Sustainable Tucson: The Economic Imperative of Energy Efficiency, Dec. 9

Sustainable Tucson is hosting a four-part series on sustainability and energy efficiency. The next event is Monday, Dec. 9. Here is the information from Sustainable Tucson.

"The Economic Imperative of Energy Efficiency: Leading Tucson to More Jobs and a Robust Economy While Mitigating Climate Change" 

Monday, December 9th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm 

At Joel D. Valdez Main Library, Lower Level Meeting Room, (doors open at 5:30) 

101 N. Stone, Downtown (free lower level parking off Alameda St)

This month, Sustainable Tucson brings international expertise and vision to our community to understand how our region can move to a much more energy-efficient economy while enabling a 100% renewable-energy-powered, and a more vibrant economy.

Tucson’s regional power system and economy can be planned to produce a vibrant economy AND mitigate the worst effects of climate change. In fact the components that can make this happen work in concert. Sustainable Tucson is proud to present two speakers with backgrounds and experience in transitioning from a carbon-intensive economy to one anchored by energy efficiency and powered by renewable energy.

John A. "Skip" Laitner is a resource economist who leads a team of consultants with his own group, Economic and Human Dimensions Research Associates based in Tucson, Arizona. He served nearly 10 years as a senior economist for technology policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He won EPA's Gold Medal award for his contributions to economic impact assessments evaluating climate change policies. More recently, he led the Economic and Social Analysis Program for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a well-known think tank based in Washington, D.C. He has just returned from France where he works as the senior economist for a regional initiative that proposes to reduce energy requirements by half with renewable energy technologies powering all remaining energy needs.
Matthew T. McDonnell, J.D. is a regulatory and policy analyst with Economic and Human Dimensions Research Associates. He has previous experience in the renewable energy finance industry and the utility regulatory process. He has worked with former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Paul Newman, providing policy analysis; and he has given testimony before the ACC. As a consultant, Mr. McDonnell has advised clients on a variety of energy projects including independent review of generation options analysis, prospects for municipalization, as well as, regulatory issues involved with the transmission and sale of electricity--in both FERC and ACC jurisdictions. Mr. McDonnell's clients have ranged from municipalities and energy firms, to public utilities and stakeholder groups.

Doors open at 5:30 pm. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 pm

Climate Smart Southwest: Are YOU Ready for Climate Change?

Is it hot enough for ya?

In the coming years, as temperatures rise, weather patterns evolve, and plant and animal species become extinct, that wry, old country greeting will lose it’s quaint humor. Thanks to global warming.

The Southwest is already the hottest and driest part of the US. And our region is already experiencing longer and more intense heat waves, a dramatic spike in forest fires and severe dust storms, and changes in rainfall and seasonal snowmelt. These changes threaten water resources, food security, and public health.  As extreme weather events continue to increase, we will see higher rates of heat stress, newly emerging infectious diseases, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses.

How will the Sonoran Desert change as climate change progresses? Will we have enough water? What will our air quality be like if Arizona’s dirty coal-fired power plants continue to balk at environmental regulations?  How will Arizona cope with rolling brown outs if electrical demand spikes? How will Tucson’s vulnerable populations fare with more days over 100 degrees? What can we do NOW to lessen the impact of climate change on our fragile environment?

This coming weekend, Sept. 20-21, the Arizona Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is sponsoring an important conference for us desert dwellers: Climate Smart Southwest, Ready or Hot? 

Rep. Grijalva on Need to Address Climate Change - House Floor, April 2013

Southern Arizona Congressman says the flow of the Colorado River-- the "life blood of Arizona"-- will be reduced by 30% by 2050.

"We need proactive solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change," Grijalva said.

REMEMBERING “3/11”

Today is the 6-month point since Fukushima Daiichi started to melt down, becoming the largest nuclear disaster in history, surpassing Chernobyl in radioactive emissions.

This article: “Remembering “3/11”, is about engaging the lessons to be learned from the Fukushima Daiichi. These three outstanding citizens are pointing out how America is NOT yet learning from the tragedy in Japan.

Good and not-so-good news have been streaming in since then. On the positive side, Germany, one of the world's largest economies, keeps on track with its renewed goal of phasing out its reactors. They are actively replacing them with wind and solar power, and improvements in energy savings through increased efficiency. Their solar energy has now surpassed their hydro/dam energy output. See the facts on: Renewable Energy World

According to this Reuter’s article, China is ramping up its wind and solar commitment to replace some of its coal and nuclear plants.

Many other countries are re-thinking their energy options. Portugal has reached about 50% renewable energy in about a decade of judicious commitment so far. This investment will be one of the actions that will bring Portugal out of its economic slump.

Amidst this, our U.S. President and much of our political infrastructure, has become more entrenched in the U.S. commitment to nuclear energy. For every dollar the U.S. puts into this failed outdated technology, we will only get 4 kilowatt-hours of electricity (kWhe). This misspent dollar, if invested wisely instead, will yield about 7 kWhe of wind power or 33 (!) kWhe of energy savings through efficiency improvements. Energy saved negates the need to produce energy.

President Obama and many of our Congressmen/women also are promoting use of coal and natural gas fracturing (fracking) energy. The costs of these options are also much higher than a wise blend of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.

Say yes to renewables and energy savings through efficiency,
No nukes, no coal, no fracking, no kidding!

written by: Russell Lowes, PDA Tucson, IOT on Climate and Environment

Grijalva Speaks Out on Potential Cuts to EPA (video)

Goals and Work Plan for the Global Warming and Environment IOT in Tucson

The PDA IOT on Global Warming and the Environment in Tucson, Arizona seeks to educate, advocate politically and for the environment and work with others within a coalition of organizations in our community to pursue the goals of addressing climate change and assaults on our environment.  These are our working objectives and specific areas of emphasis.   Please consider joining our team and choose the areas of work that you might be most interested in pursuing.  It takes our village to make the changes!  Meanwhile, check out this excellent 5 minute video on the cause of our problems!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-J91SwP8w

1. Develop internal IOT Group education  
   A. Guest speaker on Arizona Corporation Commission's work and issues
   B. Tour of Tucson's coal burning electric power plant
   C. Provide materials on coal, clean air, nuclear power, solar energy and global warming
   D. Offer guest speaker on GW in the SW from UA for General PDA meeting
   E. Offer film series on GW and environmental, energy issues

2. Offer community and school education
   A. Identify materials and projects already in the community and collaborate
   B. Develop educational new tools on energy problems and solutions
   C. Organize volunteer corps of educators on GW and Energy concerns
   D. Prepare "Connect the Dots" presentation on Hidden Costs of Energy

3. Support Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
   A. Participate in City of Tucson's CC Committee as members or observers
   B. Advocate for adoption of the CC Plan for City of Tucson by City Council
   C. Offer education and outreach about the CC Plan

4. Support Energy Efficiency Advocacy
   A. Support to work of the Metropolitan Energy Commission on Energy Efficiency
   B. Help organize Energy Efficiency training workshops in our community

5.  Participate in Clean Air Act Advocacy
   A. Participate in on line political action alerts
   B. Participate in the 50 States United Lobbying in Washington DC
   C. Recruit others in the community to participate

6. Advocacy for Solar Power in Arizona 
   A. Participate in on line political action alerts supporting solar power
   B. Participate in local Solar 101 Workshops
   C. Recruit others in the community to participate

7. Advocate for regulation of energy waste/emmissions
    A. Participate in on line political action alerts  
    B. Participate in workshops on environmental ethics of coal waste
    C. Recruit others in the community to participate

8.  Work with Local Coalition Partners on Related Issues
    A. Respond to pollution action alerts by Audubon Society, Sierra Club
    B. Attend Tbreaks at the Audubon Society - re. environmental issues
    C. Support Hiroshima Day nuclear power protest - Nuclear Resister
    D. Attend WILPF/ASEH co-sponsored workshop on environmental ethics
    E. Testify on behalf of clean air for AZ Passenger Rail Plan for PIRG
    F. Participate in the Peace Fair organized by the Peace Center
    G. Work with Earth Justice on Clean Air Action and advocacy
    H. Support the work of the Tucson Metropolitan Energy Commission

9.  Support National PDA Connections and Advocacy 
   A. Participate in National PDA's monthly GW-IOT Conference calls
   B. Advocacy to oppose or strictly regulate hydrofracking for natural gas

10.  Offer Southern Arizona Workshop on Environmental Justice
   A. Organize community and UA based environmental groups to participate
   B. Plan workshop with AZ Rise and others
   C. Bring film producer and advocates for environmental justice to present
       Films: Return of Navajo Boy and Power Paths