Green Tallahassee is following news, information and views from around Tallahassee, the State and the nation. Currently, we post news, reviews and interviews on our blog at Green Tallahassee.
Green Food Tallahasseehighlights slow food, organics and community supported agriculture, including a list of farmer’s markets, farms within 100 mile radius and information we can all use in eating better and enjoying life.
Federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which extended energy efficiency tax credits available in 2006 and 2007 but not 2008.
U.S. homeowners can make energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits.
“The ARRA tax credits are very similar to those that were in effect a few years ago and renewed for 2009 only in the Troubled Asset Relief Program last fall,” Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The House vote on H.R.2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, needed 216 votes to pass. It received 219. The Bill, a momentous step toward our energy future, has enough things contained within to alienate a number of groups, most notably Green Peace and Friends of the Earth. However, the feeling among many of us is we have to start somewhere and doing nothing is not an alternative.
Lots of ‘no’ votes from Florida–all Republicans. Below is a list of those who voted ‘yes.’ Florida could have used Alcee Hastings vote, not sure why he was not present for the vote. Apparently, Rep. Allen Boyd had to be coaxed into voting for the bill. I remember his mantra at last year’s energy forum in Leon County: we must be free from our dependendance on foreign oil!
Since Florida voted straight party lines, it’s difficult to tell who may support the bill’s intent, but is busily guarding his/her political career. The Senate begins consideration of its version of the bill min September.
F. Allen Boyd D FL-2
Corrine Brown D FL-3
Kathy Castor D FL-11
Alan Grayson D FL-8
Ron Klein D FL-22
Suzanne Kosmas D FL-24
Kendrick Meek D FL-17
Debbie Wasserman Schultz D FL-20
Robert Wexler D FL-19
Now that the Federal Communications Commission has axed the analog signals for televisions, many, many TV’s will be pitched out as non-usable junk. That’s why Goodwill cannot take any non-digital televisions. Goodwill’s mission is to repurpose and resell things.
I made my first trip out to the ‘Solid Waste Facility’ out Apalachee Parkway and left a couple of non-operable CPU’s with them A very nice gentleman added my two to the enormous stack. I regretted that I didn’t bring my Styrofoam (TM) which is also recycled there.
The Leon County’s Electronic Recycling Center is located at 7550 Apalachee Parkway and takes electronics of all types. More information at their website.
You can also rid yourself of electronic clutter: TV’s DVD players, cell phones, monitors, printers and any other electronic flotsam at the City’s semi-annual Cash for Trash on April 18th and receive two compact florescent light bulbs or a coupon for $5 off your City utility bill. Details at the Green Calendar.
The Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) held their public, town-hall style meeting last night, which was well attended.The Tallahassee Democrat reported over 100 people in the audience.
Some very well informed people from the audience asked questions which supported their skepticism about the biomass project proposed by BG & E, and approved in FSU’s Campus Master Plan.
Some of the people at the front table had done their homework and many of us in the audience shook our collective heads when some others spoke, wondering why they had been invited in the first place.
The moderator, Marjorie Turnbull, did a commendable job in letting individuals have the floor without interruptions from either side.
Lesson Learned:
The process for siting a small energy producing plant in Florida appears to be inadequate to address the necessary health, environmental and community concerns.
The implementation of the Campus Master Plan as an effective tool to allow universities, large land-holding institutions, to plan for growth and development outside the local planning process was not intended to adequately plan for something like a power plant siting in a residential neighborhood.It was intended to plan for future land use including classrooms, housing, research facilities, infrastructure (including roads and the traffic it creates), conservation, recreation and open space, parking facilities and all other things normally associated with a university’s growth.The 6C-21, Florida Administrative Code governs Campus Master Plans. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=6C-21
Some of the Guest Panelists added no substantive information
Many residents and other interested audience participants did their homework before coming
The City of Tallahassee has studied alternative sources of energy, including solar, geothermal, wind, tidal and biomass, with emphasis on demand management and conservation. Solar PVE was determined not cost effective in today’s market, while solar thermal is considered cost effective.
The meeting started with a lengthy, overview of what is biomass by Ben Cowart, Department of Energy Services for the City of Tallahassee.Here’s a clearer, shorter biomass 101 from Wikipedia.
At the end of the meeting, it was confirmed by BG & E official, Glenn Farris, that the sources of the biomass to gasify in the proposed plant has not been secured as of yet.[BiomassGasElectric, Inc.
Thursday night’s candidates forum at Tallahassee City Hall was a mix of candidate opinions, rehearsed quotes with a few good ideas mixed in. Few candidates were well versed in the issues and fewer still had any good suggestions to address global warming, transportation alternatives, reducing the local governments’ carbon footprint, supporting alternative energy and smart growth policies. The event was sponsored by the Big Bend Environmental Forum, the League of Women Voters, the Council of Neighborhood Associations and Sustainable Tallahassee. For the most part, questions came from the audience and were read from cards by the moderator, sometimes with his own additions, interpretations or commentary. Each candidate was not asked to answer each question. Sometimes candidates were asked new questions instead of being provided a chance to answer the same question as his/her preceding opponent. This meant that either the second responding candidate had to take time allotted to answer the new question to address the preceding question or he/she had to skip the preceding question altogether. This format made it difficult to track each candidate’s response to each issue.
Here’s a summary of candidates as they appeared.
City of Tallahassee Commission, Seat 1
How Would You Address the Issue of Urban Sprawl?
Mark Mustian (incumbent) talked about using Blueprint 2000 funding for Capital Cascades funding and possibly requesting a vote to extend the one cent in sales tax that funded the original Blueprint projects. He also talked about raising private sector money to complete the Capital Cascades project, including Phase Three, as there is not enough Blueprint money to complete the entire project. He also mentioned the need to complete the Franklin Blvd. project to further address flooding.
Larry Hendricks, qualified write-in candidate, said he takes a “no growth” policy within the urban service area and criticized the Gaines Street project as a “state sponsored bohemian village.” He also mentioned the need for financial support for solar but did not identify any source of this revenue.
What are your views on alternative energy?
Mustian said that the City of Tallahassee has the most aggressive demand side management program in the country and his focus would continue to be on decreasing the demand for electricity through further conservation and education of the public. He said his view may include subsidies for solar and other alternative sources. He commented on the proposed bio-waste plant near Innovation Park and the questions raised about the safety of the emissions from the plant. He said that this is not the City’s project, and that the City’s only involvement in the proposed project is the agreement for the City to purchase power generated. He said the City may need to look to building codes that require more efficient energy-use buildings, but he also thought that public demand may do a better job in driving more energy efficient buildings.
Hendricks questioned why citizens should ask the utility company to send back the citizens’ own money.
Should the City join Leon County’s energy initiatives in reducing its carbon footprint such as joining ICLEI (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES)?
Mustian answered that the City should work to establish base lines of energy useage, then establish guidelines.
Hendricks responded that people need to be angry about environmental pollution.
Leon County Commission At-Large
What is the top environmental crisis facing Leon County today?
Ed DePuy (incumbent) made comments on the current economic crisis in the US.
Akin Akinyemi mentioned urban sprawl and the need for directing new growth into the existing urban services area and criticized the current County Commission’s frequent approval of (development) plans that are in direct conflict with recommendations made by its own planning staff.
DePuy said he also supports an aggressive in-fill program. He addressed his vote to approve current development projects such as Rockaway (on Mahan Drive in eastern Leon County) saying that he was in the voting majority in approving the project over the objections of the state growth management agency the Department of Community Affairs. He went on to say that if public opinion indicated a need, he would reconsider his approval of the project.
How should the Florida aquifer, what steps should be taken to bring water back to Lake Jackson and limit development around its perimeter?
