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WELCOME TO THE JUNE 2017 ITHACA SUSTAINABILITY NEWSLETTER
In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. In response to the Trump Administration's recent decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, leaders across the country are taking swift action. The City of Ithaca is among 246 U.S. Mayors, representing 56 million Americans, in joining Climate Mayors, and joins an unprecedented coalition of governors, mayors, college and university leaders, businesses, and investors in the We Are Still In initiative. Cornell University and the Park Foundation signed on to similar letters, and the Tompkins County Legislature will consider signing on at its meeting tonight (public comments are at 5:30).
Together we will work to carry out the U.S. commitment as part of the global effort to hold global warming to well below 2°C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit security, prosperity, and health for all of us. #WeAreStillIn
-- Nick Goldsmith, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca
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Town of Ithaca Adopts Energy Benchmarking Policy
At its May 22 meeting, the Town of Ithaca adopted a benchmarking policy to track energy use in Town facilities over 1,000 square feet and share that information with the public on an annual basis. This information will identify opportunities to cut costs and reduce pollution.
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City of Ithaca Awarded Funding for Hector Street Enhancements
The City of Ithaca will receive $1,400,000 in federal funding assistance to enhance pedestrian, bicycling, and bus conditions and to improve safety along Hector Street (Rt. 79) between Floral Avenue and 500 feet past the City line towards Linderman Creek Apartments. Learn more here.
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Job Opening: Active Transportation & Bikeshare Coordinator
Bike Walk Tompkins, a program of Ithaca Carshare, is looking to hire a new staff member to help lead development of a Blueprint for Better Bicycling and launch of a community bikeshare pilot. Learn more here.
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Cornell and NYS Announce Major Climate and Jobs Initiative
A new partnership between Cornell University and Climate Jobs NY has led to the Clean Climate Careers initiative, which aims to create 40,000 new, good-paying clean energy jobs by 2020.
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Green Building Policy Project Update
This week, the Green Building Policy Project hosts staff from Burlington, VT, Evanston, IL, and Fort Collins, CO in Ithaca for two days for a peer-to-peer exchange on green building policies. We'll share takeaways from this event. Sign up here for project updates.
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Local Study Shows Heat Pumps are Cost-Effective
A new local building energy system study for townhouses and custom/luxury homes found that the energy cost of heat pumps is slightly lower than natural gas and significantly lower than propane. Read the full report here.
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Crestwood Drops Seneca Lake Natural Gas Storage Plans
And finally, in case you missed it... Arlington Storage Co., a subsidiary of Crestwood Midstream Partners, is abandoning controversial plans to expand natural gas storage in salt caverns along Seneca Lake. Opponents of the plan are hailing the decision as a major victory, but Crestwood still plans to move ahead with liquid propane gas (LPG) storage in salt caverns. Learn more here.
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Gardening Like the Forest: Workshops with Dave Jacke
Friday-Sunday, June 9-11, Auburn, NY
The Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute presents a weekend of workshops with author and ecological designer Dave Jacke. The Friday evening public talk, Regenerating Watersheds through Ecological Food Production, is from 7 to 9pm. Learn more here.
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“Without question, this is absolutely the best and most creative film on the future of humanity and the environment.” - Paul Hawken
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Screening of "Tomorrow"
Wednesday, June 14, Noon and 7pm, Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green St.
A phenomenon in Europe and winner of the Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), Tomorrow is an inspirational film that explores creative solutions. Organized by the Sustainability Center in partnership with Cinemapolis. Learn more here.
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Transportation Camp Ithaca
Saturday, June 17, 8:30am-4:30pm, Klarman Hall, Cornell, 232 East Ave.
Tompkins County and Cornell University Transportation Services are hosting the second Transportation Camp Ithaca, a meeting of peers presenting/discussing topics that interest them. At Camp, you explore a large marketplace of ideas, with a focus on mobility challenges in rural, small urban, regional and large urban areas. Learn more here.
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First Annual Ithaca Reggae Fest
Saturday, June 24, 10am-8pm, Stewart Park
The Ithaca Reggae Fest is dedicated to the protection of Cayuga Lake through a vibrant celebration of Ithaca’s legendary reggae community and its history. Learn more here.
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Webinar: Planning for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Tools, Results, and Lessons Learned from Tompkins County
Wednesday, June 28, 11am
This webinar, hosted by Energetics Incorporated, will review the findings and results of an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure project for Tompkins County. Register here.
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