Will Richmond Accept Climate Commission's Challenge?

Governor Kaine's Commission on Climate Change has issued its final recommendations. Simply put, there's a lot to like:

Kaine had asked the commission to find ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions - mostly carbon dioxide from cars, power plants, factories, landfills, buildings and homes - by 30 percent of the projected levels in 2025.

But the commission voted during its last work session Thursday to go further and faster. It recommended that Virginia shoot for reductions of 25 percent below 1990 emission levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

The goals mirror what President-elect Barack Obama has endorsed for a federal program to combat global warming and follow closely what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has embraced. That group shared a Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore last year for its scientific efforts.

People like Paul Ferguson and Skip Stiles deserve credit for fighting over the last year to make sure the commission delivered strong targets. It looks like they got much of what they wanted, even coming within a single vote of a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants until carbon-capturing technology is available.

Now it's up to Gov. Kaine and the General Assembly to put these recommendations into action. If Republicans in the General Assembly are thinking about reject the results of this bipartisan commission, they need to know they'll face voters in the fall who want climate action now.

Cross-posted from RK

Wednesday: Sierra Club Forum on Energy in Ballston

The Green Miles will be moderating a forum on energy and the environment tomorrow night in Ballston:

Town Hall Meeting -- Achieving an Energy Efficient Virginia
Wednesday, November 12, 7:30 pm
NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington

Energy efficiency is the most cost effective, least polluting, and safest way to meet increasing electricity demand. Energy efficiency programs are an investment in a state's economy that encourages innovation, creates non-exportable jobs, and increases competitiveness. What's more, energy efficiency can meet new electricity demand for 50% of the cost of new generation. Unfortunately, Virginia has lagged behind other states in establishing and funding efficiency programs.

Speakers at the Town Hall meeting will review the methods for creating and managing electrical energy efficiency programs and recommend the best and most relevant ones to be used to craft a strong, viable program for Virginia.

The meeting will be held at the NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, which is within 5 minutes of the Ballston Metro. Parking is also free under the building from North Taylor Street.

The event is being organized by the Sierra Club's Mount Vernon Group. Scheduled speakers include current Arlington County Board Chair Walter Tejada and past chair Paul Ferguson. Hope to see you there!

This Sunday: A Community Conservation Conversation

The Green Miles will be on the road this weekend, but I wanted to pass this along:

“A Community Conservation Conversation”

Sunday, September 30, 2 p.m. at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA; Near the Virginia Square Metro stop on the Orange Line)

Conservation has transcended the “freeze in the dark” connotations of the 1970s and is becoming a vibrant and foundational part of our everyday lives! To further this exciting trend, join the “Community Conservation Conversation” featuring discussion among panel members and the audience. The key to a better and less consumptive society and economy is opening up the floodgates of conversation on this very important topic. The “Green Living Challenge,” developed by Arlingtonians for A Clean Environment, Arlington County’s Fresh AIRE Program and other conservation initiatives will also be highlighted.

Panel members: Paul Ferguson, Chair, Arlington County Board; Monique Tilford, The Center for a New American Dream; Joan Kelsch, an Arlington County Environmental Planner; Drew Langsam, Turner Construction Company; Emily Curley, Alliance to Save Energy; and Martin Ogle, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Congressman Jim Moran is also an invited panelist. This event is co-sponsored by 21 organizations. For more information, please call 703-528-5406 or e-mail Potomac Overlook Regional Park.

Should Facebook Have Banished Ranger Rick?

Coworkers here at the National Wildlife Federation were up in arms earlier this week as word spread that Facebook had canceled Ranger Rick's account. Any attack on Ranger Rick is an attack on The Green Miles, because we're one and the same in Arlington's Neighborhood Day parade each year (to the right is RR/TGM with Arlington County Board Chair Paul Ferguson).

Granted, Ranger Rick is not an actual person, a nominal violation of Facebook's rules that require a profile represent a real person. Facebook says nonprofits can still use the group function.

However, you could easily counter that by saying Facebook allows pseudo-profiles of politicians all the time. Anyone think the actual Hillary Clinton is checking who tagged her wall today? And for nonprofits like the NWF, creating a group or mascot profile protects the privacy of the staffers who work to reach out to members through social networking sites. Does Hillary's Facebook staffer wants to have his/her personal info out there for 35,000 supporters to see?

But here's the bottom line -- of all the fake profiles on Facebook, why has Facebook targeted the beloved Ranger Rick? A quick search shows six fake Paris Hilton profiles. Why kill off Ranger Rick? Would it really have torn a hole in the fabric of the space-time continuum to look the other way while Ranger Rick spread cuteness across the Internet?

If you think Ranger Rick was unjustly targeted, join the Set Ranger Rick Free Facebook group, and tell Facebook to knock it off by emailing them here.

Arlington Hybrid Taxi Proposal Moves Forward, Will County Board Support It?

Excellent news from the Washington Post (via What's Up Arlington's News You Care About):

The streets of Arlington County could get a little greener if a new taxi company offering fuel-efficient, low-emission hybrid cabs wins approval to operate in the county.

The Arlington Transportation Commission gave its approval to enviroCAB last week at the panel's annual taxi meeting and recommended that the company be allowed to operate 35 cabs in the county.

The company must now seek approval from the County Board, which could have a public hearing on the proposal as soon as September.

It's great to hear the Transportation Commission approved enviroCAB's request. Please email Richard Hartman, a transportation planner with the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services, to thank the commissioners for their decision.

However, this part of the article raised The People's Eyebrow:

County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson (D) said he supports the concept but said the board also wants to factor in the other cab companies when making its decision.

"I think there's a good possibility the board would approve it," Ferguson said. "The only real concern is just fairness to the other cab companies. I think it's a good concept and something that I
hope will succeed."

Granted, this is only a snippet of what could've been a longer interview. And granted, I'm sure Paul is just trying to be pragmatic.

But ... this is our region's leading environmental elected official talking? All we get is tepid endorsement? Why isn't Ferguson saying, "We should not only approve this, but let the word go forth from this time and place that anyone else applying for a cab permit in Arlington better make it a hybrid (or pure electric) or you have no shot of getting approved"?

As you can probably tell, it tends to drive The Green Miles a little crazy that here in a county where the vast majority of voters are Democrats and so many citizens are ardent environmentalists, our elected officials are often so overly cautious on environmental issues.

Why wouldn't both Arlington County and the taxi drivers want all of their cabs to be hybrids? Isn't stop-and-go cab driving exactly the kind of driving that maximizes the efficiency of a hybrid's regenerative braking? Wouldn't drivers want to cut their fuel costs in half? Wouldn't the county want to slash emissions from cabs? Considering Arlington County taxi riders are paying more for cab rides to help cover fuel costs, I would hope County Board members would ask companies like Red Top Cab these very questions.

Please email the County Board right now to let them know every single new taxi in Arlington should be a hybrid!

Save the Date: April 14 "Step It Up" Climate Change Rally

I just learned the details of a major climate change rally coming up next month in Rosslyn. It's called "Step It Up," and it's critical you come out and show Congress it must act now to minimize the coming crisis.

Arlington County Board Chair Paul Ferguson and NBC4's Wendy Rieger, two of our region's leading environmental voices, will address the rally. The Green Miles has also been invited to speak. You can get more details of the local rally on the Sierra Club DC's website, and more details of the national effort at the Step It Up site.

Here are the details:

“Creating a Climate of Change” – A Rally to Address Global Warming

Mark your calendar! On Saturday, April 14, at 1:00 p.m., join the groundswell of support for addressing global warming and energy challenges at the “Creating a Climate of Change” Rally at Gateway Park in Arlington, VA. This rally is inspired by Step It Up 2007 ( www.stepitup2007.org ) and will be one of hundreds of rallies across the country that day. The Mt. Vernon Group of the Sierra Club and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment are sponsors of this event.

Gateway Park offers a powerfully symbolic setting for this global warming rally. The park overlooks the tidal (sea-level) Potomac River and also Theodore Roosevelt Island, evoking the timeless conservation message of our Nation’s 26th president. Come for the historic experience. Come for the great speakers. Come lend your support for new societal change. Confirmed speakers include: Arlington County Board Chairman, Paul Ferguson, who has made global warming his 2007 theme; Scott Sklar, President of The Stella Group, Ltd.; NBC 4 News Anchor, Wendy Rieger, and Martin Ogle, event organizer and long-time advocate for energy efficiency and conservation. Other speakers will be added.

Rally participants are encouraged to take Metro. Gateway Park is less than ½ mile from the Rosslyn Metro Station on the Orange Line. It is located on Lee Highway just before it ends on the ramp for Theodore Roosevelt Island, and is accessible from the Custis Bike Trail. Participants are encouraged to take Metro or ride bicycles. Those who must drive can find public street parking and also spaces in the parking lot for Rosslyn Spectrum Theater accessible from Arlington Ridge Road, one block east of Kent Street. For more information, contact Chris Carney.

See you tonight at Living Green in Arlington!

I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones tonight at the annual meeting for Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, "Living Green in Arlington: Renewable Energy, Clean Water, and Buying Responsibly"! The free event takes place tonight from 6:30 to 9:30pm at the NRECA Building (4301 Wilson Blvd., across the street from Ballston Mall and two blocks from Ballston Metro).

ACE board members, staffers, and interns have done a phenomenal job putting the event together. We have an amazing total of 22 businesses and groups scheduled to have representatives and information at the event, a testament to both the excitement surrounding the event and the hard work that's gone into planning it.

It'll be worth the trip just to hear County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson and NBC4 anchor Wendy Rieger. They're two of our region's best environmental advocates, and it's going to be quite a double feature to be able to hear them both speak on the same night.

We'll also have a special offer for people who become ACE members tonight, along with information about ACE's Green Living Challenge.

See you tonight!

County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson (white polo shirt) welcomes the crowd at the 2006 ACE Hike & Happy Hour

Living Green in Arlington: Renewable Energy, Clean Water & Buying Responsibly

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is holding its annual meeting this month! It's called "Living Green in Arlington: Renewable Energy, Clean Water, and Buying Responsibly," and it will take place on Thursday March 15th from 6:30 to 9:30pm at the NRECA Building (4301 Wilson Blvd. near Ballston Metro).

This year we have two big special guests: Arlington County Board Chair Paul Ferguson and NBC4's Wendy Rieger. Paul has made headlines this year for spearheading Arlington's Fresh AIRE program, and Wendy hosts a series of reports called "Going Green" as well as The Green Room blog.

After remarks from Paul, Wendy, ACE Executive Director Elenor Hodges, and ACE Board Chair Me, Paul will moderate a panel discussion featuring Scott Sklar (The Stella Group), Don Waye (U.S. EPA) and Monique Tilford (Center for a New American Dream). We'll also have a special offer for people who become ACE members at the meeting and have lots of information about ACE's Green Living Challenge.

So far, the following exhibitors have signed up to have representatives and information at the event:

Alice Ferguson Foundation
Alterego
Arlington County
Cacao Nibbles
Capitol Greenroofs
DC Green Realty
Deconstruction Services
Dominion Floors
Energy Star
EnviroArchitecture
Flexcar
Nature by Design
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Salvatierra Imports
Ten Thousand Villages
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Sustainable Building Network

Oh, and as I always follow the advice of Eric "You'll Get More People If You Say Punch & Pie!" Cartman, we'll also have refreshments thanks to a generous donation from Whole Foods.

Hope to see you there!

Fresh AIRE Blog Goes Live

Arlington Co. has created a blog for Fresh AIRE! Board Chair Paul Ferguson has the first post talking about the inspiration for the initiative. Post some comments if you like what the county is doing!

The Post Profiles Arlington's Leading Green

In the wake of his Fresh AIRE proposal, the Washington Post profiles County Board Chair Paul Ferguson today. Arguably the best part of the article -- the attached photo, which in my limited experience with Paul's kids perfectly captures their energy and its contrast to their dad's laid-back style. As Paul was delivering his New Year's Day address, his boys were hovering over the compact fluorescent display in the lobby, their mere interest menacing its survival. Ah, to be young and maniacal.

I got to talk to Paul during last year's ACE Hike & Happy Hour, and I was struck by many of the same things the Post reporter was -- very unassuming guy, easy to talk to, never preachy.

The profile raises an interesting question for all environmentalists. What's the best way to advance green causes? Are you better off gently pushing on the macro level for slow, sustainable change as Paul has? Or is it more effective to attack wasteful habits on the micro level, even calling out friends & family who drive gas guzzlers or don't recycle?

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive, and fortunately it doesn't seem like Arlington County does either. It's working on both broad initiatives like Fresh AIRE, and trying to push individual apartment/condo complexes and businesses to recycle at the same high rate single-family homes currently recycle.

On a personal level, I'm both a member of ACE working to back Fresh AIRE, and willing to urge my friends & family to be more environmentally conscious. Just yesterday, a college friend told me she drove an SUV, but by the tone she used, you'd think she was telling me she'd accidentally flushed my winning lottery ticket. I don't wave my environmentalism in people's faces, but I guess if you know The Green Miles, you feel the guilt!