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