Resources for the environmental community
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Electric vehicle sales grow in Sonoma County
Matt Brown, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Once the bailiwick of tinkers and hobbyists, electric vehicles are popping up all over Sonoma County as green-minded and tech-savvy drivers warm up to plug-in cars.
The market for EVs has expanded dramatically since December 2010, when the Nissan dealership in Petaluma became the first car dealer in the nation to sell the Leaf, the world’s first mass market all-electric car.
via Electric vehicle sales grow in Sonoma County | The Press Democrat.
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Sonoma County supervisors support plastic bag ban
Brett Wilkison, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave its formal support to an ordinance that would ban carryout plastic bags at checkout lines countywide and add a 10-cent fee for each paper bag
The 4-1 vote, with Supervisor David Rabbitt dissenting, constitutes the county’s direction to its appointee on the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, the joint county-city body that has been studying and developing the ban for two years and would adopt and enforce the ordinance.
via Sonoma County supervisors support plastic bag ban | PressDemocrat.com.
DECISION TIME
Plastic bag ban decisions by cities:
Rohnert Park: Tuesday
Healdsburg: July 1
Petaluma: July 1
Santa Rosa: July 16
Cotati: July, date unscheduled
Cloverdale: July, date unscheduled
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Land Use, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Apples to Grapes Protest in Sebastopol
Shepherd Bliss, SONOMA COUNTY GAZETTE
Do not be deceived by the thin perimeter of a few live apple trees remaining next to Apple Blossom School and the five schools near 622 Watertrough Road in the Sebastopol countryside. A glorious, historic 40-acre orchard that nurtured people, wildlife, and the environment thrived there for many decades. Chain-sawed trees now languish on their sides with dying green apples, which will never ripen to red, cut down on June 14. Witnessing this slaughter is enough to make a grown man weep.
Paul Hobbs Winery plans yet another chemical vineyard by this clear cutting. The orchard attack is only the first in a series of blows. The downed beauties will soon be burned or disposed of in some way. The soil–which tests indicate contains DDT, arsenic, and lead–will be ripped deeply, adding more waves of deadly drift to the schools, its students, teachers, staff, and visitors.
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Permaculture Skills Center to open near Sebastopol
Enviro Updates
The new Permaculture Skills Center is a 5 acre site near Sebastopol that will teach the skills needed to create and maintain permaculture gardens, which are based on principles of systems ecology and sustainable land use.
A launch party will be held June 15 from 12:00-5:00pm.
2185 Hwy 116 South, Sebastopol
For more information, see the Center’s website at http://permacultureskillscenter.org/
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Experts explore energy, debt, climate challenges
Gary Quackenbush, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
Navigating economic realities involving energy, debt and climate trends that will impact our lives and provide the context for local economic development in the North Bay, was the focus of Richard Heinberg’s presentation May 8 at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa.
Sponsored by Share Exchange, the Threshold Foundation, Summit State Bank and 20 community partners, the event also included a panel discussion.
Share Exchange founder Kelley Rajala was the moderator for the evening and introduced Mr. Heinberg and panelists Marc Armstrong, director of the Public Banking Institute; Ann Hancock, director of the Climate Protection Agency, and Stacey Lawson, chief executive officer of the Ygrene Energy Fund.
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Board to vote on Sonoma Clean Power Tuesday, April 23, 9:00am
Climate Protection Campaign
Sonoma Clean Power, the county initiative to purchase greener electricity, comes back to the Board for a vote on April 23rd. Topics include potential rates, start-up financing, and marketing services. Please attend and show support.
The most recent story in the Press Democrat:
Eleven bidders compete to provide power to Sonoma County
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable Living, TransportationLeave a comment on Electric vehicles at 'Day on the Green'
Enviro Updates
The North Bay Electric Auto Association and Sierra Club’s Sonoma Group co-sponsored a show and tell of electric vehicles at Montgomery Village’s ‘Day on the Green’ in Santa Rosa today. Dealers and enthusiasts brought Leafs, Volts, Fits, Priuses, Teslas and home-converted vehicles to exhibit.
Electric cars are growing in popularity in the North Bay, and charging stations are multiplying. For a current list of stations, go to plugshare.com.
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Land Use, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Board of Supervisors backs landfill deal
Brett Wilkison, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday voiced support for a move that would expand the county’s central landfill by permanently turning over operations to a national solid waste contractor, starting with a 20-year deal worth an estimated $547 million.
In their first formal look at the proposal, members of the Board of Supervisors touted its benefits for garbage customers and taxpayers while opponents led by organized labor representatives called out its risks.
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Local Organizations, Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on 350 Home & Garden Challenge Kick-Off Party – March 25
Ryan Johnston, DAILY ACTS
Please join Daily Acts to launch the biggest and boldest 350 Home and Garden Challenge ever! You will meet the organizers and partners, learn about the many exciting ways that you can get involved in this year’s Challenge, and be inspired. We will provide snacks, drinks, and tangible ideas for ways you can make your home, garden, and community more resilient!
This year’s 350 Home & Garden Challenge will center on May 18th and 19th, when thousands of people across Sonoma County will again rise to the challenge of creating a more sustainable community. Building upon the incredible success of 628 garden actions in 2010, 1,044 actions in 2011, and 2,304 in 2012, our goal this year is to inspire 3,500 actions to save water, save energy, grow food, and build community. And to continue to broaden the charge, we’re adding two new action areas: live local and green your ride. Small or large, every action counts. Only together can we become more food and energy independent, and build the strength, health, beauty, and resilience of our communities!
350 Home & Garden Challenge Kick-Off Party
Monday, March 25th, 6-8:30pm
Laguna Environmental Center, 900 Sanford Road
Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
RSVP kindly requested: https://events.nonprofiteasy.net/dailyacts/eventdetails?EventId=14024
For more information about the 350 Home & Garden Challenge, please visit www.dailyacts.org/campaigns
Author SuzannePosted on Categories Sustainable LivingLeave a comment on Effort to reopen Sonoma County landfill advances
Brett Wilkison, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Sonoma County’s plans to permanently reopen and expand its central landfill cleared a major hurdle Thursday, receiving a go-ahead from North Coast water regulators.
The decision approving a permit for up to 22 more years of operation at the Mecham Road site west of Cotati came from the same state agency that nearly a decade ago raised pollution concerns that triggered a five-year closure of the landfill.
via Effort to reopen Sonoma County landfill advances | PressDemocrat.com.