La contea che passo' dal 10 al 100% di rinnovabili con una sola firma.

Mike Hein e' il capo dell'esecutivo della contea di Ulster, nello stato di New York. Oggi e' passato alla storia perche' ha firmato un ordine esecutivo affinche' la contea, con inizio immediato, acquisti tutta la sua energia elettrica da fonti rinnovabili.

L'elettricita' acquistata dalla sua contea sara' tutta certificata secondo i canoni della Renewable Energy Certification. In questo modo la contea evitera' di emettere 7,500 tonnellate di anidride carbonica. Mr. Hein ha anche ricordato che la sua contea continuera' a promuovere l'efficenza energetica e che dal 2011 finora, grazie ad accorgimenti vari, si e' riuscito a risparmiare circa 350,000 dollar.

Ecco cosa ha detto nel firmare l'ordine esecutivo:

“Today is truly an historic day. It is no secret that continued reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels has the potential to lead to a global energy crisis, and in situations such as this I firmly believe that government must lead by example. In the past, the County was striving towards a goal of purchasing 10% of its electricity from renewable sources, but when I look out and see the pristine beauty of Ulster County I am reminded that we must protect our environment all across the country, not just for us but for our children and grandchildren.  Purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources considerably reduces our carbon footprint and embodies my administration’s continued commitment to the environment and to our future.”

Oggi e' un vero giorno storico. Non e' un segreto che la dipendenza continua da fonti fossili e insostenbili ha il potenziale di portare ad una crisi di energia a livello globale e in questo tipo di situazioni credo che il governo debba guidare e dare l'esempio. Nel passato, la nostra contea stava cercando di arrivare al 10% di acquisto di elettricita' da fonti rinnovabili, ma quando guardo la bellezza pristina della contea di Ulster, mi ricordo che dobbiamo proteggere il nostro ambiente in questa nazione, non solo per noi ma per i nostri figli e nipoti. L'acquisto di energia elettrica al 100% da fonti rinnovabili riduce di molto il nostro impatto ambientale da anidride carbonica e incarna l'impegno continuo della mia amministrazione verso l'ambiente ed il nostro futuro.

Ha firmato e da domani si inizia.

Kingston, NY- History was made today when Ulster County Executive Mike Hein signed an Executive Order requiring the County to purchase all of its electricity for the remainder of 2014 and all of 2015 from green, renewable energy sources.  Pursuant to the Executive Order the County will begin purchasing Green-e Energy certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), one of the leading renewable energy certification standards in the nation, for all of its electricity.  These RECs will offset 7,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually from conventional electricity production.  The purchase yields an environmental benefit of avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to burning 7.3 million pounds of coal or driving one car around the earth – 647 times.
“Today is truly an historic day,” said County Executive Mike Hein.  “It is no secret that continued reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels has the potential to lead to a global energy crisis, and in situations such as this I firmly believe that government must lead by example. In the past, the County was striving towards a goal of purchasing 10% of its electricity from renewable sources, but when I look out and see the pristine beauty of Ulster County I am reminded that we must protect our environment all across the country, not just for us but for our children and grandchildren.  Purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources considerably reduces our carbon footprint and embodies my administration’s continued commitment to the environment and to our future.”
Judith Enck, Regional Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
“Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed comprehensive new rules to combat climate change.  The commitment to use 100% renewable energy in Ulster County facilities is exactly the type of action we need to move toward a clean energy future and achieve the goals in the new EPA Clean Energy Plan.  I congratulate County Executive Mike Hein for launching this inspired and sensible renewable  energy program that  is a model for every other county government in the state,” said Judith Enck, Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Amanda LaValle, Coordinator of Ulster County Department of the Environment
“As a Climate Smart Community, we work tirelessly to reduce our energy use as well as improve the environmental benefits associated with our operations,” said Amanda LaValle, Coordinator of Ulster County Department of the Environment.  “The County Executive's Executive Order continues to show that Ulster County is a true leader on environmental issues.  The purchase of RECs to offset 100% of our usage is a major step forward that will benefit both the environment and the health of all those who enjoy it.”
Kathy Nolan, Research Director for Catskill Mountainkeeper
“This is wonderful, exciting news and I want to commend County Executive Hein for his leadership in protecting our most precious resource, the environment,” said Kathy Nolan, Research Director for Catskill Mountainkeeper.  “The environmental impact of purchasing 100% of the County’s electricity from renewable sources is significant and it sets a new standard for counties across New York State.”
By utilizing smart government initiatives such as comprehensive energy audits of County-owned facilities, consolidation of County departments, incorporation of energy efficiencies including updating interior lighting, solar power at the fairgrounds and comprehensive computerized tracking of energy usage, the County has reduced its electricity consumption by almost 2 million kilowatt hours since 2011 which represents a savings to taxpayers of over $350,000.  The RECs which the County will purchase are a tradable commodity that is created when electricity is produced by harnessing energy from the wind, sun, water, plants and other renewable sources.  RECs allow consumers to procure green power across a diverse geographical area even when green power products are not available locally.
In addition to requiring the purchase of 100% of the County’s electricity from renewable sources, the Executive Order also directs the County’s Departments of Environment, Planning, Purchasing and Buildings and Grounds to develop and implement a long term plan to make the purchase of green energy a net neutral cost compared to conventional electricity purchases.

- See more at: http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executive-press-releases/ulster-county-executive-mike-hein-issues-executive-order-requiring#sthash.ixJtjCfu.dpuf

Kingston, NY- History was made today when Ulster County Executive Mike Hein signed an Executive Order requiring the County to purchase all of its electricity for the remainder of 2014 and all of 2015 from green, renewable energy sources.  Pursuant to the Executive Order the County will begin purchasing Green-e Energy certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), one of the leading renewable energy certification standards in the nation, for all of its electricity.  These RECs will offset 7,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually from conventional electricity production.  The purchase yields an environmental benefit of avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to burning 7.3 million pounds of coal or driving one car around the earth – 647 times.
“Today is truly an historic day,” said County Executive Mike Hein.  “It is no secret that continued reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels has the potential to lead to a global energy crisis, and in situations such as this I firmly believe that government must lead by example. In the past, the County was striving towards a goal of purchasing 10% of its electricity from renewable sources, but when I look out and see the pristine beauty of Ulster County I am reminded that we must protect our environment all across the country, not just for us but for our children and grandchildren.  Purchasing 100% of our electricity from renewable sources considerably reduces our carbon footprint and embodies my administration’s continued commitment to the environment and to our future.”
Judith Enck, Regional Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
“Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed comprehensive new rules to combat climate change.  The commitment to use 100% renewable energy in Ulster County facilities is exactly the type of action we need to move toward a clean energy future and achieve the goals in the new EPA Clean Energy Plan.  I congratulate County Executive Mike Hein for launching this inspired and sensible renewable  energy program that  is a model for every other county government in the state,” said Judith Enck, Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Amanda LaValle, Coordinator of Ulster County Department of the Environment
“As a Climate Smart Community, we work tirelessly to reduce our energy use as well as improve the environmental benefits associated with our operations,” said Amanda LaValle, Coordinator of Ulster County Department of the Environment.  “The County Executive's Executive Order continues to show that Ulster County is a true leader on environmental issues.  The purchase of RECs to offset 100% of our usage is a major step forward that will benefit both the environment and the health of all those who enjoy it.”
Kathy Nolan, Research Director for Catskill Mountainkeeper
“This is wonderful, exciting news and I want to commend County Executive Hein for his leadership in protecting our most precious resource, the environment,” said Kathy Nolan, Research Director for Catskill Mountainkeeper.  “The environmental impact of purchasing 100% of the County’s electricity from renewable sources is significant and it sets a new standard for counties across New York State.”
By utilizing smart government initiatives such as comprehensive energy audits of County-owned facilities, consolidation of County departments, incorporation of energy efficiencies including updating interior lighting, solar power at the fairgrounds and comprehensive computerized tracking of energy usage, the County has reduced its electricity consumption by almost 2 million kilowatt hours since 2011 which represents a savings to taxpayers of over $350,000.  The RECs which the County will purchase are a tradable commodity that is created when electricity is produced by harnessing energy from the wind, sun, water, plants and other renewable sources.  RECs allow consumers to procure green power across a diverse geographical area even when green power products are not available locally.
In addition to requiring the purchase of 100% of the County’s electricity from renewable sources, the Executive Order also directs the County’s Departments of Environment, Planning, Purchasing and Buildings and Grounds to develop and implement a long term plan to make the purchase of green energy a net neutral cost compared to conventional electricity purchases.

- See more at: http://ulstercountyny.gov/news/executive-press-releases/ulster-county-executive-mike-hein-issues-executive-order-requiring#sthash.ixJtjCfu.dpuf

Fracking: moratoria a Los Angeles

 The city of Angels

This is about neighborhood safety, envivronmental justice, 

and about common sense.

Paul Koretz, Los Angeles councilman

Oggi 24 Aprile 2014 anche la citta' di Beverly Hills ha vietato il fracking e la stimolazione con acidi su tutto il suo suolo cittadino.

Oggi 20 Maggio 2014 anche la contea di Santa Cruz ha vietato il fracking e metodi affini in tutto il suo territorio

Ho un motivo in piu’ per amare questa citta’.

Oggi 28 Febbraio 2014 la contea di Los Angeles ha approvato all’unanimita’ una risoluzione che vieta il fracking nelle nostre citta’ finche’ non si possa dimostrare che sia una pratica e sicura per il nostro ambiente. Il sindaco Erik Garcetti ha dieci giorni di tempo per firmare la risoluzione e per trasformarla in una ordinanza.

Oltre al fracking e’ vietata la stimolazione di pozzi con acidi ed altre sostanze per aumentare il quantitativo di petrolio estratto.

Los Angeles e’ la piu’ grande citta’ d’America a vietare il fracking - per gas e per petrolio - e soprattutto e’ la prima citta’ da cui si estrae petrolio che vieta la stimolazione di pozzi.

Come si e’ arrivati a questo risultato? C’e’ stata una gran mobilitazione di cittadini, e di politici illuminati, Paul Koretz e Mike Bonin, che nulla hanno potuto contro i trivellanti.

Abbiamo tanti problemi in California di sismicita’ e sopratutto con l’acqua che non e’ sufficente per tutti – residenti ed agricoltori. Il fracking avrebbe portato ad ulteriori pericoli e dispute, visto che ci vogliono circa 10 milioni di galloni di acqua per fare fracking su un singolo pozzo – e’ cioe’ circa 40 milioni di litri.

Tutto questo e’ rimarchevole perche’ il petrolio e’ parte della storia di questa citta’ – quelle che oggi sono spiagge e posti turistici cento anni fa erano enormi campi di petrolio. E ce ne sono ancora di cavallette sparsi per la citta’, come dei relitti del passato.

C’e’ ancora molto da fare – con una moratoria per lo stato intero di California, con maggiore regolamentazione dei pozzi esistenti - ma questo mostra ancora una volta che niente puo’ fermare una cittadinanza istruita, che sa far valere i propri diritti.

Gia’ gli stati di Vermont, New York e Hawaii hanno moratorie o divieti integrali, e cosi’ pure varie citta’ sparse per la nazione.

Il giorno 15 Marzo 2014 ci sara’ una imponente manifestazione a Sacamento, per chiedere al governatore Jerry Brown di vietare il fracking in tutto lo stato di California.

E in Italia? In Italia l’acidizzazione dei pozzi va avanti da decenni, lo dicono gli stessi trivellanti – la Schlumberger, l’ENI, la Halliburton – senza neanche che i residenti lo sappiano. In alcuni casi hanno anche usato tecniche di hydraulic fracturing, in silenzio. E questo lo dicono loro, non io. Io ho solo speso del tempo per scovare i report di lorsignori dove spiegano tutto agli investitori e ai loro colleghi ma niente alla gente normale. Accade nelle province di Pisa, di Foggia, di Viterbo, di Ragusa, di Parma. Accade a Trecate, accade in Basilicata. Accade nei mari di Ombrina.

Cosa fara’ il neo ministro dell’ambiente Gianluca Galletti su questi temi?

Dobbiamo ancora aspettare Godot?


Qui sugli acidi in Italia – Foggia, Viterbo, Pisa e Parma

Qui sugli acidi in Italia – Val D’Agri

Qui sugli acidi in Italia - Ragusa

Qui sugli acidi in Italia - Trecate

Qui sugli acidi in Italia - Ombrina

Freshkills, New York City: la discarica dismessa diventa un parco e una centrale solare

 

Freshkills, 1990

Freshkills, 2013

Freshkills, 2013

Qui sul New York Times

Qui sul sito ufficiale dei parchi di NYC

“Solar, actually, because of a dramatic reduction in the cost of panels, 

has become competitive without subsidies with other forms of energy.”

Mike Bloomberg, sindaco di New York

Tutti i New Yorkesi sanno cos'e' Freshkills: la discarica principale della citta', puzzolente e impossibile e a suo tempo la piu' grande struttura mai creata dall'uomo.

Fresh Kills copre circa nove chilometri quadrati e si trova a Staten Island.

Apri' nel 1947 come discarica temporanea in una zona inizialmente agricola, con foreste e zone lagunari. Era stata progettata per durare venti anni, ma accumularono monnezza per molti altri decenni.

Al massimo della sua "attivita'" Freshkills riceveva 20 carichi al giorno di monnezza dal mare, ciascun carico con 650 tonnellate di robaccia puzzolente.

Nel 2001 si era arrivati all'accumulo di 70 metri di altezza di monnezza, 25 in piu' della Statua della Liberta'.

A un certo punto si decise che non era possibile continuare cosi' e nel 2001 Freshkills venne chiusa anche se venne poi riaperta temporaneamente dopo gli attacchi alle torri gemelle, quando fu usata come punto di smistamento e di ispezione delle macerie dal World Trade Center.

Vennero qui identificati 4,257 resti umani.

Gia' dal 2001 si era iniziato a lavorare su Freshkills per trasformarla in un parco. Un progetto trentennale, visti i lavori di bonifica, di ripristino della zona paludare e di ripopolamento animale necessari.

Freshkills diventera' cosi un parco di tre volte la grandezza di Central Park con percorsi naturali,  passeggiate a cavallo, mountain biking, e sport acquatici, un immenso spazio verde per la citta'.

Gia' oggi molto lavoro e' stato fatto, e anche se non e' ancora completamente aperta al pubblico, Freshkills e' gia' un successo, con erba, piante, fiumi, percorsi e vita, tanto che viene spesso indicato come un modello per recupero di vecchie discariche.  Il New York Times lo chiama un progetto "visionario", dal costo di varie centinaia di milioni di dollari.

E adesso, il sindaco uscente Mike Bloomberg annuncia che a Freshkills sorgera' anche la piu' grande centrale di energia solare della citta'.che generera' 10 megawatt di potenza, secondo Bloomberg e che bastera' a dare energia a 2,000 case. La ditta responsabile dell'impianto solare e' la SunEdison che installera' qui fra i 30,000 e i 35,000 pannelli solari senza sussidi governativi.

Bloomberg dice:

“Freshkills, once a daily dumping ground, will become a showcase of urban renewal and sustainability.” 

Il progetto Freshkills fa parte di PlaNYC, che si propone di diminuire le emissioni di gas serra del 30 percento entro il 2030.

Once it is opened to the public, the park also promises to repay long-suffering Staten Island residents who endured generations of stench and anger, and more than that, to give the entire city an immense, bucolic urban playland — a 21st-century postindustrial landmark rising from mounds of 20th-century waste.

Qui il commentario del New York Times.