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? 

Grijalva Leads House Committee Fight Against Keystone XL Pipeline

Watch Southern Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva debunks claims related to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

"There will be no lasting impact on the energy independence question for the American people," he said.

Grijalva kicks off Congressional campaign in Tucson

Congressman Raul Grijalva celebrated his birthday and kicked off his Congressional campaign on Sunday, Feb. 19 at El Casino Ballroom in Tucson.

Hundreds of enthusiastic supporters cheered "Raul!" as Grijalva's daughter and local school board member Adelita Grijalva listed his Congressional achievements related to the People's Budget, immigration, job creation, public education, healthcare and the environment. The loudest cheer came when she shouted, "And he stopped uranium mining in the Grand Canyon!"

A diverse group of Grijalva supporters—including many local Democratic Party officials, politicians, and candidates—packed the historic ballroom. They danced to a mix of cumbia and rock oldies, ate Mexican food, signed candidates’ petitions, wrote checks, grabbed yard signs and t-shirts, volunteered to help his campaign, and cheered as he talked about progressive values and his two primary opponents.

Grijalva, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, is one of the most liberal members of Congress, and the standing-room-only crowd obviously agreed with his positions.

Grijalva has served the majority minority border district since 2002. Due to redistricting, the new congressional district (CD3) has changed shape but is still weighted in favor of minority voters and Democrats. To date, two Democrats and three Republicans have announced that they will run for Grijalva’s seat in 2012. (Image Credit: Janet Marcotte.)

Exposing the Buried Costs of Energy

Check out the Social Justice Forum on uranium and coal mining on Navajo Nation and Hopi lands this Thursday, February 23 at the University of Arizona.

Return of the Navajo Boy starts at 3 PM in Crowder Hall at the School of Music. The second movie-- Power Paths-- is at 6 PM at the Center for Creative Photography - both on the University of Arizona Main Campus. You can park on the North side of Speedway and walk under Speedway to the music school.

Richard Heinberg: Why the end of growth can mean more happiness

Inspiring video on sustainability and life with less.

From YouTube...

Richard Heinberg- whose latest book describes The End of Growth- isn't looking for when the recession will end and we'll get back to "normal". He believes our decades-long era of growth was based on aberrant set of conditions- namely cheap oil, but also cheap minerals, cheap food, etc- and that looking ahead, we need to prepare for a "new normal".

The problem, according to Heinberg, is our natural resources just aren't so cheap and plentiful anymore, and he's not just talking about Peak Oil, Heinberg believes in Peak Everything (also the title of one of his books).

Heinberg thinks for many, adjusting to a life where everything costs a bit more, could be very hard, but he also thinks the transition to a new normal might actually make life better.

"Particularly in the Western industrialized countries we've gotten used to levels of consumption that are not only environmentally unsustainable, they also don't make us happy. They've in fact hollowed out our lives. We've given up things that actually do give us satisfaction and pleasure so that we can work more and more hours to get more and more money with which to buy more and more stuff- more flatscreen tvs, bigger SUVs, bigger houses and it's not making us happier. Well, guess what, it's possible to downsize, it's possible to use less, become more self sufficient, grow more of your own food, have chickens in your backyard and be a happier person."

This is not all theoretical. In the backyard of the home Heinberg shares with his wife, Janet Barocco, the couple grow most of their food during the summer months (i.e. 25 fruit & nut trees, veggies, potatoes.. they're just lack grains), raise chickens for eggs, capture rainwater, bake with solar cookers and a solar food drier and secure energy with photovoltaic and solar hot water panels.

Their backyard reflects Heinberg's vision for our "new normal" and it's full of experiments, like the slightly less than 120-square-foot cottage that was inspired by the Small Home Movement. It was built with the help of some of Heinberg's college students (in one of the nation's first sustainability classes) using recycled and natural materials (like lime plaster).

Heinberg admits it's not a real tiny house experiment since they don't actually live in it- his wife uses it as a massage studio, he meditates there and sometimes it's used as a guest house (though that's hush hush due to permitting issues). But their tiny cottage points to the bigger point behind why a transition to a less resource intensive future could equal greater happiness.

"Simplify. Pay less attention to all of the stuff in your life and pay more attention to what's really important. Maybe for you it's gardening, maybe for you it's painting or music. You know we all have stuff that gives us real pleasure and most of us find we have less and less time for that because we have to devote so much time to shopping, paying bills and driving from here to there and so on. Well, how about if we cut out some of that stuff and spend more time doing what really feeds us emotionally and spiritually and in some cases even nutritionally."

URGENT ACTION NEEDED - DON'T REPEAL THE ARIZONA CLEAN CARS PROGRAM !!!!

Please take action! Tell Governor Brewer to reduce air pollution!

Next Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 2 p.m. the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) – 1110 W. Washington St. – Phoenix -will be holding a public hearing to seek repeal of the Clean Cars Program.  With areas of our state not meeting air quality standards and other areas likely to cross that threshold soon, we need to be implementing, not repealing, every possible improvement to protect our air and our health.

The Clean Cars Program, which as you are likely aware, limits health damaging pollution from automobiles.  The Program is known to pave the way for the widespread introduction of technologies like hybrid-electric and fuel-cell vehicles, direct-injection engines, advanced transmissions, improved air conditioning systems, and other technologies with the potential to reduce pollution. 

Cleaner cars not only reduce air pollution and decrease adverse public health impacts such as asthma attacks, but they save consumers money at the pump, which is particularly important as gas prices continue to fluctuate. 

Recently, in the American Lung Association of Arizona’s State of the Air report, Gila, Maricopa, Pinal, and Yuma Counties all received an “F” for ozone pollution.  Ozone is one of the most harmful byproducts of automobile emissions and puts people at risk for premature death, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, decreased lung function, respiratory infection, lung inflammation and worsened lung diseases. 

Clearly, Arizona needs to do everything we reasonably can to reduce automobile emissions.  Under ADEQ’s leadership, Arizona and 13 other states -- over a third of the U.S. market – adopted the Clean Cars Program which helped lead to national policy.  Now, Governor Brewer and ADEQ argue that federal policy is only incrementally weaker than the policy Arizona adopted and we should follow the federal government on this one. 

Even with other measures and federal policy in place, it is necessary to pursue the Clean Cars Program in Arizona to reduce health-damaging pollution in our State.  In fact, Arizona should be moving towards the next round of Clean Car Standards which will provide even more significant air quality and public health protections.

Arizona should implement, not repeal, the Clean Cars Program.
--
Information provided by:
Diane E. Brown, Executive Director
Arizona PIRG (Arizona Public Interest Research Group)
www.arizonapirg.org

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