The BEAT News July 24, 2014

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Rally to Stop the Pipeline

Boston July 30, 2014
Boston Common, Opposite the State House
11:00 am – 1:00 pm

People from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been marching from Richmond to Dracut following the route of the proposed Kinder Morgan Fracked Gas Pipeline. Along the way we have been collecting signatures that will be handed to a member of the group of 18 legislators whose districts include the communities impacted by this huge industrial project.

The Petition to Ban New Natural Gas Pipelines and Champion Sustainable Energy & Efficiency, now with over 10,400 signatures, will also be delivered to the State House at the rally.

This pipeline issue has far reaching consequences for the State of Massachusetts, New England and the fracking industry as a whole. The July 30th rally, 11:00 am – 1 pm, at the Statehouse in Boston is a milestone in our efforts to inform the public, our legislators and the Governor about the dangers of continued reliance on toxic hydrocarbon fuels and the necessity of removing the fossil industry’s grip on solar energy potential by shifting investments away from fossil fuel technology and into renewables.

As has always been the case, in struggles like these, your presence and your voice matters. Our work has been effective because it is built upon a foundation of popular support. I know that you who are reading this also support our efforts but we need you to demonstrate that support to decision makers in our state government.

Please join us in making that statement loud and clear!

Buses being planned from Greenfield. Hoping to find bus organizers from other areas soon. Visit the Boston Rally page on www.nofrackedgasinmass.org for more info and for updates.

PRINT OUT AND DISTRIBUTE THIS POSTER STATE-WIDE!!!

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Pipeline Presentation to Pittsfield Public Health and Safety Committee

A 36 inch, high-pressure gas transmission pipeline is proposed to run through the land surrounding Pittsfield’s Cleveland Brook Reservoir, the main source of drinking water for the City and a source for some of Dalton as well. The pipeline is also proposed to go through part of southeast Pittsfield on its way from Richmond to a major gas hub in Dracut, Massachusetts. The Pittsfield Committee on Public Health and Safety will hear a presentation by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and No Fracked Gas in Mass. on Monday, July 28th about the proposed pipeline and why the presenters feel that the gas is not clean, will not be cheap, will not be reliable, and why a new pipeline is not needed.

This proposed pipeline would go through some of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the state, fragmenting wildlife habitat, potentially spreading invasive species, and taking permanently protected land out of that protection in what would appear to be a violation of our state constitution. In addition, the six New England Governors have made a request that all New England electric ratepayers be charged on their electric bills to help pay for this pipeline.

The City of Pittsfield has denied Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, whose parent company is Kinder Morgan, permission to survey on the City’s sensitive watershed lands. The Berkshire state representatives and Senator Downing have all said they will oppose any move to remove the protected lands from that protection.

Come learn more about this proposed pipeline. The meeting starts on Monday, July 28th at 7:00 pm in the Pittsfield City Council chambers, 2nd Floor, Pittsfield City Hall, 70 Allen Street. There is plenty of public parking at the parking lot on First and Fenn Street.

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Climate Summer Riders Come to Pittsfield

Climate Summer Western Mass riders are a group of 6 college-aged students traveling exclusively by bicycle through the state of Massachusetts to support local groups in their opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposed Tennessee Gas Pipeline and promote a transition away from fossil fuels.

On Tuesday July 29th, at 7pm, we will be hosting a Climate Summer Riders Meet-and-Greet and Discussion about Natural Gas in Massachusetts at the First Church of Pittsfield (27 East St, Pittsfield, MA 01201). The event will include a short presentation and discussion about the proposed fracked natural gas pipeline, fracking, This is an opportunity to learn more about the proposed pipeline, our work this summer, and hear about what local groups are working on oppose the pipeline and promote renewable energy here in the Berkshires.

At 7pm, Wednesday July 30th, we will be hosting a Public Narrative Storytelling workshop at the First Church of Pittsfield (27 East St, Pittsfield, MA 01201). The workshop will last 90 minutes and includes time for attendees to share their stories and get coaching from others. Public narrative is a storytelling tool that helps people communicate the reason(s) why they are passionate about a particular issue or are involved in a particular group/campaign. A key part of the public narrative is the connection over shared values (eg: helping neighbors, building strong communities, protecting wilderness, etc.) and lived experiences. A goal of the workshop is to help people develop their stories to communicate why they care and, in doing so, compel people to take action on a particular issue.

Please me know if you have any questions,
Stephen O’Hanlon
(610)955-7398
sohanlon22@gmail.com
Climate Summer Western Massachusetts Public Narrative Coordinator
climatesummer.net | @climatesummer | facebook.com/ClimateSummer

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Northeast Biodiesel Receives $540,000 Grant to Complete Construction

Posted on July 23, 2014 by samking

 

Northeast Biodiesel has received a $540,000 grant from the Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and is now within a measure of completion. The grant is helping to place their opening for Fall of 2014, when they will begin producing 1.75 million gallons a year and expand to 3.5 million in 2015. The goal is to have all 3.5 million gallons of biodiesel produced each year to be made with locally recycled cooking oil. In order for the biodiesel  produced to be local, they need to have cooking oil contributed to us by local sources.  Read more.

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151 New England Buildings compete in EPA’s 5th Annual Energy Star Battle of the Buildings

BOSTON – More than 150 buildings across New England have entered the 2014 Energy Star Battle of the Buildings: Team Challenge. The competition specifically targets wasted energy in commercial buildings, and will motivate businesses to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon pollution, and save money.

“The competitive spirit is alive and well among the New England building teams trying to improve their energy efficiency in this year’s Battle of the Buildings,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “After four successful years, we’re excited to see what innovative ideas will emerge from the competitors as they continue to find new ways to save energy, save money, and protect the environment.”

In the only coast-to-coast competition of its kind, more than 5,500 buildings nationwide are going head-to-head to reduce their energy use. This year’s theme, Team Challenge, features teams of five or more buildings who will work together to reduce their collective energy use over the course of a year. For example, Team Staples includes 17 Staples stores and Team Whole Foods Market includes 15 Whole Foods stores.

Competitors will measure and track their building’s monthly energy consumption using EPA’s Energy Star online energy measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. Over the course of the competition, building teams will work to optimize or upgrade equipment, retrofit lighting, and change occupants’ behaviors – all with help from Energy Star. The team reducing its buildings’ average energy use the most, on a percentage basis, over a 12-month performance period, will be declared the winner. Seven hundred buildings, including 37 from New England, are also competing in a special water reduction category, and will work with EPA’s WaterSense program to apply best practices for commercial building water management. EPA will maintain a website devoted to the competition, featuring a listing of competitors and their starting, midpoint, and final standings, a live Twitter feed where competitors will post updates on their progress, and an interactive map of the competitors’ locations. Midpoint results will be posted in October. The winner will be announced in April 2015.

This year marks the fifth year EPA is hosting the Battle of the Buildings. The competition—and positive environmental impacts—have grown exponentially since that time. Last year’s competitors saved a combined total of more than 900 million kBtus of energy and an estimated $20 million on utility bills. Nearly 50 buildings in the competition demonstrated energy use reductions of 20 percent or greater.

Commercial buildings in the United States are responsible for approximately 20 percent of the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually. By improving the energy efficiency of the places we work, play, and learn, the competitors will save energy and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. President Obama’s Climate Action Plan calls for businesses to cut in half the amount of energy they waste over the next 20 years.

Products, homes and buildings that earn the Energy Star label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by EPA. From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.5 billion sold over the past 20 years. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 buildings have earned the Energy Star label.

New England Battle of the Building competitors by state include:
Connecticut: 63 buildings in the competition, including 29 courthouses
Maine: 18 buildings including 16 owned by the Government Services Administration, (GSA)
Massachusetts: 43 buildings including a team of 6 buildings from Hanscom AFB
New Hampshire: 6 buildings
Rhode Island: 4 buildings
Vermont: 17 buildings, all owned by GSA

More information:

Current Battle of the Buildings competition: http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings

2013 Battle of the Buildings Wrap up: http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/tools-and-resources/energy-star-national-building-competition-2013-wrap-report-trends-best-practices

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