On November 6, 2003 the AECP Board of Directors unanimously passed a proposal to move the AECP office from Christiansburg to The Jacksonville Center in Floyd, Virginia. The Jacksonville Center is a small business incubator designed to promote economic development in the region by providing space and support for small businesses that embrace the arts, cultural heritage of the area, and environmental issues.
AECP has occupied an office space in Christiansburg for over three years and will officially move into its new space January 1, 2004. AECP will be sharing a space with Architectural Alternatives (AA) and also developing a partnership with AA to promote the development of a Sustainable Design Center at the Jacksonville Center. This project would involve bringing together resources, expertise, and funding to build a green and sustainable space that would be used for educating the public about energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, green building design and practices, and issues and concepts related to moving our communities into a more sustainable and healthy future. This idea is really an extension of the same ideas that AECP has promoted over the years – particularly with the Energy Fair and Expo.
The move will also benefit AECP by providing a significant reduction in monthly rent (over $200 per month), provide more visibility for the organization, increase potential for additional funding thru grants and donations, and increase our ability to forge new partnerships and resources that will enhance AECP’s mission.
RECENT PASSAGE OF FEDERAL BILL REDUCES WEATHERIZATION FUNDING
The House and Senate completed work on the 2003 Budget through passage of the Omnibus Bill. Weatherization funding was reduced in that bill to $225 million, which was much less than the President’s budget request of $277.1 million and below the House recommended amount of $250 million. This amount will be reduced further by a .65% across the board reduction in all Appropriations funding except Education and Veterans Affairs. What this means is bottom line – many thousands of homes will not be weatherized during the coming contract year.
AEP WILL REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 4%
American Electric Power (AEP), the largest power generator and carbon dioxide emitter in the U.S. has established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 4% by 2006. They hope to accomplish this goal by more efficient generation of power and more use of renewable resources, which will result in less emissions of carbon dioxide. AEP is also a member of the newly formed Chicago Climate Exchange where members trade credits allowing emissions production with a combined goal of cutting emissions by 4% over 4 years. The trading program allows some companies to exceed the reductions target and profit from selling credits, and other companies to purchase credits rather than making their own cuts. So AEP could also meet the 4% reduction goal by offsetting its emissions production through the purchase of credits.
BUSH THREATENS TO FURTHER WEAKEN CLEAN WATER ACT
The Bush Administration has issued policy guidelines that would remove environmental protection from many small streams, ponds, and wetlands that appear to be disconnected from major rivers and lakes – an area of water resources equivalent to 20 million acres.
What will happen if these waters are no longer protected?
- More polluted waters.
- Place sources of community drinking water at risk and increase treatment costs to remove pollutants.
- Increased industrial discharge that will threaten public health.
- Deplete drinking water resources.
- Destroy many wetlands that are essential to the health of many aquatic species.
- Increase flooding by destroying wetlands that are available to absorb excess floodwater.
Who will benefit from these proposed changes?
- Developers will be able to fill wetlands and small streams without a Clean Water Act permit.
- Mining companies, industries, factory farms, and sewage treatment plants will no longer need permits to dump wastes into these unprotected waters.
Water is a precious natural resource that needs to be protected – not ignored for economic gain.
ENERGY TIP
Plant a row of Norway Spruce – six feet apart – on the north and west side of your home. This will deflect winter wind and reduce home energy bills.