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Join the DC Environmental Network for a networking opportunity with George Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water and his team, presenting and answering questions about the proposed Green Infrastructure Project. This special event will be held on May 3rd at Noon at the offices of Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor. (Walking distance from Farragut North and McPherson Square Metro stops)

RSVP for this event here!

Background:

DC Water is proposing a pilot program, the Green Infrastructure Project, to demonstrate the effectiveness of green infrastructure (also known as low-impact development (LID)) on, in their own words, a “massive” scale. This program would cover 50 acres of the Potomac and Rock Creek sewer-sheds and could cost $10-30 million.

The Green Infrastructure Project would use rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs, infiltration planters, trees and other technologies to capture, infiltrate, treat and reuse polluted runoff before it enters the sewer system and ultimately our rivers and creeks. DC Water hopes that this project could result in some formula for substituting LID technologies and their associated benefits for already planned tunnels that are required under a 2005 court-ordered consent decree for the Anacostia River, Potomac River and Rock Creek. DC Water would have to get other parties in the consent decree (including EPA) to agree to new deadlines to plan and implement the project.

Environmental organizations in the District who work on river restoration have a broad spectrum of opinions as to how or even if DC Water should move forward with this project. There is a growing consensus that we need more information and this DC Environmental Network discussion is an opportunity to have some of our questions answered.

RSVP for this event here!

DC Water Green Infrastructure Project Information:

- Green Infrastructure Summit 2012 PowerPoint Presentation, February 29, 2012

- Green Infrastructure Project Brochure

- DC Water Low Impact Development (LID) Website w/Additional Resources

All are welcome!

Interested in how Mayor Gray’s proposed budget will impact local environmental programs?

Join the DC Environmental Network, DC Fiscal Policy Institute and other environmental NGOs for two very important budget briefings:

1. District Department of the Environment (DDOE):

On April 12th at 10:00 AM at 1200 First Street NE (Room 718), DDOE Director Christophe Tulou and staff will brief the DC Environmental Network, DC Fiscal Policy Institute and other organizations on the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget and potential impacts on programs important to the environmental community.

The mission of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is to protect and enhance human health and the environment through preservation, conservation, restoration, education, enforcement, and energy-efficient practices to improve the quality of life in the District of Columbia and build a world-class green city.

DDOE is the lead agency for creating, promulgating and enforcing District of Columbia environmental standards, in addition to implementing, through grant requirements and other mechanisms, federal environmental laws and regulations. The Department also provides certification, review and technical analysis services to both the District government and District residents through inspections, training programs, and permitting processes, in addition to providing energy-related policy, planning and direct services. Finally, the Department develops and implements innovative solutions and programs designed to improve environmental quality and sustainability in the District.

Possible areas of interest: Sustainable Energy Utility, Sustainable DC Initiative, MS4 Enforcement Programs, Coal Tar Enforcement & Education, Special Purpose Funds (Bag Fee, etc.), Lead Safe & Healthy Homes, Fisheries & Wildlife (partial).

RSVP Here to Attend DDOE Budget Briefing!

2. District Department of Transportation (DDOT):

On April 13th at 1:00 PM, DDOT Director Terry Bellamy and staff will hold a briefing on budget issues important to the environmental community. Location: DDOT, 55 M Street SE, Suite 400.

The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) mission is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people and goods move safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment.

DDOT executes its mission through the work of the following divisions: The Infrastructure Project Management Administration designs and builds roads and bridges, rails and other transportation projects; the Progressive Transportation Services Administration provides public transportation service through Metro and the Circulator bus system; the Transportation Operations Administration ensures a safe and user-friendly transportation environment; the Planning, Policy and Sustainability Administration develops strategic goals for the agency; the Urban Forestry Administration maintains the District’s street trees, providing our community with traffic calming, improved air quality, increased ground water retention that minimizes runoff and flooding, temperature moderation, and aesthetics.

Possible areas of interest: Klingle Valley Hiker/Biker Trail, Urban Forestry Administration; Bicycle & Pedestrian programs, DC Streetcar, Bicycle Lanes, Capital Bikeshare (partial).

RSVP Here to Attend DDOT Budget Briefing!

Committee on Environment, Public Works and Transportation DDOE/DDOT Hearing:

These two budget briefings are just in time to help us all prepare for Councilmember Mary Cheh’s Committee on the Environment, Public Works & Transportation performance/budget hearing for both DDOE and DDOT. This hearing will be held on April 25th @ 11:00 AM at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Council Chamber (Room 500). Persons wishing to testify can call 202-724-8162 or email jfaust@dccouncil.us.

District of Columbia FY2013 Budget Information:

- DC Fiscal Policy Institute FY2013 Budget Toolkit

- Susie Cambria’s Budget & Policy Corner

- The Mayor’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2013 MAIN PAGE

- Budget Details for DDOE & DDOT

All are welcome!

Interested in how the Mayor’s proposed budget will affect local environmental programs?

Today District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray released his proposed FY 2013 budget to the DC Council.

The DC Environmental Network and DC Fiscal Policy Institute have asked government agencies for a special opportunity to learn about and discuss how Mayor Gray’s budget will impact programs to fight global warming, restore area rivers and creeks, restore our urban forest and protect the health and economic well being of District residents.

On April 12th at 10:00 AM (1200 First Street NE, Room 718), join the District Department of the Environment, DC Environmental Network and the DC Fiscal Policy Institute for the first of three budget briefings.

RSVP to attend here!

“This budget continues to fund my administration’s top priorities – education, public safety and jobs and economic development – while respecting the fiscal discipline required to safeguard those services for the future,” Mayor Gray said. “We had to make difficult choices, but we believe this budget maintains the right level of government services, including protecting our most vulnerable citizens, without raising taxes.”

Come decide for yourself!

RSVP to attend here!

Learn about the District’s most aggressive efforts to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming!

On March 1st the DC Environmental Network held a very informative brown-bag with over 50 participants to discuss the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU). The DC SEU is arguably the biggest and best funded entity in the District of Columbia whose programs result in reductions in carbon emissions.

The DC SEU is designed to help District households, businesses, and institutions save energy and money through energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Led by the non-profit Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), the DC SEU is a project of the Sustainable Energy Partnership under contract to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE).

You can watch our panelists give their introductory remarks here:

- Theodore “Ted” Trabue, Managing Director, DC Sustainable Energy Utility

- John Macgregor, Chair, Politics & Prose Climate Action Project

- Dan Moring, Program Manager, IBC Engineering Services, Inc.

More information coming soon!

On March 21st at Noon, join Global Green USA , the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability and the DC Environmental Network for an important wake-up call with seven nuclear experts and activists from the former Soviet Union and Norway, to discuss lessons learned from the March 11, 2010 nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, and the current state of thinking about alternative energy futures, climate change, and nuclear safety and security on this planet.

“We all need a loud wake-up call when it comes to understanding the threat which nuclear power and weapons pose today.  Our expert panelists from Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Norway are frontline heroes in the fight to educate the planet about the very real and tragic events in Fukushima and Chernobyl…something that is guaranteed to be repeated if we don’t change our ways here in the District and across the globe.”

- Paul Walker, Global Green USA

 RSVP to Attend this Important Wake-Up Call!

Background:

Just one year ago, March 11, 2011, Japan was hit with a 9.0 earthquake, the largest ever recorded in Japan, and an enormous tsunami, which killed tens of thousands of Japanese citizens and caused the worst nuclear power disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

The nuclear power reactors at Fukushima suffered severe damage including fires,explosions, and core meltdowns, releasing radiation into the atmosphere and permanently crippling the reactors.  Decommissioning and cleanup of this disaster will now take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars; no one really knows whether the surrounding region will ever be inhabitable again.

What does this portend for nuclear power and sustainable alternatives today?

Seven environmental and nuclear experts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Norway will provide their perspectives on both the Fukushima and Chernobyl catastrophes, and how best to plan our “energy futures” today.

Panelists:

- Kaisha Atakhanova, Almaty, Kazakhstan.  Director, Social EcoFund.  Biologist specializing in genetic effects of nuclear radiation.  Recipient of Goldman Environmental Award in 2005.  Presentation: “Nuclear Legacies: Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Lessons for Rio+20.” Presentation: “Management, Transportation, and Storage of Nuclear Materials and Waste: Challenges and Solutions.”

- Dmytro Khmara, Kiev, Ukraine.  Energy Program Coordinator, National Ecological Center of Ukraine.  Physicist focused on life extensions of aging nuclear power plants. Presentation: “Chernobyl: The Last and Worst Problem of Ukraine’s Energy Policy?”

- Natalia Mironova, Chelyabinsk, Russia.  President, Movement for Nuclear Safety.  Political scientist involved in research and activism around nuclear safety and security, especially regarding the “Mayak” high-level nuclear waste repository in the Chelyabinsk Oblast.  Presentation: “Nuclear Power and Energy Options in Russia – Current Trends.”

- Tatiana Mukhamedyarova, Chelyabinsk, Russia.  Member, Movement for Nuclear Safety.  Psychologist and interpreter involved in socio-economic aspects of energy policy, especially in the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia including the US-Russian Mayak high-level waste storage facility. Presentation: “Social Implications of National Energy Strategies”

- Andrey Talevlin, Chelyabinsk, Russia.  Founder, Public Fund.  A public interest lawyer focused on the environmental impacts of nuclear power and radioactive waste.  Teaches law at Chelyabinsk State University. Presentation: “Nuclear Power Safety and Security in Russia – Legal Frameworks and Regulations.

- Pavel Tishakov, Oslo, Norway.  Project Manager, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA).  Focused on IAEA nuclear safety projects in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) and Northwest Russia.  Presentation: “Norwegian contribution to nuclear safety in Bulgaria, Romania, and North-West Russia.”

See more detailed bios here!

RSVP to Attend this Important Wake-Up Call!

All are welcome!

The DC Environmental Network (DCEN) has worked on diesel emission reduction strategies since it was started in 1996. Early in this decade, working with Councilmember’s Mendelson, Graham & Catania, DCEN helped increase momentum at Metro to convert some of the most aging dirty diesel buses to cleaner fuels. Over the years DCEN has advocated for tough idling laws and supported efforts to convert the District’s government vehicles to cleaner technologies. In 2009, working with representatives of the Clean Air Task Force, DCEN held a DC Council briefing to educate decision makers and staff about the dangerous health impacts of diesel pollution and suggested some strategies the District might take. We are currently advocating for a clean construction ordinance to protect workers and all District residents who come across pollution spewing tractors and other construction machinery.

The data in these new reports by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is critical to understanding impacts to human health when we use diesel engines.

Released March 5, 2012:

PRESS STATEMENT from Conrad Schneider, Advocacy Director, Clean Air Task Force, on the release of two major studies of health risks from diesel pollution from National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

“Supporters of cleaning up pollution from millions of older diesel engines across the country just got a powerful boost with the release of two research papers from the Diesel Exhaust in Miners Study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):

- NCI press release- http://cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2012/DieselMinersPressRelease

- NCI Q&A – http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2012/DieselMinersQandA

Industry groups fought in court for years to suppress both reports, but they have now been finally released to the public.

“The two studies, perhaps the most comprehensive ever to examine the public health risks of diesel pollution, looked at a group of 12,000 mining industry workers exposed to diesel carbon particles, and found an astonishing three-fold increased risk of both lung cancer and premature mortality among this study sample.

Furthermore, the researchers found that lifetime exposure to diesel exhaust in some U.S. urban areas with high levels of diesel carbon pollution could carry similar risks.

According to the study, particularly at risk are other workers besides miners who are continuously exposed to diesel exhaust, such as the 1.8 million heavy truck drivers and 460,000 heavy construction equipment operators in this country as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008.

“These studies could not have been released at a more opportune time, as right now Congress is considering two programs that would support reductions of the deadly diesel emissions that threaten workers in these two occupations – truckers and construction workers.

“First, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), reauthorized almost unanimously by Congress in 2010, provides funding for grants and loans to diesel operators to reduce diesel emissions, but is woefully underfunded in the budget currently being considered by Congress.  Instead of the $100 million per year authorized by Congress, the Obama Administration has recommended only $15 million for DERA funding for FY2013, clearly inadequate given the enormous health risks posed by diesel pollution.

“Second, as early as this week, the Senate will move the next Transportation Bill forward, the current version of which includes ‘Clean Construction’ provisions requiring and funding the use of cleaner diesel equipment on federally-funded construction projects in areas of poor air quality.  The latest House version of the bill does not.

“Given what we now know about the lung cancer risks from long-term exposure to diesel emissions, Clean Air Task Force and the grass-roots Diesel Clean-Up Campaign call on Congress and the Administration to ensure that the “Clean Construction” provisions are included in the Transportation Bill, and to restore full funding for DERA.”

For more information on the impact of diesel emissions and the national effort to clean them up, please visit the Diesel Clean-Up Campaign website at www.dieselcleanup.org   For CATF’s diesel exposure studies that suggest commuters and children on school buses may be exposed to significantly elevated levels of diesel exhaust similar to those observed in some occupational settings, please see: www.catf.us/resources/publications/?project=3

Contact:

• Stuart C. Ross, (914) 649-5037 cell, sross@catf.us
• Conrad Schneider, (207) 841-3920 cell,  cschneider@catf.us

Dr. Jerome Paulson of the Children’s National Medical Center testifies on behalf of pesticide reduction on Monday, flanked by Dr. Jennifer Sass of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Paul Tukey of the Safe Lawns Foundation on Monday. (Chris Weiss photos)

WASHINGTON, D.C.– (ENEWSPF) –February 28, 2012. Interviewing witnesses with the precision of a prosecutorial judge, District of Columbia councilwoman Mary Cheh set the stage for an American pesticide showdown Monday afternoon.

In a remarkable session on behalf of the DC Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation the tenured professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University drilled relentlessly into the nuances of a bill, B19-643, “The Pesticide Education and Control Amendment Act of 2012.” Cheh, a Democrat, called every witness, asked every question and displayed extraordinary stamina in a session that grilled 18 individuals and lasted more than four hours.

I’ve sat through dozens, if not hundreds, of similar sessions and never seen anything quite like Cheh’s attention to detail. In addition to doctors and activists who testified on behalf of the bill, Cheh singlehandedly called pesticide professionals, citizens and a government witness.

The general goal of the Pesticide Education and Control Amendment Act of 2012 is to review the myriad chemical compounds used as insect, weed and fungal killers and to eliminate all but the least toxic — except in cases of public health where no “safe” alternatives exist. Of the 18 witnesses called, five spoke in favor of the status quo that allows for unrestricted use of synthetic chemicals and 13 were in favor of some measure of pesticide reduction. SafeLawns testified on behalf of a complete elimination of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the landscape, citing several examples of success stories — including nearby Glenstone — where beautiful aesthetics are achieved without synthetic chemical products.

Cheh was especially inquisitive of three doctors who testified on behalf of pesticide reduction strategies.

“Children or adults (exposed to pesticides) can suffer from asthma, heart problems, irregular heart rhythms, recurrent infections, rashes, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, muscle aches, attention deficit-like behavior, altered vision, sense of smell, hearing, taste or touch, balance, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, seizures, weight gain, altered hormones — including premature puberty, growth disruption, ovarian and testicular dysfunction, thyroid problems, and diabetes,” said Dr. Alan Vinitsky, a pediatrician and internist from Gaithersburg, Md. “There can be increased infertility, increased miscarriages, increased congenital malformations, or a fetus can take on the pesticides, and be saddled with the pesticide burden at birth.”

The representatives of the synthetic chemical pesticide industry, on the other hand, generally pointed to EPA approval of their products as an endorsement for safety “when used as directed by the label.”

Kate Shenk of RISE, right, said she feared her local parks, playgrounds and schools would be overrun with pests if the District of Columbia disallows synthetic chemical pesticides.

“So you’re saying that these previous witnesses are not truthful?” asked Cheh of Kate Shenk, a recent college graduate who represented herself as a paid advisor to the Responsible Industry of a Sound Environment (RISE), the lead lobbying industry for the synthetic chemical fertilizer and pesticide industry. RISE representatives appear at virtually all U.S. legislative attempts to reduce pesticides. The organization’s goal is to advance the theory that without the synthetic chemical pesticides then children’s and environmental health will suffer — yet Cheh was clearly not buying into the paid rhetoric.

“We clearly have more work to do here to determine who is telling the truth,” she said.

Though the hearing was preliminary in nature, the bill is historically sweeping in its potential. Although all synthetic chemical pesticides would still be available under the bill in cases of public health situations where no reduced-risk alternatives exist, the spirt of the DC bill calls for elimination of synthetic chemicals except as a last resort.

In reality, the District of Columbia is a small market due to the relatively small population of less than a million people. Yet people on both sides of the argument were clearly aware of the District of Columbia’s strategic importance in the pesticide debate.

In other words, if an elected official in Maryland, or Virginia, or Oregon for that matter, hears that Washington, D.C., has banned or restricted pesticides, it will likely get that politician’s attention.

It’s too soon to tell how the DC legislation will play out, but if the day’s final witness was any indication, then history may be in the making.

“I’m here to testify on behalf of the Pesticide Education and Control Amendment Act of 2012,” said Christophe Tulou, director of the DC Department of the Environment.

Why is that significant?

Because it would be Tulou’s job to do the extra work to monitor, manage and enforce the new pesticide law if it passes. Most government officials we’ve met in the past have voted against extra hours, tasks and procedures.

Both Cheh and Tulou are saying loudly and clearly: Bring it on.

Christophe Tulou welcomed the challenge of pesticide reduction in the District of Columbia.

Source: www.safelawns.org

DC Environmental Community:

The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU) is designed to help District households, businesses, and institutions save energy and money through energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Led by the non‐profit Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), the DC SEU is a project of the Sustainable Energy Partnership under contract to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE).

This utility is arguably the biggest and best funded entity in the District of Columbia government whose programs will result in reductions of carbon emissions. 

Join us tomorrow to learn how the DC SEU has already left a mark and be part of the future of this utility by sharing your thoughts and ideas as to what we need to do to make this one of the best programs in the country.  RSVP for this Environmental Community Oversight Discussion & Report Here!

All are welcome. Hope to see you tomorrow at noon.

My friends at Parents for Better D.C. School Food asked me to post this information.

Did you know that DCPS Food & Nutrition Services ran a deficit of $14 million last school year?  D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson wants a quick fix – to hire another food service company to provide school meals.  Playing “musical vendors” like this is a short-term band-aid solution.  We can and should do better for our children.

The Chancellor recently rejected her food service director Jeff Mills’ proposal to move school meal production in-house.  Instead, she hastily ordered her staff to establish a new contract with an outside vendor (or vendors) to cut costs, even though it’s not clear what the reported cost overruns are attributed to.

In light of all the progress made in DCPS cafeterias recently, we ask you to join numerous community organizations and concerned parents in demanding that Chancellor Henderson take a strategic look at what’s best for DCPS food services in the long term before acting on a short-sighted solution.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE (http://bit.ly/DCPSMealsPetition) and SPREAD THE WORD!

For more information:

Blog post by Ed Bruske “Kaya Henderson Turning Out the Lights on School Food”
http://bit.ly/A6iBQo

Washington Post Article by Bill Turque “Chancellor Kaya Henderson and Top Staff in Food Fight”
http://wapo.st/xHJC8C

Link to full DCPS Food & Nutrition Services RFP
http://bit.ly/yC9Vzf

On March 21st at Noon, join Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) and DC Environmental Network for an important update on:

“Fukushima One Year Later: A Discussion on Energy Futures and Climate Change with Experts and Activists from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Norway”

Join a brown bag luncheon roundtable discussion with seven nuclear experts and activists from the former Soviet Union and Norway to discuss lessons learned from the March 11, 2010 nuclear reactor meltdown at Fukushima, the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, and the current state of thinking about alternative energy futures, climate change, and nuclear safety and security in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and beyond.

Panelists will include Kaisha Atakhanova from Kazakhstan; Oleg Bodrov, Natalia Mironova, Tatiana Mukhamedyarova, and Andrey Talevlin from Russia; and Pavel Tishakov from Norway, all members of Global Green USA’s “Energy Futures Working Group.”

RSVP for this discussion here! All are welcome!

On February 16th, Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and Clarissa Morawski of CM Consulting explained the design and findings of the new CRI report, “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.” This webinar was organized by the DC Environmental Network in Washington, DC and included participants from the United States, Canada and Serbia.

SEE the PowerPoint Presentation Here!

Watch and Listen to the Presentation on YouTube!

The DC Environmental Network wants to work with DC Mayor Vincent Gray and the DC Council to bring recycling jobs to the District and Washington, Metro region. If you are interested in being part of this effort let us know.

On March 1^st at Noon join the District’s premiere climate activists and other environmental leaders for our March networking opportunity featuring an environmental community oversight discussion on the reality of the accomplishments of the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU):

Our panel will feature:

- Theodore “Ted” Trabue, Managing Director, DC Sustainable Energy Utility
- John Macgregor, Chair, Politics & Prose Climate Action Project
- Dan Moring, Program Manager, IBC Engineering Services, Inc.

This important DC Environmental Network oversight discussion will take place on March 1st at Noon at the offices of Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW (11th Floor) here in our nation’s capital city. All are welcome.

RSVP for this Environmental Community Oversight Discussion & Report Here!

Background:

The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU) is designed to help District households, businesses, and institutions save energy and money through energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Led by the non‐profit Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), the DC SEU is a project of the Sustainable Energy Partnership under contract to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE).

The idea to create the DC SEU was conceived in 2008 by metro Washington energy activists, modeled after Efficiency Vermont, and born as legislation coming out of the DC Council. (The DC Environmental Network played a role in bringing interested activists together to hash out a vision for this utility and helped marshal support for its passage.) Since then, even with significant oversight and attention from the architect of the legislation, Council-member Mary Cheh, it has taken numerous years to put the structure in place to make this vision a reality.

Now, in 2012, the DC SEU is finally reporting a string of accomplishments in its first official year of operation. A recent DC SEU press release stated:

Since the approval and signing of the contract in March 2011, the DC SEU has completed more than 5,600 energy efficiency projects in the District, ranging from direct installations of efficient products and renewable energy measures in multifamily buildings and small commercial buildings to “mini-retrofits”—small energy efficiency measures—in single-family homes. Throughout the summer and fall, the DC SEU designed and implemented five “Quick-Start” programs using local contractors to perform energy-saving upgrades to low-income multifamily buildings, small businesses, and single-family residences in all eight Wards of the District. From installing energy-efficient light bulbs to insulating electric water heaters, these measures were simple and non-disruptive, and can save families and businesses noticeable amounts of money on their energy bills each month.

• The DC SEU’s Low-Income Multifamily Quick-Start Program provided more than 4,700 residences with energy-efficient upgrades and met its FY 2011 goal of dedicating 30% of the DC SEU’s contract budget to improving energy efficiency in low-income housing.
• The Single-Family Residential Quick-Start Program, which served 169 homes, provided residents with lighting upgrades, low-flow water devices, hot water tank and pipe insulation, and air sealing and insulation measures.
• Through its Small Commercial Direct Install Quick-Start Program, the DC SEU served 754 facilities with upgrades of lighting, pre-rinse spray valves, hot water tank and pipe insulation, and ENERGY STAR® air conditioners.
• The DC SEU also created the Commercial and Institutional Lost Opportunities Program, which was designed to capture energy efficiency opportunities with large commercial customers when they were making energy choices to replace old equipment, renovate a building, or begin new construction. As part of this program, the DC SEU partnered with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to pilot demonstration programs, including lighting retrofits, the installation of new energy-efficient light fixtures, and a lighting management program to reduce energy consumption at the UDC campus.
• In addition to these commercial and residential direct installation programs, the DC SEU implemented a Renewable Energy Quick-Start Program a full year ahead of schedule, enabling the installation of 15 rooftop photovoltaic systems and 3 commercial solar hot water systems.

In addition to its program goals, the DC SEU also: Designed and implemented a comprehensive consumer education and marketing plan; Recruited, hired, trained, and is now mentoring a committed and talented DC SEU staff; Developed strong relationships throughout the District.

Our Panel:

On October 12, 2011, Ted Trabue, Jr. was named Managing Director of the DC SEU. Trabue, a public affairs professional and a regular participant in the local political tapestry, has served in numerous capacities including most recently as Executive Director of the Green Builders Council of DC. Trabue also currently serves as President of the District of Columbia State Board of Education. He recently stated:

“I am proud to join the DC Sustainable Energy Utility and provide leadership in the organization’s effort to reduce energy consumption in the District of Columbia,” said Trabue. “I am excited about the opportunity to continue my work in environmental stewardship by helping DC residents and businesses reduce their energy costs, while also supporting local job creation. We will be working aggressively in our customer outreach and look forward to making a positive impact on our local environment and economy.”

Our Discussion:

DCEN discussion participants will be able to get to know the new Managing Director and will have an opportunity to dig into the details of what the DC SEU has accomplished and what we might look forward to achieving in the next few years.

RSVP for this Environmental Community Oversight Discussion & Report Here!

On February 2nd, the DC Environmental Network held a special Clean Water Campaign event to mark the recent arrival of the District’s new stormwater permit and to start getting a clearer picture as to how District agencies are going to implement its various stormwater management programs. The following is an attempt to share, and get a feel for the lack of historical precedent there is so far, for successful implementation of the permit. However, with a fairly new environmental agency (DDOE), and with the good work of environmental groups and positive intentions of agency staff, we just may be able to establish some constructive momentum and get something done for our rivers and creeks. This summary also includes the three video presentations from District Department of the Environment (DDOE) representatives Christophe Tulou (Director, DDOE), Hamid Karimi, PhD.(Deputy Director, DDOE) and Jeff Seltzer (Stormwater Administrator, DDOE).

Maybe I should give some context to our recent discussion on implementation of DC’s new stormwater permit.

The road to District of Columbia compliance with the Clean Water Act has been a complex, fascinating, but mostly a frustrating tale.  The District’s history shows decision makers time and again, quick to go to the edges of our rivers and creeks and declare their love and commitment to restoration efforts, then rush back to their executive offices to gut clean-up funding, raid bag fee money, lower water quality standards (twice in the last decade), sit on legislation to create environmental requirements for new development along our most damaged river (the Anacostia) and blame our pollution problems on folks who are upstream. (Does the Potomac River end in Washington, DC?)

Well, just maybe, things have changed…a little.

Since the DC Environmental Network successfully advocated for the creation of a new District Department of the Environment (DDOE) in the 90′s, the District has marched, sometimes crawled, towards the future slowly building an agency whose mission is to go to work each day and try and figure out ways to follow environmental laws and protect our damaged urban environment.

It must be noted that the environmental community did not just sit on the sidelines the last decade and watch this happen. The environmental advocacy community has had to push, sometimes hard, with advocacy efforts to create DDOE; campaigns to protect water quality standards and promote stormwater management; litigation to defend the Clean Water Act and yearly efforts to bolster the budget of an agency that has more responsibility for environmental health and public welfare then District residents are willing to concede. It hasn’t been easy.

The good news might just be, with very little precedent, we may be seeing signs that having an environmental agency is helping us move forward. Not just on river restoration issues but on numerous fronts important to our planets survival. Which leads me to the District’s stormwater permit…the topic of our recent DC Environmental Network discussion.

Case Study – Our New Stormwater (MS4) Permit:

The idea of creating a strong stormwater permit has consumed the time and energy of many clean river advocates the last ten years. Many of us have spent hundreds, possibly countless more hours advocating on behalf of area rivers and trying to unravel the puzzle of what it might take to motivate government to do its job. We have focused on the stormwater permit because we have hoped that requirements to create working stormwater controls, to keep toxic chemicals and other pollutants out of our rivers, with deadlines and specificity, might help us make progress.

When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued it’s newest stormwater permit three months ago, the environmental community had reason to believe progress had been made. Now we may not like everything that is in our newest stormwater permit, but no one can say it was not an improvement on what we have seen in the past. The permit actually speaks to the creation of a denser tree canopy, green roofs and healthy communities, aspirations that only met with laughter and cold stares less than a decade ago. Additionally, every once in awhile, I (and others) get this feeling that our new agency, that we worked so hard to create and grow, is actually helping us move forward and there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Who knows, we may develop real and measurable precedent in the next few years that shows that we can implement the spirit and intent of laws designed to help cleanup our rivers and creeks.

What about the discussion?:

Well, even if there is some forward momentum there is still much work to do. We have a responsibility as advocates to continue to represent the interests of our rivers and part of that responsibility is to continue to push decision makers and engage representatives of the executive and legislative branch. Our recent luncheon was designed to do just that, help establish precedent and keep us all moving forward.

Our panelists reflected the strength and structure of our new agency with three knowledgeable representatives who all have developed extensive expertise on river restoration issues and understand how to hold their own as an agency…something the District has only seen in recent years.

- Christophe Tulou, Director, District Department of the Environment:

Christophe set the stage with a positive assessment of the District’s status as a green city and updated the Network on the current Sustainable DC initiative. He suggested stormwater management could be an important benchmark for sustainability. He also challenged us to do our part to be partners in achieving sustainability.

“I think we are going to find it quite quaint the requirements in this very aggressive MS4 (stormwater) permit that we have five years from now.” – Christophe Tulou, Director, District Department of the Environment

- Hamid Karimi, PhD., Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment:

Hamid gave participants a little comparison, from DDOE’s perspective, about how the current permit and process compared to past efforts and challenged the environmental community to find the expertise to do it better than might be currently planned.

“A lot of innovative approach (in the new stormwater permit) in doing things different from just about all the other permits EPA has written in the past.” – Hamid Karimi, Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment

- Jeff Seltzer, Stormwater Administrator, District Department of the Environment

Jeff, who is responsible for working out the details of implementing the stormwater permit discussed some of the specifics of what is actually in the permit and what it might mean to water quality standards.

“With revised regulations (the District) we will be harnessing development…redeveloping sites that have already been built on…taking existing impervious surfaces in most cases and re-developing them to a higher standard. This without a doubt will be the highest driver ever for improving water quality in the District.” – Jeff Seltzer, Stormwater Administrator, District Department of the Environment

These presentations were followed by an open discussion with about 45 participants.

“In these times of record-breaking unemployment in the United States (to say nothing of record-breaking costs for energy and landfill space), few solutions are more urgent–and none more logical–than creating jobs out of what we are otherwise throwing away.” – “Returning to Work”

Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers

All Metropolitan Washington area decision makers, government agencies and advocates are invited to this important green jobs webinar:

On February 16th at 10:00 am, join the DC Environmental Network for an important green jobs webinar.

Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and Clarissa Morawski of CM Consulting will go over the details of the new CRI Report “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.”  (Clarissa Morawski, CM Consulting and Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D., of Sound Resource Management Group in Olympia, Washington, are the primary authors of this report.)

RSVP here to recieve webinar information!

Key findings of “Returning to Work” include:

- Deposits create more jobs than curbside recycling relative to beverage containers.

- Recycling creates more jobs than disposal, and CDR creates the most jobs of all.

- Material throughput is the primary driver of recycling jobs.

- The secondary driver of container-recycling jobs is the number of workers required to collect, sort and transport the containers.

 - Jobs gained in recycling far outweigh any jobs lost in extraction of virgin materials.

- U.S. PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) reclaimers currently operate at less than 60 percent of capacity. Increasing to capacity–that is, processing an additional 230,000 tons annually–would create nearly 500 new jobs, based on an employment factor of 2 FTEs per 1,000 tons. Yet the United States exports 400,000 tons of PET to overseas markets each year–the equivalent of 800 jobs.

- Jobs gained from recycling far exceed any jobs lost in virgin extraction, land-filling or domestic manufacturing.

Susan and Clarissa will describe the potential of green jobs and reference case studies of successful programs in the United States and Canada.

After the presentations participants will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Our panelists:

- Susan Collins, Executive Director, Container Recycling Institute, San Diego, CA – Susan has spent 20 years advising over 80 municipalities on municipal solid waste and recycling programs and sustainability issues. She recently completed an extensive international research project comparing the financial, operational and policy aspects of container deposit and packaging systems in California, Germany and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. She spent nine years on the board of the California Resource Recovery Association, has a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Boston University and an M.B.A. from UCLA.

- Clarissa Morawski, Principal, CM Consulting, Ontario, Canada – CM Consulting provides research, analysis, communications and strategic planning services in the area of waste reduction and regulatory affairs. Clarissa Morawski works with industry, federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as the not-for-profit sector, and has more than sixteen years of technical, analytical and communications experience in waste-minimization policy and operations. She has built her career around understanding the various program elements that make up empty-beverage-container management in terms of reuse, recycling and disposal. Ms. Morawski is a contributing editor to Solid Waste and Recycling Magazine and has written for Resource Recycling and Biocycle magazines.

RSVP here to recieve webinar information!

All are welcome!

All Metro-Washington environmentalists are invited to an important brown-bag, networking opportunity:

On February 2nd at Noon (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) will host an important and critical discussion about plans to implement the District’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Permit. This permit authorizes stormwater discharges but more importantly requires implementation of stormwater controls that may help in keeping pollution out of our rivers and creeks.

RSVP for this Discussion Here!

The current permit includes a list of control measures to implement including green roof installation requirements, tree canopy enhancements, and other programs and activities to curb polluted stormwater. Some of these measure include specific targets and dates to complete while others do not have much specificity as to when or how they will be implemented.

Representatives from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) will brief DCEN on the details as to what we need to achieve in 2012 and how they will implement the most important stormwater control measures.

Our DDOE panelists will include:

- Christophe Tulou, Director, District Department of the Environment

- Hamid Karimi, PhD., Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment

- Jeffrey Seltzer, Stormwater Administrator, Stormwater Management Division, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment

The health and economic vitality of our city is tied to our rivers and creeks.

Aggressive implementation of this permit could be the most important determining factor in the next few years towards making real progress to restore the Anacostia River, Potomac River and Rock Creek.

All are welcome and urged strongly to attend.

RSVP for this Discussion Here!

On January 5th the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) convened a discussion on Rock Creek sustainability. Our mission was to figure out what challenges Rock Creek was facing and what can we do to protect this important resource. Another goal was to highlight a very important waterway that sometimes is forgotten, even neglected by the broader environmental community as we focus our attention and energies on the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Communicating the importance of including Rock Creek as we develop our environmental goals, particularly as Mayor Gray moves forward with his Sustainable DC initiative, is critical.

Our discussion included presentations by Beth Mullin, Executive Director of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Tara Morrison, Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, one of the many National Park Service green spaces in the District.

Beth Mullin, Executive Director, Rock Creek Conservancy:

Beth gave participants an overview of the size of Rock Creek which includes over 5,000 acres of parkland, around 2,000 acres in Rock Creek Park (including sections outside of the watershed) and about 3,000 acres in Montgomery County and City of Rockville. Beth shared many of the benefits Rock Creek brings to area residents including recreation, history, nature, learning, community and tranquility to name a few. Beth stressed the importance of creating the next generation of environmental stewards by figuring out how to bring more young people to Rock Creek. She also highlighted some of the sustainability challenges including old facilities, trash, erosion & flooding, disappearing tree canopy, invasive plants and an expanding deer population.  Beth shared what the Rock Creek Conservancy is doing to meet these sustainability challenges including stream teams, partnerships with government agencies, “extreme” trash cleanup’s and supporting the District’s RiverSmart Washington program. It was clear that much needs to be done and that we all need to chip in to put Rock Creek on a path to sustainability. See Beth’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Watch Beth’s Presentation:

Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park:

Superintendent Tara Morrison, who joined Rock Creek Park in May of 2011, thanked Beth for bringing up many important sustainability issues for Rock Creek. Tara stressed the importance of Rock Creek Park as a resource to the region. She stressed the importance of working together to make sure the park survived for future generations. She shared that the National Park Service is responsible for quite a bit of parkland outside of Rock Creek Park. Tara talked of recent successes including the re-opening of Pierce Mill, opening of the final phase of Georgetown Waterfront Park, re-opening of Battleground Cemetery and the re-dedication of the Khalil Gibran memorial. She talked about numerous friends groups that Rock Creep Park works with including the Rock Creek Conservancy, Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park, Friends of Pierce Mill, Friends of Montrose Park and others.

“Working to address a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the Chesapeake Bay, the park recently evaluated the merits and feasibility of hundreds of possible stream restoration, trash and stormwater management projects proposed by the District of Columbia Department of the Environment for Rock Creek land. These projects included rain gardens, bio-swales, reforestation and regenerative stormwater conveyances to slow stormwater flows into Rock Creek and remove nutrients before they enter the creek.” – Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park

Tara identified non-native invasive plants as an extremely important issue and outlined plans to protect the park from this threat. She talked about a growing partnership with the District Department of the Environment including efforts to restore tributaries to Rock Creek. This includes the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the creek. She expanded on the impacts of too many deer on the parks environment and talked about soon to be implemented deer management plans.

Watch Tara’s Presentation:

Both presentations were positively received and were followed by an open discussion in which DC Environmental Network participants shared their ideas about what Rock Creek needs to do to become more sustainable. Check back to view this discussion!

In the last decade and 1/2, DCEN has engaged numerous times on behalf of Rock Creek and the surrounding open spaces. Our clean water campaign has worked hard to curb the amount of raw sewage and polluted stormwater that make its way into the creek. DCEN was also a leader in efforts to close a dangerous and expensive road and create a hiker/biker trail in Klingle Valley. DCEN has also supported efforts to increase access to Rock Creek Park for schools, residents and visitors by closing Beach Drive to vehicular traffic on weekdays. DCEN has also promoted policies to reduce invasive plant species and restore and increase the tree canopy on park-lands throughout the District. We also support humane management methods for dealing with wildlife. We have an established track record on these issues which is why we strongly support many of the sustainability efforts of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park.

We will most likely be holding a smaller discussion for the most interested parties to formulate some goals in 2012 we can all work on. If you are interested give me a call at 202-518-8782 or send an email to cweiss@dcen.net.

Re-Posted from DC Sun Blog

Now is the time to get in line for a DC Solar Rebate – before the funding is gone!  Prices of solar panels are at an all-time low, making the decision to go solar a great long-term investment.  A recent comparison of solar costs in the District indicates that the return on investment from installing solar panels varies from 6-10%.  The existing 30% Federal tax credit, along with renewable energy credits that accrue with your solar project, make the economics of solar very favorable.

Strengthening the economic case for solar even more is the District government’s rebate program.  These DC rebates are designed to encourage renewable energy and foster a new homegrown industry (jobs in DC!!).  If you are able to get in on the DC solar rebate, your rate of return rises into the double digits, and your initial investment can be paid back in 6-7 years.  For many DC homeowners on the fence about going solar, the DC rebate is the incentive that motivates them to move forward.  Below, I examine your chances of getting a DC solar rebate – and it looks like time is running out!

As background, realize that the DC rebate program is a four-year program, which is now in its last year. DC is authorized to release $2 million dollars this year for rebates.  Rebates for a typically-sized system are about $6,000.  Rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from a waiting list that you can join on the DDOE Website.

Last week, I asked the DC Department of the Environment for an update on their progress for releasing those funds now that we are one quarter of the way through the fiscal year.  It is important that these projects continue to be funded at a rapid pace, otherwise the program will expire before funding is released to those on the waiting list.  DDOE reports as follows:

•  $25,000 has been paid out (5 requestors have received checks)
• $598,000 are in the final approval stages (86 requestors will receive checks soon)
• 383 additional projects are on the waiting list.
• DDOE reports that usually about 40% of those that submit the initial application actually decide drop out of the process.

Projections

• Assuming that 230 of the 383 people on the waiting list are funded at an average of $6,000, then the full $2 million will be expended and new entrants to the waiting list will not be funded.
• If the average rebate award and/or the acceptance rates are higher, some at the bottom of the existing waiting list may not receive funding from the $2 million pot.
• If the average rebate or acceptance rate is lower, new entrants to the waiting list may get funding (so act fast and get your name on the list). 

What If You Miss Out???

• It is possible that the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will add funding for additional solar rebates – they added a small amount last year.
• Community activists with DC SUN are calling upon the DC Council, Mayor, Department of Environment, and the SEU to work together to renew the DC solar rebate program for another four years.
• DC SUN’s proposal is discussed in this blog post.

To help demonstrate the effectiveness and interest in this program, DC SUN urges residents to put their names on the DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program Waiting List (Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to reserve your place the list).  This will help in our effort to get this great job creating program back on track for those residents that were not able to participate in the first four years of the program.  Because the solar rebate program is funded by electricity surcharges that are NOT scheduled to go away, DC SUN thinks that the extension of the program is an important way to promote a sustainable future for DC — a future that involves renewable power coming from the people of the City.

All metro Washington area environmentalists and others are welcome to our monthly brown-bag networking opportunity!

On January 5^th at Noon at Global Green USA (1100 15^th Street NW, 11^th Floor), please join the DC Environmental Network and Rock Creek Conservancy for a discussion of the many issues facing Rock Creek. Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director, Beth Mullin, will lead a discussion about your interest in or activities related to the park, and your ideas about how we can work together to take advantage of opportunities and promote sustainability for this vital green space in the heart of the DC metro area. Tara Morrison, Rock Creek Park Superintendent, will also be participating in the discussion. The Superintendent will give us updates on Rock Creek Park.

Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.

Background:

“Location, location, location.” Rock Creek is a natural treasure, just a walk or metro ride away for millions of people, many of whom care deeply about the 5,000 acres of parkland that border the creek and its tributaries in DC and Montgomery County. This is both a threat and an opportunity.  The surrounding development creates a green island in a sea of pavement, subject to polluted runoff, sewage overflows, stream bank erosion, damage to fish and wildlife habitat, and invasive species, including vines that kill trees.

At the same time, there are wonderful opportunities for recreation, relaxation, education, community-based environmental stewardship, and engendering a love of nature and history in the next generation.

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly FORCE–Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment) is dedicated to protecting and restoring Rock Creek and its waters, parks, and lands.  Multiple agencies, non-governmental organizations, property owners, and groups—including many DC Environmental Network members–also have an interest in Rock Creek.

Beth’s Bio:

Beth first joined Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment (now Rock Creek Conservancy) as a volunteer working to protect her local creek, the Pinehurst Branch tributary of Rock Creek.  She became the organization’s Executive Director in October 2007.  She is an environmental attorney with a law degree from New York University and a master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.  She has worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, and the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, DC.

Tara’s Bio:

Morrison comes to Rock Creek Park from the position of Superintendent of the NPS’ African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan, a site where free and enslaved Africans and African Americans were buried in a 6.6-acre site. Prior to her position as Superintendent, Morrison served for about two and one-half years as Management Assistant at the NPS’ Northeast Regional Office, leading the African Burial Assistance Project, coordinating communication with various NPS offices, the General Services Administration and the public regarding the development of a memorial and Interpretive Center at the Monument, including construction and curation of project collections.  Before the African Burial Ground National Monument positions, Morrison served as Acting Assistant Superintendent at the NPS’ Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ, where she reviewed and assisted in developing park-specific project requests, budget prioritization and recommendations for revision.

Morrison began her NPS career in 1998 as a Park Ranger at NPS’ Boston African American National Historic Site. Morrison joined the NPS’ National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as the NPS’ Northeast Region Coordinator where she provided advice, subject matter expertise, and technical matter support toward the implementation of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act.

Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.

“In terms of the sustainability of the economy, having businesses that are operating at the appropriate scale, when you can have a neighborhood where there are 3 or 4 different grocery stores as opposed to one big Wal-Mart, that’s a much more diverse and competitive and resilient economic model.”

- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher, New Rules Project

Earlier this month the DC Environmental Network hosted a extremely important discussion about the future of economic and environmental sustainability in our nation’s capital city. What made this particular discussion unique was that it was the result of a new and emerging partnership between environmentalists and organizations and individuals who represent workers in the District of Columbia.

This coalition was formed out of the understanding, based on research and data collected from the experiences of hundreds of communities throughout the United States, that Wal-Mart’s current economic model, unless enhanced by a Community Benefits Agreement, will result in an unsustainable economic situation that will hurt both the environment and the quality of jobs in the District.

With Mayor Vincent Gray experiencing only a 34% approval rating (53% disapprove) and the DC Council with an even smaller approval rating of 30% (55% disapprove) (Clarus Research Group, 12/2011), it did not bode well that segments of the environmental and labor community, two significant blocks of voters who helped Mayor Gray, Chairman Kwame Brown and others get elected, expressed strong disagreement with Mayoral action, and Council inaction in representing District citizens interests relating to Wal-Mart.

It seems the only decision maker who has done something substantive to represent the interests of District citizens has been At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson who introduced legislation that could help push Wal-Mart to embrace more sustainability in their business model in Washington, DC.

Our discussion featured two experts, one from the environmental community and one from labor, who gave a concise picture of Wal-Mart’s record on economic sustainability:

– Stacy Mitchell, a national expert on the economic impacts of retail on our neighborhoods, representing the New Rules Project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shared the hard cold facts about Wal-Mart’s probable impacts on our local economy. Stacy also talked about the significant disconnect between what Wal-Mart tells the public about its environmental sustainability initiatives and reality.

You can listen to her entire presentation and see some pictures from the DC Environmental Network’s campaign efforts here:

–Joslyn Williams, President, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, poked holes in Wal-Mart’s claims about the quality and impact of the jobs they would bring to the District.

You can watch his entire presentation here:

At the end of these two presentations, participants were left with a clear and focused understanding that we all need to renew our efforts to make sure we end up with economic development that helps, not hurts District residents.

The DC Environmental Network is committed to participating in the efforts of the Living Wages Healthy Communities campaign to force Wal-Mart to respect the District and do what is necessary to make sure our environment is protected and our economy is not damaged by Wal-Mart’s unsustainable business practices.

On December 15 at Noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) join author, illustrator, originator, producer and director, Lynne Cherry, for a very special DC Environmental Network event!

Lynne Cherry, is founder and director of the organization, Young Voices for the Planet. Young Voices for the Planet is a film series featuring young people who are making a difference. They are shrinking the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities. These films demonstrate that you, too, can do something about global warming. As Alec Loorz says, “Kids Have Power.”

• Date & Time: December 15th at Noon
• Featured Panelist: Lynne Cherry, Young Voices for the Planet
• Location: Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor (near Farragut North & McPherson Square Metros)
• RSVP for this event HERE!

Part One – Overview on Young Voices for the Planet!

Lynne will share some of her most recent films and engage the DC Environmental Network in a conversation about how to tap into the power of kids!

Goals of Lynne’s Films & Project:

• to document youth success stories about reducing CO2–to give young people a voice;
• to alleviate children’s fear about climate change and move them towards hope, empowerment and action by inspiring them through these youth success stories;
• to document stories of youth using scientific data to argue their position in order to help other young people and adults understand the role of science in sound decision making;
• to reach and encourage a critical mass of young people to teach their parents and schools how to reduce their carbon emissions in order to galvanize the US public–adults and kids alike–and create a paradigm shift in the way that society views, and acts to abate, global warming;
• to encourage youth and adults to speak to elected officials about supporting sustainable energy;
• to create an interactive website infrastructure to help youth adopt carbon reduction projects;
• to provide teachers with materials to augment the films to facilitate students involvement in carbon reduction projects;
• and to have the films seen by as many young people as possible through distribution, dissemination and web-streaming of the films.

Part Two – Book Signing: Lynne Cherry as Author & Illustrator:

The Young Voices for the Planet films were inspired by the book Lynne Cherry wrote with photojournalist Gary Braasch, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming.

Book Description: When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that the Earth’s climate is changing? Here is the science behind the headlines – evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from young “citizen-scientists.” And here is what young people, and their families and teachers, can do to learn about climate change and take action. Climate change is a critical and timely topic of deep concern, here told in an age-appropriate manner, with clarity and hope. Kids can make a difference! This book combines the talents of two uniquely qualified authors: Lynne Cherry, the leading children’s environmental writer/illustrator and author of The Great Kapok Tree, and Gary Braasch, award winning photojournalist and author of Earth Under Fire: Global Warming is Changing the World.

RSVP for this event HERE!

Lynne will also talk about her many illustrated children’s books and how they help her work.

To facilitate your holiday shopping Lynne will bring copies of these books (and others) and make them available for purchase.

All are welcome!

REPORT: DCEN Briefing on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganizing Act of 2011.

It has been a month since I strolled into the Urban Forestry Brief organized and hosted by the DC Environmental Network with Councilmember Phil Mendelson and Mark Buscaino of Casey Trees. I was curious, how did the District intend to increase the urban canopy? This represented a notion that would exemplify to the rest of the country that the built environment and urban forests will coexist.

“D.C. has a rich history of trees,” expressed Buscaino. “And I think all of us here are a testament to the fact that we really need to hold on to that history…”

The room was full of stakeholders – residents, environmental organizations, arborists, Casey Trees volunteers, and other District employees – sitting shoulder to shoulder listening to Councilmember Mendelson speak on behalf of the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act of 2011. His bill cites amendments to the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002 and transfers the Urban Forestry Administration from the DDOT to the DDOE. He emphasized, “The goal here is the macro, not the micro.” When it comes to expanding the District’s current 35% canopy cover to 40% by 2035, there isn’t time to necessarily be concerned about preserving individual trees. “Simplicity, in any kind of legislation, is key,” said Buscaino.

Buscaino had his own recommended actions about the macro goal. He refreshingly described with candor and laconic humor that the size limit for trees covered by the UFPA, currently 55 inches, needed to be reduced and was set by a man hugging a tree at breast height. I had to watch the briefing video again to make sure I heard correctly. View Mark Buscaino’s portion of the brief for yourself.

Mary Lightle Up in the Tree Canopy

Decreasing the average tree circumference to the recommended 29 inches would allow for trees to grow closer together with a more intact canopy. A large gap in the canopy would occur if a tree of 55 inches were removed. An increased tree canopy would not only sequester more carbon emissions, but it would also slow stormwater with foliage and root systems, shade streets, regulate urban heat island temperatures, and improve aesthetics.

The macro is not only about the District either; it is about the global commons.  Where the wind blows, emissions are sure to go. What kind of neighbor do you want D.C. to be? Take your part in being a stakeholder on Wednesday, December 7^th, at the Urban Forest Administration Reorganization Act hearing.

Walmart’s Sustainability Record: Not Good for DC Jobs or the Environment!

Dear District of Columbia Environmental Community:

A Disappointing Start:

Sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Mayor Gray, so far, seems to be trying to do something else.

In July, 2011 Mayor Vincent Gray  announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation. The Mayor mobilized his agencies to move forward with a new Sustainable DC initiative.  This sustainability  initiative would strive to merge the need to create jobs AND make our nation’s capital city more livable.

This Sustainable DC initiative would be implemented  in a way that would benefit current residents AND future residents. This is a core principle of sustainability.

Just four months later Mayor Gray made another announcement. He announced that the District would be welcoming with open arms as many as six WalMart stores that would impact many neighborhoods.

With the increase from four to six new stores, many labor, environmental and human service organizations (and other District citizens) continued questioning Mayor Gray’s commitment to building a strong local economy and a real sustainability plan. It became even more clear that a WalMart presence in the District, without an aggressive sustainability plan focused on quality jobs and a livable environment, only keeps us from these important goals.

Even with these concerns many of us gave Mayor Gray the benefit of the doubt as he assured District residents he was negotiating with WalMart to create a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), to lock in at least a few community benefits that could be sustained over time for all.

Instead, what the Mayor presented on November 22nd, was Walmart’s very own blueprint called the “WalMart Washington, DC Community Partnership Initiative”, a non-binding list of WalMart’s public pronouncements with arguably zero concessions on their part. What was really sad was that it did not include any substantive environmental commitments beyond following laws already on the books.

Needless to say this is a very disappointing start for Mayor Gray’s first term. The fact that the Mayor does not seem to grasp how important it is to harmonize his sustainability initiative with his efforts to bring jobs to the District is disheartening to say the least. This is not the type of leadership District residents were looking for during last year’s election.

Rev. Kendrick Curry summed it up:

“As a Ward 7 resident, I am very disappointed,” said Rev. Kendrick Curry of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church. “This (WalMart Plan) has no teeth. This will allow WalMart to drain what is already in the community to nothing.”

Next Steps:

On December 1st @ noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor), join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self Reliance and others for a special briefing on why WalMart’s plan is unsustainable unless the city requires a real Community Benefits Agreement with real input from the people who live here. RSVP for this discussion here!

Our panel will feature:

- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher of the New Rules Project: Stacy will share the real story regarding WalMart’s sustainability initiatives. Stacy is also the author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses. Stacy Mitchell Bio.

- Joslyn Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO: Joslyn will discuss how unsustainable WalMart’s employment practices are and how District residents will be locked into economic insecurity for many years after our countries economy turns around unless we all work together to come up with a meaningful Community Benefits Agreement. Joslyn Williams Bio.

RSVP for this discussion here!

Both will demonstrate the importance of developing sustainability policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Conclusion:

What it comes down to is for all of us, the citizens of the District of Columbia, to decide what kind of city we want to be. Are we a WalMart city or are we a Sustainable DC. The evidence is clear that we cannot be both.

We can have WalMart in our city and be sustainable but we need to stand up to this very powerful corporation and tell them that they cannot use our countries economic woes to leverage advantageous development terms and that greenwashing will not be allowed in the District of Columbia.

We have lot’s of opportunities to achieve our goals:

1. Please come and learn why Walmart & Sustainability is a tricky combination that needs our attention. RSVP for this discussion here!
2. Support Councilmember Mendelson’s legislation, Bill 19-170, “Large Retailer Community Agreement Act of 2011″ to require that large retailers (stores over 75,000 sq. ft) enter into a Community Benefit Agreement and Bill 19-171, “Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2011″ to establish standards for responsible business practices by large retailers by ensuring that they pay living wages and provide benefits. More to come.
3. Join the RespectDC campaign.

Hope to see you on November 1st at Noon at Global Green USA!

Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network

The DC Environmental Network has worked hard to promote the Mayor’s Sustainable DC initiative. We have held over 15 meetings, forums and other events, some open to the public, with hundreds of DC environmentalists sharing their vision for a sustainable DC. We are hoping the Mayor will come to understand how true sustainability will only come when we utilize the leverage we have to make sure the interests of District residents are taken seriously by corporations that come into our city to make profits.

How Mayor Gray’s Plan to Bring WalMart to the District, Without a Strong Community Benefits Agreement, is Incompatible with a Sustainable DC

On December 1st at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other metro region environmentalists for a discussion on Mayor Gray’s Sustainable DC initiative and how it may not be compatible with his efforts to bring six WalMart’s to the District.  We will talk about how a strong, well designed, people driven  Community Benefits Agreement might help.

Our panel will include Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses.

RSVP for this discussion here!

Background:

In July, 2011, Mayor Gray announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation.  In the four months since his announcement District residents have not heard all that much from the Mayor himself on this new initiative. What District residents have heard more frequently from Mayor Gray are plans to bring anywhere from 4-6 brand new WalMart stores to the District.

As environmentalists and others start to look closely at WalMart’s record on sustainability many are finding it hard to reconcile Mayor Gray’s vision for a Sustainable DC with the reality of what has happened at the thousands of WalMart stores world-wide.

Walmart’s six-year-old sustainability campaign has helped improve its public image, enabling the company to grow bigger and faster. That growth, ironically, has dramatically increased the retailer’s environmental footprint, and hurt local economies and the U.S. job market along the way. - Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance

Even on an issue many would consider the greatest environmental challenge of our time, climate change, Walmart’s sustainability efforts have not come close to mitigating for the over 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases their facilities contribute to the planet each year.

While the company has been talking big about renewable energy, its greenhouse gas emissions have been rising steadily. Between 2005 and 2009, Walmart’s reported emissions in the U.S. grew by roughly 7 percent. In Asia, they doubled. The company says its operations produced 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2009, and it expects 30 million metric tons of cumulative growth in emissions by 2015. -Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance

Stacy Mitchell and other panelists will help us get behind WalMart’s public relations campaign and demonstrate how the District will need a strong community benefits agreement to make sure the public good is served more than corporate profits and in a way that helps, not hurts the environment we live in.

Our panelists will make 15-20 minute presentations and then open up the discussion for questions and comments from the audience.

Stacy Mitchell Bio:

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project and directs its initiatives on community banking and independent business.

Stacy has served as an advisor to numerous community and small business organizations, and has helped cities and states implement new land use and economic development policies that curb the power of big-box retailers and strengthen locally owned businesses.

Her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses (Beacon Press, 2006), has appeared on several top-ten lists and was described by Bill McKibben as “the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country.”

Stacy is frequently interviewed by news media and has contributed articles to a variety of publications, including Business Week, The Nation, Grist and others. She also writes about banking issues for The Huffington Post and produces The Hometown Advantage Bulletin, a popular monthly newsletter.

An engaging speaker, Stacy has given presentations for many organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, American Planning Association, National Main Street Center, and National Trust for Historic Preservation. See details of upcoming speaking engagements.

In addition to her work with the New Rules Project, Stacy chairs the American Independent Business Alliance and is a founding board member of the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance. She lives in Portland, Maine.

In the last three months the DC Environmental Network has held over 15 meetings and discussion bringing over 600 District residents and environmental leaders together to talk about sustainability in the District.

Photo by USFWS/Terry Cacek

How do we sustain wildlife and natural systems in the face of climate change? That question was considered by over 20 local leaders, climate and sustainability experts, and students from the DC metropolitan area who came together in late October at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

The recommendations from the group will be submitted to the DC Office of Planning and the DC Department of the Environment as part of the process to develop a city-wide sustainability plan.

In particular, participants focused on the ways that natural systems approaches can be used to provide benefits for both people and wildlife.

USDA NRCS Photo

Many people at the meeting indicated that education and outreach to residents is critical, and one suggestion included the development of programs to help the public understand the ways in which protecting and enhancing the city’s green infrastructure can not only support habitats, but can also reduce private property loss from flooding.  Active education was emphasized, including outreach and education to residents about street tree health and maintenance to reduce tree mortality.

Some other Ideas included mapping the location of habitat corridors and open existing spaces, identifying the ability of different habitats to attract certain birds, butterflies, etc. and quantification of the ecological values of trees and plants.

Photo by Carine Thomas

The District of Columbia’s Wildlife Action Plan will be updated in 2015, so it presents an opportunity to incorporate climate change vulnerability data into the plan to make it a “climate-smart” approach.

Meeting participants acknowledged that although much work remains, the meeting represents an important first step to make DC a “climate smart city” that supports people and wildlife.

Please contact Kara Reeve with any questions: reevek@nwf.org

The event was co-sponsored by NWF and the DC Environmental Network (DCEN).

A discussion about the profound connection between our high-consumption carbon intensive lifestyles, climate change and poverty in the global south.

On November 11th at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Urban Solar Solutions LLC, Global Green USA and other DC based climate organizations and activists for an important opportunity to meet with African faith communities as they work to persuade U.S. constituencies of the reality and urgency of acting on climate change. RSVP for this event here!

“Climate change is already a reality in Africa, it is a profound existential threat, we are well past the stage of debating whether or not it is happening, and we urgently need developed countries to commit to changing lifestyles, reducing consumption and most particularly, carbon emissions. If you care about African poverty, you have to change your ways, now.” – Green Anglicans

Background:

The world urgently needs to adopt dramatic and sweeping cuts to carbon emissions in the context of a fair, adequate and legally binding deal.

One of the greatest current obstacles to progress in the international climate negotiations is the resistance of the United States to adopting any targets for emissions cuts. This resistance reflects the fact that human-driven climate change is for most Americans either a low priority, or a phenomenon whose existence they dispute altogether. Therefore, if there is to be any significant shift in domestic US politics on this issue, it is vital that Americans accept the reality of climate change and the urgency of acting to deal with it.

Representatives from African faith communities will discuss the profound connection between high-consumption carbon intensive lifestyles, climate change and poverty in the global South.

All are welcome! RSVP for this event here!

On November 16th at 10:00 AM, join the DC Environmental Network for a special opportunity to polish your advocacy skills and learn about a new resource available to help guide your efforts to influence decision makers here in the District of Columbia.  Susie Cambria, a public policy consultant, will share more than 15 years of experience working on public policy and budget advocacy issues and talk about her new book, “Communications for DC Advocates: How-to’s and Lessons Learned Over 15 Years.”

RSVP Here & Learn More About Communications!

Background:

As environmental advocates in the District of Columbia it is often necessary to communicate our story and ideas to decision makers and the staff they work with. We communicate in many ways including through letters, meetings, fact sheets and briefings, to name a few. We often ask ourselves questions like (partial):

• What is the best way to write a letter to the Mayor or DC Council member?
• How do I prepare and deliver testimony and statements for the record?
• How do I create a fact sheet?
• What is the best structure for a meeting with an elected official or their staff?

Susie Cambria will share her insights and experiences that have made her one of the most effective advocates walking the halls of the John A. Wilson Building.  She will talk about the communications tools outlined in her new book, “Communications for DC Advocates” designed to give advocates a fundamental advantage when they walk into the legislative offices of our decision makers.

About Susie Cambria:

“The guide reflects the years of experience I have in advocacy and the many lessons learned doing public policy and budget advocacy work nationally, in Connecticut and most extensively in the District of Columbia.

I have more than 15 years of experience in DC Children’s policy and budget issues. In my work at DC Action for Children (1997-2008), I helped create a robust budget analysis and advocacy operation by establishing and maintaining relationships with elected and appointed officials and engaging the community in the work of protecting and nurturing children and youth across the District. I also created public education materials, trained others on effective budget and policy practices, and was (and remain, I am told) a respected advocate and analyst.”

RSVP Here & Learn More About Communications!

DC Environmental Network Training Opportunities: The DC Environmental Network has held many training opportunities over the years on grassroots organizing, working with the media and to educate about important environmental initiatives. In the last decade the number of environmental advocates roaming the halls of government in DC has increased ten fold. This is a special opportunity to meet with a very effective District advocate and to learn about communication practices that are easily transferable to our environmental advocacy efforts. It is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this opportunity.

All are welcome.