What Grows On in Rhode Island ~ News Blog

Non-Utility Scale Renewable Energy Program Review Meeting ~ November 5, 2009

From RI Office of Energy Resources:

The Rhode Island Energy Review Team will be hosting a Public Community Review Meeting on the draft regulations for the ARRA State Energy Plan (SEP)  Non-Utility Scale Renewable Energy Program on Thursday November 5, 2009. 

Purpose: The purposes of the meeting are:

1. This Community Review Meeting will be an opportunity for interested persons to ask questions about and provide input with regard to the draft regulations for the disbursement of $8.395 million for non-utility scale renewable energy projects.
2. An overview of the draft regulations will be provided, and comments of a general nature taken. This overview will be followed by a page by page review and discussion of the regulations, and will provide an opportunity for questions and answers.
3. The non-utility scale renewable energy program can provide funding for: residential, commercial and industrial, community and institutional renewable energy projects
4. The draft regulations will be posted on the RI Office of Energy Resources website (energy.ri.gov) on Monday November 2, 2009.

The meeting is an opportunity for the public and interested parties to get the “lay-of-the-land” as the implementation of this ARRA State Energy Plan (SEP) program commences in Rhode Island.

Charles Hawkins
Planning and Outreach Coordinator
RIOER
chawkins@energy.ri.gov
574-9124

Greening Your Business for Advantage ~ November 4, 2009

From Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living

Sustainability 101 ~ Greening Your Business for Advantage!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 ~ 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Cost: FREE!
At the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living
17 Gordon Ave., Providence, RI

Environmental and sustainability trends present risks and opportunities for businesses.  If you are a business leader looking for a practical approach to sustainability and identifying opportunities to take action in your business, then this workshop was designed for you!  Develop a strategy that takes advantage of changes in the environment, and benefit from learning how to save energy and other costs in your existing business practices.

Northeast Biochar Symposium ~ November 13, 2009

Northeast Biochar Symposium 2009

13 November 2009

University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA

This Symposium will highlight current biochar research and technological advances and provide vital information to public officials, researchers, foresters, and sustainable energy and agriculture professionals. Biochar is considered a significant strategy for removing net carbon from the atmosphere for safe storage in soil, enhancing forest resources and preventing land degradation, and creating clean energy from agricultural stover and forest biomass. Panels will include discussion of the use of biochar for land application and fertility and the role of biochar in the UNFCCC climate talks.

International Day of Climate Action ~ October 24, 2009

Rhode Islanders to Observe International Day of Climate Action on October 24

Rhode Islanders will gather to participate in International Day of Climate Action in Newport, Wakefield, and Providence on October 24. Organized by 350.org, the International Day of Climate Action has been called to encourage the U.S. government to take strong action now, and for the World leaders to take strong action at the Copenhagen meeting in December.

Scientific evidence indicates that the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation, is devastating our planet, noted Paul Beaudette, President of the Environment Council of Rhode Island.

“Projected sea level rise due to the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet will be at least 5 feet over the next 100 years” reported Greg Gerritt, an organizer of the Rhode Island activities and founder of the think tank Prosperity For Rhode Island. “Rhode Island beaches that are a key to our tourism industry will vanish, and much of Providence's downtown infrastructure will be below sea level.  We must take strong action now to reduce fossil fuel consumption to prevent this disaster.”

Rhode Island events on October 24

Newport: A noon gathering on Easton's Beach the Newport Energy and Environment Commission will announce the opening of the Neighborhood Energy Challenge.

Wickford: At 2 p.m., a talk by climate activist Christine Muller at Peace Dale Congregational Church, followed by ringing church bells throughout southern Rhode island.

Providence: 9 a.m. workshops on climate issues and effective media at the First Unitarian Church on Benefit St and letter writing to federal representatives, followed at noon by a rally at Waterplace Park that will focus on the projected sea level rise that threatens to wipe out many iconic Rhode Island landmarks and beaches. The rally will include children’s activities, The Beneficent Congregational Church Choir Chanting, drumming and singing , speakers, and a photograph of the entire crowd in a 350 configuration .
The events are free and open to the public. Organizations that wish to provide climate change information can table at the events if they preregister with the Environment Council at 401-621-8048. Everyone is encouraged to bring signs to all of the events.

More information on local Climate Action Day events can be found at the 350.org <http://350.org/> website and by contacting the Environment Council of Rhode Island (www.environmentcouncilri.com <http://www.environmentcouncilri.com/> ) and RI Interfaith Power and Light (www.riipl.org <http://www.riipl.org/> ). 

Energy Auditor Job Training Info Sessions ~ October 6, 8, & 13, 2009

From Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living:

FREE* Energy Auditor Job Training
Attend one of the Mandatory Information Sessions to get started:

Tues., October 6, 7pm
Thurs., October 8, 1pm
Tues., October 13, 7pm

The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living, in partnership with the Community College of RI, proudly presents an Energy Auditor Job Training class that begins this month.

Start or Expand Your Career in the field of Residential Energy Efficiency!  Build your resume with 8 state and nationally recognized certifications! Learn Hands-on with some of the State’s best known experts!

This Program Will Begin the Week of October 26th, 2009.

Any interested candidates must attend one of the following Mandatory Information Sessions:

Tuesday, October 6, 2009; 7:00pm
Thursday, October 8, 2009; 1:00pm
Tuesday, October 13, 2009; 7:00pm

Location:

The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living Headquarters
17 Gordon Avenue, 2nd Floor
Providence, RI 02905

*This Program is free for individuals who qualify for eligibility under Workforce Investment Act funding guidelines.  For a list of eligibility qualifications, please read below.  Interested applicants who do NOT qualify for WIA are also encouraged to apply!

About the Class:

Classes start the week of October 26, 2009
300 Hours Total
8 State and Nationally recognized certifications:
Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Certification (36 hrs. and 8 hours test)
CCRI: Introduction to Energy Auditing (40 hrs.)
Apeiron: Introduction to Principles of Weatherization, Green Building, and Sustainability (104 hrs.)
OSHA Safety Training (40 hrs.)
Lead Contractor (40 hrs. + 8 hour test)
Asbestos (16 hrs.)
Confined Space Entry (4 hrs.)
CPR/ First Aide (4 hrs.)
General Qualifications for FREE* class:
*This Program is free for individuals who qualify for eligibility under the Workforce Investment Act, Title I funding guidelines.

Job seekers first must meet basic WIA eligibility requirements for WIA-funded services. To be eligible to participate in WIA Title I services, all candidates, including dislocated workers:

Must be 18 years or older
Must be a citizen, or non-citizen authorized to work in the U.S.
Must be a Rhode Island resident
Must meet specified income requirements
Must meet Military Selective Service registration requirements 
For more information on WIA eligibility requirements, please join us for one of the information sessions.

Questions???

Contact Dr. Mark DeMoranville
Associate Director, Sustainable Business Training
The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living
17 Gordon Avenue, Suite 207
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 228-7930
markd@apeiron.org
www.apeiron.org

New Energy Funding Opportunities in RI ~ October 14, 2009

From URI Energy Center:

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm EDT
URI Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Room 010, 120 Flagg Rd, Kingston, RI


This discussion will provide an overview of upcoming energy funding opportunities in Rhode Island, including those which are being developed as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. URI students, faculty and staff alike are encouraged to attend to learn about potential funding sources for energy projects and to preview Rhode Island's energy future. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the URI Energy Center. Ken Payne is on the research faculty of the College of Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in Regional Planning, with a concentration in economic development planning. He has held policy positions for State, Federal, and local government in Rhode Island. He served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Rhode Island Senate (1997-2007), was Federal Projects Coordinator for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (1988-1996), and was Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns (1977-1986). Throughout his career, Ken Payne has been involved in in energy issues affecting Rhode Island. Currently he coordinates staff support to the Energy Review Team, which advises the State on ARRA-Energy applications and their implementation. Please RSVP by Friday, October 9 by contacting Rachel Sholly at rachel.sholly@gmail.com or 874-5558.

Global Energy Perspective URI Lecture ~ October 8, 2009

From URI Department of Chemistry:

URI to host Cruickshank Symposium examining Global Energy Perspective, Oct. 8

Media Contact: Todd McLeish, 401-874-2116

Nathan Lewis, professor of chemistry at California Institute of Technology, will present the University of Rhode Island’s Cruickshank Symposium lecture on the “Global Energy Perspective” on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The event will be held in Cherry auditorium in the Kirk engineering building, 94 Upper College Rd., Kingston. It is free and open to the public.

Lewis’ presentation evaluates the technical, political, and economic challenges limiting the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. His presentation is an in-depth evaluation of everything from fossil fuels to greenhouse gas buildup limitations and the expected global energy demand for carbon-free power. Lewis will also highlight the long-term potential of various renewable energy resources.

Lewis has been on the faculty at CalTech since 1988, where he serves as the principal investigator of the Beckman Institute Molecular Materials Resource Center. Previously he taught at Stanford University. He received his doctorate in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lewis received the American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry in 1991, the Orton Memorial Lecture award in 2003, the Princeton Environmental Award in 2003, and the Michael Faraday Medal of the Royal Society of Electrochemistry in 2008. He is the editor-in-chief of the Royal Society of Chemistry journal, Energy & Environmental Science, and he has published over 300 research papers.

The lecture is sponsored by the URI Cruickshank Symposium endowment, the URI Department of Chemistry, the URI Energy Center, the URI Center of Excellence for Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response, and the Gordon Research Conferences.

For additional information about the lecture, contact Chemistry Professor William Euler at chair@chm.uri.edu or 874-5090.

Green Buildings Open House ~ October 3, 2009

From NESEA:

Make your plans now to join us on October 3rd for the annual Green Buildings Open House (GBOH). It is the largest sustainable energy event in the Northeastern USA!

Rhode Island has seven site in Bristol, Tiverton, Coventry, Providence, and Jamestown Including:

Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living
451 Hammet Road
Coventry, RI

Island Solar
170 Walcott Ave.
Providence, RI

Wolcott St. Eco-Building
28 Wolcott Street
Providence, RI

17 Gordon Ave
Providence, RI

See the NESEA Green Buildings page for more details.

Weekend Environmental Update ~ September 19-20, 2009

From Little Rhody's Biggest Environmental Calendar:

SATURDAY's (September 19th) menu includes:

• International Coastal Cleanup in more than 80 locations
• 3 other afternoon cleanups
• Open Garden Day in Providence (the poster has the wrong date because this event was postponded from last week)
• United Plant Savers Conference in Coventry
• 36th Harvest Fair at Coggeshall Farm in Bristol
• Waterfire

SUNDAY (20th) choices include::

• Coggeshall Farm's Harvest Fair continues
• Buffer Planting & Restoration Project
• Bird Banding (Audubon, Bristol)
• Blackstone River Wilderness Tour
• Autumn Advent at Kettle Pond Visitor Center
• Fish Ladder Groundbreaking Ceremony at Slater Mill Park, Pawtucket
• Wild Mushroom Walk at Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary
• The Impact of a Green Municipal Building in Tiverton

You can also keep up with news through the RI Feeds website which retweets on the ProvGardener's  Twitter. For more environmental news see:

• Feed of What Grows On in RI News Blog 
• Feeds of other RI environment-related feeds available for

• FOOD
• GARDENING, FARMING, LANDSCAPING
• NATURE/OUTDOORS
• GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Northeast Sustainable Energy Assoc Meeting ~ September 1, 2009

From Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA):

It’s that time again for the next NESEA RI meeting on Tuesday, September 1 at 6pm.

The topic:  “Lessons Learned on the Frontier of Energy Codes and Building Science”