release date: July 17, 2015
DC Chapter Hosts Forum with Dept. of Environment Director, Tommy Wells
by Lena Moffitt
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On May 7, the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted a forum with the new Director of D.C.'s Department of the Environment, Tommy Wells. Held at the Sierra Club's national legislative headquarters on Capitol Hill, the event drew more than fifty members of the community interested in hearing about how the D.C. government can continue to make our city sustainable.
Director Wells was recently appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser to head the District's Department of the Environment, and now oversees the city's energy and environmental issues. Director Wells spoke about his agency's efforts to clean up the Anacostia River, improve composting, increase renewable energy, install more green roofs and many more initiatives.
Director Wells is no stranger to environmental protection - he served eight years on the D.C. Council where he was a consistent champion for waste and pollution reduction efforts, recycling, and renewable energy. He spearheaded the District's initiative to charge five cents for plastic bags, an effort that has been widely heralded as a success. The initiative has helped reduce waste and clean up our rivers! He also championed the recent styrofoam ban, which will continue his legacy of taking DC closer to becoming a zero waste city.
We look forward to working with Director Wells to continue enforcement of these two important initiatives and exploring further ways DDOE can help reduce waste, increase clean energy and ensure DC is a national leader in city-wide sustainability.
Casey Trees Hosts Councilmember Allen
On May 21, several DC Chapter members attended Casey Trees Tree Advocacy event. Highlights from the evening, hosted at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ward 6, included Councilmember Allen’s pledge to introduce legislation that would improve upon the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 and with the goal of doubling the tree canopy in Ward 6 and protecting more trees District-wide. Another speaker, John Thomas, Associate Director of the Urban Forestry Administration, predicted that the District will reach its 40 percent by 2032 canopy goal. Other speakers included Melissa Byrd of the DC Office of Planning, Steve Saari of DDOE, and John Thomas of DDOT and Chief Arborist. With 75 attendees, this meeting showed key city officials that neighbors are concerned about the city's trees. The DC Government's goal is to reach 40% tree canopy by 2032. This will include planting on private property as well as District and federal lands.
Casey's next Tree Advocacy meeting will be held on Thursday, July 23, 6 p.m. (Complimentary dinner at 6 p.m., program starts at 6:30 p.m.) at Casey Trees Headquarters, 3030 12 Street, NE. Speakers will include: Keith Anderson, director of the District Parks and Recreation Department, who will share his vision for our community's green spaces; and Peter Harnik, a recognized expert on what makes urban park systems great and a sought-after speaker on the relationship between cities and parks. Peter is an author and co-founded both the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail.
DC Chapter members attend OPC Energy Symposium (by Aykut Yilmaz)
On April 18, 2015, the Office of the People's Counsel (OPC) for the District of Columbia hosted its Horizons 2015 summit at the UDC David A. Clarke Law School. Several volunteers from the DC Chapter attended. The stated goal of the consumer education symposium is to involve DC residents on their energy future, including solar energy, grid modernization, energy conservation, and energy tracking tools.
Competing with a glorious spring day in Washington, the summit managed to draw in more than 100 attendees with engaging speakers, networking opportunities, and free food. Speakers at the summit included People's Counsel of DC Sandra Mattavous-Frye, DDOE Director Tommy Wells, Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, and speakers from the U.S. Department of Energy, UDC law school, local utilities, universities, and public interest groups. Forums explored issues ranging from solar energy and power-use toolkits to microgrids and gas pipeline modernization.
The highlight of the summit was the keynote address from Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., founder and leader of the "Hip Hop Caucus," who shared his experiences in ministry work and told emotional stories that explained his particular passion for environmental issues. His main point: that the discussion on climate change too often fails to focus on the real human impacts; instead, society needs to have conversations about "climate justice." Reminiscing about a funeral he officiated for a young, asthmatic girl who failed to get to her inhaler in time, and peppering in statistics (like the fact that 70% of African Americans live within 50 miles of a coal-fired power plant), Rev. Yearwood drove home the point: engaging the politically oppressed is the only way to attain climate justice for future generations. As he said, "you either shape policy or policy shapes you. You are either at the table or you are on the menu."
Talking it up at Local Festivals
On June 6 and 7, DC Chapter volunteers tabled at the DC Green Festival and Expo, and on June 14, DC Chapter volunteers tabled at DC's Gay Pride Festival, spreading the word about our work to save the local environment to thousands of attendees and recruiting new potential volunteers.
We were joined by volunteers from the Virginia Chapter and from the Sierra Student Coalition.
DC Chapter Wins Grant for Streetcar Campaign
On July 8, Smart Growth Committee Chair Payton Chung announced that the National Sierra Club had awarded the DC Chapter a $20,000 grant to launch a new organizing campaign around expanding and improving the DC Streetcar.
Last November, Sierra Club's National board of directors adopted a vision of a clean energy future for America, including halving oil consumption by 2030. Cars account for half of America's oil consumption, so our focus is on solutions for cars and trucks. Healthy communities--places that are compact and convenient, vibrant and verdant, with great transit, biking, and walking--will allow Americans to get around with less driving. For example, residents of DC drive 36% fewer miles each day than residents of the entire metro area, since DC residents have more transportation choices and have more nearby services. Toward that end, the Club recently awarded five Healthy Communities and Transportation grants to chapters around the country.
The Chapter's Smart Growth Committee will use one of these grants to re-launch its Streetcars 4 DC coalition, advocating for an expanded and improved crosstown streetcar route. The goals are (1) to bolster public and private support for the streetcar to finish testing and open it for commercial use by the community; and (2) to build support for the expanded east-west streetcar line to move forward with an optimal design and implementation plans. The expanded streetcar line will run along Benning Road NE, H Street NE, and K Street NW, connecting Ward 7, H Street, Union Station, Mount Vernon Triangle, Downtown DC, the West End, and the Georgetown waterfront. It will be a vital part of the District's heavy commuter moving system. We will work with a diverse range of partners across the city on events and media to raise awareness and generate broad public support for streetcar expansion.
While the first phase of the DC streetcar has suffered from false starts and cost overruns, streetcars in dedicated transit lanes remain the best near-term way to substantially increase transit capacity across the District. A crosstown streetcar line would make it easier to get across congested downtown DC, facilitate continued growth in the central city, provide an alternative to crowded Metro lines, and create an opportunity to re-imagine K Street as a beautiful urban promenade. The success of this project will depend on the chapter's ability to garner the support of a diverse coalition of business, government and community groups. This challenge is also an opportunity, as the proposed plan will engage new leaders, volunteers, and community activists and expose them to the work of the Sierra Club. If successful, the strategy and media work could be leveraged on behalf of the citywide streetcar network, for light-rail plans now floundering in suburban Maryland and Virginia, and in other U.S. metropolitan areas. To stay informed or to join our campaign, please visit http://dc.sierraclub.org/content/steetcar-campaign. Anyone interested in helping out with this newly launched, exciting campaign should contact Payton at payton@westnorth.com.
We Won - Mayor Pulls Contract on DC's Trash Incinerator!
- Health: The Covanta Fairfax incinerator is the region's second largest emitter of nitrogen oxide pollution, aggravating asthma, which is already a problem for many in the District.
- Pollution: The incinerator is also the largest mercury polluter in the DC area, and is among the top polluters by many other measures. Incinerators are 7 times more air-polluting than landfills, according to the latest EPA data, and affects a much larger population.
- Expense: Incineration is more expensive than all of our landfill options, as outgoing DPW Director Howland admitted to your committee and to the mayor's office.
- Civil Rights: The RFP that led to the contract was designed so that only incinerators in communities of color could bid for DC's waste, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act.
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- First, we can thank the mayor,
- After Tuesday's meeting passes with no surprises, we can (1) get media coverage for the victory, (2) put together a sign-on from the same groups, if possible, to Mayor Bowser, urging her to choose landfills for a 1-year contract, then work with us to move DC toward digestion before landfilling--the most sustainable back-end option--within the next five years, and (3) do a banner-holding picture with a bunch of people in front of City Hall thanking the mayor.
- Circulate the DPW and DDOE job openings to ensure that we get good people into those open positions.
- Educate Cheh's staff and DDOE about how incinerators truly compare to landfills, so they stop thinking that incinerators str better, and convince them to understand the digestion/landfill option.
- Engage with the Interagency Waste Reduction Working Group and ensure that there's a community advisory component to it.
Book Author Talk
On Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at Busboys and Poets, 14th and V St. NW, the DC Chapter is co-sponsoring author Michael Shuman with his presentation on his new book, The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self Financing, Pollinator Enterprises can Grow Jobs and Prosperity. Shuman, an economist, attorney, and local economics expert, argues that mainstream economic development is fundamentally misguided because it overlooks locally owned small businesses. He shows how local economic development might be possible at zero long-term cost, if the profession takes advantage of self-financing enterprises committed to boosting local business. Come explore these new models for community economic development and how you can help your local economy flourish. Event is free and open to the public.
Net Metering: Giving Communities "Power Over Power"
- by Our Power Campaign, excerpted from Energy Justice Now, the newsletter of the Energy Justice Network (http://secure.campaigner.com/Campaigner/Public/t.show?8gef5--4h2f3-sfsiz94&_v=2)
Net Metering is a "distributed energy" policy that allows
families, businesses, or small groups of people to reduce electricity
bills by generating some or all of their electricity through rooftop
solar panels or other technologies that are tied into the electric grid.
In
a nutshell, solar panels or other renewable energy systems are hooked
up to a meter that shows how much energy the system contributes to the
utility grid, and how much the customer draws down from the grid each
month.
The customer receives a credit on their utility bill for
excess electricity produced by their system. The customer pays the
utility for the "net" amount of energy they use in a month. If their
system contributes more energy to the grid than the customer used that
month, the customer gets a credit that can be applied to future bills.
The
use of solar and other emerging technologies in this way -- at both the
family and the community level -- is catching on. Net metering is now a
program in 44 states, and growing.
The move to distributed
energy production through things like net metering has the potential to
be transformative for the health and economic security of low income and
communities of color. The shift to renewable energy will help rid our
communities of illness, disease and other social ills associated with
energy pollution.
- The Zero Waste Committee recently had success
working with Energy Justice Network and others in gaining time to help
the city develop alternatives to locking itself into a 5-11 year
incineration contract. We are also working to see how we can support a
composting project at the UDC farm in Maryland, we are pushing for a law
related to the recycling of building materials, and are seeing what we
can do to help make the styrofoam ban starting in 2016 a success. The
Committee organized a meeting on July 7 with Bill Updike, Deputy
Director of DDOE's Urban Sustainability Administration, which is
responsible for developing important policy and programs in waste
management, renewable and clean energy, climate, and green building. The
group discussed the history, mission, current activities,
and future plans of the Urban Sustainability Administration and Mr.
Updike answered questions from Chapter members on a variety of issues. The
Committee held its most recent meeting on July 16 (after press time for
this newsletter). For further info or to get involved, contact Jen
Dickman at jendickman@gmail.com.
- Over the past three months, the Smart Growth Committee has: won on
a competitive national grant for its streetcar advocacy work (see
article above); written the District Department of Transportation about
maintaining forward momentum on MoveDC, its 2030 plan to cut
driving-related carbon emissions by over 200,000 tons a year, while
increasing transportation system capacity by 24% (including tripling
bike capacity and doubling transit capacity - DDOT responded that they
will evaluate and pursue some of these strategies in the years to come);
endorsed Metro's long-term plan to add two new lines under downtown DC,
for better service reliability and greater transit capacity;
co-sponsored Streetscamp, a one-day "unconference" organized by the
Coalition for Smarter Growth that inspired over 100 local attendees to
become better transportation activists in their communities; discussed
and evaluated options for updating and strengthening the District's
pioneering, but nine-year-old, Green Building Act, to incorporate the
latest thinking in holistically designing restorative buildings; begun a
collaboration to reform the District's outdated "contributory
negligence" standard, which prevents pedestrians and bicyclists who are
injured in car crashes from recovering damages. The committee welcomes
new volunteers to work on citywide transportation and green-building
priorities. Committee meetings are every second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., at the Club's offices (50 F St NW, Suite 800).
- The Clean Energy Committee continues its efforts to
stop the merger between Pepco and Exelon Holdings Co., as well as
advocating for legislation to clarify what the DC Council intended the
PSC to do in implementing the Community Renewable Energy Act (CREA), and
possibly expanding the Renewable Portfolio Standard from 20% to 40%.
The Committee last met on July 9. Check Chapter website for the
announcement for its next meeting.
- The Political Endorsement Committee and the DC Chapter Board made
endorsements in the special election on April 28, 2015 for the D.C.
Council Ward 4 and Ward 8 seats. Our Ward 4 endorsed candidate, Brandon
Todd, won easily in a crowded field; besting 12 other candidates. Our
endorsed candidate in Ward 8, Eugene Kinlow, didn’t fare as well. He
came in 4th in a field of 13. LaRuby May won her seat in a
close contest against former State Board of Education member Trayon
White. The Committee met with LaRuby May and discussed a number of
issues of importance to us. We look forward to working with her, Brandon
Todd, and all the other members of the D.C. Council.
- The Chapter Board (ExCom) will have its next monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Sierra Club Office at 50 F St. NW, Suite 800. Non-board members should contact Chapter Chair Matt Gravatt (mbgravatt@gmail.com) prior to the meeting obtain approval to attend.
- Maryland Chapter: MD chapter volunteers joined more than 30
grassroots activists from four generations and four partner
organizations filled a Maryland Department of the Environment hearing
about the state's clean air regulations on June 30. "We
sent a powerful message to MDE and Governor Larry Hogan that we're
paying attention and we'll keep fighting for what we believe in: healthy
communities and clean energy," said Maryland Beyond Coal organizer Seth Bush.
- On July 9, the University of the District of Columbia held a ribbon
cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the largest food producing
green roof in the District. The building, located at 4200 Connecticut
Ave. NW, on UDC's campus, boasts 20,000 square feet of innovative urban
food production, and anchors the CAUSES Ward 3 urban food hub that is a
national model for urban food systems.
- Sierra Club National is conducting a series of dialogs on promoting
diversity, inclusion, and equity within the club and its chapters. The
next discussion will take place on Wednesday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Dial In Information: (866) 501-6174, conference code: 200-5596-18922015. Call agendas and notes available HERE.
- In June, Sierra Club National presented a webinar called "Connecting People to Nature" which can be viewed at Webinar Recording. The talk was led by Chris Applegate, newly hired by the Club's Chapter Capacity Leadership Team, along with Mel Mac Innis (SCO Assistant Director), Kevin Wallner (Clair Tappaan Lodge Manager), Eric Uram (SCO Volunteer Co-Lead), and Sascha Paris (Training
Manager). This presentation can help our chapter to attract and retain
volunteers by providing enriching experiences with local nature venues.
- On Thursday, July 23, Casey Trees will be
celebrating Park and Recreation month with DC Department of Parks and
Recreation Acting Director, Keith Anderson at its July Tree Advocates
meeting. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 6:30 at Casey
Trees Headquarters, 3030 12th St. NE. For more information and to
register for this event, email advocacy@caseytrees.org.
- On Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m. -12 p.m., Anacostia
Riverkeeper is hosting a Clean Waterways Volunteer event at
Congressional Cemetery (located at 1801 E St. SE). They ask that
volunteers wear closed toe shoes and bring lots of water. They will
provide all other supplies. For further info, see www.anacostiariverkeeper.org.
- The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Recycling Committee met on Thursday, July 16th, discussing Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling and a new plastics sorting facility. Presentations were given on: Overview of C&D Recycling in the Region, 3rd Party C&D Recycling Certification, C&D Recycling Operator Perspective, Updated Builders Guide to Reuse and Recycling.
- The Virginia Chapter is having its first annual Summer Social and Legislative Awards Reception on August 30 at Hotel Monaco, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Parking available on-site. The event will honor 10 VA legislators for their environmental protection efforts. For further info, see http://vasierraclub.org/2015/07/2015leaders/.
Upcoming local hike
Join fellow DC Sierrans on Saturday, July 25, at 9 a.m. for a hike on Catoctin Mountain with Potomac Region Outings. This is a moderately strenuous 7.5 mile loop with a 1200 feet elevation gain, in Catoctin National Park, MD. We will start from the Catoctin Mountain Visitors Centre (CMP) where there is ample parking on both sides of Park Central Road and toilets inside the visitor's center. The trails offer wonderful shade from the heat, one great vista after another and a visit to Cunningham Falls. Trails are wide and well maintained but rocky and steep in parts so wear hiking boots preferably or strong running shoes. Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock are some of the highlights you can look forward to where we can enjoy spectacular views. Level is moderate. Meet at Shady Grove Metro Station EAST PARKING LOT, 15903 Somerville Drive, Rockville, MD 20855, USA. Leader is Ann Canavan - anncanavan2003@yahoo.co.uk. For more information, click here.
Donate to the DC Chapter
Check out a new video made by Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune advocating for giving to our local chapters. Thanks Mike! You're an inspiration to us all...
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