[NMSEA-news] Events, New NMSEA Chapter, NMSEA needs help
News from New Mexico Solar Energy Association
nmsea-news at nmsea.org
Thu Feb 28 16:18:58 MST 2008
Hi Solar Enthusiasts!
Here's the latest Chapter events, and announcements.
Please see the NMSEA Event Calendar for a more complete list of events,
including all the Earth Day events, at
http://www.nmsea.org/Events/Event_Calendar.php
Also, check out the Sustainable ABQ website for other events in and
around Albuquerque. Go to http://www.sustainableabq.com/news_events.htm
If you have questions or comments, please contact us! We value your input.
NEW MEXICO SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION
1009 Bradbury St SE, Ste. 35
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-246-0400, 888-886-6765
Fax: 505-246-2251
info at nmsea.org <mailto:info at nmsea.org>
www.nmsea.org <http://www.nmsea.org/>
To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to this NMSEA-news e-mail list, please
visit: http://nmsea.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nmsea-news.
***********************************************************************
February 28 -- Organizational Meeting for the creation of an NMSEA Las
Cruces Chapter
March 4 -- Rebuild NM Annual Partner meeting -- Questions for Senator
Bngaman
March 14 and 15 -- Sustainable Enterprise Summit -- Oshara Village, Santa Fe
March 13 - Emigdio Ballon: Tesuque Pueblo Agricultural Initiative
February and March - NMSEA Alamogordo Chapter-Community Education Program
April 11,12,13,19, and 20 -- Photovoltaic (PV) Design and Installation
Class/Albuquerque
_____________________________
ANNOUNCMENTS (at the bottom)
***Earth Day Volunteers needed for NMSEA
***Chapter Leader needed for NMSEA Albuquerque Chapter
*** Energy and climate change -- a congressional update from Solar Nation
***********************************************************************
______________________________________________
FEBRUARY 28 -- ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR THE CREATION OF AN NMSEA LAS
CRUCES CHAPTER
Come to the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus room 204 for
February 28, 2008 at 6:00pm to be part or the newest chapter of NMSEA.
For more information, contact Jim Simonin, (575) 525-8092,
jsimonin at zianet.com <mailto:jsimonin at zianet.com>
_________________________________________________________________________________
MARCH 4 -- REBUILD NEW MEXICO ANNUAL PARTNER MEETING -- QUESTIONS FOR SENATOR BINGAMAN
The annual partner meeting will be held on Tuesday morning March 4 at 8am at the Los Griegos Community Center. The Rebuild New Mexico community is fortunate to have special privileges scheduled with US NM Sen Jeff Bingaman's Energy Committee, Washington DC staff. We will be connecting with them via teleconferencing. Our partnership members have provided questions in advance which are thorough and in depth. The DC Energy Staffers will respond to pre-questions ranging from the Federal Energy Policy, perceptions of importance regarding the scope of Alternative Energy policy, and other questions regarding the Federal tax credit. Come and join us for this free event and listen in with the knowledgeable team.
We will be able to ask additional questions during the phone in session but of course the pre-written ones will gain first priority. Please put this one on your calendar and plan to attend. March forth with Rebuild New Mexico on March 4th.
The event will be held at Los Griegos Community Center, located at 1231 Candelaria Rd., NW in Albuquerque. Please join us early for coffee at 7.45 am. The event is Free and Open to the Public. For more info on any event please call (505) 768-5346,or email info at rebuildnewmexico.org <mailto:info at rebuildnewmexico.org>
________________________________________________________________________
MARCH 13: EMIGDIO BALLON: TESUQUE PUEBLO AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE
Los Alamos Sustainable Energy Network
LASE Network March Meeting
Date: Thurs., Mar. 13
Time: Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, Meeting is from 7-8 PM
Location: at PEEC, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center on
Orange Street in Los Alamos
Speaker: Emigdio Ballon: Tesuque Pueblo Agricultural Initiative
Special Note: We will have a Pot Luck Supper at PEEC from 5:30 - 6:30 PM
before the meeting.
Emigdio Ballon: Tesuque Pueblo Agricultural Initiative
Tesuque Pueblo has an Agricultural Initiative that is not quite three
years old. Their goal is to not have to rely on outside sources for
food. The initiative is to teach the 600 members to grow their own food.
The manager of the program is Emigdio Ballon. In the last year, Ballon
and his crew of three have planted 750 fruit trees: beans, corn, squash
and other crops; medicinal herbs on 15 acres. Ballon is a Quechua Indian
from Bolivia and has studied biogenetics and was brought to the Pueblo
to lead the initiative.
We will have a Pot Luck Supper at PEEC from 5:30 - 6:30 PM before the
meeting. Please feel encouraged to bring local food to share with
others. Branden Willman-Kozimor (programs at pajaritoeec.org) 505.662.0460
will be coordinating the food, so that we don't have 15 people bringing
salsa.
The meeting location for LASE Network is at the Pajarito Environmental
Education Center
At the old High School "L" Building at 3540 Orange Street.
(Directions: from Trinity, go on Diamond past the high school, and turn
right on Orange St. Go about 2 1/2 blocks...PEEC will be on the left.)
The meeting location for LASE Network is at the Pajarito Environmental
Education Center
At the old High School "L" Building at 3540 Orange Street.
(Directions: from Trinity, go on Diamond past the high school, and turn
right on Orange St. Go about 2 1/2 blocks...PEEC will be on the left.)
LASE Network · P.O. Box 221 · Los Alamos, NM 87544 · Website:
http://www.lasenergy.net/
For more info, call David Griggs at 661-4572.
__________________________________________________
MARCH 14 & 15 -- SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE SUMMIT
Learn how to make your business more
sustainable and profitable
· Save money on Operating Costs using Sustainable Techniques
· Build Customer Loyalty through Sustainable Practices
· Enhance Employee Retention
· Use SFCC for Employee Training
· Prepare for Rising Energy Prices
· Identify Benefits of the Sustainable Enterprise Zone
__________________________________________________________________________________
Announcing: The Sustainable Enterprise Zone
The Sustainable Enterprise Zone (SEZ) is locate within the 470 acres of
Oshara Village next to the Santa Fe Community College. The SEZ is
serviced with reclaimed water, multi-model transportation, access to
I-25 interchange and a number of options for high-speed connectivity.
Phase I of the SEZ is approved and under construction with 36,000
square feet of flex commercial available for construction now and 30,000
square feet of class A office space to be available as needed over the
next two years on the Oshara Plaza.
Phase II of the SEZ is in the planning process approved for up to
600,000 square feet of commercial buildings. The information gained
during the Sustainable Enterprise Summit will aid in the design of Phase
II of the SEZ.
________________________________________________________________________
Speakers:
Ken Hughes is a Clean Energy Specialist at the New Mexico's Energy,
Minerals and Natural Resources Department. His 2006 Blueprint for Santa
Fe's sustainability was named by Smart City Radio as "a model for cities
around the world."
Jack Kolkmeyer is the Land Use Administrator and Director of the
Planning and Development Division for Santa Fe County. He will present
an overview of the Community College District and will describe
opportunities for "placemaking and community problem solving."
Robert Griego is Senior Planner for Economic Development, Santa Fe
County. He will present the County's Economic Development program, the
County Community Business Plan and the Santa Fe Regional
Telecommunications Coalition. He will also present plans for the Center
for Community Sustainability at SFCC.
Ellen Veseth is with the New Mexico Office of Science and Technology and
will present and promote New Mexico's incentives and programs for
business.
Robert Haspel is Co-director for Sustainable Communities Inc. (SCI) and
Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI). He will speak about
working with communities to convert liabilities into assets. What to do
with your waste stream and how to make it a net positive for your
business and the community.
Claire Fenton is Assistant Vice President for the Division of Continuing
Education and Customized Training at the Santa Fe Community College
(SFCC) providing workforce development, education and a wide range of
customized training programs. She will cover specific examples of
programs available to the public and private sector.
Robert Gorlow owner of RMGA is the Development Manager for Oshara
Village and a developer of Town Centers and sustainable communities
More information and registration
Please RSVP to Anna Hansen, Director of Community Building, Oshara
Village 505-629-4116
FAX: 505.988.7443, email: Anna at OsharaVillage.com or mail: 4 Willow Back
Road,
Santa Fe, NM 87508
INFO: 505-629-4116
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: March 5th, 2008. Thank you!
_________________________________________________________________
FEBRUARY AND MARCH -- NMSEA ALAMOGORDO CHAPTER EVENTS
New Mexico Solar Energy Association. -- Alamogordo Chapter is scheduled
to do 3 community education programs at NMSU-A this spring.
The Wednesday evening classes are:
Feb 6 &13 Basics of Alterative Energy
Feb 27 & Mar 5 Passive Solar: Housewarming without mechanical systems
Mar 12 & 19 Active Solar Energy & Living off the Grid
More information at http://alamo.nmsu.edu/community/springcourses.cgi
_______________________
APRIL 11,12,13,19, AND 20
HANDS-ON PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) DESIGN AND INSTALLATION CLASS
5-Day Class (Fri-Sat-Sun-Sat-Sun)
Sponsored by New Mexico Solar Energy Association
Next class: April 11-13 & 19-20, 2008, 8am-5pm
Cost: $500.00 per person; NMSEA members - $450
For more information go to http://www.nmsea.org/Workshops/pv_workshop.php
************************************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENTS
_______________________________________________________________________
EARTH DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NMSEA
If you would like to volunteer at an upcoming Earth Day event in your
city please email the NMSEA office at info at nmsea.org
<mailto:info at nmsea.org> and they will put you in touch with the
appropriate person. We need volunteers to help our events run
smoothly. You can help bake solar cookies, explain how solar electric,
heat or hot water works, you can hand out literature or sell
merchandise. You can even do a little of all of that if you are
interested. Volunteers are need for full day or part of a day. Please
email with your contact info, including full name, email address and
phone number. Here are the upcoming Earth Day events that NMSEA will
take part in:
Alamogordo - Saturday, April 26
Los Alamos - Saturday, April 26
Albuquerque - Sunday, April 27 (in Nob Hill, behind the Coop on Silver)
Las Vegas - Saturday, April 26
If none of those dates work for you, but you are still interested in
volunteering there are many more opportunites in the spring as well as
summer. Please email us and we will help find a spot that will work for
you.
_______________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER LEADER NEEDED FOR NMSEA ALBUQUERQUE CHAPTER
The Albuquerque chapter leader has resigned and we need someone to take
over immediately. This opportunity involves setting up and running
chapter presentations meetings (once a month) at a set time and location
(6:30pm, 4th Tuesday each month, REI). You would be responsible for
contacting prospective speakers, coordinating with the chapter media
person to ensure she has the information for advertising the event,
setting up the room at REI and breaking down the room after the event.
If you are organized and detail-oriented, have good people skills and
are interested in sustainability, we are looking for you. This
volunteer position may take you 5-10 hours a month (including the night
of the meeting) depending on your connections and your skills. We will
provide you with a template and speakers are already scheduled for
March, May and June. Please contact Deena Klein at dleeclean at yahoo.com
<mailto:dleeclean at yahoo.com> and put Chapter Leader in the subject heading.
________________________________________________________________________
SOLAR NATION UPDATE
The Congressional energy bill was signed by President Bush in December
WITH CAFE standards, a biofuel (corn ethanol) mandate and some R&D-level
scraps for solar, but WITHOUT a national RPS, investment tax credits for
residential/commercial solar installations or production tax credits for
utility-scale renewables installations.
Congressional leadership tried to add the tax credits into the economic
stimulus package; they passed the House but not the Senate, for the
same reason they were stripped from the energy bill: revenue raising
for the credits was tied to reducing tax advantages enjoyed by oil and
gas companies. The oil and gas industry lobbied hard and
successfully against this, and the cloture vote (cutting off debate and
avoiding a filibuster) failed.
HR5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Act of 2008, has
been introduced, and will be voted on after the Presidents' Day recess.
It contains all those provisions dropped from the first two bills -
ITCs, PTCs, plug-in hybrid vehicle credits, energy efficiency credits,
renewable energy bonds, etc. We're told that Senator Reid moved to
invoke cloture on the Senate energy tax title part of the bill on the
afternoon of Feb. 14th, but we don't know the outcome of that.
Congressional leadership has produced no new tactics or schemes to fund
tax credits, so there was no new initiative to organize around. But we
live in hope. We will be watching the Senate's reaction to the House
vote very carefully, and will fire off an Action Alert if we feel the
playing field has been tilted at all.
In the meantime, don't forget the Climate Change bill. There have been
several proposed in the last year, and the one most likely to be pushed
through is Lieberman-Warner. But the bill has flaws; it doesn't have a
high enough target for emissions reductions and threatens to give away
emissions allowances to polluters. It's going to take concerted effort
by all of us who understand the danger of unmitigated climate change to
build muscle into this vital bill.
Chris Stimpson
Solar Nation Executive Campaigner
chris at solar-nation.org <mailto:chris at solar-nation.org>
www.solar-nation.org
603-925-1004
603-589-2080 (universal)
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