[sustainable_tompkins-l] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tompkins County Seeking Applications for Newly Created Energy Task Force

[Anna Kelles]

*Tompkins County Seeking Applications for Newly Created Energy Task Force*


On January 3rd, the Tompkins County Legislature, by unanimous vote,
established the Tompkins County Energy Task Force. The new Task Force is
charged with providing input and guidance to the County Planning Department
and the Legislature on the topics of energy, climate change, and
energy-related economic development, and will be available to provide
advice to other community groups on these topics, as requested.


Speaking to the Legislature, County Planning Commissioner Ed Marx said that
to achieve the County’s energy-related goals, it is very important to have
community engagement as the County responds to recommendations from the
Tompkins County

Energy Roadmap and the County Environmental and Economic Development Task
Force, and updates the County’s Energy Strategy this year. Having people
with expertise and interest to guide the work on these issues will be
important, he said.

The broad-based task force, established for a three-year term, will be made
up of 15-20 members appointed by the Legislature, representing various
segments of the community and providing expertise to the Task Force. The
Legislature’s resolution specifically identified the following potential
representation to be sought on the task force:  Tompkins County Area
Development, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, large business, small
business, renewable energy/energy efficiency consultant or contractor,

climate change expert, Tompkins County Council of Governments, City of
Ithaca, Tompkins County, transportation, real estate development
(developer, architect or engineer), local organization involved in energy
issues, local organization involved in sustainability
issues, local organization involved in economic issues, local organization
involved in social justice issues, energy generation/utility, and higher
education.  It is anticipated that the Task Force will meet bi-monthly (six
times per year) at a time to be

determined by the membership.

The County is currently recruiting to fill all seats on the Energy Task
Force. Tompkins County residents are invited to submit an application no
later than January 30, 2017.  For an application, visit the County’s
website at www.tompkinscountyny.gov/legislature/advisory-board, or call the
Legislature office at 607-274-5434.  Applicants should indicate which
segment of the community they seek to represent and explain on the
application the expertise they could bring to the task force.


For more information about the Tompkins County Energy Task Force please
contact Katie Borgella at the Tompkins County Planning Department,

kborge...@tompkins-co.org (607) 274-5560.

*Media Contact:  Katie Borgella, Tompkins County, *
*kborge...@tompkins-co.org* *  (607) 274-5560.*

*- END -*


--

Marcia E. Lynch

Public Information Officer

125 E. Court Street

Ithaca, NY  14850

Tel: 607-274-/Fax: 607-274-5558

www.tompkinscountyny.gov

Tompkins County values
*Inclusion Through Diversity*.

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] Ithaca Sustainability Newsletter: January News and Events

[Sara Watrous]

The *Ithaca Sustainability* newsletter is produced by the City & the Town
of Ithaca.
View this email in your browser

*WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 2017 ITHACA SUSTAINABILITY NEWSLETTER*
Happy New Year! You may notice that we are featuring some events this month
that don't fall as squarely in the "typical" areas of energy and
sustainability: the MLK Day of Celebration and the Women's March on Ithaca.
Why? Our friends Jane and Reed say it well in the latest TCCPI newsletter
,
reminding us that "the fight for our climate IS the fight against hate,"
and that "equity, racial justice, and social justice should be at the
center of our climate work."  It's a good reminder for us all in the new,
turbulent year.

*NEWS*
*Municipal Sustainability: A Look Back, A Glimpse Forward*
Read about 2016 sustainability accomplishments from the Town of Ithaca and
the City of Ithaca, and get a preview of 2017, in the recent Signs of
Sustainability article

by
Sustainability Coordinator Nick Goldsmith. Learn more about 2016
achievements here

 and here

.
*Ithaca College Goes Solar *
The Ithaca College campus is now receiving the equivalent of 10 percent of
its annual electricity use from a new 2.9 megawatt solar array that started
producing clean, renewable energy in November. Learn more here

and
see real time generation data here

.
*City of Ithaca Seeks Energy and Sustainability Intern*
The City of Ithaca is seeking an Energy and Sustainability intern for the
spring 2017 semester. The Intern will support the Sustainability
Coordinator, assisting in a variety of projects. Applications are due
January 25. Learn more here .

*Wave of Cities Pass Energy Benchmarking Laws*
The Institute for Market Transformation reports
that it helped pass energy benchmarking and transparency laws in seven U.S.
cities in 2016, from Los Angeles to Portland, Maine. With these victories,
20 U.S. cities have now passed legislation that will unlock valuable data
for the real estate market to act upon and make their buildings more
efficient and our infrastructure stronger.
*Electric Vehicle Charging Station Site Suitability Tool Released*
An electric vehicle charging station Site Suitability Criteria Tool was
developed to help compare the viability for installing EV charging stations
in various locations. The Tool identified prime spots in the County for EV
chargers, such as City parking garages, the Sciencenter, and Ithaca
College. The Site Suitability Tool and Report are both available for
downloadhere .


*An image from the EV Site Suitability Report*
*County Food Scraps Drop Spot Program Expands*
The City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca each has a new food scrap
recycling drop spot available to residents; one at Cass Park, open
Thursdays 3 to 6pm and one at the Tompkins County Highway Department on
Bostwick Road, open Saturdays 9am to Noon. The Tompkins County Solid Waste
Division also opened a spot in Trumansburg. Learn more here
.

*EVENTS*
*Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration*
*Monday, January 16, 10am-1:30pm, Beverly J. Martin Elementary School, 302
W. Buffalo St. *
This year's event will include a Justice Speak Out with Youth Farm, Facing
Race, and Standing Rock from 10 to 11:30am and a Community Luncheon from
11:30am to 1pm. Keynote by Dr. Harold Dean Trulear, Howard University:
Addressing Mass Incarceration in the 21st Century. Family friendly, free
and open to the public. Learn more here

.

*Women's March on Ithaca*
*Saturday, January 21, 10am-2pm, Ithaca City Hall, 108 E. Green Street*
A march to show our support of and alliance with women and other oppressed
peoples. We are standing up for the civil rights of all. This will be a
peaceful event. It is for anyone who wants to attend the Women's March on
Washington, but is unable to. Learn more here

[sustainable_tompkins-l] James Hanson RS Interview: Is there time left?

[Tony Del Plato]

A great interview where james Hanson advocates for new, smaller, safer more
efficient nuclear power plants to help provide enough energy as we power
down from fossil fuels.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/will-we-miss-
our-last-chance-to-survive-climate-change-w456917


-- 

“There are victories and defeats in politics,” said Mario Soares in 1986,
“and what is necessary is to maintain your convictions, to keep battling.”

*an indefatigable Portugese political animal*

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

Re: [sustainable_tompkins-l] Dominion Pipeline Expansion Approved

[Jane-Marie Law]

well shit


Jane-Marie Law
Associate Professor of Japanese Religions
Department of Asian Studies
Fellow, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
350 Rockefeller Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-2502
607-255-5095/ 607-255-8332


From: bounce-121136359-12863...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Irene Weiser 

Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 1:06:27 PM
To: powerplantdiscuss...@googlegroups.com; ROUSE; ShaleShock; 
SUSTAINABLE_TOMPKINS-L
Subject: [sustainable_tompkins-l] Dominion Pipeline Expansion Approved

Hi All
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but we learned that Cuomo's DEC has 
approved the Dominion New Markets pipeline expansion.
Typical Cuomo tactic- distract us over here with closing Indian Point Nuclear 
and Off Shore wind, while the other hand is screwing us over (and not getting 
any media attention either)
Stay tuned - there's more fights to be had.

Irene Weiser
irene32...@gmail.com
Brooktondale, NY
607-539-6856

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me.

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] Dominion Pipeline Expansion Approved

[Irene Weiser]

Hi All
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but we learned that Cuomo's DEC has
approved the Dominion New Markets pipeline expansion.
Typical Cuomo tactic- distract us over here with closing Indian Point
Nuclear and Off Shore wind, while the other hand is screwing us over (and
not getting any media attention either)
Stay tuned - there's more fights to be had.

Irene Weiser
irene32...@gmail.com
Brooktondale, NY
607-539-6856

*Joy to the world*
*All the boys and girls*
*Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea*
*Joy to you and me.*

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] Seed-to-Supper Volunteer Training @ CCE-Tompkins

[Sandra J. Repp]

Become a Seed-to-Supper Volunteer to teach your neighbors how to grow their own 
food!

Are you passionate about growing your own vegetables? Are you interested in 
helping beginning gardeners in your community learn to grow their own food as 
well? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County will train volunteers to 
become Seed-to-Supper educators and teach free gardening classes in their own 
communities. Training classes for volunteers will be held on Wednesdays, 
February 15 and 22, and March 15, 22 and 29. This five-part training program 
will prepare Seed-to-Supper volunteer educators to teach free vegetable 
gardening classes throughout Tompkins County.

Volunteers will gain familiarity with the Seed-to-Supper curriculum and learn 
hands-on activities that they can use when teaching the classes in their 
communities. Volunteers will teach in pairs and are provided with all the 
materials needed to run the classes. The Seed-to-Supper curriculum consists of 
six slide presentations and a 100 page gardening manual for class participants. 
Topics include planning the garden, soil preparation, composting, planting, 
garden maintenance, pests and diseases, and harvesting. There is no cost for 
the training, and the gardening classes held in communities will be offered for 
free as well.

For more information about the Seed to Supper program and to download a 
volunteer application, visit: 
http://ccetompkins.org/events/2017/02/15/seed-to-supper-volunteer-training .
For more information contact Chrys Gardener at 
ca...@cornell.edu, or call 272-2292 extension 241.
Chrys Gardener
Commercial/Community Horticulture Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Tompkins County
615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY 14850
(607)272-2292, extension 241
www.ccetompkins.org


For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] 2017 Energy Navigator training begins in March - Help others reduce energy use & transition to renewables!

[Get Your GreenBack Tompkins]

Energy Navigator Training

This ten-session training prepares volunteer Energy Navigators to help
others in the community understand their energy use and make progress
towards reducing energy use and bills, and switching from fossil fuels to
renewables. Topics include understanding energy bills, calculating carbon
footprint, home energy efficiency, renewable heating, solar energy,
transportation alternatives, and more. Training begins in March of 2017,
specific dates and place TBD. For more information and to register your
interest, visit
​w​
ww.getyourgreenbacktompkins.org/navigators, or contact Karim Beers at
k...@cornell.edu or 272-2292.


Energy Navigators is a program of Get Your GreenBack Tompkins with the
support of Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.

-- 

Karim Beers, Coordinator
*Get Your GreenBack Tompkins* 
*everyone taking a step to save energy and money*

   - Stay in touch via *Facebook
   * and the
monthly *Community
   Newsletter
   
*
   - Become a volunteer *Energy Navigator*
    and help others
   reach their energy-related goals

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] Fwd: Please call the Governor about Dominion New Market - today!!!

[Irene Weiser]

PLEASE call the Gov's office today.  Talking points below.
Irene Weiser
irene32...@gmail.com
Brooktondale, NY
607-539-6856 <(607)%20539-6856>

*Joy to the world*
*All the boys and girls*
*Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea*
*Joy to you and me.*

-- Forwarded message --
From: Lisa Marshall 
Date: Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 8:55 AM
Subject: Please call the Governor about Dominion New Market - today!!!
To: Coalition to Protect New York , INC PHE <
phe-...@googlegroups.com>, Finger Lakes COT Google Group <
ny.fingerlakes@mothersoutfront.org>, "" <
fossilfre...@googlegroups.com>


1-518-474-8390 <15184748390>


http://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

Dear friends,

As you may know, Governor Cuomo decided to cancel the State-of-the-State
address scheduled for Wednesday in Albany and instead is making a series of
stops around the state. What is he up to?

This week, he's made a big splash announcing the closing of Indian Point
nuclear plant and for the first time, he's publicly mentioned offshore
wind. Predictably, environmentalists will be singing his praises.

We believe that he may chose this time - when the attention of the press is
taken up with these groundbreaking announcements (not to mention all of the
excitement in Washington) - to quietly release the permits for we've been
dreading for the Dominion New Market compressors.

Let's make sure he hears from us loud and clear. We will not go away. We do
not want to be the gas storage and distribution hub for the northeast. We
will not accept gas storage under our beautiful lake or compressors built
near homes and schools or new gas power plants that will lock us into gas
for decades to come. We reject the claims that gas is needed as a bridge
fuel. Science is on our side, but time is not. We must flex every ounce of
political muscle we can muster.

Please share this e-mail and ask people to make calls.With thanks to all
for everything you do to make our world a better place!

Lisa

Some Dominion talking points:

WHY REJECT DOMINION?

   - This project's application is flawed. Turbines to produce 4700mw/h of
   onsite electricity were omitted from DEC/FERC applications. Pollution
   dispersal modeling was done using data from Albany and Rome airports. 4
   dozen homes near proposed Veteran Compressor station were not counted.
   - The pipeline is over 50 years old and to our knowledge, no safety
   studies have been required to determine whether it can withstand the
   increased gas pressure.
   - DEC is required to consider greenhouse gas pollutant impacts on state
   reduction goals. Methane leakage from Dominion combined with CO2 generated
   in burning the gas will cost NY hundreds of millions annually in health and
   environmental impacts.
   - President-elect Trump has given every indication that he intends to
   roll back any and all climate protections. It is now up to the states alone
   to lead.
   - Three quarters of the fracked gas in New Market goes to Dominion owned
   Iroquois who So-No project can send it to Canada.


-- 
Lisa Marshall
Community Organizer
Mothers Out Front NY
http://www.mothersoutfront.org/
Cell: (850) 291-5259
Home: (607) 739-9274
"
*Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength
that will endure as long as life lasts." - Rachel Carson*

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.

[sustainable_tompkins-l] ADVISORY: Holiday Closing and Curbside Recycling Schedule

[Geoff Dunn]

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Closing and Curbside Recycling Schedule


The Tompkins County Solid Waste Division office will be closed on Monday, 
January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.



The Recycling and Solid Waste Center will be open its regular hours, 7:00am to 
3:30pm, and there will be no change in curbside recycling collection. Recycling 
pick up will take place as scheduled on Monday, January 16th.


For more information:
Tompkins County Solid Waste Division
(607) 273-6632
www.recycletompkins.org
Tompkins County | Solid Waste
www.recycletompkins.org
The Mission of the Solid Waste Management Division is to manage the solid waste 
of Tompkins County in a manner that is environmentally sound, cost-effective, 
socially ...









Geoff Dunn

Communications and Administrative Coordinator

TC Solid Waste Management Division

122 Commercial Ave.

Ithaca, NY 14850

(607)273-6632

For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please 
visit:  http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom 
Shelley, at t...@cornell.edu.