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North Berkshire Audubon invites all interested area bird watchers to take part in the 109th Christmas Bird Count on Saturday December 20th. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas will take part in counts from December 14, 2008 through January 5, 2009. It is an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists will head out on an annual mission to count the number of individual birds they see during a 24-hour period. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house in the middle of winter, often before dawn.
The information gathered during the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.
There are several groups going out around the north Berkshire region, or you may count the birds at your feeder during the day. At the end of the day, all participants are invited to take part in a pot luck dinner for the compilation and sharing of the days stories and sightings. The dinner will be held at Sheep Hill in Williamstown beginning at 6:00 PM.
North Berkshire Audubon is an informal group of nature enthusiasts which sponsors bird and nature walks in and around Williamstown. For more information about the group or the Christmas Bird Count please contact Leslie Reed-Evans lre@wrlf.org 413-458-2494.
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Bush Administration Eviscerates Endangered Species Act
(from ELM Bullerin December 12, 2008)
Finalizes rollback in protections despite fierce opposition
From the National Wildlife Federation: December 11, 2008
(ELM is the Massachusetts Affiliate of NWF)
Washington, DC - The Bush administration today issued a final rule eliminating the Endangered Species Act requirement that federal agencies consult with independent scientists. John Kostyack, Executive Director of Wildlife and Global Warming for the National Wildlife Federation said:
"In the eleventh hour of his presidency, President Bush has rammed through a sweeping overhaul of the Endangered Species Act. This action eviscerates key protections that have helped safeguard and recover endangered fish, wildlife and plants for the past 35 years.
"Our government is founded in a system of checks, balances and accountability. President Bush has violated each of these principles by finalizing this rule in his waning days of power.
"The Bush administration has dealt a severe blow to wildlife on its way out the door. After eight years of overt hostility toward the Endangered Species Act, it appears this administration saved the worst attack for last.
"Wildlife and marine biologists form the pillars of scientific integrity that support the Endangered Species Act. Knocking them out of the decision-making process will erode the foundation of this bedrock law and make it significantly harder to protect endangered species.
"More than 200,000 citizens voiced their opposition to these rollbacks. Not only has the Administration chosen to move forward, they have made matters worse by barring federal agencies from addressing the reality of global warming and its impacts on imperiled wildlife. The Bush administration has demonstrated complete disregard for public opinion with this action.
"The National Wildlife Federation will work through the courts and with Congress and the Obama administration to undo the damage done today. Every second that passes with this rule on the books increases the threat to America's endangered species.
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2nd RGGI Auction
The States of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to Hold Second Auction
What: On behalf of the participating states, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. will conduct the second auction under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Bidders will vie for more than 31.5 million carbon dioxide emissions allowances.
When: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 between 9:00 am and noon eastern standard time
Where: Each of the sealed bid RGGI auctions are held on-line through an electronic platform provided by World Energy Services.
Background: RGGI will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through a mandatory,
market-based cap-and-trade program. Under RGGI, the ten participating states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) will stabilize power sector carbon emissions at their capped level, and then reduce the cap by 10 percent at a rate of 2.5 percent each year between 2015 and 2018.
CO2 allowances under RGGI will be distributed primarily via auctions rather than the free allocation methodology used in other emissions markets. By using an auction, participating states are able to provide benefits to consumers through strategic investment of auction proceeds
Proceeds from the carbon allowance auctions will be invested by the participating states in energy efficiency programs, renewable energy stimulus efforts and other programs to benefit consumers. As a result, RGGI will deliver economic and environmental benefits and improve energy security through reduced use of fossil fuels.
The first RGGI auction was held Sept. 25 during which more than 12.5 million allowances from 6 states were sold. Wednesday's auction, the second of two RGGI auctions held during the pre-compliance period, will offer 31,505,898 allowances, including CO2 allowances from all ten participating states. These two auctions are termed "pre-compliance" auctions because actual compliance obligations under the programs do not take effect until January 1, 2009.
The CO2 allowances purchased at this auction can be used by a regulated power plant for compliance in any of the RGGI states. Sales of CO2 allowances will be through a consistent offering of allowances in quarterly auctions. States have committed to offer for sale before the end of 2011 all of the allowances they are putting into the auctions for the first three-year compliance period. Regulated power companies must hold enough allowances to match their CO2 emissions for the first compliance period by March 1, 2012.
After the auction closes, the auction administrator will determine winning bids and the market monitor will prepare a report on conduct of the auction and fairness of market participation. Following approval of the auction results by the participating states, RGGI, Inc. will issue a news release with the clearing price, volume of allowances sold and the market monitor's assessment. Results are expected on Friday, December 19th and will be posted at http://www.rggi.org. After financial settlement and award of allowances in early January, further information about the auction results will be provided on the RGGI website.
For more information on RGGI auctions see: http://www.rggi.org/co2-auctions
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