LCSC talking about the issues that affect the environmental and economic health of our communities.
Wednesday, October.20th at 6:00 PM, is our scheduled regular LCSC meeting on the ZOOM platform. This is the regular time and day (3rd Wednesday of the month). We will continue to discuss the issues facing our communities. We are looking forward to seeing/hearing you then.
Meeting Information
Dave Hale is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: LCSC October 2021 Regular Meeting
Time: Oct 20, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 851 8998 2845
Passcode: 471872
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Meeting ID: 851 8998 2845
Passcode: 471872
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As stated in previous months and adding to them, the issues we want to keep in play include but are not limited to:
Preserving as much natural environment as we can in and around Longview-Kelso-Kalama as well as the rest of the Cowlitz basin and Lower Columbia basin; these are the systems that support all life. (similar to Pres. Biden's 30-30 Plan to protect natural systems nation wide). This involves protecting 30% of our land by 2030. SW Washington and the lower Columbia region should do likewise with the idea that 50% is considered to be the ideal mix in developed areas.
Moving towards increased recycling of waste (plastic and other materials currently being landfilled). We now are experiencing the effects of the plastic shopping bag ban - you can purchase a reuseable plastic bag or a paper bag at Winco. Oh yes, you could also use your reusable shopping bags.
Use of our unused landfill sites for possible solar farms and/or methane recovery and use to generate electricity. Part of the efforts of the current administration in reducing our nation's carbon footprint is to reduce the prevalence of methane leakage from well heads.
Building efficiency improvement; sufficient insulation reduces energy use and cost of operation. The placement of insulation is also critical when upgrading or building new; exteriorinsulation is key to keeping the mass of the structure within the conditioned space of any building. This reduces the loss of heat in winter heat gain in summer and water damage from condensation within the building structure. Also, building with passive solar design should always be considered in any remodel or new construction.
Solar PV and thermal solar development; these systems become far less expensive when the building is energy efficient to Passive Haus standards. For those structures that aren't very well insulated and weather sealed, solar PV and thermal solar systems still work for reducing the cost of lighting, electronics and water heating.
Encouragement and support of the electrification of our transportation and building energy. A solar PV system may be the answer for some folks just to charge their electric vehicle. (Consider what you would pay for fossil fuel over the next 5 years).
Localissues of course also are greatly helped or hindered by the actions of our local leaders. We need to engage with them in order to let them know that we want these changes to move our region forward toward a more environmentally sound and economically sustainable future.
We have folks who are doing these things now; we need more to join the movement. Those who are doing these things have done so profitably.
We have received letters and emails from locals who have suggested that wind turbines be placed on the ridge tops along the lower Columbia. Having recently seen the turbines producing power on the ridgetops east of I-5 in Lewis County, I challenge all to tell me why it isn't also possible in the Lower Columbia along the River. There is certainly a; fairly consistent wind;
With building efficiency and increased use of renewable energy systems comes the savings in electricity needed to power a growing electric vehicle fleet. We have the technology and we are now seeing the major auto makers moving towards electric vehicles in their fleets. When power, low maintenance and high fuel mileage (gasoline equivalent cost) is considered, electric vehicles out-perform our present gasoline and diesel vehicles. .It is certainly something to consider when it comes time to purchase another vehicle; it won't be too long until there will be used EVs on the market. Along with these budding developments should come new opportunities for jobs
Bring your thoughts, ideas, and observations to the meeting and let's share some information and maybe set some goals for individual action to accompany what we expect from our leaders.
From the communication of Don and Alona Steinke,
partners in our efforts to fight climate change. They have been following their PUD meetings and have previously emailed us regarding a public webinar on the draft of the Northwest Power Plan 2021. I'm sorry I hadn't notice this before as it occurred Oct, 6th and a public comment online hearing for Washington State occurred on the 7th. However, there is still an opportunity to review and comment online through November 19th, by an online form. Here is the link for that comment access:
The plan is revisited every 5years by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and looks at the various aspects of electric power cost of generation, distribution and demand. This gives guidance to utilities and policy makers about the future trends and needed cost effective developments and changes to electric power sources in the region (Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon).
Below is a link to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's 2021 Northwest Power Plan: https://www.nwcouncil.org/2021-northwest-power-plan
Also, here is a link to the summary of the Plan that is fairly easy to read and will confirm that we are moving toward more use of renewables if for no other reason than they are cost effective: https://www.nwcouncil.org/sites/default/files/2021-6.pdf
Storage of renewables is not discussed in the draft plan. This is a great opportunity for job creation along with renewable generation expansion.
And here is some news on the storage of renewables:
Oregon is looking at the project proposed for southern Oregon (Klamath County) by Rye Development, LLC. The project is the Swan Lake Energy Storage Project, a 400 Mega Watt pumped storage plan to store wind and solar for use in Klamath County and the surrounding region. I believe this is the same development organization that was proposing a pumped storage project in the Goldendale area on the Columbia River. That project ran into difficulty due to cultural resources within the project area identified by the Yakima Nation. I hope that Rye has done their homework before jumping into this project in Klamath County..
This is a promising method of storing intermittent wind and solar energy to make integration of renewables less problematic in our existing grids. Let's hope for a favorable outcome for this project. Jobs, tax revenues and low carbon power is the hope going forward.
Here is some food for thought and inspiration:
Our state is leading the country moving forward on addressing climate change. Perfect...no; but certainly a step in the right direction. Open the link to see how this is happening>
We as individuals can help to make things better as well. Although the link below is partially a wireless providers' attempt to jump on the "green train", it is valid none the less. Little things we do as individuals do make a difference and collectively they create a bigger difference. It is said that, to make a desired change become widely accepted, about 20% of the population needs to be early adopters. If we think about it awhile, many of the things we accept today as fairly "normal" were not always even in our consciousness. Even though we may never see 100% adoption of better practices, if we can get to say 80%, then we can handle the rest a whole lot easier. It's got to start somewhere with someone, so why not us? Check this link out>
Plastics
Here are some suggestions and information offered by member Dani:
Only 9% of plastics are actually recycled.
Plastic Un-Use Tips:
1. When ordering take-out food or buying food while traveling- use your own utensils.
2. Instead of using body washes (with dubious chemicals) in plastic bottles, use good old-fashioned soap.
3. If you can, hang up machine-washed clothing in the house or outside, don't use your dryer. (It also helps your clothes last longer).
4 When buying coffee to go or drink in a coffee shop, don't take a lid, unless absolutely necessary.
5. Avoid produce that is individually wrapped in plastic.
6. And of course, use your own reusable bags when shopping!
How we are benefited by the environment we live in and are dependent on
A European Study's research in Integrative Biodiversity Research, published in Ecological Economics,(2012)
showed that a ten percent increase in being around bird species made people happier than a 10% increase in wages!
(I'd like both!!)
Contributed by: Dani Maron-Oliver from Greater Good- Rainforest SIte, 9-12-2012
Editor's Note: Happy workers are generally more efficient workers; and generally this is good for the economy. In a just economy this increased efficiency should be rewarded with increased compensation.
Here are some additional thoughts on plastics and some easy cost-free substitutes.
Just think of or look at "storage" type containers in your home right now.
Most of us have plastic containers, open or closed for make-up, to hold vitamins, meds, tools, silverware, masks, on and on. Its amazing.
We also have cardboard (basically made of paper) boxes that we get packages in, products in stores.
We can start substituting those for plastic containers. Organic Green Tea. Its a very pretty green box with a Panda on it.
(gloves, masks, etc?) Tissue boxes are also very cool colors, cut off top (unless there is a good use for it as is)..and viola, another box to put, vitamins, make-up, gloves.
Use your imagination! I don't know about others but for variable reasons I am home most of the time and getting kind of nutso, well more than before. So I am discovering all of these things mentioned. It is amazing what we have in our homes that we have never given much of any thought to. My vinyl floors. Well, not replacing that. Its most likely in carpeting also.
Also related to plastics containing phthalates (the everywhere chemical that, for one thing, can cause hormonal and endocrine medical issues) They are also dangerous and in almost everything (# 3, 6, and 7 plastics). It blew me away.
Information about phthalates is so voluminous, for more information if interested, please just do a search.
contributed by Dani Maron-Oliver
editor's note: The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned Phthalates in children's toys and childcare articles in 2017.. Currently, their has been renewed talk of further bans.
Submissions
Just a reminder that all of you are invited to submit a topic or article for this Newsletter. You can copy and paste it into an email and send it to the LCSC email address below, put it in a Word Document and attach it in an email, or write it out and mail it into the P.O. Box also listed below. The only thing I ask is that you give me about 5 days ahead of the meeting day if you want a discussion in that forum. Otherwise you can submit it anytime for inclusion in the next Newsletter. I will only edit it for fit within the room available, and to maintain privacy. This is a group effort and we all should be looking for some information to share; it's especially good to hear about positive developments as we have certainly had plenty of negative ones.
LCSC General Meetings Meetings currently on the ZOOM platform
We meet online now, partly due to covid-19 safety and partly due to improved efficiency in reducing carbon pollution from transport. The meeting times will remain (6:00 PM, every 3rd Wednesday of the month). The meeting starts at 6:00 PM and the discussion goes to approximately 7:30- 8:00PM
There is usually some time before the start of the meeting to chat or suggest last minute topics. Summer break on for now; see you in September
