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Green Local 175 Homepage Environemental Calendar National and International Environmental News News within the Green Local 175 Urge to be Heard editorial and Op-Ed page Share your Organization's Information and Meeting Minutes Getting Our Message Out

December 13, 2011 Radio & Internet Show

Scott Collins:

Scott Collins serves as Energy Coordinator for USDA Rural Development in New York. Since joining Rural Development in 2004, he has administered two national USDA grant programs in New York: one for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems or to improve the energy efficiency of their operations, and one for agricultural producers pursuing value-added ventures. Since 2003 the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), has provided funding to nearly 250 New York farms and rural small businesses. Scott spent much of his working life operating his family’s dairy farm in Barneveld.

REAP Information:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/energy.html

REAP Fact Sheet:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/NY/REAP/2011/Rural%20Energy%20for%20America%20Program5.pdf

USDA Rural Development - NY State:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/NYHome.html

USDA Rural Development Homepage:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home.html

Don Stebbins 12/13/11 Editorial

Over 10 years ago on my public access television show “Syncopated Science” I discussed the advances
made in Europe and Asia in the development of high speed rail systems. I described the over 200 MPH
speeds that could be accomplished and showed pictures of the sleek bullet trains in various stages of development.
I expressed the belief that we in the United States should be joining the world in
doing the necessary research and development to achieve the implementation of a wide ranging
sophisticated high speed rail system in this country that would lead the world into a 21^st century aimed at
producing an environmentally sound and economically efficient transportation systems.

Sadly we have faltered mightily in reaching this goal, just as we have lagged behind in many areas
pertaining to reducing our consumption of fossil fuels and making us energy independent.
A transportation system based on railroads instead of fossil fuel guzzling cars and trucks would be
an excellent way to show the world that energy efficiency should be a primary goal of modern societies.

Back in 2009 President Obama unveiled his administration's blueprint for a new national network of high-speed passenger rail lines saying such an investment is necessary to reduce traffic congestion, cut dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment.

The president's plan identified 10 potential high-speed intercity corridors for federal funding, including California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Southeast, the Gulf Coast, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York and New England.

The plan also highlighted potential improvements in the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor running from Washington to Boston, Massachusetts. Obama had asked for $8 billion in funding for FY 2010 and $53 billion over six years for a nationwide system.

Unfortunately the House of Representatives has other ideas. The House recently passed a spending bill that kills high-speed rail funding for the current fiscal year. The Senate is expected to follow suit, which means states should not expect the billions of dollars in federal aid on which futuristic plan for bullet trains depends.

“By zeroing out high-speed intercity passenger rail funding, we are being given the unique opportunity to refocus and reform the high-speed rail program on the rail lines that will produce the most benefit for the least amount of cost,” said Rep. Bill Schuster, R-Pa.

Upstate New York Republicans Tom Reed and Ann Marie Buerkle go even further and want the federal transportation secretary to abandon plans for high-speed rail in New York.

The pair says high-speed rail isn't practical for New York, partly because such a system would require a dedicated track. "Fulfilling this requirement would cost tens of billions of dollars," they said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The letter was excerpted in a statement sent out this morning by Reed's office. Reed and Buerkle also say that the state and federal governments can't afford the long-term subsidies a high-speed rail system would require.

"Blindly committing huge sums of money to this project will not make it worthwhile, and to do so at this time would be premature and fiscally irresponsible," they say in their letter.

This move puts the two Republicans at odds with other members of New York's Congressional delegation. For example, Democrat Louise Slaughter has been particularly vocal in her support of bringing high-speed rail to New York. She and other New York representatives have publicly asked Obama to give the state some of the high-speed rail funding that's been rejected by other states.

This would seem to be a good idea- why should New York suffer because of the intransigence of other states. Our way of life should not be undermined by people in other states who owe their souls to the big oil companies. Speaking of Slaughter, her office sent out a statement in support of high speed rail in New York. This excerpt provides the gist of her comments:"High-speed rail in Upstate New York is a vital component for economic revitalization in our region," Slaughter said. "The United States Conference of Mayors estimates at least 21,000 new jobs and $1.1 billion in new wages in New York alone from the realization of a high-speed rail network. Those who want to abandon high-speed rail in New York are also abandoning thousands of new jobs and economic opportunities for Upstate New Yorkers."

We can be seen to be laggards in the development of high speed rail!!

High-speed rail is well established in Europe as an increasingly popular and efficient means of transport. The first high-speed rail lines in Europe, built in the 1980s and 1990s, improved travel times on intra-national corridors. Since then, several countries have built extensive high-speed networks, and there are now several cross-border high-speed rail links. Railway operators frequently run international services, and tracks are continuously being built and upgraded to international standards on the emerging European high-speed rail network. In 2007, a consortium of European railway operators, Railteam, emerged to coordinate and boost cross-border high-speed rail travel. Developing a Trans-European high-speed rail network is a stated goal of the European Union, and most cross-border railway lines receive EU funding. Today only the core countries of Western Europe are 'plugged in' to a cross-border high-speed railway network. This will change rapidly in the coming years as Europe invests heavily in tunnels, bridges and other infrastructure and development projects across the continent.

Japan has been a long time leader in developing high speed trains and now China is following suit.

A Japanese consortium led by the Central Japan Railway Company has been researching new high-speed rail systems based on magnetic levitation since the 1970s. Although the trains and guide-ways are technologically ready and over 100,000 people have ridden them, high costs remains as barriers. Test trains JR-Maglev MLX01 on the Yamanashi Test Line have reached speeds of 581 km/h (361 mph) (crewed), making them the fastest trains in the world. These new maglev trains are intended to be deployed on the new Tokyo – Osaka Shinkansen maglev route, called the Chuo Shinkansen. 2025 has been selected as the deadline for Nagoya - Tokyo maglev operation.

China is building high-speed railway network spanning the eastern part of the country. China is also suggesting an international high-speed railway network to Singapore, Central Asia and Europe.

Many other countries are developing high speed rail. We should be leading the world in this endeavor instead] of wallowing in the dust. High speed rail should be returned to a prominent part of America's transportation future.

[Editors note: the views and opinions expressed by Mr. Stebbins do not represent the Green Local 175 nor do they necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those associated with the Green Local 175. The Green local 175 encourages comments and opinions regarding Mr. Stebbins Op-Ed articles. They should be sent to info@greenlocal175.com Senders acknowledge and accept that anything sent to the Green Local 175 becomes the property of same and the material can be used by us at any time and for any purpose what so ever without compensation of any kind to the sender.]

December 6, 2011 Radio & Internet

Editorial by Donald Stebbins, December 6, 2011

My view of hydrofracking is framed by my great concern about climate change and global warming. I think that every discussion of our environment should contain a reference to the dominating position that these problems pose by threatening to make the Earth uninhabitable
in the future.

When I first heard of hydrofracking it seemed like it had the potential of reducing our dependence on coal and oil, both larger producers
of carbon dioxide than natural gas. On that basis I decided to keep an open mind about it and not immediately join the opposition. Since then I have seen a great deal of data and heard arguments both pro and con. On an earlier program I expressed my opinion that the burden of proof
was on the hydrofrackers to demonstrate the significant amount of gas can be produced without poisoning our water supply or otherwise seriously damaging our environment. I was happy to see New York State conduct a series of open meetings and extend the date for
public commentary

As we speak tonight another meeting on climate change/global warming is being held in Durban, South Africa. The news flowing from there is NOT encouraging. Last year saw the largest growth in carbon dioxide in history- Global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning jumped by the largest amount on record last year, upending the notion that the brief decline during the recession might persist through the recovery. Emissions rose 5.9 percent in 2010, according to an analysis released Sunday by the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of scientists tracking the numbers. Scientists with the group said the increase, a half-billion extra tons of carbon pumped into the air, was almost certainly the largest absolute jump in any year since the Industrial Revolution, and the largest percentage increase since 2003. The increase solidified a trend of ever-rising emissions that scientists fear will make it difficult, if not impossible, to forestall severe climate change in coming decades.

The researchers said the high growth rate reflected a bounce-back from the 1.4 percent drop in emissions in 2009, the year the recession had its biggest impact. They do not expect the extraordinary growth to persist, but do expect emissions to return to something closer to the 3 percent yearly growth of the last decade, still a worrisome figure that signifies little progress in limiting greenhouse gases. The growth rate in the 1990s was closer to 1 percent yearly.

The combustion of coal represented more than half of the growth in emissions, the report found.

In the United States, emissions dropped by a remarkable 7 percent in the recession year of 2009, but rose by just over 4 percent last year, the new analysis shows. This country is the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, pumping 1.5 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere last year.

The United States was surpassed several years ago by China, where emissions grew 10.4 percent in 2010, with that country injecting 2.2 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions are usually measured by the weight of carbon they contain.

The new figures come as delegates from 191 countries meet in Durban, South Africa, for yet another negotiating session in a global control effort that has been going on, with minimal success, for the better part of two decades.

“Each year that emissions go up, there’s another year of negotiations, another year of indecision,” said Glen P. Peters, a researcher at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo and a leader of the group that produced the new analysis. “There’s no evidence that this trajectory we’ve been following the last 10 years is going to change.”

Scientists say the rapid growth of emissions is warming the Earth, threatening the ecology and putting human welfare at long-term risk. But their increasingly urgent pleas that society find a way to limit emissions have met sharp political resistance in many countries, including the United States, because doing so would entail higher energy costs.

Another factor that must be considered in making the decision on hydrofracking is that the gas lies under our own soil- not another nation's. Hydrofracking could possibly substantially reduce our dependence on fossil fuels under other people's ground. I do not have to reiterate the tremendous costs to our nation and society caused by our need for oil and gas produced in the various countries around the world- including all kinds of dictatorships and nations that were allies but turned into enemies quite possibly by our policies supporting dictatorships.

Our dependence on foreign oil and gas has led to unnecessary deaths and horrible injuries as well as causing us to lose many of our constitutional rights and freedoms in the name of security. The monetary costs, while secondary, have led us to incredibly stingy social and economic policies and caused us to neglect our infrastructure as our roads, water systems, sewers, etc all decay.

One must also be mindful of the fact that the great military presence we need to keep fossil fuels
flowing here itself requires a great deal of energy and contributes significantly to the buildup of CO2.

To sum up I believe a systematic approach with primary concern given to climate change, is required to make any significant decisions about our energy future.

Bonnie Reynolds : is co-founder and President of Spring Farm Cares , an alternative research education sanctuary. She is also the campaign coordinator for Hydro Relief Web. She is also the author of 5 books.

Spring Farm Cares Web site:

www.springfarmcares.org

Find out about her books :

www.bonniejonesreynolds.com

Bruce Selleck is Interim Provost and Dean of Faculty at Colgate University where he is also H.O. Whitnall Professor of Geology. His research interests includes geochemical and structural studies of the Marcellus and Utica formations in New York State.

His suggested web sites for more information are:

https://sites.google.com/a/colgate.edu/sellecknatgas/home

http://offices.colgate.edu/bselleck/NatGas.htm

Thomas West : is an Albany based attorney and founder of the West Law Firm. The firm offers comprehensive legal services including administrative and regulatory practice, alternative dispute resolution, legislative reform, and litigation at the local, state and federal levels. Tom West, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for the years 2006 through 2010 in the field of Environmental Law and was named by Law and Politics as an upstate New York Super Lawyer (2007 - 2010).

Law Firm's Web Site:

www.westfirmlaw.com

James "Chip" Northrop was former co-owner of Northrop Energy , which was sold to ARCO and subsequently became BP Solar. He was also a partner and investor in the acquisition and sale of offshore oil rigs, including the Teledyne fleet and WR Grace fleets. He holds a BA from SMU and an MBA from the Wharton School , University of Pennsylvania,

His Suggested Web Sites for More Information:

Revised SGEIS (September 2011)

http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html

website URL for SGEIS comments = http://tinyurl.com/dSGEIS-Responses

How to comment on the SGEIS = http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=DSGEIS_Responses

White papers on fracking = http://www.scribd.com/northrup49

http://blogs.wcny.org/the-capitol-pressroom-for-december-1-2011/

UC forum

http://www.utica.edu/student/activities/organizations/wpnr/

S.Dennis Holbrook : is Executive Vice President and chief legal officer for Norse Energy Corp an Exploration and Production (E&P) company focusing on US onshore oil and gas opportunities. Its US Headquarters are based in the Buffalo NY. area.

The company controls 180,000 acres covering multiple formations in New York state.

The company is a Norwegian Public Limited Liability Company (ASA) listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker NEC.

Norse Energy Web Site

www.norseenergy.com

10/25/11 Radio & Internet Show 6 to 8

6 to 7 p.m. talking about wind energy. Also, Contributor Don Stebbins does 2 Op-ED articles.

7 to 8 p.m. Oneida - Herkimer Solid Waste Authority. Guests include Director Bill Rabbia and Director of Recycling Dave Lupinski. We'll get in-depth about what the OHSWA does and some of its new projects , such as Lanfill Gas in Ava.

7 to 8 p.m. Contributor Don Stebbins will debunk the so called HAARP conspiracy.

Here are some links regarding the OHSWA and landfills.

Publications and Documents such as a recycling poster, Landfill Gas Utilization Study, and Waste to Heat Report

School Recycling

All about landfills

Editorial by Contributor Don Stebbins

10/18/11 Radio & Internet Show 6 to 8

7 to 8 p.m. Discussion with Owen Grant Project Manager for Northwind and Power and Ridgeline Energy. Owen will give us an update on Litchfield and other current projects. We'll also discuss other issues related to wind energy generation.

Don Stebbins will have an Editorial on climate change and tell us about a Nobel Prize winner coming to the area.

6 to 7 p.m. Discussion with Oneida County Commissioner of Water Quality and Water Pollution Steve Devan. He is joined by Karl Schrantz engineer with Schumaker Engineering. This facility is currently in violation of state environmental regulations and is under a consent order with DEC to devise and implement a solution. We'll give an overview of the problems, hopefully some solutions , and also give you an idea of how much this will cost us.

Here are some links to help you to better understand these issues.

Project overview:

Project bulletin:

Consent Order Video: Flow video

OCSD SSO Mitigation Project District:

Public information:

Op-Ed article by Don Stebbins

10/11/11 Radio & Internet Show 6 to 8

6 to 7 p.m. some interesting and some might say disturbing facts about Hydrofracking and the use of waste water from same in New York State. Host Richard Morris reads some information provided by assemblyman Maisel

6 to 7 p.m. All about a sustainable and self-supporting activity run by the NY DEC....the Rome Fish Hatchery.

7 to 8 p.m. Discussion with Oneida County Commissioner of Water Quality and Water Pollution Steve Devan. He is joined by Karl Schrantz engineer with Schumaker Engineering. This facility is currently in violation of state environmental regulations and is under a consent order with DEC to devise and implement a solution. We'll give an overview of the problems, hopefully some solutions , and also give you an idea of how much this will cost us.

Here are some links to help you to better understand these issues.

Project overview:

Project bulletin:

Consent Order Video: Flow video

OCSD SSO Mitigation Project District:

Public information:

Date: September 27, 2011

Here is an update report on recent activities and the status of project components:

NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Funding: The good news is that funding for $25.8 million in borrowing has been finalized with the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC). With funding securely in place, the County is able to move forward with implementation of the initial phases of its sanitary sewer overflow mitigation plan:

· The engineering team is finalizing a large-scale manhole rehabilitation bid package for NYSEFC review and approval. It is anticipated that the work will begin in Fall 2011 and continue through the 2012 construction season.

· The results of dye testing completed earlier this summer, along with previously completed sewer televising, are being used to develop a bid package for an initial round of sanitary sewer rehabilitation. The goal is to have a bid package ready for NYSEFC review and approval by later this fall. It is anticipated that the work will begin this coming winter and continue through 2012.

· The detailed evaluation of the Water Pollution Control Plant began earlier this summer and will continue into the summer of 2012.

Intermunicipal Agreements:

· The municipalities have all approved access agreements that allow the County, through the OCSD, to move forward to conduct improvements in the district communities.

NYSDEC Review:

· The County and NYSDEC representatives continue to discuss a revised schedule that corresponds to the magnitude of the project.

Current Activities:

· The engineering team has been conducting manhole inspections in the Sauquoit Creek Pump Station sewer shed. Through September 2, 2011, inspections have been completed in all communities except for the Town of New Hartford, where inspections are underway and should be completed in October 2011.

· Televising is underway and will also continue through 2012.

· Dye testing has been done in many areas.

· The County has approved work orders for three planned programs: Private I/I; Organizational Structure; CMOM.

· The engineering team has met with all member communities of the Oneida County Sewer District for the purpose of conducting CMOM readiness reviews/assessments. A draft CMOM implementation plan is anticipated to be ready for Steering Committee review near the end of 2011.

Steering Committee Meeting Schedule

· Given these areas of progress, Steering Committee meetings are expected to reconvene soon.

· Committee members and municipality input will be needed on several topics as the final program development stage gets underway.

· Within the next few weeks, we expect to be sending out a schedule of planned activity for Steering Committee sessions this fall through the end of 2011.

Editorial by Don Stebbins

10/4/11 Radio & Internet Show 6 to 8

Green Local 175 Homepage Environmental Calendar National and International Environmental News News within the Green Local 175 Urge to be Heard editorial and Op-Ed page Share your Organization's Information and Meeting Minutes

7 to 8 p.m. : Important information regarding hydrofracking, some of which may surprise many of our listeners

7 to 8 p.m. we'll explore the newly renovated Rome Fish Hatchery with Assistant Manager Scott Wanner.

7 to 8 p.m. an editorial by Don Stebbins (posted below)

6 to 7 p.m. Topic: Sauquoit Creek both historic and recent flooding and what is and what can be done about it. We will have 2 guests from the Sauquoit Creek Basin Intermunicipal Commission. David Glenn who is the chairman will be in studio along with Ken Kogut from the Watertown office of the DEC. Looks like a great show with some lively discussion and hopefully some good information as well.

List of SCBIC representatives

More Information

Physics of Baseball, an Editorial by Don Stebbins

9/20/11 Radio & Internet Show 6 to 8

9/27/11 Show

Opening Remarks by host Richard Morris

First guest

Introduction of Sharon Kanfoush who is a member of the Geosciences Department at Utica College. We'll get to know Sharon and her work and set the stage for future appearances as one of our science resource persons.

6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. will discuss some other environmental issues such as hydrofracking and smog

7 to 8 p.m. Topic: Sauquoit Creek both historic and recent flooding and what is and what can be done about it. We will have 2 guests from the Sauquoit Creek Basin Intermunicipal Commission. David Glenn who is the chairman and Roger Cleveland as the unofficial historian of same. In addition we will have Ken Kogut from the Watertown office of the DEC. Looks like a great show with some lively discussion and hopefully some good information as well.

List of SCBIC representatives

More Information

Also during the 7 to 8 p.m. hour will be 2 editorials by Don Steebins.

First Stebbins Editorial, Climate Realty Program

9/20/11 Show

Opening Remarks by host Richard Morris

First guest Jim Zecca. He represents the 2nd Ward on the Utica Common Council. We will discuss his proposed resolution he will introduce 9/21/11 regarding the banning of hydrofracking in the Hinckley watershed. Jim and Frank Vescera's resolution is posted at our web site HERE In addition we will discuss some other environmental issues facing the Utica area.

Some other surprises that you'll just have to listen to find out

Don Stebbins will be back next week with 2 new editorials but if you want to comment regarding his 9/13/11 op-ed pieces (see below), please send an e-mail to info@greenlocal175.com

9/13/11 Radio & Internet Show 7 to 8 P.M.

Climate Change Denial vs Climate Change Reality by Don Stebbins

2nd. Don Stebbins Op-Ed

About the Green Local 175

Green Local 175 seeks to create a greater degree of environmental awareness and to stimulate and promote green economic development within a 175 mile radius of Utica - Rome. The organization started off with a bang as the first event was a large environmental expo. The Utica Rome Green Expo (URGE) is part of our multi - year Green Local 175 program, which is an educational and economic development campaign to make our region's green economy come alive and thrive.

The first URGE took place during September 2008. We rented a large arena and had 26 exhibitors and 42 speakers ( in 3 concurrent multi-media rooms ), over an entire weekend at our event. Thanks to our network of businesses, organizations, and individuals collaborating for the benefit of our region ; this unique and much needed event was achieved without any taxpayer money. Plans are already underway for the next URGE. We are currently looking for volunteers, whether they be individuals, businesses, or organizations to help make the next URGE a reality.

We will be fostering and promoting green initiatives, projects, products , and services of businesses and organizations in our region, at this event and others throughout the rest of the year. Since 2008 our Monday Nite green events have been very well received . We've already partnered with Utica Monday Nite again this summer and look forward to partnering with other companies and organizations in the future. Please contact Richard Morris (event organizer) at 724-6364 or envexpo@dreamscape.com to get involved and for further information about up coming events.

WE HAVE THE URGE TO MAKE OUR ECONOMY AND LIVES GREENER AND BETTER^TM

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Whether the Media be Old or New, We'll Use it All, Just to Reach You!TM

Whether the Media be Old or New, We'll Use it All, Just to Reach You!^TM