Green communities named by state

Getting cities and towns to shift toward clean energy was such a cornerstone of Massachusetts’ 2008 energy legislation that the law is named The Green Communities Act.

Those that meet five clean energy goals are eligible for millions in local aid, under the law. But state officials didn't expect many communities to make it right away because the rules were tough.

Yet today, Governor Deval Patrick designated 35 cities and towns as the Commonwealth’s first official “Green Communities” making them eligible for $8.1 million in grants for local renewable power and energy efficiency projects.

“These pioneers are notable not only for their commitment to a cleaner, greener Massachusetts, but also for their diversity," Patrick said in a statement.

Towns and cities had to adopt local zoning bylaws to encourage and speed up permitting for renewable energy projects. They had to agree to purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles for their municipal fleet wherever possible. And the communities had to require all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet, as well as all new commercial and industrial real estate construction, to save energy by adopting new building codes.

The communities are Acton, Arlington, Athol, Andover, Becket, Belchertown, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hamilton, Hanover, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Kingston, Lancaster, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Mashpee, Medford, Melrose, Montague, Natick, Newton, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Salem, Springfield, Sudbury, Tyngsboro, Wenham, and Worcester.

The communities' deadline for a piece of the $8 million will be on June 4; the grants will be awarded in late June.

The grants will help the communities “go further -- saving energy costs for their residents, reducing the environmental impact of municipal operations, and validating the Commonwealth’s reputation as a national clean energy leader,” said Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary.

Each community will also receive a Big Belly solar waste compactor to be delivered in time for the summer parks and beaches season.

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-Green Blog Posted by Beth Daley

Green Your Laundry: Go Nontoxic

Whether you lug a bag to the laundromat or roll a basket into the garage, you've got to clean your clothes. But doing laundry consumes a lot of energy and water, so this week we're providing tips for an eco-friendlier wash and dry.

Tip : Choose Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products

You dump all sorts of fancy-smelling products into the machine with your clothes, but those commercial detergents are full of nasty chemicals that can end up in rivers and streams. Consider switching to a plant-based, biodegradable laundry soap (but beware of greenwashing) and don't forget to read the instructions on the container, because you may be using much more detergent than necessary. Worried about your whites? Instead of chlorine bleach, scan the store's shelves for a nontoxic alternative – and skip the fabric softener altogether.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

Tips for Line Drying Your Clothes

1. Use vinegar in your rinse cycle to avoid stiff clothing.
I often hear people complain that when they line dry their clothing (especially jeans and towels), it ends up stiff and scratchy. Using just a half to three-quarters of a cup of vinegar per load, added just before your rinse cycle starts, will keep your clothing soft. Don't worry about any vinegar odor -- it disappears as the clothing dries.

2. Hang your shirts by the hemline, rather than the shoulders.
This prevents weird bunching at the shoulders, which is a pain to get out after the shirt is dry. Use two clothespins at the hem instead, and you won't have to worry about bunchy shoulders.

3. Don't fold clothing over the line.
Use clothespins, and clip all of your clothes to the line. Folding results in longer drying times and fold lines in weird places once your clothes have dried.

4. Don't crowd your lines.
If you're like me, you just want to get the laundry done as quickly as possible, and you might, maybe, sometimes do larger loads than you have room to hang. Resist the temptation, and give your clothing room on the lines. Crowding results in wrinkles and longer drying times, as well as weighing down the line (which could make your clothes drag on the ground.)

5. Freshen between washings.
If you have an item that you've worn, but isn't exactly dirty, go ahead and hang it out on the line to let it air out. For even more freshening power, make an all natural linen spray, spritz the item, and let it dry. Double energy savings!

Line drying is easy, effective, and (dare I say it?) enjoyable. I hope these tips help make laundry day a little simpler.

Article courtesy of The Planet Green By Colleen Vanderlinden

Damage lives on from 1969 Cape oil spill

Traces from barge accident remain embedded in marsh

WEST FALMOUTH — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientist Chris Reddy rammed a plastic cylinder into the sticky mud of the Wild Harbor salt marsh and extracted 6 inches of muck.

“Smell this,’’ he said, taking a whiff. There, faint but unmistakable, was the stench of oil.

It’s been more than 40 years since the oil barge Florida ran aground on a foggy night in Buzzards Bay, spilling close to 200,000 gallons of fuel. Some of it is still there.

At the time of the 1969 spill, lobsters, clams, and fish died by the thousands, but most people thought the harm would be temporary, reflecting what was then the conventional wisdom.

Now, as the first tendrils of heavy oil from the leaking BP well begin to suffocate Louisiana marshes, Wild Harbor’s muck shows that damage can persist for decades in fragile marshes.

No two spills and no two coastlines are the same, but the long-studied Falmouth spill has helped scientists understand the vulnerability of marshland and prepare for oil disasters that coat wetlands, ooze down crab burrows, and kill the nurseries of numerous marine species

Read more--  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/05/21/gulf_oil_spill_revives_capes_1969_nightmare/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-The Green Blog by Beth Daley-Globe Staff

New report shows forest cover declining in New England

After almost 200 years of natural reforestation, forest cover is declining in all six New England states, according to a new report by Harvard Forest, the forest ecology research center of Harvard University.

The authors of the Wildlands and Woodlands report calls for the conservation of 70 percent of New England as forestland to adequately protect clean water, steel against climate change and ensure a woods industry – and sets out a strategy to do so.

“We’ve been given a second chance to determine the future of the region’s forests. This report calls attention to the pressing need to couple New England’s existing conservation capacity and shared land ethic with a vision for the next century in which forests remain an integral part of our livelihoods,” said David Foster, lead author of the report and Director of the Harvard Forest.

The 70 percent would require a tripling of the amount of conserved land in New England, but would also leave room for future development, according to the report. It calls for conserving most of the landscape (63%) as working woodlands owned and managed by private landowners, and protecting a smaller portion (7%) as wildland reserves.

The regional vision has roots in similar report Harvard Forest did for Massachusetts that called to protect one half of Massachusetts - 2.5 million acres- in forest. 
Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-The Green Blog Posted by Beth Daley

Remember Your Reusable Bag

How to cut down paper use – there are many reasons to, perhaps the foremost of which is that much of climate change is caused by deforestation. Also, paper production consumes energy, and thrown-away sheets clog landfills. Here’s what you can do.  Tip: Cure “Bagnesia” It happened again: You were in line at the grocery store, satisfied with your organic, vegetarian, not-too-packaged purchases. Then it hit you: A vision of your reusable grocery bags – collecting dust in your car’s trunk or kitchen cupboard. You sighed and lugged home your loot in bags of paper or plastic, swearing to remember better next time. To help you, consider getting Bagnesia’s Reusable Bag Solution Kit ($20), which includes two reusable bags, plus two ways to remind yourself to bring ‘em along: a doorknob hanger that instructs, “Grab your bags,” and a steering-wheel wrap with the same imperative. To save the cash, you can develop your own reminder system – as long as it works. Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

How to Save Paper: Go Electronic

This week’s tips are about how to cut down paper use – there are many reasons to, perhaps the foremost of which is that much of climate change is caused by deforestation. Also, paper production consumes energy, and thrown-away sheets clog landfills. Here’s what you can do. 

Tip : Digitize Your Greetings

The rise of e-mail has saved forests’ worth of trees. Which is great – but perhaps it’s time to take the paper-saving up another notch. Are you willing to rethink social graces traditionally carried out with paper? If you’re planning a wedding, say, would you consider making your save-the-dates electronic? How about the actual invitations? Can thank-you cards be e-mailed instead of produced at a paper mill, printed, bought, and delivered? How do you feel about sending electronic special-occasion cards, like for this upcoming Father’s Day? A Google search turns up plenty of services for sending online greetings; our favorite is Pingg, which stocks stunning nature imagery.
Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

A push to preserve the San Gabriels

Environmentalists, cities, scientists and hikers want a larger portion of the mountain range and its rivers shielded from pollution and population woes with strong federal protections.

 

The river ripples cold around his waders as Bill Reeves casts a dry fly onto a pool edged with alders on the bottom of a canyon deep in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Reeves, 69, who first fished this stretch of the San Gabriel River's west fork with his father more than half a century ago, was in his element — scanning the eddies for rising wild trout in a wilderness that resurrected childhood memories.

"I'd be happy if this place stayed just the way it is," the stout conservationist said. "But with 10 million people living within an hour's drive, these mountains definitely need more protection."

Reeves is a member of San Gabriel Mountains Forever, a campaign that is pushing Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) to fashion a bill that would shield a larger portion of the 655,000-acre range and its free-flowing rivers from pollution and population woes with the strongest federal protections available.

The goal is to add 30,000 acres to three existing wilderness areas and have 44 miles of San Antonio Creek, the middle fork of Lytle Creek and portions of the San Gabriel River's east, west and north forks protected under the national Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which would prohibit new damming

 

To read more-   http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-0516-sangabriels-20100516,0,4146013.story

 

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

 

5.1 earthquake hits California border area

An earthquake estimated at magnitude 5.1 struck the California-Mexico border Tuesday afternoon, apparently another sharp aftershock from the 7.2 Mexicali temblor last month.

The new quake was reported at 5:38 p.m. 19 miles southwest of Calexico in Imperial County. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, but the quake was felt across the border region.

The April 4 earthquake killed two people in Mexicali and caused significant damage there. But Calexico in Imperial County was also hard-hit. It caused at least $91 million in damage in California alone.

President Obama on Friday signed a federal disaster declaration for the Calexico area.

The move makes areas with quake damage eligible for federal funding, including government agencies and nonprofit groups.

[Updated, 6:05 p.m.: Hundreds of people reported feeling the quake to the U.S. Geological Service. Many of the reports came from Imperial and San Diego counties, but residents in Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Corona and other areas also reported shaking.

A spokeswoman for the Imperial County Sheriff's Department told the Associated Press that the temblor was felt but there were no reports of damage.]

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

Chef wants to clean up park with Pike Place salmon bake

Concerned by crime and neglect around Pike Place Market, local celebrity chef Tom Douglas is applying next month to launch a weekend "Salmon Night" at Victor Steinbrueck Park.

By Emily Heffter Seattle Times staff reporter

Concerned by crime and neglect around Pike Place Market, local celebrity chef Tom Douglas is reaching for any Northwest cook's go-to solution: salmon.

Douglas is applying next month to launch a weekend "Salmon Night" at Victor Steinbrueck Park. He'd roast salmon and sell it for about $12 a plate at the park on weekend nights and spend the proceeds on additional security for the park.

His vision: "If you're going to Hawaii, you have to go to a luau," he said. "If you're going to Seattle, you have to go to a salmon bake at Steinbrueck Park."

A salmon night would serve 250 people, he said, and could include a bonfire, Native American dancers or other presentations about the area's history and culture.

Douglas was among the business owners who pleaded with the Seattle City Council last month to pass a law making aggressive panhandling a civil infraction. Supporters said street crime and intimidating behavior were driving tourists from downtown.

To read more http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011897662_salmonnights19m.html?prmid=related_stories_section

Article courtesy of The Seattle Times

Bear sightings reported in Tacoma, on I-5 in Everett

A bear was seen Tuesday at an in-city Tacoma middle school. Another bear that was hit and killed on I-5 in Everett is likely the same one that had been spotted several times Monday in that city

Police don't know how a bear made it to an in-city Tacoma neighborhood, but they had multiple reports of bear sightings early Tuesday near Hunt Middle School.

Tacoma police spokeswoman Gretchen Aguirre said the bear apparently moved out of a greenbelt around 5 a.m. She said state Department of Fish and Wildlife agents tried to track it with a dog. But the bear got away, and the search was called off around 7:30 a.m.

A bear that was reported Monday in an Everett greenbelt wasn't so lucky.

KOMO-TV reported it apparently was the same bear that was hit and killed Monday night on Interstate 5 in Everett

Article courtesy of The Seattle Times  By The Associated Press

Oil has begun washing up in marshes on La. coast

BP to use mud in latest effort to plug leak | Tar balls found on Key West

VENICE, La. — A tide of sludgy oil has begun washing into Louisiana’s coastal marshes, officials said yesterday, as BP remained days away from a new effort to cap the oil gushing from a damaged well on the Gulf of Mexico floor.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told Senate committees yesterday that the oil company will attempt a “dynamic kill’’ of the oil well on Saturday. That procedure involves pumping thick mud — not the “junk’’ that company officials had previously considered — into the drill pipe, in hopes of clogging it like a drain.

Hundreds of miles away from the Louisiana coast, there was a worrisome discovery: Tar balls, which are sticky clumps of decayed oil, were found in Key West, Fla., on Monday. Officials said they were being tested to determine if they came from the leaking BP well.

To read more  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/05/19/oil_has_begun_washing_up_in_marshes_on_la_coast/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe- The Green Blogger-By Joel Achenbach and David A. Fahrenthold -Washington Post / May 19, 2010

 

 

States losing to costly coal, UCS says

In 2008, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut spent more than half a billion combined on coal -- nearly three quarters of it imported from other countries, according to a study released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Cambridge-based research and advocacy group said its data shows that three dozen states are "collectively hemmorhaging tens of billions of dollars" a year on imported coal. The fossil fuel is considered a significant contributor to climate change.

Instead of using coal, the Union of Concerned Scientists recommended that states continue the push for renewable electricity-generating systems, like wind turbines and solar panels.

Of the 38 states reviewed, Massachusetts ranked third in how much it spent on international imports of coal -- $206 million to get the fossil fuel from Colombia -- and was also the largest user of coal among the three New England states in the study. Coal-fired power plants generate roughly a quarter of the electricity used in Massachusetts, compared to 15.1 percent in New Hampshire and 14 percent in Connecticut.

While the Bay State gets the bulk of its coal from Colombia, some of its supply also comes from within the US. In 2008, Massachusetts spent $1 million on coal from Colorado and $41 million on coal from Kentucky, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Much of the coal purchased for use in Massachusetts goes to one place, the Union of Concerned Scientists said: Brayton Point, a power plant in Somerset. It spent $214 on coal in 2008, the organization said.

Brayton Point, which is run by the Virginia-based Dominion power company, is the state's largest fossil-fuel plant, according to the company's web site, and paid more than $13 million in taxes this year. The plant, which employs more than 262 full-time workers, generates electricity using coal, natural gas and fuel oil, and produces enough to power 1.2 million homes.

Since it purchased Brayton Point in 2005, Dominion has reduced the amount of pollution the plant emits by installing an ash recovery system that offsets about 170,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year. The company also plans to reduce its water consumption and other air emissions, and said that by 2012 it will have spent $1.1 billion on environmental improvements.

Article coutesy of The Boston Globe -The Green Blog  Posted by Erin Ailworth

2010 Commuter Challenge

The Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition and RIPTA’s Commuter Resources group would like to challenge all Rhode Island residents to join us for the 2010 Commuter Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to see how many people we can get to choose a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. If you typically drive alone in the car how about carpooling or taking the bus? If you are already a bus commuter, how about trying out bicycle commuting?

When is the challenge running? For the entire month of May

What do I need to do? Go to the 2010 Commuter Carbon Reduction Challenge applet and sign up for an account. Log whether or not you commuted and your mode(s) of transportation for every day of the week.

Why should I join the challenge? You’ll be helping the environment, you’ll be reducing congestion on the streets, and if you bike or walk for your commute you’ll be helping to minimize your waistline while commuting.

To read more http://bikeprovidence.org/2010/04/29/2010-commuter-challenge

Celebrate Bike to Work Day on May 21

Snohomish County, Wash. –Converting car trips to bike trips is an easy way to get healthy while getting somewhere at the same time. Burn calories instead of fuel as Snohomish County celebrates National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 21.

Bike to Work Day “celebration stations” in Snohomish County and Bothell will be located at: Boeing Everett, Edmonds Train Station, Everett Station, Lynnwood Transit Center, Marysville’s Comeford Park, McCollum Park in Mill Creek and University of Washington Bothell.

Each station will have scones donated by Great Harvest, free bike safety checks, Community Transit’s new “Snohomish County Area Bicycling & Trail Map” and special keychains.

Join community and business leaders in a short, 2-mile group ride to one of the Snohomish County Celebration Stations. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at one of the following locations:

Everett: Plaza of the Snohomish County Campus, corner of Wall & Oakes in Everett. Join Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor and Everett Transit Director Tom Hingson.

Marysville: Library, 6120 Grove Street, Marysville. Join Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall and City Councilmembers Lee Philips, Carmen Rasmussen and John Soriano.

Edmonds: PCC market parking lot, 9803 Edmonds Way, Edmonds. Join Edmonds City Council members and citizens.   Local Bike to Work events are coordinated by Community Transit with support from Everett Transit, B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County, Boeing, Clif Bar 2-Mile Challenge, Harvy’s Bike Shop, Seattle Children’s Hospital and many other community sponsors.   Several communities have adopted official proclamations in support of the event. “Bicycle commuting promotes sustainable, healthy communities and healthy community members,” said Snohomish County’s proclamation.   To learn more about Community Transit Bike to Work events, visit www.communitytransit.org/biketowork. You can also read the Bike to Work blog at communitytransit.blogspot.com.

Take the Bike Commute Challenge

Bike to Work Day is the kickoff for the Bike Commute Challenge in Snohomish County, May 17-June 18. The challenge is to continue biking to work at least once a week and get in the healthy commuting habit.   The event is about fun and improved fitness, not racking up miles. You can take the bus part way, bike to your carpool or drive one way and bike the other.   The theme is echoed in Bike Commute Challenge team names such as the Everett Boeing employee “Team 227” named after a bus route, the “Food and Drug Peddlers” at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Bothell and “HealthBikes” lead by Snohomish Health District Officer Dr. Gary Goldbaum. Schools are among the workplaces that get involved in the Challenge, with teachers, staff and students joining teams such as the Edmonds Cyclopaths at Lynndale Elementary and more than a dozen teams at Everett Public Schools.   Organize a team of four to 10 co-workers or friends and participants can earn bike socks, win dinner at Buca di Beppo or pedal their way to the “biking-est new commuters” prize.   Visit www.communitytransit.org/biketowork. Community Transit is committed to providing transportation options in Snohomish County. Encouraging people to bike and use transit is part of that effort. Call Community Transit at (425) 353-RIDE or (800) 562-1375 for bike maps or bus information, or go to www.communitytransit.org.

Tips for Bike Lovers: Pedal-Powered Inventions

Cycling is a great way to stay fit while reducing your dependence on fossil fuels. Since May is National Bike Month, this week's tips will help you get more enjoyment from your two-wheeled wonder.

Tip Create Energy 

More than a means of transportation, a bike can also generate electricity. You can get inspiration from a New York vendor who makes smoothies with a bike blender or actor Ed Begley, Jr., who pedals to toast bread. It doesn't stop there: People worldwide are using bikes to wash clothes, pump water, mill grain, and even power computers. Harness your own pedal power by buying a modified bike or making your own.

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

Bike to Work Week May 17 -21

  California Bike Commute Week is May 17-21. Here’s what’s happening:

Pit Stops & Rallies
  Metro will host more than 60 "pit stops" on May 20 from 6-9 a.m. to greet bicyclists and distribute giveaways. Pit stops are located throughout Los Angeles County – go to metro.net/biketowork for a complete list.
  Orange County Transporation Authority (OCTA) is working with employers to host bike rallies in Orange County on its Bike to Work Day May 21 – check octa.net/biketowork for updated information or to get involved.
  Two pit stops in Ventura County will be at the Ventura County Government Center and Thousand Oaks City Hall, vcapcd.org

Bicyclists Ride Bus/Rail Free
  Cyclists who mix riding with transit on May 20 will be able to ride free on many transit lines.  They can either bring their bike on board (where allowed) or – if they stow it – a bike helmet will do as proof. Participating transit includes Metro, Los Angeles Commuter Express buses, as well as Beach Cities Transit and the cities of Commerce, Culver, Gardena, Glendale, Norwalk, Pasadena and Torrance. 

Events Throughout Southern California
  For details on Bike to Work events throughout Southern California or to register to participate and win a bike, visit the California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) at californiabikecommute.com
  The CBC also offers support materials such as an employer’s guide, sample press releases and newsletter articles, as well as a poster you can download. Event t-shirts are available for purchase.
  Several county rideshare agencies are also planning campaigns, including:

Los Angeles County
  Metro is celebrating with events throughout the week:

• May 17 – Bike to Work kick-off at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles,
  8 a.m., will focus on safety for bicyclists
• May 18 – Blessing of the Bicycles at Good Samaritan Hospital, 8 a.m., goodsam.org
• May 20 – Bike to Work Day, with morning pit-stops for cyclists and free rides on Metro and other transit providers (see above)
• May 21 – Bike to School Day

  Pledge online or download a pledge form that you can distribute to employees that will qualify them to win a folding bike, Utah ski resort vacation, lift tickets, gift cards and more. Go to metro.net/biketowork for details.

Orange County

• OCTA is urging employers to host Bike Rallies and will provide posters, water bottles and other support materials. The three employers with the most participation will be honored. Contact Judy Leon at 714.560.5358, jleon@octa.net
  
• OCTA will promote the campaign with advertising and on its web site and is urging participants to upload bike rally photos to facebook.com/octasharetheride
  
• May 21 – Bike to Work Rally and ride with OCTA CEO Will Kempton.

  Pledge online or download a pledge form that you can distribute to employees that will qualify them to win great prizes - plus everyone who pledges will receive a $25 coupon to Jax Bicycles. Go to octa.net/biketowork for details.

Ventura County
  Look for Bike to Work news in Ventura County including "Tour du Green" on May 15, at vcapcd.org

Article courtesy of SmartCommute News

 

Boston Bike Week May 17-21, 2010---

 Boston Bike Week and Hub on Wheels

Bike Week is just one week away. Kick-off the cycling season at Boston Bike Week, May 17-21. Sign up today!

• Mayor Menino's Bike Festival, May 21
  City Hall Plaza, Boston, 7-9 AM
  Give your car the day off. Enjoy a guided bike convoy to Boston's City Hall Plaza, where you'll be met with a free breakfast from Boloco, a bike festival and expo with music and tons of free giveaways. While you're there enter for your chance to win a bike from GIANT Bicycles.
• Bike Week Kickoff, May 17
  City Hall Plaza, Boston, 11:45 AM
  Join Mayor Menino and hundreds of cyclists to kickoff Bike Week in Beantown. Ride with Mayor Menino, participate in the ribbon cutting of new Commonwealth Ave bike lanes, and hear what's new in Boston.
• Cities for Cycling - Best Cycling Cities, May 20
  Boston University's Jacob Sleeper Auditorium
  871 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, 5-7:30 PM.
  Learn what what Roger Geller from Portland OR, Jon Orcutt from New York City and Timothy Papandreou from San Francisco are doing to make their cities world-class bicycling cities. All are invited to a reception after the summit at Landry's Bicycles, courtesy of Boloco and Harpoon Brewery.

Free Registration for Boston Bike Week is now open. Keep riding all summer at Bike Fridays too. Sign up today!

Ventura County CA Bike to Work Week--May 17 -21

Celebrate Bike to Work Week with us!

The Ventura County Transportation Commission, VISTA bus, and the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District are sponsoring Bike to Work Week throughout Ventura County.  Put on your helmets and hit the road with us, May 17 through 21, 2010.  

In conjunction with riding your bike to work, VISTA bus will offer free rides to passengers boarding with a bicycle.  Print your free ride coupon online at www.goventura.org.  Present the coupon as you board with your bicycle and be eligible to win one of five $50 VISA gift cards!

Clam dig Saturday on some Washington beaches

ABERDEEN — The Washington Department of Fish And Wildlife says toxin tests show the razor clams are safe to eat, so Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will open Saturday on the morning tides. Long Beach and Twin Harbors will remain open on morning tides on Sunday. Kalaloch will remain closed for the weekend.

By The Associated Press

ABERDEEN — The Washington Department of Fish And Wildlife says toxin tests show the razor clams are safe to eat, so Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will open Saturday on the morning tides. Long Beach and Twin Harbors will remain open on morning tides on Sunday.

Kalaloch will remain closed for the weekend

Article courtesy of The Seattle Times

Tips for Bike Lovers: Celebrate Bike to Work Day

Cycling is a great way to stay fit while reducing your dependence on fossil fuels. Since May is National Bike Month, this week's tips will help you get more enjoyment from your two-wheeled wonder.

Riding your bike to the office saves money, reduces your carbon footprint, and provides an energy boost in the morning. This month, you can connect with your local commuter community by celebrating Bike to Work Day, which is generally observed on third the Friday in May. If you live in San Francisco, Bike to Work Day is this Thursday, May 13. If you're a new cyclist, check out our tips for bike

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)

New Eni-MIT energy center focuses solely on the sun

MIT is stepping up its research into solar energy, hoping to finally make sunlight an affordable, efficient power source.

In a new research center officially opened last week, 21 Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty members and dozens of students are working together to make advances in solar technology. Called the Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center, it is funded largely with a grant from Italian energy giant Eni, which recently provided $2 million in equipment for two new labs, in addition to a $5 million annual commitment for the next five years.

Moving away from fossil fuels is essential for global security, to meet growing demand for energy, and to protect against further climate change, MIT president Susan Hockfield said after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The center, she said, aims to “fundamentally transform how the world produces and consumes energy.’’

She praised Eni for having the foresight to invest in energy research. “I can only wish all of the petroleum sector could take such a long-term view,’’ she said.

Eni chief executive Paolo Scaroni said he wants his company to be prepared for the day that oil “will be finished.’’

for more of this story visit http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/05/10/new_eni_mit_energy_center_focuses_solely_on_the_sun/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-The Green Blog by Karen Weintraub

Formula racing with a fuel-efficient twist

Posted by Beth Daley May 10, 2010 07:06 AM

Not to many die-hard environmentalists I know are into motorsports.

But here’s one made for them.

Last week, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. held the fourth annual Formula Hybrid – a university competition for students to design, build, and race high-performance, plug-in hybrid vehicles. Its still about high-level performance of the single-seat vehicles but adds in another challenge: fuel efficiency.

Organized by the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, it drew 30 teams from as far away as Russia, Taiwan, Italy and Canada. New England colleges included Dartmouth, of course, Yale, University of Vermont, Tufts and New Hampshire Technical Institute. There’s even a component for high school students.

A team from Italy won this year.

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-The Green Blog