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Final release - AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS UPDATE *
As of this newsletter release, this newsletter will no longer be
distributed. = The new organization that will be capturing information will be http://www.austineconetwork.org/. CEC:AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS UPDATE =AD 2/27/04 __________________________________________________ _______________________= LOCAL (1) Solar stakeholder meetings underway (2) State task force discusses water conservation THE WEEK'S EVENTS (3) Rhizome Collective Free Workshops (4) Green Garden Festival (5) ECO Book Club Discusses "Ecology Against Capitalism" (6) PSR Energy and Air Pollution Conference (7) Panama Case Studies in Sustainability (8) UT Watch Los Alamos Panel (9) Eric Schlosser Lecture (10) Great Outdoors Project Meeting (11) UT Informal Class-Solar Home Design (12) 8TH Annual Land Use Law Conference (13) Protecting Central Texas, Environment and Economy GREEN JOBS (14) Oxfam America IN THE NEWS (15) Austin American Statesman __________________________________________________ _____________________ LOCAL (1) SOLAR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS UNDERWAY by Erika McDonald Beginning today, the Resource Management Commission's Solar Subcommittee Austin energy will host a series of public meetings to discuss city solar energy policy. The primary focus of the meetings will be to discuss Austin Energy=B9s solar rebate program. An expert on solar energy for Public Citizen, Amanda Buehler, said the rebate program will be a tool for ensuring adequate funding for solar energy and encouraging solar energy companies to relocate to Austin. Other issues likely to be addressed include size of caps on residential and commercial users, and institution of a net metering policy that will roll meters back when more energy is created than used. Solar energy advocates have criticized the utility for setting the caps too low to encourage substantial investment. The meetings are a prelude to a city council vote on an Austin Energy budget amendment. The utility is requesting a two-percent commitment, roughly $18 million for solar power. The vote is expected on or about April 1. The weekly meetings will all be held at Austin Energy, 721 Barton Springs Rd. More detail, contact Buehler at (512) 477-1155. = (2) STATE TASK FORCE DISCUSSES WATER CONSERVATION Associated Press = A state with deserts, beaches, swamps, farms and major cities doesn't need a "one-size-fits-all" plan to save water, members of a task force said Monday. = The 32 members of the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force met to hammer out recommendations for how Texas can best regulate water conservation among its broad range of users. "There are many areas in the state that will not have sufficient water supplies to meet future demands," said Bill Mullican, deputy director for planning at the Texas Water Development Board, the agency overseeing the task force. "Every community can and should have water conservation as an important component of its portfolio for meeting water needs." The task force, which meets monthly, adopted a recommendation on Monday that the state create a standing council to advise on new issues and technology related to saving water. The task force also discussed how the state can best oversee communities' implementation of existing and proposed conservation rules. Members questioned whether small towns should be subject to the same conservation guidelines as bigger cities with more resources. They discussed whether the state should help smaller communities in creating and applying conservation measures. The task force also discussed proposed requirements ranging from installing water-saving toilets and shower heads to conservation-pricing incentives and golf course conservation measures. The proposals are now open for public comment. "My view is that our water wall here, when we no longer have the luxury of ignoring water conservation, is only 10 to 15 years away," said Rusty Osborne, a project manager for the utilities and energy department at the University of Texas at Austin. The task force, formed by the legislature 2003, comprises of representatives from various state and federal agencies, and from the environmental community, professional organizations, the utility industry, municipalities, and groundwater conservation and irrigation districts. The group is scheduled to finish its work by November and present its recommendations to state lawmakers next year. __________________________________________________ _____________________ THE WEEK'S EVENTS (3) RHIZOME COLLECTIVE FREE WORKSHOPS Date: Sun, Feb 29 Location: Call for details Time 11 am-4 pm Contact: (512) 385-3695 or = (4) GREEN GARDEN FESTIVAL Date: Sun, Feb 29 Location: Zilker Botanical Gardens Time: 1 pm-4pm = Contact: http://www.cityofaustin.org/greengarden = (5) ECO BOOK CLUB DISCUSSES "ECOLOGY AGAINST CAPITALISM" Date: Mon, Mar 1 Location: MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop Time: 8 pm Contact: or (6) PSR ENERGY AND AIR POLLUTION CONFERENCE Date: Mon, Mar 1 Time: 7 pm = Location: Seton Hospital, McFadden Auditorium, 1201 West 38th St. Contact: (202) 667-4260, ext 231 or (7) PANAMA CASE STUDIES IN SUSTAINABILITY Date: Tues, Mar 2 = Time: 7 pm Location: University of Texas, Parlin, Rm 203 Contact: http://www.sustainus.org/austin.html (8) UT WATCH LOS ALAMOS PANEL Date: Tues, Mar 2 Time: Call for details Location: Garrison 1, SE corner of the Main Mall of UT Campus Contact: http://www.u****ch.org/events/view.php?id=3D204 (9) ERIC SCHLOSSER LECTURE Date: Wed, Mar 3 Time: 7:30-9 pm Location: Hogg Auditorium Contact: Matt Hardigree, (512) 475-6630 (10) GREAT OUTDOORS PROJECT MEETING Date: Wed, Mar 3 Time: 7:30 pm Location: Honors Quad, UT campus Contact: (11) UT INFORMAL CLASS-SOLAR HOME DESIGN Date: Wed, Mar 3 and 10 Time: 6:30 pm Location: Call for details Contact: Paul Breaux (512) 249-1976 (12) 8TH ANNUAL LAND USE LAW CONFERENCE Date: Thurs-Fri, Mar 4 and 5 Location: Renaissance Austin Hotel Time: Call for details Contact: (13) PROTECTING CENTRAL TEXAS, ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY Date: Tue, Mar 9 Time: 7:30 pm Location: Advanced Micro Devices Auditorium, 5204 E. Ben White Boulevard Contact: Air and Waste Management Association, Central Texas Chapter http://www.main.org/awmactc/Conf.html __________________________________________________ _____________________ GREEN JOBS (14) OXFAM AMERICA The Oxfam America=B9s CHANGE Initiative is now accepting student applications for the 2004-2005 academic year. The CHANGE Initiative aims to develop capable and confident young leaders who are informed and active voices for positive social change. Oxfam America is looking for a diverse group of college sophomores and juniors committed to global social justice issues. The students must demonstrate an interest in issues such as fair trade coffee, global hunger and international trade, and be willing to work on their campuses and in their communities to create campaigns and educational opportunities. Selected students are required to train in Boston, July 23-July 30, and to communicate regularly with Oxfam staff and each other about the work they are undertaking on their campus. All travel and training costs will be covered in full by Oxfam. Applications are due April 1. Interested students are strongly encouraged to apply online at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/change. For more information call 1-800-77-OXFAM ext. 464 or email . Know students who fit the criteria? Nominate them on the "Tell a Friend" section of Oxfam=B9s web site at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/change. Students will= be sent an email informing them of this opportunity. __________________________________________________ _____________________ (15) IN THE NEWS AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN CITY CONSIDERS CLEARING SOIL FROM BLAST SITE, 02/23/04 Concerns from blast, leaves soil with chemical odors. http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/...ions/monday/m= et ro_state_04933bac815ac15210e0.html HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS STRAIN OF BIRD FLU FOUND IN TEXAS, 2/24/04 Contagious strain of bird flu spreads to live bird markets in Houston. http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/...ions/tuesday/= me tro_state_04b350b8145a00750055.html CARP OR BUFFALO? 2/22/04 Fish story ends without a record http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/...tions/saturda= y/ CENTRAL TEXAS GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT STILL UP IN THE AIR, 2/27/04 Three proposed sites still deciding whether to welcome 800-acre airport. http://www.statesman.com/williamson/...tions/thursda= y/ __________________________________________________ _____________________ ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION CEC Environmental News Update is a weekly publication of the Citizens' Environmental Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to fostering dialogue, education and collaboration relating to environmental issues in the Houston/Galveston region. Visit the CEC online at -- = Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky 2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business =F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal |
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