Global perspective

Just thought I'd share this global perspective on renewable energy.  http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/2012/07/09/renewable-energy-facts-and-figures/

For a nice snapshot of CT, you can find that here on the EIA website.

Renewable energy discussion in Westport

NGO Sustainability Inc presents speakers Dan Esty and Peter Yazbak (on behalf of Congressman Jim Himes) hosting a discussion on sustainable development and renewable energy.  The event is free, with a suggested contribution of $5-10.  More information here.

Save The Children craft shop
54 Wilton Rd
Westport, CT

Blankets

On June 21 (Tomorrow), Dan Esty from the DEEP will be presenting blankets to the needy, on behalf of the 46 homes that completed the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge.  More info from press release below:

What: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Dan Esty will be presenting blankets to The Connection on Thursday, June 21^st at 9am at Hallie House, 99 Eastern Drive, Middletown, CT. 46 homes completed energy saving measures as part of the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge Share the Warmth campaign. Through a generous donation from Peach Fur Fleece, blankets will be presented in representation of each home’s action.

Who: The Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (N2N) is a community energy savings program made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the BetterBuildings Neighborhood Program. BetterBuildings aims to create self-sustaining energy efficiency programs through 41 state and local government programs across the nation. N2N is setting the standard for a national BetterBuildings program model – making significant progress in the Connecticut’s sustainability goals.

Since 1972, The Connection has provided services in the areas of supportive housing, women and children, behavioral health and community justice for thousands of Connecticut residents. Hallie House for Women and Children in Middletown is one of three long-term residential treatment facilities for pregnant and parenting women who desire to live a clean and sober life. Elm City Women and Children’s Center and Mother’s Retreat provide similar services in New Haven and Groton respectively. The Peach Fur Fleece blankets will be distributed among clients of the three women and children’s programs.

Why: As part of our continued commitment to local communities, Neighbor to Neighbor strives to improve of the lives of those in need though energy-saving programs and campaigns.

When: Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 9:00 am

Where: Hallie House, 99 Eastern Drive, Middletown, CT.

http://sopastrike.com/strike/

English Station ducks wrecking ball, for now

Demolition plans fall apart due to environmental concerns. Read more from the New Haven Independent.

I have to admit I'm a little confused. They were pumping oil out of transformers, so obviously they were not pumping fuel oil. PCBs were used as dilectric cooling fluid for transformers during most of the life of this power plant. So...should it be a surprise to discover a "99%" concentration of PCBs? I take issue with the characterization of this concentration being "very high". It's almost pure PCB.

I still don't understand why no one is going after Quinnipiac Energy to find out what happened to the clean-up money. Does anyone know where they are and has anyone tried to audit that account? UI? City of New Haven?

English Station to be destroyed

After initially proposing to turn the site into a fuel cell generation station, the real estate developer that owns the English Station claims to have a new plan that involves razing the historic, century-old building. Luther Turmelle reports for the New Haven Register.

This could be a relief for breathing members of the New Haven community, to whom the dormant plant represents an ongoing threat of a urban pollution. Obviously people will be anxious to see the term "undetermined industrial purpose" better defined.

While the developer has a history of preserving historic buildings (here and here), it seems that converting the polluted coal and oil burning facility into living space is not in the cards. As I have previously reported, UI shelled out almost $2million for environmental remediation but that money seems to have gone missing. Still, one wonders if the original building might be suitable for some "undetermined industrial purpose". It's a beautiful building.

(photo copyright 2007 Bruce Crowder)