Bonus: World’s Largest Landfill Gas Recuperation PlantPuente Hills in Whittier, Calif.
Producing power from the gas that seeps out of landfills is a better alternative than simply flaring it. (Though it’s debatable whether or not landfill gas constitutes a renewable resource, because yields of combustible gas from landfills decline between 2 and 15 percent per year after a landfill is capped and no more garbage is being added, according to Jeff Pierce, vice president of power plant development company SCS energy). Landfill gas is about half methane and half carbon dioxide and also contains water vapor, which makes it more difficult to handle than conventional natural gas.
The world’s largest landfill gas plant sits atop the Puente Hills landfill—the largest in the U.S.—which accepts trash from Los Angeles County. Pierce says that because this active landfill is still growing, production at the 20 year old Puente Hills landfill gas plant has not yet peaked, and averages about 50 megawatts.
Another 50-megawatt landfill gas plant sits atop another gigantic dump in Incheon, South Korea. Currently there are no plans for units larger than either the Puente Hills or Incheon facilities.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Lighting Control
Retrofitting standard metal halide hi-bay fixtures to fluorescent hi-bay fixtures can generate energy cost savings of about 50 percent. How does reducing the resulting energy consumption by another 30+ percent sound—made possible by switching to fluorescent?
While tapping what remains arguably the hottest lighting retrofit market, distributors should understand the full advantages of fluorescent over probe-start metal halide, such instant-on and re-strike, which enables the use of switching strategies typically not practical with HID light sources.
Example: An occupancy sensor installed in each fixture senses a lack of occupancy in the area, or a photosensor senses high light levels due to daylight contribution, and either switches off the fixture or its outboard lamp. This provides a choice of energy savings and, if desired, flexible selection of light levels.
An additional 30-80 percent energy savings using occupancy sensors and 10-30 percent savings using daylighting controls can be achieved in a hi-bay fluorescent upgrade, says John Ireland, OEM channel manager for Watt Stopper/Legrand.
Mike Connolly, market development manager for Lithonia Lighting - Industrial Products, says inboard/outboard switching—achieved by separating circuiting ballasts within the same fixture, enabling 0/50/100 percent and 0/33/66/100 percent lamp output/power—is an inexpensive way to gain the benefits of flexibility from the lighting system. “For example, in a gym, light levels can be lowered for school productions or other needs outside of athletics,” he says. “Multi-lamp fluorescent fixtures offer many light level possibilities for user control, daylight harvesting and other applications.”
Occupancy sensing is the predominant strategy, particularly in applications such as distribution centers, warehouses and bulk storage areas. “Any area of 50 percent or less usage levels will accelerate the project’s payback period—even with relatively modest electric rates of $0.07 per kWh,” says Connolly. To optimize lamp life, particularly when the fixtures have high switching activity—more than six on/off cycles per day—programmed-start ballasts and a minimum 15-minute sensor time delay are recommended.
Passive-infrared (PIR) technology is standard in occupancy sensors used in hi-bay applications. “Besides its low cost, most spaces in hi-bay applications are within the line of sight of the sensor, large motion is usually being detected, and little adjustment is required after installation,” says Tom Leonard, director, marketing and product management for Leviton Lighting Management Systems. In hi-bay applications, the sensor may have a lens that provides 360-degree coverage for open areas or a narrow linear coverage for warehouse aisles
While tapping what remains arguably the hottest lighting retrofit market, distributors should understand the full advantages of fluorescent over probe-start metal halide, such instant-on and re-strike, which enables the use of switching strategies typically not practical with HID light sources.
Example: An occupancy sensor installed in each fixture senses a lack of occupancy in the area, or a photosensor senses high light levels due to daylight contribution, and either switches off the fixture or its outboard lamp. This provides a choice of energy savings and, if desired, flexible selection of light levels.
An additional 30-80 percent energy savings using occupancy sensors and 10-30 percent savings using daylighting controls can be achieved in a hi-bay fluorescent upgrade, says John Ireland, OEM channel manager for Watt Stopper/Legrand.
Mike Connolly, market development manager for Lithonia Lighting - Industrial Products, says inboard/outboard switching—achieved by separating circuiting ballasts within the same fixture, enabling 0/50/100 percent and 0/33/66/100 percent lamp output/power—is an inexpensive way to gain the benefits of flexibility from the lighting system. “For example, in a gym, light levels can be lowered for school productions or other needs outside of athletics,” he says. “Multi-lamp fluorescent fixtures offer many light level possibilities for user control, daylight harvesting and other applications.”
Occupancy sensing is the predominant strategy, particularly in applications such as distribution centers, warehouses and bulk storage areas. “Any area of 50 percent or less usage levels will accelerate the project’s payback period—even with relatively modest electric rates of $0.07 per kWh,” says Connolly. To optimize lamp life, particularly when the fixtures have high switching activity—more than six on/off cycles per day—programmed-start ballasts and a minimum 15-minute sensor time delay are recommended.
Passive-infrared (PIR) technology is standard in occupancy sensors used in hi-bay applications. “Besides its low cost, most spaces in hi-bay applications are within the line of sight of the sensor, large motion is usually being detected, and little adjustment is required after installation,” says Tom Leonard, director, marketing and product management for Leviton Lighting Management Systems. In hi-bay applications, the sensor may have a lens that provides 360-degree coverage for open areas or a narrow linear coverage for warehouse aisles
Friday, May 8, 2009
Reduce Energy consumption
Priority Energy lights a regional award winning tennis complex
Date Announced: 05 May 2009
Hillcrest Racquet Club is one of the top tennis facilities in the North Eastern United States being awarded the club of the year 2008 by the USTA Middle States, operating in Reading, Pennsylvania. Hillcrest Racquet Club was looking to find a lighting solution to reduce their monthly demand for lighting while improving the light output for the tennis courts and the general area. The project has completed the first phase of the general area using the U-tube replacement, 4ft replacement, PAR 30 and the medium Incandescent replacement LED lights of Priority Energy. The second phase of the project will be to convert the court lighting from the 1,000W Metal Halides. The major concern of the tennis club was to ensure the best color of light as well as to have sufficient light output throughout the large 10 court facility. Priority Energy installation was to replace 4 fluorescent products with 3 of the 15W LED products achieving higher light output and the track lighting for the Pro Shop. "Hillcrest Racquet Club are thrilled with their new lights knowing that they have been one of the first sports facilities to have a higher quality light while reducing their huge monthly operational costs of their lighting which represent 80% of their electrical bill." said Paul Prior CEO of Priority Energy. Hillcrest Racquet Club have not only reduced their monthly electricity bill already by $500 per month but have also reduced their carbon footprint by 760 MT. "We expect that with the completion of phase 2, Hillcrest Racquet Club will see a 65% reduction in their electrical bill each month." added Mr. Prior.
ContactPriority Energy Toll Free 801 938-5296
E-mail: info@myprioritycorp.com
Web Site: www.myprioritycorp.com/priority_company_004.htm
Date Announced: 05 May 2009
Hillcrest Racquet Club is one of the top tennis facilities in the North Eastern United States being awarded the club of the year 2008 by the USTA Middle States, operating in Reading, Pennsylvania. Hillcrest Racquet Club was looking to find a lighting solution to reduce their monthly demand for lighting while improving the light output for the tennis courts and the general area. The project has completed the first phase of the general area using the U-tube replacement, 4ft replacement, PAR 30 and the medium Incandescent replacement LED lights of Priority Energy. The second phase of the project will be to convert the court lighting from the 1,000W Metal Halides. The major concern of the tennis club was to ensure the best color of light as well as to have sufficient light output throughout the large 10 court facility. Priority Energy installation was to replace 4 fluorescent products with 3 of the 15W LED products achieving higher light output and the track lighting for the Pro Shop. "Hillcrest Racquet Club are thrilled with their new lights knowing that they have been one of the first sports facilities to have a higher quality light while reducing their huge monthly operational costs of their lighting which represent 80% of their electrical bill." said Paul Prior CEO of Priority Energy. Hillcrest Racquet Club have not only reduced their monthly electricity bill already by $500 per month but have also reduced their carbon footprint by 760 MT. "We expect that with the completion of phase 2, Hillcrest Racquet Club will see a 65% reduction in their electrical bill each month." added Mr. Prior.
ContactPriority Energy Toll Free 801 938-5296
E-mail: info@myprioritycorp.com
Web Site: www.myprioritycorp.com/priority_company_004.htm
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Energy Crisis
Obama's goal for the hybrid cars will be a challenge
Apr 16, 2009
Omaha World Herald
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's campaign pledge to put 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 is fraught with difficulties, from technical and engineering hurdles to the realities of the economy and the price of gasoline.
It took eight long years to get 1 million hybrids on the road in the United States, and even a White House task force says one of the leading new plug-in cars being developed is too expensive to gain popularity any time soon.
Obama's goal could help revitalize the struggling U.S. auto industry and begin shifting motorists away from the gas pump. But to many, it's overly optimistic.
President Barack Obama on a tour of the Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, Calif., last month.
"The economics won't make sense for the majority of Americans in the next several years," said Brett Smith, who studies plug-in hybrids at the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Center for Automotive Research.
Plug-in hybrids allow motorists to drive a limited number of miles on battery power before the engine switches over to run on gasoline or other fuels. A driver can plug the car into a conventional wall outlet at night and be ready to go electric again in the morning.
The cars could dramatically reduce gasoline use because many commuters drive less than 40 miles a day.
Obama last month toured a California electric car facility where he announced $2.4 billion to develop advanced batteries and electric cars. The administration has said the vehicles would play a role in its goal to reduce dependence on foreign oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions and create "green" jobs.
"Even as our American automakers are undergoing some painful adjustments, they are also retooling and reimagining themselves into an industry that can compete and win," Obama said in Pomona, Calif.
During his campaign, Obama promised $4 billion in tax credits to automakers to revamp their plants to build plug-ins, and a $7,000 tax credit for consumers who buy early versions of the cars. He even pledged to convert the White House vehicle fleet to plug-ins within a year, as security permits, and require half the cars bought by the government to be plug-in or all-electric by 2012.
To automakers, battery makers and utilities, the pledge was akin to one made by President John F. Kennedy generations ago. "That's a 'Go to the moon' kind of goal," said Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of hybrid vehicle programs. She said it would demand "unparalleled collaboration" among the government, the industry and academia.
Automakers are already committed to plug-ins and electric vehicles. Toyota Motor Corp. will produce a few hundred plug-in Prius hybrids later this year as a test fleet, General Motors Corp. plans to release an extended range electric plug-in called the Chevrolet Volt in limited numbers in late 2010, and Nissan Motor Co. is planning to sell an all-electric car next year. Chrysler, Ford and Daimler are all developing plug-ins and electric cars.
But numerous questions remain about the cars. One of the biggest hurdles is whether their large lithium ion batteries are ready for mass production. Some analysts have pegged the cost of the batteries at $1,000 per kilowatt hour, which could add about $16,000 to the cost of a first-generation Volt and thousands of dollars to a plug-in Prius.
Lithium ion batteries have been used commonly in cell phones and laptop computers, but the auto industry needs to ensure that the batteries will remain long-lasting and safe. Automakers have partnered with utilities and universities to develop recharging stations and a common way of communicating between the vehicles and the electric grid.
None of the major automakers has made a firm commitment on the mass production of plug-ins — building 100,000 vehicles a year or more — that would be required to meet Obama's goal.
"It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal," said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. GM has not released production figures for the Volt, but Posawatz estimated it would be in the "tens of thousands" of vehicles by 2015.
"It's not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books," he said.
Conventional gas-electric hybrids account for less than 3 percent of the car market and it took about eight years to get 1 million hybrids on the road in the United States, according to automotive consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co.
Obama's own auto industry task force, which is trying to help GM and Chrysler emerge from the crisis that left them needing $17.4 billion in government loans, casts doubt on the Volt in a March 30 report. That report says that although the car "holds promise, it will likely be too expensive to be commercially successful in the short term."
GM has not announced pricing for the Volt, but it's expected to cost between $30,000 and $40,000.
Current fuel prices also are an issue; $2-a-gallon gas gives consumers few incentives to spend thousands of dollars extra for a hybrid or even more for a plug-in. It would take years for the fuel savings to outweigh the price premium.
The industry also will need a smooth transition for plug-ins to take off. Any hiccups along the way could hurt the vehicles' image.
"They've got to be commercial-ready," said Tom Stricker, Toyota's director of technical and regulatory affairs. "You do risk having a negative response from the consumer if the technology doesn't meet their expectation in terms of durability, cost and performance."
Apr 16, 2009
Omaha World Herald
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's campaign pledge to put 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 is fraught with difficulties, from technical and engineering hurdles to the realities of the economy and the price of gasoline.
It took eight long years to get 1 million hybrids on the road in the United States, and even a White House task force says one of the leading new plug-in cars being developed is too expensive to gain popularity any time soon.
Obama's goal could help revitalize the struggling U.S. auto industry and begin shifting motorists away from the gas pump. But to many, it's overly optimistic.
President Barack Obama on a tour of the Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, Calif., last month.
"The economics won't make sense for the majority of Americans in the next several years," said Brett Smith, who studies plug-in hybrids at the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Center for Automotive Research.
Plug-in hybrids allow motorists to drive a limited number of miles on battery power before the engine switches over to run on gasoline or other fuels. A driver can plug the car into a conventional wall outlet at night and be ready to go electric again in the morning.
The cars could dramatically reduce gasoline use because many commuters drive less than 40 miles a day.
Obama last month toured a California electric car facility where he announced $2.4 billion to develop advanced batteries and electric cars. The administration has said the vehicles would play a role in its goal to reduce dependence on foreign oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions and create "green" jobs.
"Even as our American automakers are undergoing some painful adjustments, they are also retooling and reimagining themselves into an industry that can compete and win," Obama said in Pomona, Calif.
During his campaign, Obama promised $4 billion in tax credits to automakers to revamp their plants to build plug-ins, and a $7,000 tax credit for consumers who buy early versions of the cars. He even pledged to convert the White House vehicle fleet to plug-ins within a year, as security permits, and require half the cars bought by the government to be plug-in or all-electric by 2012.
To automakers, battery makers and utilities, the pledge was akin to one made by President John F. Kennedy generations ago. "That's a 'Go to the moon' kind of goal," said Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of hybrid vehicle programs. She said it would demand "unparalleled collaboration" among the government, the industry and academia.
Automakers are already committed to plug-ins and electric vehicles. Toyota Motor Corp. will produce a few hundred plug-in Prius hybrids later this year as a test fleet, General Motors Corp. plans to release an extended range electric plug-in called the Chevrolet Volt in limited numbers in late 2010, and Nissan Motor Co. is planning to sell an all-electric car next year. Chrysler, Ford and Daimler are all developing plug-ins and electric cars.
But numerous questions remain about the cars. One of the biggest hurdles is whether their large lithium ion batteries are ready for mass production. Some analysts have pegged the cost of the batteries at $1,000 per kilowatt hour, which could add about $16,000 to the cost of a first-generation Volt and thousands of dollars to a plug-in Prius.
Lithium ion batteries have been used commonly in cell phones and laptop computers, but the auto industry needs to ensure that the batteries will remain long-lasting and safe. Automakers have partnered with utilities and universities to develop recharging stations and a common way of communicating between the vehicles and the electric grid.
None of the major automakers has made a firm commitment on the mass production of plug-ins — building 100,000 vehicles a year or more — that would be required to meet Obama's goal.
"It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal," said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. GM has not released production figures for the Volt, but Posawatz estimated it would be in the "tens of thousands" of vehicles by 2015.
"It's not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books," he said.
Conventional gas-electric hybrids account for less than 3 percent of the car market and it took about eight years to get 1 million hybrids on the road in the United States, according to automotive consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co.
Obama's own auto industry task force, which is trying to help GM and Chrysler emerge from the crisis that left them needing $17.4 billion in government loans, casts doubt on the Volt in a March 30 report. That report says that although the car "holds promise, it will likely be too expensive to be commercially successful in the short term."
GM has not announced pricing for the Volt, but it's expected to cost between $30,000 and $40,000.
Current fuel prices also are an issue; $2-a-gallon gas gives consumers few incentives to spend thousands of dollars extra for a hybrid or even more for a plug-in. It would take years for the fuel savings to outweigh the price premium.
The industry also will need a smooth transition for plug-ins to take off. Any hiccups along the way could hurt the vehicles' image.
"They've got to be commercial-ready," said Tom Stricker, Toyota's director of technical and regulatory affairs. "You do risk having a negative response from the consumer if the technology doesn't meet their expectation in terms of durability, cost and performance."
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Lighting control and energy management
'SA facing serious energy crisis' 03/04/2009 08:04 - (SA)
Pretoria - Urgent steps are needed to counter South Africa's low electricity reserve margin, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Thursday.
Despite the success of the Earth Hour on Saturday, the minister urged South Africans to do more.
She said the government commended the Earth Hour initiative and hoped that it promoted awareness that the country was still facing a serious energy crisis.
"South Africa is one of the least energy efficient nations in the world and the least efficient in Africa", she said.
"We also hold the number 11 spot on the top 20 greenhouse gas emitters list and are responsible for 42% of Africa's emissions. Every kilowatt of electricity you use produces one kilogram of carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases."
Two years ago, the minister warned that South Africans needed to start saving 10% of their electricity usage every year for the next five years or the energy supply would be threatened.
In early 2008, periodic blackouts outraged all South Africans, yet by October of the same year only 0.4 percent had been saved.
'We are in trouble'
A healthy electricity reserve margin sat at 17 to 20%, an amount that ensured sudden changes in demand or supply and power-plant maintenance did not cause blackouts, but South Africa's reserve margin remained much lower than that.
"The recent lack of blackouts has led to the assumption that our energy situation has been resolved," Sonjica said.
"Unfortunately this is far from the truth. We are in trouble unless we all begin to take responsibility for our habits of energy wastage."
She said nations across the world were rising to the challenge of sustainable energy development and conservation.
Sonjica said energy sustainability had become an issue that no country, industry or individual could afford to ignore. - SAPA News 24
Wayne Felton.
Pretoria - Urgent steps are needed to counter South Africa's low electricity reserve margin, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Thursday.
Despite the success of the Earth Hour on Saturday, the minister urged South Africans to do more.
She said the government commended the Earth Hour initiative and hoped that it promoted awareness that the country was still facing a serious energy crisis.
"South Africa is one of the least energy efficient nations in the world and the least efficient in Africa", she said.
"We also hold the number 11 spot on the top 20 greenhouse gas emitters list and are responsible for 42% of Africa's emissions. Every kilowatt of electricity you use produces one kilogram of carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases."
Two years ago, the minister warned that South Africans needed to start saving 10% of their electricity usage every year for the next five years or the energy supply would be threatened.
In early 2008, periodic blackouts outraged all South Africans, yet by October of the same year only 0.4 percent had been saved.
'We are in trouble'
A healthy electricity reserve margin sat at 17 to 20%, an amount that ensured sudden changes in demand or supply and power-plant maintenance did not cause blackouts, but South Africa's reserve margin remained much lower than that.
"The recent lack of blackouts has led to the assumption that our energy situation has been resolved," Sonjica said.
"Unfortunately this is far from the truth. We are in trouble unless we all begin to take responsibility for our habits of energy wastage."
She said nations across the world were rising to the challenge of sustainable energy development and conservation.
Sonjica said energy sustainability had become an issue that no country, industry or individual could afford to ignore. - SAPA News 24
Wayne Felton.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Electrical and Lighting Control
Dear Editor,
What we wanted and what we got from our last vote.
We were promised:
1.Free education
Parents and caregivers have never paid this much for education. School fees have trebled. Higher school fees and ridiculously larger number of pupils per class, implying less and less individual attention to your child. Both parents need to work to ensure fees are paid.
2. Free water and electricity
Apparently some big wigs at Eskom did mention to the leaders of the New South Africa that a new power station needs to be built or else South Africa is sure to suffer in the near future.
However, the New South Africa's priorities were much too important. Road names needed to be changed for one, let alone the overseas holidays taken on the tax payers money. So unfortunately the promise of free water and cheaper electricity changed to higher rates and higher water bills.
3. Free or cheaper housing
Over the past three years property prices shot up so high that it became impossible for the average person to purchase. For those who did manage to just about qualify to buy, they were hit down when interest rates shot up so high that their entire salaries were going just towards the bond.
4. Cheaper everyday living
Bread is now R90, so let's round that off to R10. Since you now don't have your own home, for whatever reasons listed in point three above, you are back living with your parents.
There's grandma, grandpa, mum, dad, three children. So let's say two loaves are enough for everyone for the day. Lunch is reduced to one slice per person. R600 a month for bread. Meat prices... say no more.
5. Freedom
Our streets have never been more dangerous. In fact you don't even need to go out into the streets, the perpetrators will come to your home.
E-mails recently being circulated are a structured table of which vehicles are hijacked; e-mails on how to make it safely from a mall to your car; e-mails on how to fill up at the garage without being mugged, raped or killed. Crimes are taking new and exciting turns: schools, churches, mosques, offices, medical centres, and even grave yards.
The criminal profession has expanded. The criminal has the freedom to do as he pleases. The criminal has the freedom to mug, rape and shoot you. The criminal has the freedom to take away your most precious belongings. The criminal has the freedom to fair trial and evidence based judgement (if that evidence is ever found at the police station). The criminal has a right to education in prison. The criminal has a right to MNet and internet in prison. The criminal has a right to intercourse with his/her partner whilst in prison.
I am not white, Indian, black or coloured. I am SOUTH AFRICAN. As a South African I reserve the right not just to live in this country but to live happily. Think before you vote.
A Voter
What we wanted and what we got from our last vote.
We were promised:
1.Free education
Parents and caregivers have never paid this much for education. School fees have trebled. Higher school fees and ridiculously larger number of pupils per class, implying less and less individual attention to your child. Both parents need to work to ensure fees are paid.
2. Free water and electricity
Apparently some big wigs at Eskom did mention to the leaders of the New South Africa that a new power station needs to be built or else South Africa is sure to suffer in the near future.
However, the New South Africa's priorities were much too important. Road names needed to be changed for one, let alone the overseas holidays taken on the tax payers money. So unfortunately the promise of free water and cheaper electricity changed to higher rates and higher water bills.
3. Free or cheaper housing
Over the past three years property prices shot up so high that it became impossible for the average person to purchase. For those who did manage to just about qualify to buy, they were hit down when interest rates shot up so high that their entire salaries were going just towards the bond.
4. Cheaper everyday living
Bread is now R90, so let's round that off to R10. Since you now don't have your own home, for whatever reasons listed in point three above, you are back living with your parents.
There's grandma, grandpa, mum, dad, three children. So let's say two loaves are enough for everyone for the day. Lunch is reduced to one slice per person. R600 a month for bread. Meat prices... say no more.
5. Freedom
Our streets have never been more dangerous. In fact you don't even need to go out into the streets, the perpetrators will come to your home.
E-mails recently being circulated are a structured table of which vehicles are hijacked; e-mails on how to make it safely from a mall to your car; e-mails on how to fill up at the garage without being mugged, raped or killed. Crimes are taking new and exciting turns: schools, churches, mosques, offices, medical centres, and even grave yards.
The criminal profession has expanded. The criminal has the freedom to do as he pleases. The criminal has the freedom to mug, rape and shoot you. The criminal has the freedom to take away your most precious belongings. The criminal has the freedom to fair trial and evidence based judgement (if that evidence is ever found at the police station). The criminal has a right to education in prison. The criminal has a right to MNet and internet in prison. The criminal has a right to intercourse with his/her partner whilst in prison.
I am not white, Indian, black or coloured. I am SOUTH AFRICAN. As a South African I reserve the right not just to live in this country but to live happily. Think before you vote.
A Voter
Monday, March 2, 2009
lighting control
Young People to Swarm Capitol With Green Agenda
Mar 1, 2009
Washington Post
By Jonathan Mummolo
Thousands of young people, many of them emboldened by the 2008 presidential contest, will descend on the Capitol tomorrow to urge the government to take radical action to stem climate change and plant the seeds of a green economy.
Arriving Friday from every state in the union -- as well as every Canadian province and more than a dozen countries -- about 12,000 people, most between 18 and 26 years old, are in the District this weekend for Power Shift '09, a summit aimed at raising environmental awareness and lobbying leaders on green issues.
The four-day convention will culminate tomorrow with a rally at 11:30 a.m. on the Capitol's west lawn and meetings all day with members of Congress and their aides to press them for immediate action.
"We want to make sure our new president and new Congress pass bold federal energy and climate legislation in 2009 that dramatically reduces emissions and creates millions of green jobs," said Brianna Cayo Cotter, communications director for the convention's organizer, the Energy Action Coalition, a network of 50 national organizations that advocate for clean energy.
She said leaders "understand that young voters were a key to this 2008 election" and they are now demanding results. "We have come of age as a powerful voting constituency."
Among the hundreds flooding the lobby of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center yesterday -- where Power Shift hosted workshops, panel discussions and musical acts including The Roots -- were Lauralee Crain and Ayesha Siddiqi, students at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. They have been pushing for clean energy in the heart of coal country, which, they said, means they clash with powerful pro-coal interests on campus and off.
They said highlighting the ill effects of strip mining and mountaintop coal removal was among their top priorities.
"We don't have Angelina Jolie and George Clooney posing with these devastated mountains," Siddiqi said. "We're rising to the challenge of climate change ourselves. . . . We're not waiting for the naysayers to catch up."
Kate Villars, a civil engineering student at the University of Virginia interested in environmentally friendly building techniques, attended a workshop about integrating the topic of energy efficiency into educational lesson plans, a step she said would improve her own program.
Andrew Nazdin, 20, a junior at the University of Maryland, said he is looking forward to meeting with House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) tomorrow to ask him to push for "science-based reductions in carbon emissions."
"He's got a room that will fit 75 of us," Nazdin said, "but we're going to bring 600 people and ask for a bigger room."
Mar 1, 2009
Washington Post
By Jonathan Mummolo
Thousands of young people, many of them emboldened by the 2008 presidential contest, will descend on the Capitol tomorrow to urge the government to take radical action to stem climate change and plant the seeds of a green economy.
Arriving Friday from every state in the union -- as well as every Canadian province and more than a dozen countries -- about 12,000 people, most between 18 and 26 years old, are in the District this weekend for Power Shift '09, a summit aimed at raising environmental awareness and lobbying leaders on green issues.
The four-day convention will culminate tomorrow with a rally at 11:30 a.m. on the Capitol's west lawn and meetings all day with members of Congress and their aides to press them for immediate action.
"We want to make sure our new president and new Congress pass bold federal energy and climate legislation in 2009 that dramatically reduces emissions and creates millions of green jobs," said Brianna Cayo Cotter, communications director for the convention's organizer, the Energy Action Coalition, a network of 50 national organizations that advocate for clean energy.
She said leaders "understand that young voters were a key to this 2008 election" and they are now demanding results. "We have come of age as a powerful voting constituency."
Among the hundreds flooding the lobby of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center yesterday -- where Power Shift hosted workshops, panel discussions and musical acts including The Roots -- were Lauralee Crain and Ayesha Siddiqi, students at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. They have been pushing for clean energy in the heart of coal country, which, they said, means they clash with powerful pro-coal interests on campus and off.
They said highlighting the ill effects of strip mining and mountaintop coal removal was among their top priorities.
"We don't have Angelina Jolie and George Clooney posing with these devastated mountains," Siddiqi said. "We're rising to the challenge of climate change ourselves. . . . We're not waiting for the naysayers to catch up."
Kate Villars, a civil engineering student at the University of Virginia interested in environmentally friendly building techniques, attended a workshop about integrating the topic of energy efficiency into educational lesson plans, a step she said would improve her own program.
Andrew Nazdin, 20, a junior at the University of Maryland, said he is looking forward to meeting with House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) tomorrow to ask him to push for "science-based reductions in carbon emissions."
"He's got a room that will fit 75 of us," Nazdin said, "but we're going to bring 600 people and ask for a bigger room."
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