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Would you like to join us?
We meet on the 4th Wednesday every month from 7-8:30pm by zoom to discuss project updates and what's going on in the town and the region.
If interested, email colorpenfieldgreen@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!
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Penfield's Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program
Monthly Update
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Good Energy is Now Accepting Competitive
Energy Supplier Bids for Penfield's CCA Program
The Penfield town board recently named Good Energy LP as the program administrator for the town's Community Choice Aggregation program. Good Energy is the leader in CCA with more than 400 active public sector aggregations serving approximately 3,000,000 residents and municipal facilities. Roughly 400,000 households receive 100% renewable energy with a combined savings exceeding $200 million.
Good Energy is currently accepting bids from competitive suppliers in an effort to combine the lowest costs with the highest percent of renewable energy resources. Good Energy will work with the town board to select a supplier, most advantageous term length, and optimal amount of renewable content. Once a supplier is selected, Good Energy will launch a 60 day outreach campaign to help create awareness in the community.
- Learn more about Good Energy's current CCA communities in NYS - HERE.
- Browse Good Energy's PenfieldCCA.com Website - HERE.
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Healthy Yards Monroe County Campaign
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Feeling like climate change is too big for you alone to deal with? Then this might be just the right project for you. Make it the right size to fit the time , space, and attention you have available.
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Color Penfield Green joins other towns in Monroe County to encourage residents to participate in a fun effort in their own yards which will help restore our community’s biodiversity, ecological health, and beauty.
Yard by yard we can help restore the ecosystem health that we urgently need. Read more here.
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Color Penfield Green Will Offer Two Classes This Fall Through Penfield Recreation:
-Electric Cars 101: Your Guide to EVs
-Are You Ready for ALL-ELECTRIC Home Heating & Cooling?
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 Electric Cars 101 - Your Guide to EVs  Instructors: Igor Orlovich and Allen Hibner
Two 90 minute classes, 1 week apart
9/14 & 9/21 at 3pm OR at 7pm
Are you thinking about purchasing an Electric Vehicle (EV)? If you are, definitely sign up for this two-part class that’s loaded with tons of information about these vehicles and is presented by Penfield residents who currently own EVs themselves. We’ll answer lots of frequently asked questions in this course like, Can you take EVs through a carwash? or Don't I need to replace batteries every year?
We'll start with an introduction to EVs and take you through their advantages and disadvantages, considerations in choosing and buying an electric car (including financial incentives & rebates), options for charging them at home or on the road and how they will work for you around town and on long trips away from home. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask current EV owners questions and view their electric cars up close and in person.
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Are You Ready for ALL-ELECTRIC Home Heating & Cooling? 
Instructors: Allen Hibner and Igor Orlovich
One 90 minute class
10/5 at 3pm OR at 7pm
Is your home’s old fossil fuel burning gas furnace or hot water heater ready for replacement? Is your old inefficient central A/C unit running up high electricity bills each month? Want much better alternatives? If so, sign up for this class to learn lots more about the many great options now available for going ALL-ELECTRIC with your home’s heating, cooling and hot water production needs by installing super high efficiency air-source and ground-source (geothermal) electric heat pump solutions that are available right now.
This course will be presented using case studies from Penfield residents who have already installed air and ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling their own homes. Learn about their experiences, different types of equipment on the market and the many financial incentives and rebates that are available currently when purchasing these systems. You’ll also find out how to obtain a no-cost energy assessment of your home’s heating and cooling needs.
The future of cleaner, greener and more cost-effective home heating and cooling systems is here now, and it’s ALL-ELECTRIC!
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Look for your Fall 2021 Penfield Recreation Brochure arriving any day now for all the details. Registration opens September 1st.
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Electric School Buses for Penfield
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Matthews Buses in Avon contracts with Penfield to provide our Thomas Built Buses. Katie Rygg was able to attend their open house on Aug 6th and even take a ride! It had plenty of power to get up the hills and was so quiet, you could hear every conversation on the bus. Amazing! The controls are identical to a diesel bus and drivers will only have to commit to a 30 minute training to be certified to operate it. Check out this video of an All-Electric Jouley.
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"Moving to Electric School Buses in Your District" Webinar
A Great Success!
Our panelists all agreed: Electric School Buses (EVSBs) are the future and the benefits are unquestionable - cleaner air, quieter, and far less GHG emissions.
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The down side? Price tag. Every school district is going to find creative paths to adoption in the coming years - some through federal and state aid, some through turnkey companies, some through community investment - most through a combination of strategies. Check out the recording here.
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Quick Action: Clean Commute for Kids Act
 Senator Padilla (CA), Senator Warnock (GA), Representative Hayes (CT-05), and Representative Cardenas (CA-29) have introduced the Clean Commute for Kids Act that will support the swift transition of diesel school buses to 100% clean electric power. It prioritizes replacing school buses that serve students eligible for free or reduced price lunches, since air pollution is worse in low-income communities.
Click here to quickly send a pre-filled email to Representative Morelle, Senators Gillibrand and Schumer.
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Color Penfield Green Goes Public at the Gathering on the Green
On Aug 6th, the Penfield Business Chamber hosted it's first annual Gathering on the Green, celebrating Penfield businesses. Color Penfield Green reserved a table and made our public debut - long delayed by Covid. Al Hibner, Katie Rygg, Brandon Maharaj, and Megan Meyer were all there to talk about our various projects and invite people to join!
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NY2CL Hosts Rally in Albany:
Fossil Free Education,
Fossil Free Future
This year, the state legislature passed ZERO ambitious climate bills.
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On the 6th, the NY Youth Climate Leaders (NY2CL) took to the streets in Albany, demanding that they take swift action next year.
NY2CL also made the argument that with an estimated $4.5 billion invested in the fossil fuel industry, the NY State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) is doing their pensioners and the planet a disservice by continuing to invest in fossil fuels. If they divest now, they will increase the security of the pension since the fossil fuel industry is a financial liability as it declines in value. The fossil fuel industry is destroying the planet and our future, making fossil fuels an immoral investment as well.
Divestment is good for your wallet as well. See our article on the subject from last year.
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Igor Orlovich continues to follow the news about Electric Vehicles and has curated items for fans and those thinking about going electric for their next car, SUV, or truck.
News from the Automakers:
- The VW ID4 is going on a cross country tour!
- On 8/5, President Biden signed an Executive Order stating that by 2030, 50% of all new vehicles sold must be zero-emission. This also kicks off development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards to save consumers money, cut pollution, boost public health, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.
Support for EV Drivers:
- Ide Volkswagen in East Rochester now has a DC Fast Charger open to the public. Plugshare info here.
- The Harley School now has two EV chargers. Plugshare info here.
- According to Electrify America documents, Rochester will be a site for its DC Fast Charger station in the next build cycle in 2022-2024.
See earlier EV news here.
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NY Renews Host Climate Rally in Downtown Rochester
Thursday, August 19th, Noon-12:45pm
100 State St, Rochester
 NY Renews will be hosting a rally of support for our incredible NY State Members of Congress, encouraging them to heed the IPCC report's warnings and GO BIG on climate in this fall's reconciliation package. Join the crowd, bring your signs, and be inspired by speakers including:
- Representative Joe Morelle
- Chris Zeltmann, Regional Director for Senator Schumer
- Jarred Jones, Deputy State Director for Senator Gillibrand
- Assembly Member Sarah Clark
- and leaders from NY Renews, the Sierra Club, Vocal, and the Climate Solutions Accelerator
RSVP here or just show up!
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Heat Smart Monroe Open Discussions
Thursday, August 26th, 3-5pm
Online, free
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 Interested in clean heating and cooling for your home but don't know where to start? Have you started exploring your options and now have questions? Join Heat Smart Monroe in an online, informal meeting from 3-5pm on Thursday, 7/22 to have local experts answer your questions. Learn more here.
Learn more about Sustainable Homes Rochester and Heat Smart Monroe at www.cityofrochester.gov/shr and www.heatsmartmonroe.org
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Tesla Henrietta: Official Grand Opening
Saturday, August 28th, 10am-2pm
3300 West Henrietta Rd, Henrietta
Free and open to the public
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Tesla Gallery and Service Center, working with Tesla Owners Club New York State (TOCNYS), is hosting its official grand opening event. Limited food and beverages will be provided free of charge for registered attendees.
Demo Drives & Club Rides
If you've been wanting to learn about Tesla vehicles, here's your chance!
All attendees must officially register here.
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Home Insulation: Types and Tips
Thursday 9/2 7-8:15pm
Online, Free
Heating season in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region is two-thirds of the year! When you heat your home that much, you want to keep the heat INSIDE!
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Good home insulation is essential for the desired combination of great comfort and lower cost. This free HeatSmart Monroe webinar will provide a detailed overview of home insulation types and the process to upgrade the insulation in your home. Information and registration at heatsmartmonroe.org
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PARA will host Black Kids Matter Rally
Saturday, 9/11 10am-12pm
Harris Whalen Park
Free
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The Black Kids Matter Rally is a family-friendly event geared towards kids 12 and under but all are welcome! They will have a drum circle, story time, sign making, and a short march. Masks are required and it will be socially distanced. It may be outside but these little ones aren't vaccinated!
For more information, check out their Facebook page.
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The Biblical Sabbatical Year:
Universal Lessons in Environmental and Social Justice Webinar
Sunday, September 19th, 4pm
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Every seven years the Bible commands the Children of Israel to celebrate the Sabbatical Year (Shmitta) by allowing their fields to lie fallow, allowing their slaves to go free and forgive debt. Could these Biblical commands inform our environmental and social justice practices today? Join Rochester Area Interfaith Climate Action (RAICA) to explore this question. More information and RSVP can be found here.
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RIT Hosts EV Car Show
for Drive Electric Week
Saturday, September 25th, 10am-2pm
1 Lomb Memorial Dr, Lot T, Rochester
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National Drive Electric Week, Sep 25-Oct 3, 2021, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Are you considering going electric? Attend this event to learn from owners who have done so! Register here.
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Introduction to Community Land Trusts
Tuesday, September 28th, 6-8p
Gift Economy Pricing: $0-$30-$60
Online
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This session will explore the history of the Community Land Trust (CLT) movement, how CLTs fight gentrification and displacement, the ways different communities have used CLTs in creative, powerful ways, and share the work of Rochester's own CLT, City Roots. Learn more and register here.
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Climate News Around the Country
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released their 6th report, synthesizing 14,000 studies. It is nearly 4,000 pages long but the headlines are stark: The Climate Crisis is absolutely human-made, it is upon us already, and it will get much worse. How much worse depends on what we do in the next few critical years. We must completely transform our world.
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Citizens' Climate Lobby is in the middle of a big push to get a carbon price in the reconciliation package being negotiated in Washington right now.
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We just finished a three week effort to call our Senators and 21,000+ people participated across the country, 1,319 in NY, and 126 in our district! Through the end of August, here in NY-25, we'll be contacting Representative Morelle. He is a big believer in this climate solution but we need to ask him to be more vocal in his support.
Please consider going to citizensclimatelobby.org/house and sending a pre-filled/editable email to Representative Morelle. After that, it will prompt you to make a phone call to his office. It is very unlikely you'll get through so just leave a message. The whole thing shouldn't take you longer than 5 minutes.
For additional motivation, watch this award winning video (4min 17s).
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We celebrate what didn't happen on Aug 10th: the Senate leadership did NOT call Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) amendment for a floor vote that would have allowed drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic Refuge. Environment NY is confident that this is a signal that the Arctic Refuge protections will be fully restored later this year.
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The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) worked with Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) and successfully helped cancel the Byhalia Connection Pipeline this month.
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In February, Rep. Cohen wrote to President Biden, urging him stop the planned pipeline in Memphis. The proposed line would have cut through historic, predominantly Black neighborhoods and crossed over the Memphis Sand Aquifer.
In his letter to President Biden, Rep. Cohen highlighted the adverse environmental and economic impact on the Black communities through which it would pass. Additionally, he quoted a land agent for the pipeline company who said the company chose to site the pipeline in southwest Memphis because it was “the least point of resistance.”
This month, the pipeline backers canceled the project! Another victory to celebrate!
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Community Solar...
Good for the Planet and Your Wallet
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Color Penfield Green's Brandon Maharaj explains what Community Solar is and what the benefits are:
- bring down the cost of your electricity while reducing your carbon footprint
- drive new solar array construction &
- put New Yorkers to work in good paying, green jobs
To learn more, click here.
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Local Non-Profit, Re-lief Corporation, Brings Life Saving Microgrids, Food and Supplies to Hurricane Victims
by Katie Rygg
Summary. For full article, click here
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Hurricanes are nothing new to planet Earth. What is new is the frequency, ferocity, and the rapid intensification that is all on the rise. Color Your Community Green team member, Wanda Martinez-Johncox created Re-lief Corporation, a 501(c)(3) in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the painfully slow recovery of Puerto Rico. They now partner with local organizations throughout the Caribbean and Central America to jump into action when disasters strike - like the twin category 4 hurricanes Eta and Iota last November that made landfall only 15 miles and two weeks apart. Re-lief puts food, critical supplies, and now small solar panels and batteries (microgrids) directly into the hands of the people that need them. Read the full article here.
If you have the ability, please consider donating to this worthy organization!
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Three ways to donate:
1. By Check: Re-lief Corporation,
233 Buffalo St. Canandaigua, NY 14424
2. By Venmo: @re-lief (business)
3. By Cash App - see image to right.
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Color Your Community Green
August Newsletter
Did you know that Color Penfield Green is part of a regional network of volunteers called Color Your Community Green (CYCG), all supported by the Climate Solutions Accelerator?
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We have sister teams in Irondequoit, Henrietta, Fairport, South Wedge, Pittsford, Chili, Spencerport, Webster and elsewhere in the region. We collaborate with each other, learn together, and cheer each other on. You can read about all the great projects going on in these other communities in the August newsletter. Subscribe here.
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ColorPenfieldGreen is an organization of residents of the Town of Penfield, NY who are concerned about the environment. Our goals are to:
- inform fellow residents about all the incredible ways that our community is “Going Green” with a focus on climate
- educate people as to how they can reduce their carbon footprints - at individual, family, neighborhood, municipal, state, and federal levels
- organize local volunteers to participate in high impact campaigns, and
- support and empower Penfield residents to become community leaders in addressing climate change.
We are respectful, inclusive, nonpartisan, solutions-focused, collaborative, scientifically-informed, and committed to social, racial, environmental, and intergenerational justice.
We are proud of all that Penfield has accomplished and are excited to help lead the way in protecting our environment in the future. Please check out our new and still evolving website ColorPenfieldGreen.org and join us in our current and future campaigns! If interested, send an email to ColorPenfieldGreen@gmail.com.
We'd love to grow our Penfield audience! Share this link with your friends and neighbors so they can sign up to receive this newsletter too:
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