In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Environmental Monitor
Public Notices Alphabetically
by town
The BEAT News Archives
Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators)
DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire
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Green Jobs: Training for a Sustainable Energy Future
Late Spring EcoBytes from CET
Click to view this email in a browser
Everyone’s talking about Green Jobs. We’d like to share how CET is contributing to training the new green work force.
Pathways out of Poverty
Weatherization contractors have a growing need for new skilled employees. In the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley, Pathways out of Poverty, an initiative of the MA Clean Energy Center, provided comprehensive weatherization skills training through our partnerships with Berkshire Community College, Holyoke Community College and the Berkshire and Hampden Regional Employment Boards, vocational technical schools in the Berkshires and business advisors.
 Contractor Boot Camp
Insulation and air sealing contractors are improving their skills through hands-on training sessions sponsored by MA gas and electric utilities. CET has instructed 222 contractors in the latest techniques through our contractor boot camps in partnership with Conservation Services Group (CSG).
Photo: CET Trainer Chuck Miller teaches a group how to blow in cellulose insulation.
Energy Codes Training
Massachusetts’s new energy code will be as effective as those who build, design, construct and oversee it. Almost 2000 code officials, builders, architects, and engineers
have attended an energy codes training since December. Trainings are provided through stimulus funding by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Thirty-two sessions across the state have been delivered in partnership with CSG and ERS.
Building Performance Initiative (BPI) Training and Certification
A growing number of Federal, State and local weatherization incentive programs encourage or require the work to be performed by BPI certified individuals. With the goal of raising the bar for the area’s green work force, CET will launch BPI Building Analyst courses, with the first class to be offered later this month.
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New York State Legislators Considering Solar Jobs Act
An act to amend the public service law and the public authorities law, in relation to the creation of the New York solar industry development and jobs act of 2010 and the procurement of solar renewable energy credits
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : The purpose of the bill is to establish a program to enable the rapid and sustainable development of a robust solar power industry in New York State, creating a scalable, diverse and competitive solar energy market and thus harnessing the associated multiple benefits. The program includes targets to achieve at least 5,000 megawatts (MW) of solar PV capacity in the state by 2025, with interim targets of at least 500 MW by 2015 and 1,500 MW by 2020.
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Got Food Waste?
From GREEN Northampton
Starting June 14th, the Northampton DPW will implement a free food waste collection program at the Locust Street Recycling Center. This trial will assess the level of interest in diverting organic wastes from the residential waste stream by measuring participation and generation rates. The program will be provided to residents at no cost and will run for at least a year…and perhaps longer.
One-hundred-ten households have already signed up for the program. Two more drop-in registration sessions have been scheduled from 5-7pm on Monday June 14 and Wednesday June 16 at the Department of Public Works office at 125 Locust Street. Additional registration sessions may be scheduled at a later date. A 2010-2011 vehicle permit will be required for access to this service. Even if a resident doesn’t use the DPW Recycling Center for trash and recycling, they may purchase a permit to participate in the food waste collection program. Permits are $25 for residents and $5 for seniors (62 years and older) and a vehicle registration with a Florence, Leeds or Northampton address is required. Permits are affixed to the vehicle as part of the registration process.
Last Call for Rainbarrels and Compost Bins
The Northampton Department of Public Works is sponsoring another distribution of the “SkyJuice Rainbarrel”, “Jack’s Solar Composter” and the “Earth Machine” compost bin on June 24th. Northampton residents can pre-order rainbarrels at $60 each, tumbling compost bins at $75 each and compost bins at $40 each. Non-residents can participate in this program by ordering rainbarrels at $70 each, tumbling compost bins at $85 each and compost bins at $45 each.
More information about the distribution program, as well as photographs and features of these products are included on the order form. Order forms are available at the Locust Street Recycling Center and the DPW office (both at 125 Locust Street), the Landfill Recycling Center on Glendale Road, and on the DPW’s website www.northamptonma.gov/dpw under “Recycling”). The order form and payment (check or money order) must be received by the DPW no later than noon on Friday, June 18th. Orders received by the deadline will be confirmed by a postcard with more information.
The distribution will be held on Thursday, June 24th from 5-7pm at the Department of Public Works office on Locust Street. This will be the third and final distribution before summer; the next distribution will be held on September 9th. While there is no limit on the number of barrels or bins that can be ordered through this program it might be difficult to fit everything into your vehicle, so plan accordingly.
For more information, contact Karen Bouquillon at 413-587-1059 or at kbouquillon@nohodpw.org
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Final Public Meeting on the First Street Common Redesign Project
 The Pittsfield Office of Community Development has announced that the final public meeting on the First Street Common redesign project is scheduled for Monday, June 21 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 70 Allen Street. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting where the final preferred alternative plan will be unveiled.
For more information, contact 499-9344.
Please share and forward this to others who may be interested.
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Hello? Safer Chemicals Please.
Shrek glasses with cadmium?! Canned food contaminated with the sex hormone bisphenol A?! Cancer-causing formaldehyde in furniture?! If you've followed the stories in the media in the last few months, it's probably not news to you that current law isn't protecting us from harmful chemicals (http://bit.ly/bXWGfU).
Fortunately, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 (http://bit.ly/bNpcLJ) was just introduced in Congress. It aims to protect our families from harmful chemicals by overhauling our outdated chemical laws. The current draft of the bill is a good first step, but it's missing some key provisions, like phasing out the worst chemicals first and ensuring that chemicals are tested for safety BEFORE they are allowed on the market.
The House of Representatives is poised to act on toxic chemical legislation this month so your representative needs to hear from you!
Call your representative in Congress by dialing the Capitol switchboard in Washington, DC at 202-224-3121. Let him or her know that you support putting health first by getting rid of the worst chemicals first! (If you want to check who your representative is, visit this website http://bit.ly/bHQhQG.)
Here's a sample message you can use when you reach your representative:
"Hi my name is ____ , and I live in Representative's X district. I am really concerned about toxic chemicals in consumer products and their impact on my family's health. Please vote to strengthen the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 by making sure chemicals are safe before they are allowed on the market and getting rid of the worst toxic chemicals, like lead and toxic flame retardants, first."
The reasons to support a stronger Safe Chemicals Act keep mounting. Chemicals found in products we use everyday have been linked to negative health effects including cancer, early puberty, learning disabilities, and sexual dysfunction.
A few weeks ago, the President's Cancer Panel released a damning report underlining the acute need for stronger toxics laws. The report specifically recommends removing cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins from our food, water, and air that "needlessly
increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity and devastate American lives."
Please call your representative TODAY at 202-224-3121
We've got a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the way chemicals are regulated. Congress is listening but we've got to push for stronger reform. Your representative needs to hear from you today! Make the call right now, and then let us know what
you learn by sending an email to info@saferchemicals.org.
Thank you!
Lindsay Dahl
Deputy Director
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
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Drinking Water: New Alternative Testing Methods Are Approved
fromWater Headlines for the week of June 14, 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved 12 new, alternative (and optional) testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water and determining compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes EPA to streamline approval of the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.
These 12 alternative methods test for Dalapon; Radium-226; Uranium; Radioactive Cesium, Iodine and Gamma emitters; Tritium; and E. coli in drinking water.
You can view or download the complete text of the Federal Register final action and fact sheet from the Internet at: http://epa.gov/safewater/methods/analyticalmethods_expedited.html. The Web site also describes the Expedited Method Approval Process for drinking water and provides a complete listing of the alternative testing methods approved under the program.
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Massachusetts's Unnecessary Expense
You're probably aware of bottled water's downsides, so I bet you avoid it whenever possible and opt instead for reusable bottles and filters. Don't you wish your state government did the same?
It's not news to you, but bottled water is as much as 1,900 times more expensive than municipal drinking water, and it's not necessarily any safer or cleaner. And researchers have found that producing and transporting bottled water requires up to 2,000 times more energy than tap water.
But Massachusetts still uses taxpayers' money to buy bottled water for government offices and other non-emergency purposes.
When state funds are dwindling and environmental concerns are growing, it's time for the Massachusetts government to take a simple action that will help save money and make Massachusetts greener: cut public spending on unnecessary bottled water.
Click here to sign our petition to Governor Patrick, urging him to stop spending your money on unnecessary bottled water. We're partnering with Corporate Accountability International to support this simple, common-sense change.
The states of Virginia and New York and many cities, including Albuquerque, Ann Arbor, Austin, Denver, Des Moines, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle and St. Louis, have cut spending on bottled water. San Francisco alone has saved $500,000 a year by banning all city purchases of bottled water!
Using taxpayer dollars to buy bottled water squanders much needed public funds on an unnecessary product that harms the environment. It would be far wiser to invest the money Massachusetts spends on bottled water in public water infrastructure or other programs that will benefit residents for years to come.
Click here to add your name to our petition. Massachusetts needs to stop spending your money on bottled water for government offices and other non-emergency purposes.
Thank you for adding your voice,
Ken Cook
President, EWG Action Fund
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Waste Prevention Specialist ( Berkshire region)
The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) provides education and resources for individuals and groups in the areas of waste prevention, reuse, composting and recycling. This full-time salaried position will work with Berkshire towns, businesses and schools in the areas above, as well as public education at community events. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in the areas of recycling, waste reduction and environmental health. Education and/or public speaking and presentation experience is required.
Please visit our website for the full job description at http://www.cetonline.org/AboutCET/job_openings.php#Waste
CET is an equal opportunity employer.
Send cover letter and resume via email (hr@cetonline.org) to: Josie Ellis, HR Manager, Center for Ecological Technology, 112 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. 413-445-4556 ext. 15
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James Cahillane
Director, Recycling Services and Manager of Waste Reduction Programs
Center for Ecological Technology (CET)
112 Elm St. Pittsfield, MA 01201
jamiec@cetonline.org / 413-445-4556 ext. 14
Visit www.cetonline.org
Support our work
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Knee-High Naturalists at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Monday – Thursdays:
July 5-9
July 12-15
July 19-22
Aug 2-5
Join your preschooler for a four-day session to explore the outdoors during summer. This summer’s program features inventive fun with nature activities and crafts. Parents are welcome to leave their children for the program or stay. Children should be between 3 and 4 years old. A snack is provided.
Please dress your child for the outdoors.
Leader: Gayle Tardif-Raser, Education Coordinator
$75 Mass Audubon members
$85 nonmembers
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
472 West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-0320
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Pittsfield Westside Farm Project
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Visitors and volunteers are welcome during open garden hours. We share vegetables with volunteers!
Open Garden Hours (closed during inclement weather):
148 Robbins Avenue -
- Tuesday: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
- Friday: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
109 Linden Street -
- Tuesday: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:30 – 12:30 p.m.
Garden Respect -
- Please do not enter the garden when closed.
- Please keep the garden smoke-free and walk in pathways.
- Please accompany individuals who need supervision during open garden hours.
COMMUNITY & EDUCATION-BASED GROUPS: RESERVE A SPOT -Contact westsidefarmer@gmail.com if you would like to schedule a volunteer session with your group.
VOLUNTEERS WALK AWAY WITH VEGGIES -
We deeply appreciate our volunteers, all of whom are welcome to return home with vegetables (when they‘re growing!). Bring a bag when you volunteer, and feel free to ask for vegetables.
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Financing Solar Energy for Nonprofits
"Boston-based Wainwright Bank and Trust Co. announced that it will begin providing financing for Massachusetts nonprofits to install solar energy systems through a program designed to eliminate high up-front costs and take advantage of federal tax incentives.
Wainwright’s financing goes directly to Pittsburgh-based GreenBridge Energy Consortium, which then provides small to midsized renewable energy systems at no cost to nonprofit clients while offering savings on their long-term electricity needs.
Traditionally, up-front installation costs have been among the greatest barriers for solar projects.
GreenBridge’s program is designed especially for nonprofits, which are not eligible for federal incentives for solar energy systems under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009..."
More: http://www.massnonprofit.org/news.php?artid=1981&catid=13
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