The BEAT News May 9, 2012

News Headlines

Some Good (and Bad) News on Air Pollution

from Legal Planet – The Environmental Law and Policy Blog

The American Lung Association has issued its State of the Air 2012 report. The news is mostly good. Since 1990, aggregate emissions of common air pollutants in the US have fallen 60%, even as the economy, population, and vehicle miles traveled have increased. Short term, the vast majority of the nation’s most polluted cities enjoyed better air quality in 2011 than in 2010. There is also some bad news, however. More than 40% of Americans — 125 million people — live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particulate pollution, or both. And emissions of greenhouse gases, unlike those of conventional pollutants, continue to rise. <more>

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‘Last Call At The Oasis’ Is Loud Wakeup Call On Global Water Crisis

 

Think Progress – by Mindy Lubber, via Ceres

 

This weekend in theaters in Los Angeles, and in coming weeks in Phoenix, San Diego and Atlanta, a powerful new documentary premiers. Look closely at the early screening locations and you just might guess the topic: water scarcity.

 

“Last Call at the Oasis” does far more than recount the alarming woes of our country’s most water-stressed regions; it’s a beautifully produced, detailed picture of an immense global crisis bearing down on us as we speak – and thankfully a roadmap of sorts to what we can do about it.

 

Here is a website with a great infographic. And here is the rest of the story on Think Progress.

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The Lights Will Stay On – Without Vermont Yankee

from  Conservation Law Foundation by Sandy Levine 

 

Another false claim by Entergy – the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear facility in Vermont – is laid to rest. On Monday, the ISO-New England came out with an important determination that Vermont Yankee is not needed for reliability of the electrical grid.

 

This has been brewing for awhile and is quite significant since Entergy keeps claiming its tired old and polluting plant on the banks of the Connecticut River is needed for reliability. That claim is simply false.

 

In a filing made with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the ISO New England stated:

“[T]he ISO determined that Vermont Yankee is not needed for reliability for the 2015-2016 Capacity Commitment Period. This determination is based on the expectation that certain transmission upgrades will be in place prior to the 2015-2016 Capacity Commitment Period as well as new resources which have been procured through the Forward Capacity Market.”  [see page 8-9 of this filing]

 

This is a very important determination and is good news for New England’s clean energy future. It shows the transformation of our power grid to cleaner sources and away from older and polluting coal and nuclear plants.

 

By way of explanation, the ISO New England operates the region’s electricity grid to ensure the lights stay on. It holds auctions to determine which resources will supply capacity to meet power needs in future years. This is the forward capacity auction referred to above.

 

What this means is that Entergy will not collect capacity payments for Vermont Yankee during 2015 to 2016.  That means that ratepayers will not be forced to prop up this tired, old, expensive and polluting nuclear plant, or its untrustworthy owners. Ratepayers will not be paying for Vermont Yankee to be available to operate.

 

This determination recognizes that grid improvements and new resources will keep the lights on without Vermont Yankee. Another false claim by Entergy is laid to rest. Our region moves one step closer to a cleaner energy future.

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Guyette Community Farm Ground Breaking

 

New community garden in Plainfield/Ashfield, groundbreaking is this Saturday, same day as the Hilltown Spring Festival down the road in Cummington. So if you live nearby, you can attend both:

 

http://www.meetup.com/Western-MA-Permaculture/events/63912422/?a=mc1_grp&rv=mc1

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Opening information for the 2012 season

 

The Lodge will be open for Lunch (11-4) and Dinner (7pm) during the following weekend dates in May:
May 19 & 20, and on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25, 26, 27 & 28.

The Lodge will fully open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Lodging starting on Friday, June 1.

On Saturday, June 2 there will be a series of Opening Weekend events starting at 11am including Native American tepee raising, drumming, storytelling and music.

All Events are free and open to the Public.

The Schedule:
11am Tepee raising and drumming.
1pm Mountain Blessing.
2pm Storytelling.
4pm Music by Joseph Firecrow

And at 7pm there will be offered a three course Native American themed dinner.

On Sunday, June 3 at 6pm there will be a Beekeeping demonstration presented by the Northern Berkshire Beekeeping Association.

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The Event is are Free and Open to the Public. And is followed by an optional prix fixe dinner.

Cultural Presentations are provided in collaboration with the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area:
http://www.upperhousatonicheritage.org/

 

 

Bascom Lodge, atop Mount Greylock in Adams, MA

For more information go to:www.bascomlodge.net

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Celebrating 65 years of Camp at Pleasant Valley

 

Registration is underway for Pleasant Valley Nature Camp in Lenox.  Since 1947, children have been connecting with nature at this Mass Audubon property. The sanctuary’s 1,300 acres of forests, meadows, brooks, and beaver ponds provide a wonderful outdoor experience for kids. The camp fosters an environment in which children can connect with nature, play, discover, and explore.

 

Programs, for kids ages 5-14, include daily hikes, related nature crafts and activities, games, songs and more. Camp staffers are enthusiastic naturalists (many former campers themselves) who are dedicated to providing campers with the best summer ever, according to Camp Director Gayle Tardif-Raser.

 

A variety of exciting themed, one-week sessions are being offered. Camp runs Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and selected weeks include one overnight for campers age 9 and older.

 

Limited financial assistance is available. The deadline for applying for assistance is May 11. Contact 413-637-0320 for an application.

 

For more information call 413-637-0320, or email berkshires@massaudubon.org.

 

A camp brochure can also be downloaded from Mass Audubon’s website: www.massaudubon.org.

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Environmental Conservation Initiatives Supported
Wallace Genetic Foundation

The Wallace Genetic Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide that believe in the long-term conservation of the soil and of the environment, rather than exploitation of natural resources for temporary profits. Specific areas of interest include the following: sustainable agriculture, protection of farmland near cities, conservation of natural resources, biodiversity protection, reduction of environmental toxins, and global climate issues. Grants generally range from $25,000 to $40,000. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Application guidelines and forms are available on the Foundation’s website.

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Aquatic Ecologist – The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA

 
The Nature Conservancy (Boston, MA) is recruiting for an Aquatic Ecologist to provide technical and scientific support to implement aquatic conservation and restoration strategies throughout Massachusetts and the Eastern US. This position works with program staff to integrate aquatic priorities into project goals and multi-year protection, restoration, and public policy strategies at multiple scales. The Aquatic Ecologist will apply his/her experience and training in river ecosystems to represent the Conservancy as a technical leader on multi disciplinary/multi-partner project teams. The Aquatic Ecologist may work on regional working teams developing both freshwater and integrated freshwater/terrestrial/marine initiatives. To apply, please visit www.nature.org/careers and search for Job #40032.

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Conservation Programs Assistant – The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA

 

The Nature Conservancy (Boston, MA) is recruiting for a part-time Conservation Programs Assistant to provide ongoing logistical and administrative support for the Conservation Programs staff (Land Protection, Science, GIS, Stewardship, Marine, Freshwater and Govt. Relations) within the Massachusetts Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. S/he is responsible for managing conservation data, developing project packages, responding to landowner inquiries, maintaining manual and database project records, coordinating periodic monitoring of lands and assisting in the creation of GIS maps using ArcGIS. To apply, please visit www.nature.org/careers and search for Job #40029.

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Massachusetts Forest Alliance Seeks Candidates for Executive Director Position

 

The newly formed Massachusetts Forest Alliance is seeking candidates for a full-time Executive Director based in Marlborough , Massachusetts.

 

The Forest Alliance is a new non-profit organization with 750 members whose goal is to consolidate landowners and the forest based community in support of the Massachusetts forests.

 

Members of the Massachusetts Forest Landowners Association, the Massachusetts Wood Producers Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Professional Foresters have been working together to create the new Forest Alliance since last fall.  MFLA’s annual meeting approved forming and joining the alliance in January, with the Wood Producers following shortly thereafter. MAPF members will vote formally on joining the alliance at MAPF’s meeting on May 17th.

 

The Forest Alliance was incorporated in April and has a new board of directors with members drawn from each of the three organizations.

 

Members of the Forest Alliance’s initial board of directors include Dicken Crane as President, James Dammann as Treasurer, and Kris Armstrong as Clerk.  Other directors include Douglas Cook, Charles Thompson, Fred Heyes, Kent Lage, William Hull, Cinda Jones, Jeff Poirier, and James Kelly.

 

As a next step, the Alliance is seeking candidates for a full-time Executive Director.

 

Duties:  The Executive Director will be responsible for the ongoing operations of the Forest Alliance, including member recruitment, fund raising, development and administration of educational programs, and advocacy for the interests of the members.

 

Desired Qualifications:  The skills and personality to effectively communicate with the public and at legislative and agency levels; the ability to facilitate policy development within the organization; and a passion for land management and forest conservation.  Candidates should also have computer proficiency; the ability to develop and implement budgets and work plans; and the ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision and the comfort to work in the office, in the field, and on the road.  The ability to fund raise is essential.

 

For information about the position, email massforestalliance@gmail.com

 

To apply:  Send a cover letter and resume to massforestalliance@gmail.com

 

Interviews for the position will begin starting on May 21st.

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MassLIFT AmeriCorps Position Available

Franklin Land Trust has joined with partners around the state in the third year of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT), a statewide AmeriCorps program funded in part by a $260,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 

MassLIFT is a collaboration of regional conservation groups designed to meet Massachusetts’ needs for land protection, including starting new conservation projects, stewardship of protected lands, outreach to the community, and service learning opportunities to engage young people in conservation.

 

Franklin Land Trust will host one full-time AmeriCorps member in the 2012 MassLIFT program – a Land Steward – who will serve from September 2012 through August 2013. Applications will be accepted through June 14, 201. Details and program requirements can be found here and at the FLT web site.  

 

 

Founded in 1987, the Franklin Land Trust works with landowners and communities to protect the farms, forests, and other natural resources significant to the environmental quality, economy, and rural character of our region.

 

 

Visit our web site for updates about FLT programs and events, and if you’re wondering how you can help the Franklin Land Trust or how we can help you, call us anytime.

 

Sincerely,

The Franklin Land Trust staff:  Rich, Mary, Alain, Will, Florence, Linda, Amy, Emily & Sam

413.625.9152
info@franklinlandtrust.org

 

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