kevin M. Flynn, Associate Director, Rhode Island Division of Planning (Moderator)

Keith Stokes, Executive Director, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation

Janet Coit, Director, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Michael P. Lewis, Director, Rhode Island Department of Transportation  

Workshop Presentations:  (this is a sampling of the more than 20 panel presentations)

10:45 a.m. - Noon

Game-Changing Project in Action: Warwick Station Development District:

The vision for Warwick Station calls for transforming the area between TF Green Airport and the newly constructed InterLink into a 1.5 million square feet mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented growth center. Leveraging the existing public investment in the InterLink, the plan aims to develop a sustainable, attractive, live/work environment, generate new economic activity, 3,000 new jobs and a fourfold increase in the tax base.  Learn how a partnership was formed between the City, RIEDC, RIDOT, Federal Highway, and the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce to advance the plan.  Get an overview of the project, its status and gain insight into the remaining hurdles that officials are working to clear in order to accelerate economic and community benefits.

The Honorable Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick (Moderator)

William DePasquale, AICP, Director of Planning, City of Warwick                               

Jack C. Hobbs, FAIA, CEO, Collaborative Partners, Boston

Keith Stokes, Executive Director, RIEDC

Michael P. Lewis, Director, RIDOT

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Game-Changing Project in Action: The Providence Knowledge District

The Knowledge District is a 360-acre area of Downtown Providence that includes the Jewelry District (the former world-capital of jewelry manufacturing), the Hospital District, and surplus land freed up by the relocation of I-195. It is home to Rhode Island’s largest general hospital and multiple Brown University life-science research and development facilities. Building on existing industry clustering and recent institutional expansion in the District, the City is seeking to create jobs and drive innovation and entrepreneurship in a way that builds an urban neighborhood with a real sense of place, improves sustainability, and enhances quality of life.

Colin Kane, Chairman, I-195 Redevelopment District Commission (Moderator)

Thom Deller, Director of Planning and Development, City of Providence

Michael McCormick, Assistant VP, Planning & Design, Brown University

Christopher Placco, VP, Facilities Management, Johnson & Wales University

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Game-Changing Project in Action: East Providence Waterfront District

The East Providence Waterfront District was created by special State Enabling Law in 2003. Much of the approximately 300 acres within the District is vacant or underutilized and many challenges were present for its redevelopment including poor access, outdated infrastructure and environmental contamination. The Waterfront District Enabling Law established a Waterfront District Commission that was charged with redevelopment and was given a unique set of tools including expedited permitting authority and the ability to use economic development approaches such as Tax Increment Financing. This session will highlight two major projects, Tockwotton Home and Village on the Waterfront, which have been able to successfully proceed towards development.

William J. Fazioli, Acting Chairman, East Providence Waterfront District Commission (Moderator)

Jeanne M. Boyle, Director of Planning, City of East Providence

Kevin McKay, Executive Director, Tockwotton Home

Michael Hennessey, Managing Member, Village on The Waterfront, LLC

  

Smart Growth Awards

Individuals:

§         Arnold “Buff” and Johnnie Chace

§         Rep. Jeremiah O’Grady

Outstanding Smart Growth Projects:

§         Hope Artiste Village, Pawtucket

§         Moran Shipping Agencies HQ, Providence

§         Sandywoods Farm Affordable Housing, Tiverton

§         Stillwater Mill Redevelopment, Burrillville

§         The Mercantile Block, Providence

Outstanding Smart Growth Policies/Plans:

§         Aquidneck Island Transportation Plan

§         Town of North Kingstown / QDC Development Agreement

§         Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan

§         Warwick Station Development District Plan

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