Paul Wolff said we have a potential for 14.5 gigawatts off the Georgia coast,
without interfering with shipping lanes or the ocean ecology.
He noted big wind turbines need everything down to ball bearings,
much of which can be (and some already is) produced in Georgia.
LAKE blog readers know Paul Wolff
as somebody who has put his money where his mouth is, with
solar on his roof.
On the day she died, Nobel Prize-winning economist Elinor
Ostrom published
her last article, in Project Syndicate, 12 June 2012,
Green from the Grassroots,
This grassroots diversity in “green policymaking” makes
economic sense. “Sustainable cities” attract the
creative, educated people who want to live in a pollution-free,
modern urban environment that suits their lifestyles. This is where
future growth lies. Like upgrading a mobile phone, when people see
the benefits, they will discard old models in a flash.
Of course, true sustainability goes further than pollution control.
City planners must look beyond municipal limits and analyze flows of
resources —
energy,
food,
water, and
people —
into and
out of their cities.
Worldwide, we are seeing a heterogeneous collection of cities
interacting in a way that could have far-reaching influence on how
Earth's entire life-support system evolves. These cities are
learning from one another, building on good ideas and jettisoning
poorer ones. Los Angeles took decades to implement pollution
controls, but other cities, like Beijing, converted rapidly when
they saw the benefits. In the coming decades, we may see a global
system of interconnected sustainable cities emerging. If successful,
everyone will want to join the club.
Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy (WACE) have made it clear from
the start that biomass plants have a number of issues: 1) biomass
plants bear significant health risks; 2) biomass plants waste
enormous amounts of water; 3) biomass plants are risky investments
in an increasingly competitive energy sector; and 4) biomass plants
contribute to global warming.
In the light of rising global temperatures, worsening drought
conditions, and dropping prices for solar panels, an increasing
number of people are understanding these simple truths.
The Industrial Authority has to be congratulated for the courage to
admit that energy from biomass plants is indeed more expensive than
energy from solar plants, and we have not even figured in the costs
associated with the consequences of air pollution coming from
biomass plants.
Although this point has already been made earlier, note again that
solar plants are much better alternatives, economically and
environmentally: they do not pollute our air, they do not need any
water, and a huge spill of solar energy is simply called a sunny day
… of which we have plenty here in the south.
The vocal protests in Valdosta are long gone, but the controversy
over the proposed Biomass plant lingers. This time not for concerns
of health safety, but over the land.
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority plans to sue
Wiregrass Power LLC to end its contract.
Ban the Burn Go 100% Solar.
The proposed Biomass Plant was supposed to be a low-cost source of
efficient energy. Supporters say it would have created hundreds of
jobs. But opponents say the health risks include cancer, lung
disease and respiratory disease.
750,000 gallons of water each day
Tell me, Col. Ricketts, doesn’t it feel better to be visibly on the side
of the people, instead of having to defend a bad business deal?
Far to the north of here, a botanical garden installed
more than a megawatt of solar power a year ago.
Maybe Georgia Power should ask them how it’s done.
June 16, 2011, Kennett Square, PA — Longwood Gardens today
commissioned a new, ground-mounted solar field spanning more than 10
acres at the horticultural showplace in Kennett Square,
Pennsylvania.
One of the largest examples of clean emission-free energy in the
region, the solar field produces 1.2 MW (megawatts) of power and
will produce 1.5 MW when the final panels are installed in the
coming weeks. The fixed-tilt, 1.5 MW solar installation will produce
enough electricity to offset the usage of approximately 138 average
Pennsylvania homes and reduce Longwood’s annual carbon dioxide
emissions by 1,367 tons.
“We are always looking for ways to advance our sustainable
practices,” said Paul Redman, Longwood Gardens Director.
“It is integral to Longwood’s mission to decrease our
dependence on fossil fuels.” We want to establish best
practices and lead the way in showing communities how to live
responsibly,” said Redman.
Imagine if Georgia Power and Southern Company acted responsibly
and led the way in solar power!
Did you know
last night’s Planning Commission meeting included
a public hearing about changes to the county’s
Unified Land Development Code (ULDC)
related to land disturbances and water quality?
You wouldn’t have found out about that in the agenda,
because
it wasn’t posted anywhere you’d be likely to see it.
(Where does GLPC post the one physical copy of the agenda required by law,
anyway?)
Supposedly it was advertised in the Valdosta Daily Times,
but a search
of Public Notices in Statewide Database of Public Notices from Georgia’s Legal Organ Newspapers
for 1 June 2012 through 27 August 2012 finds nothing.
From a procedural standpoint the amendment has been advertised in
the Valdosta Daily Times to fulfill legal requirements. Beyond
legal requirements staff has plans to post this agenda
item and draft ULDC on the Lowndes County Website at
http://www.lowndescounty.com/content.asp?pid=23&id=224. Regarding
staff review of the amendments, the TRC recommended for their approval
at their 08/16 regular meeting.
If you’d happened to look several levels deep on the Lowndes County website
you would have found
that undated announcement:
The
Lowndes County Commission’s calendar
does not list this meeting;
it doesn’t list any Planning Commission meetings.
The county website also has no description of GLPC that I can find.
It does get a mention three levels deep, under
Planning.
Purpose: The mission of the Greater Lowndes
Planning Commission (GLPC) is to look beyond short-term solutions in
planning for the future of the Greater Lowndes community; to improve the
public health, safety, convenience and welfare; and to provide for the
social, economic and physical development of communities on a sound and
orderly basis, within a governmental framework and economic environment
which fosters constructive growth and efficient administration.
I’d heard a rumor that some sort of lawsuit about the biomass site
was the subject of some of the Industrial Authority executive
sessions for real estate discussions.
VLCIA has finally said in public what their position is.
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority plans to send a
petition to Lowndes County Superior Court to sue Wiregrass Power,
LLC, for a clear title on the land purchased for the development of
a biomass energy plant.
The Authority believes Wiregrass defaulted on a lease agreement to
build the plant, placing ownership of the 22.22-acre tract back in
their hands, but Wiregrass denies the allegations. This denial casts
“a cloud” of suspicion on the Authority that may prevent
it from re-marketing the property, according to the petition,
leading to the suit.
Sounds like they’re publicizing their intent
to try to scare Sterling off without having to sue.
I’m for that.
LAKE videoing George videoing Gretchen canvassing on Summerlin Street in Valdosta,
Canvassing, Lowndes County Commission (GretchenForLowndes.com),
Videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
and by George Boston Rhynes for bostongbr on YouTube,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2012.
Gretchen mentioned she’d been going to County Commission meetings
for about four years now, and thought it was her turn to serve.
George asked why she was canvassing on the west side of Valdosta,
and she answered:
The thing that is important for people to know is that every
single citizen in the county gets to vote,
Whether you live in Valdosta, Hahira, Lake Park, Dasher, Remerton,
or the unincorporated areas.
Every single person who lives in Lowndes County
who is a registered voter gets to vote.
You have until October 8th to register
to vote for the November 6th election.
You can register at the Board of Elections at 2808 North Oak Street,
or there are people going around with forms you can fill in and mail
in or they will hand carry down there.
Participatory media!
Doing what traditional media could do, George Boston Rhynes
interviewed Gretchen Quarterman as she canvassed on
Summerlin Street in Valdosta Saturday.
Doing what traditional media can’t do, I videoed
George videoing Gretchen, and he later videoed me
helping Gretchen canvass.
Where and when did the preliminary information or discussion happen?
And among whom?
According to
the county's website:
Lowndes County Work & Regular Session Meetings Cancelled (8/28/2012)
Due to lack of agenda items requiring additional information or
discussion, the Lowndes County Work and Regular Session meetings for
August 27-28, 2012, have been cancelled. For more information please
call County Clerk, Paige Dukes, at 229-671-2400.
about
Wind Works: for Jobs, for Georgians, 6-9 PM tonight 31 August 2012 Tybee Pier.
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