Archive for September 26, 2012

Report-Sierra Club & Community Voices for Clean Energy Rally @ Point Lookout Wind Turbine

Sierra Club's Emma Boorboor leads the days events

Sierra Club’s Emma Boorboor leads the days events

Tuesday September 25, 2012: Point Lookout, NY. – Today Sierra Club partnered with Community Voices for Clean Energy at the Point Lookout Clean Energy Park to tell LIPA we need Renewable Energy, and not to lock us into fossil fuels for the next 30 years, as LIPA decide Long Island’s energy future. 

Under watch of the 156 foot tall wind turbine, the speakers laid out why we all need to tell LIPA to invest, and heavily, in renewable energy as they decide what they are going to build and use for Long Island’s needed electricty generation-for the next 30-40 years!!! 

At their upcoming October 2, 2012 board meeting, LIPA will be deciding how they are going to generate electricity, in many cases going out 20-30 years or more.  The Sierra Club said:

“This show of support for clean energy comes at a critical juncture, as LIPA debates various sources of new power for Long Island homes.

All of the community members at this rally came out to express their concern about the current sources of energy generation and share their hope for Long Island’s energy future. Currently, both the State of New York and LIPA are failing to meet their renewable energy goals of 30% renewable sources by 2015 set by the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which LIPA voluntarily committed to. The current debate over new sources of energy generation presents the best opportunity for LIPA to keep their promise to Long Islanders.”

Speakers presented their thoughts:

Dan Sabia, president of Built Well Solar

Dan Sabia, president of Built Well Solar, explains, “LIPA has a big decision to make soon, to continue to support clean energy here on Long Island. [LIPA] has the opportunity to help solidify Long Island’s position as a leader in renewable energy by moving forward with … clean energy.”

Andre Robinson, engineering student at Farmingdale State

Andre Robinson, engineering student at Farmingdale State said: “The Long Island I would like to see is leading the country in clean energy innovation because LIPA made the right decision to invest in clean energy now for our future. Because of this the Long Island I see has good job opportunities…  jobs that pay well and promote healthy communities at the same time.”

 

Speaking as a mother, Bahar Zoghi said, “I think it’s time we really think more clearly about that..

“Speaking as a mother,” Bahar Zoghi said, “with [global warming, carbon dioxide emissions, pollution]… if we keep depending on fossil fuels, conditions will just get worse. I think it’s time we really think more clearly about that, not just for us but for our kids. We owe that to them and the next generation.”

Peter Gollon, Energy Chair of the Long Island Sierra Club, challenged LIPA

Peter Gollon, Energy Chair of the Long Island Sierra Club, challenged LIPA to have the “courage” to make this necessary change. He said, “We are here to tell them to find the courage to actually lead us into the future of renewable energy, where we all know we have to go…Our children and grandchildren can’t wait”

 

We dont think we can wait either.
We are at a crossroads.
The way is pretty clear.
So what the HECK are we waiting for?

If the wrong decision is made, we will be stuck with dirty energy for a looooong time, and the future on Long Island will be delayed a generation.

TAKE ACTION: Click on this link> Tell LIPA- We need clean energy. follow the instructions to let LIPA know you want clean energy.

Tell LIPA- We need clean energy.

Today-Several dozen concerned citizens, hosted by The Sierra Club, were literally “calling” on LIPA to invest in clean, renewable energy.

Those calls were to let LIPA know that instead of sticking all of us into long range contracts that will keep Long Island fossil fuel-dependent for many decades to come, they must pursue clean energy.

LIPA is deciding over this week how they are going to replace their old power plants and how they are going to provide the additional power Long Island’s growth is demanding.

Today, The Sierra Club and Community Voices for Clean Energy are calling on all of us to let LIPA know that the only way is ahead to renewables, and not to go back to dirty fossil fuels!

You can make a difference, LIPA is listening!! heres how:

instructions for calling LIPA

instructions for calling LIPA. Let them know you want renewable energy!

Community Voices for Clean Energy Rally Tuesday 9/25/2012 @ Point Lookout [Sierra Club]

T.O.H. wind to hydrogen station

Rally Tuesday, September 25, 2012 here at the Town of Hempstead’s Point Lookout Clean Energy Park Wind Turbine. Let LIPA know we want them to move into the future for their energy generation needs by investing in and delivering more renewable energy!

 

Thanks for the wake up from Sea By The City about this rally tomorrow:

 

click here:Community Voices for Clean Energy Rally Tuesday 9/25/2012, 11AM @ Point Lookout Energy Park wind turbine….

 

Very important: LIPA is deciding how they are going to make electricity for the next 30-50 years.  They are going to invest in some kind of power plants. They need to decide NOW.

WE need to TELL them to do it with clean, renewable energy: wind, solar etc. 

A recent report showed that by the year 2050, if we go full on into replacing all old power plants with renewable energy now, while doing moderate energy efficiency, the U.S. will SAVE over 5 TRILLION dollars versus not changing to renewable energy, while creating hundreds of thousands of permanent jobs! 

If we don’t, and stick with old dirty energy, it will COST US THE SAME to build the power plants, PLUS THEN WE WILL SPEND that 5 TRILLION ON FUELS(coal, oil, natural gas etc) to generate the electricity!!! And all we’ll have to show for that extra $5 trillion will be more pollution, more climate change, and more of all the other problems we have right now because of those things.

 

We need to change over, we need to do it now, and we need to say so!!

 

We’ll be there.  Will you?

 

NY State Department of Environmental Fracking Conservation?

 

New York Dept. of Fracking

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials and Fracking Interests are running hand in hand… so what about the Environmental Conservation interests of New Yorkers?

 

Disturbing news is emerging that despite public outcry, the NY State Dept of Environmental Conservation(DEC) is succumbing to intense lobbying efforts from the fracking industry,
***stop press as we just learned ***
or worse may actually already be in bed with them.

It was recently reported in this Huffington Post article “Fracking Industry Enjoyed Privileged Access to Controversial New York DEC Environmental Review” that while public and environmental groups were getting the runaround and being forced to jump through hoops to be heard (and 70,000 chimed in against!), the fracking lobby has not only had direct access to the DEC, they had:

  • several months’ (reports range from 6-10 weeks) early notification of impending regulations and recommendations so they could strategize, organize and maximize their lobbying efforts properly,
  • they have had input on tailoring upcoming regulations, and
  • may have even steered the environmental review process.
  • at best, the DEC have left all these accusations highly questionable-at worst they’re all true.

Then Came this article from Brendan Demelle at desmogblog.com: Science Trumped by Politics In Cuomo’s NY Fracking Plans?

After Governor Cuomo said the regulations would be based on science conducted (which seemed to support the public outcry) and not politics, it seems state employees and regulators may not necessarily see it that way since they allowed fracking industry:

access to drafts of the state’s permit plans,… used that information to lobby hard against testing for radioactivity in wastewater, for example.

it goes on to say

seventy New York state legislators on both sides of the aisle pointed out six major issues they said were under-addressed …
Instead of focusing on issues like these, DEC staff were busy discussing zoning questions with industry lawyers and providing drillers with a chance to weigh in on the expense of complying with environmental protections.

We love the one where the fracking industry is now talking about getting rid of fracking waste “water”- by legally spraying it on local roadways!
You must read it.

****stop press*****
As if this all wasn’t outlandish enough…
it is now coming to light that the person at the DEC in charge of all this, is being outed as a fracking and drilling proponent who also publicly supports climate change denial.

Is that who we want in charge of our state’s Environmental Conservation!!

Read about it here: Top New York Regulator Promoting Shale Gas Signed A Climate Denial Petition Stating That Increases In CO2 Are ‘Beneficial’

It begs the key question:

So is Bradley Field, the petroleum engineer and drilling proponent who can’t remember if he is a climate change denier; the holder of a singularly influential position to determine the outcome of shale gas development in New York state as the issuer of permits and the overseer of regulations — Is this Bradley Field nonpartisan? It’s a relevant question.

Not only relevant, it begs other questions:

  • should any singular unelected government official wield so much power?
  • Shouldn’t that person in charge of environmental conservation always err in favor of environmental conservation?
  • and who is watching the “watcher”?

Now, Grenpeace’s Executive Director Philip Radford has weighed in, and we need to stand with them:Why Is Governor Cuomo Letting a Climate Science Denier Regulate Fracking?  They are asking Mr Field to step down and asking you to sign the petition telling Governor Cuomo to get rid of him. 

 

We will continue to follow this story…

editors note:
Truth be told, I’ve started and stopped writing this artcle 3 times, the original story here goes back weeks…and I can’t let it go.

To now, All Our Energy has sought to remain pragmatic on political issues and it is overwhelmingly clear, we cannot. Our voice must be heard.

NY and East Coast Offshore Wind

 

View off the Long Island South Shore off shore wind farm

Our representation of what the proposed offshore wind farm will look like from the area beaches. Can you see the turbines?
Well you won’t be able to, so we didn’t even bother to photoshop them in!

Two articles floating today you need to know about.  

First up is  East Coast Could be Powered by Wind  from Jake Richardson at Cleantechnica.   It describes how the ENTIRE east coast could be powered by 100% offshore wind power.

 

Second is an incredibly well thought out and in-depth look at…

The Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy from Catherine Bowes and Justin Allegro at National Wildlife Federation

Check out their FULL REPORT: The Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy: Time for Action to Create Jobs, Reduce Pollution, Protect Wildlife & Secure America’s Energy Future (pdf)

How do we help others get it, and see it’s interconnected-

  • create jobs,
  • reduce pollution,
  • protect wildlife,
  • secure America..?

                                   your suggestions…???

All Our News: coming soon!

 
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