As the clamor grows on the Right to “Drill Baby Drill”, clean energy wind farms are spreading across the land, and at sea. A major project, involving 78 windmills, is being built off the Delaware coast, near the Maryland border, by Bluewater Wind. The wind farm will provide electricity to 130,000 homes and, says Bluewater’s Jim Lanard, a second wind farm is under consideration for off-shore Maryland. Watch this edition of Mike Tidwell’s TV show, 21st Century Life.
Earthbeat Radio: A New Green Economy
Looking for a silver lining. Given the massive world-wide economic downturn thatis occurring, Earthbeat host Mike Tidwell speaks to Lester Brown, one of the world’s greatest environmental minds.
Brown is the head of the Earth Policy Institute and the author of the book Plan B 3.0 – Mobilizing to Save Civilization.
Then we listen to an encore of our conversation with the lead scientist for the National Snow and Ice Data Center – Ted Scambos. Arctic ice is hitting its second lowest level in the last 100 years, Scambos discusses how and why the North Pole is melting away. Joining the conversation to discuss the politics in Washington and how it can, or can’t, protect the arctic is Brian Moore of the National Audubon Society.
Download this edition of Earthbeat.
Climate Insider Launched!
Hey Everyone –
I’m super-proud of myself for creating this new weekly newsletter: Climate Insider.
I know there are THOUSANDS of you who can’t get enough CCAN. Subscribe today!
Truth Squad: A Great Green Opportunity
Talk to Warren Buffett about Renewables
Hey Marylander
s – in case you hadn’t heard the news, Constellation Energy (the parent company of BGE, and the folks who own the power plants that provide a good chunk of our power) was recently bought out by Warren Buffett. This may not sound like that big of a deal; after all, it’s simply one giant energy corporation eating another one, right?
Well, not exactly.
For example, Buffett has indicated a different position on nuclear power than Constellation energy did. He has this crazy idea that
Future Pres: How long will you wait?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t find much to disagree with when people call the most recent debate “one of the most boring presidential debates ever.” One of the highlights, though, was the question from Ingrid Jackson who got straight to the point:
“We saw that Congress moved pretty fast in the face of an economic crisis. I want to know what you would do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs?”
Our friends at 350.org caught up with her after the debate and she wanted to forward on the following message to all of you:
Dear Friends –
My name is Ingrid Jackson and if you watched the Presidential Debate last night, you saw me ask about a subject that is of the greatest importance to me.
Our planet.
The candidates answered the question, but neither acknowledged my sense of urgency. If I could have asked a follow-up, it would have been this: will you take the immediate steps necessary to deal with this crisis?
As a group of concerned citizens, we can ask that follow up question. It’s time that we make the candidates commit to making substantial changes in our environmental policies. The world cannot wait.
Both Senators McCain and Obama will be in Virginia this weekend. Can you take a second and ask Ingrid’s follow-up question for her?
Click here>>
In addition to sending an email, you can also ask them in person. We have active “Bird-Dogging Pack” all over Virginia. You can sign up to receive updates when a candidate is in your area. So far our bird-doggers have shown up at nearly all the candidate’s events to personally ask questions about energy and the environment. It’s the best way we have to get our message across and let the candidates know how concerned we are about energy and the environment. Join us!
Climate change and green jobs response
At the presidential debate on Tuesday, Ingrid Jackson asked a great question on climate change and green jobs:
Sen. McCain, I want to know, we saw that Congress moved pretty fast in the face of an economic crisis. I want to know what you would do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs?
View their responses here:
The Candidates & a New Green Economy
In the face of the worst economic disaster in American history since the Great Depression — both Barack Obama and John McCain cite their energy policies in their solutions for solving the crisis. Host Mike Tidwell dives into the deep waters of clean energy with two climate activists who don’t see eye to eye on energy policy — Ted Glick, the national coordinator of the US Climate Emergency Council and Joe Romm, a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress.
Climate change is creating what’s called global weirding — these odd fluctuations in temperatures and rainfall are making it harder and harder to pinpoint the ‘leaf peak’ in fall foliage. It’s also putting the billion-dollar ‘leaf peeping’ tourism industry in New England at risk. Jake Weltzin is the executive director of the USA National Phenology Network in Tucson, Arizona. Project Budburst is the tracking network that’s using photos from backyard gardeners.
Getting an urgent climate message out to everyone is the goal of the podcast World on Fire. Producer Jay Tomlinson discusses his tricks of the trade in creating a ‘Reader’s Digest’ of climate news.
Download this edition of Earthbeat.
Image used courtesy of Andybvrs via Flickr.
CCAN's First Rap Video
It’s on! The national Power Vote Challenge Week has arrived and young people across the country are taking their Power Vote pledge campaigns to the next level. The Maryland Student Climate Coalition, set a state wide goal of getting 4,400 pledges in one week! Michigan shot back with a challenge of 4,401. Or course, Maryland won’t allow ourselves to be upstaged by Michigan. I think this ridiculous rap video speaks for itself:
Bring it on Michigan! And let’s make it rain PVs across this Nation! Take the challenge today. I would love to see some other states/schools go head-to-head.
Tax Holiday this weekend for Energy Star products
On the heels of the recent report released by ACEEE that shows that Virginians can reduce electricity demands by 20% in 20 years through efficiency measures, Gov Kaine has announced Virginia’s second annual sales tax holiday on energy efficient products. On Friday and Saturday of this week, Virginians will be exempt from paying sales tax on ENERGY STAR and WaterSense qualified products that cost $2,500 or less.
According to the ACEEE report, all of Virginia’s neighbors besides West Virginia rank higher in energy efficiency investments. Maryland, North Carolina and Washington DC all edge out Virginia, which is currently ranked at 32nd. As one of the most highly educated and wealthiest states in the nation, Virginia can do better. ACEEE recommends that Virginia enact strong policies that set strong targets, reduce peak demand and incentivize efficiency. Policies that have already been tested and proven in states like California, Oregon and Connecticut.
Instead, Virginia is building new, controversial and expensive coal plants like the one in Wise County. While Dominion has already asked for an 18% rate increase this year