Climate Change and Renewable Energy – Our Scenarios

Session 3: Where we can go
The Landscape of Renewables

Adopting renewable energy use
Advocacy

Sunday, February 23, 2014, 11:00 a.m.
425 S. Central Park Blvd.

In Session 1, we took stock of the climate emergency our species and planet face. In Session 2 we began to let those realities sink in. While these should be ongoing activities, in Session 3, we turn our attention to renewable energy, scanning the landscape of options to implement and advocate for, from personal to political levels. Come with your curiosity antennae up. Please view at least one of the videos, graphics or articles below to whet your appetite. See you Sunday at 11:00!

-Duane

Resources

Session 3: Where we can go

A. The Landscape of Renewables

VIDEOS What are Renewable Energy Certificates? (a winery’s view) The future of energy? (Cambridge, UK) Solar: cheaper than candles Spherical solar energy generator (article) Photo: Energiequelle

ARTICLES Colombian Community Builds Renewable Technologies for a Sustainable Future Just thinking and trying things in your local situation can provide more effective ideas than the www. How a German Village Created an Independent Grid and a Renewable Energy Future Remembering murdered earth protectors Sharp rise in murders of environmentalists, 1% convicted “Every little bit helps” is a dangerous mantra for climate change Solar can be fast, sporty and powerful

B. Adopting renewable energy use (household, community)

VIDEOS Garfield Park woman says wind, solar not just for wealthy (2:35) Some Chicago area wind and solar installations Solar in Naperville (2:23); Wind in Lisle (2:29) Investment: Solar Mosaic (1:00) (www.joinmosaic.com – not serving Illinois yet) Revolving Fund for Solar Energy (3:06) Related article Wheelchair accessible EV (5:16) (article) Our Power: Natives and non-natives unite for transition to renewables (8:21) LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES/ CONNECTIONS Get help putting solar on your school Logan Square green business incubator Ask your electricity provider for a renewable option or find another supplier

ARTICLES Chicago is home to the largest urban solar farm in the US Gas from a landfill energizing Chicago since 1989 (who knew?) Why states like IL that produce more wind energy have lower power prices Shared solar policy – a toolkit for developing community solar options GroupEnergy in New York I want solar on my roof, but have no south facing roof. What? West is better?! Coming: 500-, 100- and 25-Watt off-the-shelf Solar Liberator Fire your dryer How to Go Green: Laundry Dryers are the second biggest household energy hog after fridges. Building a resilient (local) economy Chicago Tribune fuel-efficient cars 11 EVs Cheaper Than the Average New Car A federal incentive of $7,500 plus an Illinois state incentive of 10% of MSRP mean you can buy a $34,185 Chevy Volt for $23,266. Climate effects of car types by state Why You Might Buy Electricity From Elon Musk Some Day In California, homeowners are pulling the plug on their utilities by storing solar electricity in Tesla batteries. Utility scale solar thermal (however…)

C. Advocacy

VIDEOS Movement momentum (Al Gore) (4:23) Home visit to an Enbridge board member ACTION OPPORTUNITIES Support Illinois SB 103 / HB 2864 for a fix to the Renewable Portfolio Standard Join The Solutions Project, a state-by-state plan to transition to 100% renewable energy EPA new power plant carbon limit Write a comment to the EPA on proposed rule Support a Climate Reality leader to attend training (crowd funding) Protect parks in Illinois from fracking Ask your Senators to join the Senate Climate Action Task Force Write Japanese Prime Minister on Fukushima Third Anniversary

ARTICLES Naomi Klein: How science is telling us all to revolt Is our relentless quest for economic growth killing the planet? Climate scientists have seen the data – and they are coming to some incendiary conclusions. The Earth as Witness: Int’l Dharma Teachers’ Statement on Climate Change It's time to stop investing in the fossil fuel industry (Bill McKibben) Chicago’s Electrical Aggregation can leverage renewable energy harvesting PA Supreme Court Says State Can't Force Fracking on Local Communities Illinois’s fracking rules deny county zoning control, like PA’s unconstitutional provision. A proposed bill is in IL’s General Assembly addresses this. Obama’s Nuke-Powered Drone Strike on America’s Energy Future The Wrong Kind of Green The Nature Conservancy has acknowledged the oil leak in the Gulf, but failed to mention BP. Could it be because the Conservancy has close ties to BP? A report on the relationship between conservation groups and corporate cash. Research: Advanced Energy Legislation excellent state legislation resource, including keyword search A Philadelphia ordinance giving reserved parking for EV owners with curbside charging station (how about Chicago?) (Philly ordinance) One in Five New Parking Spaces in New York City Required to be EV-Compatible How To Talk To A Climate Science Denier, If You Must

Related resources:

Citizens Climate Lobby (advocating for a national carbon tax)

National Catholic Reporter Eco Catholic

RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Clean Technica - Clean Power

ClimateBites: a climate communication toolkit