Obama Announces Plan to Cut Power Plant Emissions

Posted on July 16, 2014 by CEA

At the beginning of last month, President Barack Obama announced his plans for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the thousands of active power plants in the United States. This is part of his pledge to cut American’s carbon emissions by about 17 percent by 2020. While the details of the plan have not yet been specified, Obama says his rules will bring down the heat-trapping greenhouse gasses that are responsible for global warming. One downside to the plan that critics have pointed out would be the closing of many existing power plants, which would prompt an increase of the price of electricity. However, the White House says that action against climate change must be taken immediately or warming and erratic weather will increasingly become disruptive and will endanger the public’s well-being around the world. As power plants are the single largest source of fossil fuel emissions in the United States, putting restrictions on them will not only ensure a sustainable environment for the United States, but as an example for the whole world. Since Congress will not act on climate change, Obama has used the Clean Air Act from the 1970s, which has only recently been applied to greenhouse gases. The government will issue guidelines that each state has to meet for cutting emissions. Even after the draft rule is proposed, it has to have public feedback for a full year, plus another year for the states to submit their plans for reaching the guidelines for cutting there emissions.

Bikes, Data, & A Master Plan: 3 Cambridge Announcements

Posted on June 18, 2014 by CEA

There is some great stuff happening in Cambridge that you should know about! Here are three announcements from the Cambridge Community Development Department:

1. Cambridge Conversations: Kicking off the Master Planning Process

What’s special about Cambridge? What could be better? We’re launching our citywide master planning process by collecting feedback on these questions and more. If you work or live in Cambridge, make yourself heard by adding your throughts to our brand new Co-Urbanize site:

courbanize.com/cambridge-conversations

Head to the forum page to contribute your ideas and see what others have been saying. The site will keep you updated on the whole master planning process. It has only just begun.

2. City Open Data Site Live!

See all kinds of interesting information about our fair city, from street tree identification to crime reports to waterplay park locations, and so much more. It’s all here:

data.cambridgema.gov

3. FREE Bicycle Workshops for Cambridge Residents and Employees

Our popular free bike workshop series continues this summer with these great offerings:

There you have it. Lots of great stuff to get involved in and explore. Happy Summer!

The City of Cambridge Pledges to Compete for $5M Georgetown University Energy Prize

Posted on April 25, 2014 by CEA

Across the country, the demand for energy is rising rapidly. Yet, despite known negative implications for our environment, we still allow more than half of the total energy produced in the U.S. to go wasted due to inefficiencies. [1]

The City of Cambridge wants to help change this, and as part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate change action, we have pledged our intent to compete in the $5 million Georgetown University Energy Prize.

The Prize kicked off at a two-day conference in Washington, D.C. on April 23, 2014. At the event—which officially opened the competition’s Application Phase— The City of Cambridge was announced as one of more than 50 communities who have signed letters of intent to compete for the Prize. Meghan Shaw, the Community Outreach Director for the Cambridge Energy Alliance, attended the launch of the competition—there she is in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House, fifth from left in the middle row, with other competitors:

As a competing community, we join other small- to medium-size towns, cities, and counties that will develop and implement creative, sustainable, and replicable strategies to save energy. Here’s a map of the other communities that have also pledged to compete:

During the current Application Phase, we will work collaboratively with local stakeholders to develop an energy-saving plan that will not only deliver financial benefits to residents, but will also help ensure the long-term sustainability of our community. Most importantly, we aim to design a plan that other communities can replicate—so that we can all do our part to increase our nation’s energy independence.

The Application Phase—which ends on June 30, 2014—will be followed by Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, and will conclude in 2017 when one winning community is awarded a $5 million prize purse for use on energy efficiency programs. More information about each of the competition’s four stages is available at www.guep.org/rules-timeline.

Stay tuned for more details on the Prize, the City of Cambridge’s energy-saving plan, and to learn how you can support our efforts. In the meantime, please stay connected with us through this blog, our Facebook page, and Twitter @CambEnergy.

We are excited to get underway in the competition and we look forward to elevating the City of Cambridge as a national leader of energy efficiency efforts in America.

Help us get there! For questions about the Prize or if you would like to get involved in the effort, please contact Meghan Shaw at outreach@cambridgeenergyalliance.org.

[1] According to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, using Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration data from August 2010, out of all energy produced, the U.S. has an energy efficiency rate of 42 percent, which means 58 percent of all the energy we produce is wasted: www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2010/images/energy-flow-annotated.pdf.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2012

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Tara Holmes

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival returns to Boston on March 31st! Hosted locally by e-inc, the day long film festival, which includes food, networking and discussion, was started eight years ago in California and changes every year depending upon participant submissions. The national Festival also boasts the reputation as the largest environmental film festival in the United States.

Designed to inspire awareness and activism, the films showcase themes from across the planet on a wide array of pressing environmental issues ranging from energy resources to species and land conservation. e-inc, a Boston-area environmental education center, has hosted the Wild and Scenic Film Festival for a number of years and continues to draw crowds for this event. Get your tickets early and enjoy the show!

Keystone XL Pipeline Denied

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Tara Holmes

Last week, President Obama stood firm against Republican pressure and big oil’s demands and denied TransCanada’s push for construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. This is very good news for clean energy and environmental communities, however, TransCanada intends to swiftly propose a re-route of the massive pipeline through less “environmentally sensitive areas”, which include attempting to avoid Nebraska’s Ogallala Aquifer, an aquifer critical to Nebraska’s natural habitat, livelihood and farming community, never mind its fresh drinking water supply. This point of entry has been the main challenge for the company. It will be interesting to see where President Obama stands on the predicted newly proposed route, which is anticipated to arrive at his desk within two weeks.

The proposed $7 Billion Keystone XL pipeline would carry crude tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, across the middle of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico for refining and will inevitably be a delivery route for oil bound for overseas markets, mainly Latin America and Europe. According to Tar Sands Action, … “Gulf Coast refiners plan to refine the cheap Canadian crude supplied by the pipeline into diesel and other products for export … Much of the fuel refined from the pipeline’s heavy crude oil will never reach U.S. drivers’ tanks.”

For all of the associated domestic jobs being touted by Washington, DC, it’s wise to realize this proposed pipeline will only create a few temporary jobs, at best. This is not the energy market we should be striving for in 2012. We should be instead be investing in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures. The Canadian Boreal Forest, where much of the tar sands exist, is currently being leveled for expanded tar sands production. This forest is a pristine habitat for countless wildlife in addition to the rare Spirit Bear , an albino bear that lives only in this region of the world. There are also countless native tribes that call this region home. Sending millions of gallons of crude oil and oil tankers through pristine wild land is no way to secure our energy future or combat climate change. In fact, the pipeline will only accelerate climate change. The KeystoneXL protests that took place in Washington, DC this past summer reflect the urgency to cease tar sands expansion for fear of exacerbating climate change – the tar sands are said to release 10 to 45% more greenhouse gas emissions than combustion of other related fossil fuels.

While this week’s decision by the State Department and President Obama is a wise one, the political and financial might of the fossil fuel industry and TransCanada will fight back. It’s important to realize however that despite the influence of big oil, the voice of the concerned American citizen has played a significant role in this debate, and ultimately, Obama’s decision. With this in mind, it’s time to continue the push for a cleaner energy future – a future that does not include the tar sands.

Cities Lead the Way

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Tara Holmes

Last night, I attended a meeting hosted by SF Environment, a department of the city and county of San Francisco. I was in awe and inspired by how much one city can accomplish when it comes to educating the public about energy efficiency and environmental consciousness. Not only is San Francisco leading the domestic urban composting charge with a city-wide composting program, whereby the city mandates composting in addition to recycling, but the city is making the process of being an ecoconsumer easier and easier.

When I relocated here two months ago, I was astounded at how commonplace composting was – the city simply places compost bins throughout the city and provides them to each city resident. In addition, SF Environment provides free compost containers for your kitchen so you can easily discard of food scraps. The city has also instated a ban on styrofoam and plastic bags and provides easy access for toxic waste disposal and removal. Thus far, the plastic bags ban remains in effect predominantly at larger retailers, however, SF Environment expects to push this ban across a wider market.

And the data is impressive. Over 5,000 restaurants and businesses, in addition to city residents, compost over 600 tons of food scraps and other compostable materials each day. This compost is then used to produce and foster the organic food sold to these same restaurants and consumers. The cycle is continuous and is saving the city money by reducing the amount of food waste that goes to landfills. In fact, today SF recovers a remarkable 77% of the materials it discards, bringing the city closer to its goal of zero waste by 2020.

Like San Francisco, Cambridge has also focused on recycling and waste reduction for several decades, which is why waste currently contributes only 1% of greenhouse gas emissions. Residents can bring compost to the DPW recycling center and to the local Whole Foods stores. While composting and waste reduction are excellent everyday actions that residents can do to reduce waste, there are also other ways to make a big impact on the City’s greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency in one’s home or business. Heating, cooling and lighting buildings contributes to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, a free home energy audit can address energy waste, helping move Cambridge toward zero-waste in both recycling and energy usage.

Cities like San Francisco and Cambridge are leading the way in the United States when it comes to progressive environmental measures and programs. It’s truly a win-win situation that other cities across the United States, and the world, should emulate for a more prosperous, sustainable and localized economy.

EPA report cracks down on hydraulic fracturing

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Tara Holmes

The clean energy revolution has never been more critical. In a report released December 8th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a direct link between the controversial drilling practice known as hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination. For years, hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” a method to extract oil and gas from underground deposits that uses a mixture of sand, water and chemicals to fracture shale rock and release the gas, has been taking place across the country, mainly unabated and unquestioned by politicians and industry professionals.

Now however, it’s official: fracking has been correlated to tainted groundwater that is often entirely undrinkable by area residents and wildlife alike. The EPA report specifically notes high concentrations of benzene, xylene, gasoline and diesel fuel in groundwater supplies linked to wastewater pits and deeper fresh water wells. This indicates the difficulty in tracking all fracking-related chemicals as the gas industry is not required to reveal all chemical elements, a product of a loophole commonly referred to as the “Halliburton Loophole.”

While this particular EPA report focuses on the town of Pavilion, WY; Dimock, a town of 1400 people in northeastern Pennsylvania, has made recent national headlines as well over the question of drinking water quality. In fact, last week residents and nonprofit groups from neighboring areas, including New York City, drove to Dimock to supply fresh drinking water to its residents as the PA DEP had decided to ignore the issue altogether. Cabot Oil and Gas, the company responsible for fracking in Dimock, had recently ended daily deliveries of clean water asserting that “Dimock’s water is safe to drink.” The PA DEP gave Cabot permission last month to stop paying for clean water and a judge, who sits on the state’s Environmental Hearing Board, “declined to issue an emergency order compelling Cabot to continue the deliveries.”

Never has the need for clean energy alternatives been more necessary. Fracking is a national energy dilemma: on one side energy companies stand to gain considerable profit on harvesting natural gas, while on the other citizens, eager to make quick money, learn only too late the harsh environmental and health-related risks related to the industry.

The EPA report comes at a critical time. As the U.S. is steamrolling hundreds of new fracking sites each month, we are still hesitant to embrace cleaner, renewable technologies. Fracking is a dangerous practice that is clouded by many political and industry interests. The EPA report is a good place to start for stronger regulation and awareness of a very questionable method of extracting this domestic energy source.

EPA Launches “Greener Products” Portal

Posted on September 23, 2011 by JesseGorden

In celebration of Pollution Prevention Week and amid an atmosphere of intelligent concern for the environmental health and safety of products we use in every day life, the EPA has launched a simple online guide for the eco-labeling programs it supports; the Greener Products Portal.

Consumers, small businesses, retailers, manufacturers, and institutional purchasers can use the Portal to search for products that are included in EPA-approved product labeling systems. Using a set of 3 drop down boxes to narrow their inquiries folks can find information on a wide range of products; from appliances to building materials, from automotive products to cleaning products. This tool can be useful for a wide range of people; from parents to industrial purchasers, and the many demographics in between.

For those most concerned with energy efficiency and e-waste, there is an electronics category that contains a label for most items you can think of. For example; how can you identify the most ec0-friendly computer monitors, and which programs cover them? Take a look:

Currently, the most prevalent labeling system to appear when testing several different types of electronic products is, of course, Energy Star. It is refreshing, however, to note that in addition to this familiar energy efficiency marker, there are other labeling systems in place for some electronic pieces- two of which are visible above.

In addition to the searching methods previewed here, you will also find a Greener Products FAQ section in a menu to the right side of the web page.

Take a look at this valuable new resource today to gain a better understanding of the products you use at home or in the workplace!

Biomass Blues

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Tara Holmes

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s stance on biomass has recently changed its tune from one of skepticism to one of acceptance as a state-wide “clean” energy policy. Why the sudden switch? State environmental groups, the same groups who helped lobby to get him into office, are wondering the same thing and are now turning against Patrick’s newfound position at large.

According to a recent article in the Boston Phoenix, the Patrick administration will release a document in the next few weeks that will contain the final regulations for the state’s biomass subsidies. According to environmental groups, the Administration is planning to reverse its original position as a nod towards a handful of developers who stand to make money off of biomass production.

These regulations will come at the expense of ordinary electricity-utility ratepayers who will be forced to pay extra to subsidize a practice that negatively impacts the environment and opens the way for clear-cutting of forests and increased carbon emission (carbon emissions from biomass are particularly concentrated).

Susan Reid, vice-president and director of the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) of Massachusetts stated that, “It is deeply troubling that the Patrick administration would jettison good policy and good science.” James McCaffrey, director of the Massachusetts Sierra Club stated: “We will be very disappointed and very upset” if the Administration doesn’t reverse course. “It is going to indicate that the industry had a real hand in weakening these regulations.”

In an effort to determine whether biomass was as dirty as projected, the Administration commissioned the so-called “Manomet Report.” The study cast serious doubt on whether woody biomass is clean at all. Based on the Manomet Report (pdf), the Administration issued a letter to draw up regulations allowing woody biomass to qualify for subsidies only if it met certain efficiency standards. These regulations are the very regulations environmental groups are waiting anxiously for this fall.

In addition to state-wide policy, biomass has created tension throughout municipalities and local townships. In Greenfield, for example, many homeowners have placed anti-biomass signs on their lawns as western Mass will face the brunt of production given the vast natural resources that exist in that region of the state.

While the struggle for a clean energy economy continues to envelop both Massachusetts and national politics, the debate over biomass remains clear: do state residents wish to see increased clear cutting across the state in return for dirty energy? In a world that is faced with the daunting impacts of climate change, perhaps we should instead focus our policy efforts on coupling energy efficiency efforts with renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal. Trees act as carbon sinks absorbing excess carbon out of the atmosphere; going forward, it would be wise policy to instead preserve as many carbon sinks as possible.

Western MA Tornado Relief: ReBuild Western Massachusetts

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Tara Holmes

Image by Tara Holmes

On June 1st, three tornadoes touched down in western Massachusetts during a surprise series of storms, leaving a wake of destruction and confusion. Massachusetts, not known for tornadoes, is now beginning to rethink state policies surrounding severe weather preparation and emergency response.

ReBuild Western Massachusetts, a program developed by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and administered in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), was announced on August 4th and will distribute more than $8 million to help building owners affected by the tornadoes rebuild using energy efficiency practices and renewable energy technologies. Eligible participants include those who can document damage caused by the June 1 storms, and who own buildings in communities in Hampden and Worcester Counties, including: Agawam, Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson, Brimfield, Southbridge and Sturbridge.

The program will offer incentives for solar PV and solar thermal systems, as well as for renewable heating and hot water systems. Zero-interest loans and grants for building with energy efficient windows, doors, attic and wall insulation, and heating equipment will be offered to homeowner victims. Later this year, offerings will include energy efficiency and renewable energy assistance for other building owners, including businesses and municipalities. “There is now a package of incentives for these communities to rebuild cleaner, greener and more efficiently than ever before,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “For homeowners and businesses these programs bring significant reductions in energy costs and deep energy efficiency savings. These measures will also cut energy consumption, cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our dependence on imported energy sources.”

It is important to note that of the approximately $22 billion Massachusetts spends annually on energy, 80% – or nearly $18 billion – goes out of the state and the country to purchase coal, oil and natural gas from Canada, the Middle East and South America. ReBuild Western Massachusetts aims to encourage building owners to rebuild using cleaner energy alternatives thereby helping to keep energy sources local while decreasing GHG emissions.

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