Wednesday, September 17, 2008
2009 Hudson/Fulton Quadricentenial
The Town of Esopus has just received 5,000 tulips from the Ulster County Tourism Department. These were FREE...but we will need volunteers to help plant them the third week in October. What could be better for Town than to see all that color next Spring, and to remind us that nature has great gifts to give us. Help us celebrate the discovery of the Hudson River...contact me or Laura Petit to sign up to help.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Summary of New State Net-Metering Law
The Department of Energy publicized NY's new net-metering laws, which may be relevant for the town hall and other town buildings. Below are the most relevant portions. The rest is available here.
New York Governor David Paterson signed a legislative package on August 5 that will encourage people throughout the state to install grid-connected solar and wind power systems, systems that generate power from farm wastes, and green roofs. Most of the bills relate to net metering, which allows homeowners and businesses to earn credit for any excess power that they feed back into the electric grid. Senate Bill 7171 expands net metering to include non-residential solar power systems up to 2 megawatts in capacity, or equal in size to the customer's peak load, whichever is less, and increases the maximum solar power system size for residential customers to 25 kilowatts, up from 10 kilowatts. The bill also attempted to increase the limit for farm-based anaerobic digesters to 1 megawatt, but a separate bill, S. 8415, knocked the limit down to 500 kilowatts, which is still an improvement over the previous limit of 400 kilowatts. S. 7171 also requires each utility to develop a model contract and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions for net metering of non-residential customers, and to develop safety standards for interconnecting these customers. It also includes a requirement for an external disconnect switch, which is rarely needed for modern grid connection equipment.
New York Governor David Paterson signed a legislative package on August 5 that will encourage people throughout the state to install grid-connected solar and wind power systems, systems that generate power from farm wastes, and green roofs. Most of the bills relate to net metering, which allows homeowners and businesses to earn credit for any excess power that they feed back into the electric grid. Senate Bill 7171 expands net metering to include non-residential solar power systems up to 2 megawatts in capacity, or equal in size to the customer's peak load, whichever is less, and increases the maximum solar power system size for residential customers to 25 kilowatts, up from 10 kilowatts. The bill also attempted to increase the limit for farm-based anaerobic digesters to 1 megawatt, but a separate bill, S. 8415, knocked the limit down to 500 kilowatts, which is still an improvement over the previous limit of 400 kilowatts. S. 7171 also requires each utility to develop a model contract and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions for net metering of non-residential customers, and to develop safety standards for interconnecting these customers. It also includes a requirement for an external disconnect switch, which is rarely needed for modern grid connection equipment.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Main Street Grant for Port Ewen
Good news for Port Ewen that I wanted to share. The way I see it, a healthy "downtown" Port Ewen will promote sustainability in the town as a whole. This is the text of a flier you may see around town:
Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is proud to announce the award of a $200,000 New York Main Street grant for the hamlet of Port Ewen
The funds will be available in the coming year, so we must get prepared to take advantage of this opportunity now. The work will focus on a concentrated target area on Broadway from the old Riverview Restaurant to the old Library Building.
Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is a group of citizens representing a large segment of the hamlet's population. We have been working for two years to build upon the enhancement of our Broadway corridor. We believe the New York Main Streets grant program is a great beginning towards the renewal of our beautiful hamlet.
The following three types of activities are eligible for funding:
• Façade Renovation - Matching grants of up to $10,000 per building. The grant for Port Ewen has $150,000 in funds available for Façade Renovation.
• Building Renovation - Matching grants of up to $50,000 per building for renovation of commercial/ civic space on first floor and residential units above. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 in funds available for Building Renovations on 5 residential units.
• Streetscape Enhancement - Since the NYS DOT has included trees and other can help us provide appropriate signs in accordance with a local signage plan, banners and other enhancements. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 available for streetscape enhancements.
To learn more about this grant opportunity, please attend our next meeting at the
Town of Esopus Library Monday, August, 25th at 6:30 pm
Please plan to attend if you operate a business, own a building in the target area, or wish to lean more about how we are planning to improve our hamlet in the years to come. For more information contact Loisingellis@hotmail.com
Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is proud to announce the award of a $200,000 New York Main Street grant for the hamlet of Port Ewen
The funds will be available in the coming year, so we must get prepared to take advantage of this opportunity now. The work will focus on a concentrated target area on Broadway from the old Riverview Restaurant to the old Library Building.
Promoting Pride in Port Ewen is a group of citizens representing a large segment of the hamlet's population. We have been working for two years to build upon the enhancement of our Broadway corridor. We believe the New York Main Streets grant program is a great beginning towards the renewal of our beautiful hamlet.
The following three types of activities are eligible for funding:
• Façade Renovation - Matching grants of up to $10,000 per building. The grant for Port Ewen has $150,000 in funds available for Façade Renovation.
• Building Renovation - Matching grants of up to $50,000 per building for renovation of commercial/ civic space on first floor and residential units above. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 in funds available for Building Renovations on 5 residential units.
• Streetscape Enhancement - Since the NYS DOT has included trees and other can help us provide appropriate signs in accordance with a local signage plan, banners and other enhancements. The grant for Port Ewen has $25,000 available for streetscape enhancements.
To learn more about this grant opportunity, please attend our next meeting at the
Town of Esopus Library Monday, August, 25th at 6:30 pm
Please plan to attend if you operate a business, own a building in the target area, or wish to lean more about how we are planning to improve our hamlet in the years to come. For more information contact Loisingellis@hotmail.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
CFL, battery and electronics recylcing
As a follow up to Daves Blog on 7/16, Waste Management has just launched ThinkGreenFromHome.com, a streamlined online service for the recycling of universal household waste, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), batteries, and eventually other household electronics. ThinkGreenFromHome.com offers consumers convenient mail-in solutions to safely store and recycle heavy metal containing household devices, as well as resources to encourage household sustainability.
Website: http://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com
Emily
Website: http://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com
Emily
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
PCBs in Port Ewen water?
I just saw this in the news today. State Department of Health is apparently testing drinking water supplies up and down the Hudson to get baseline data before the dredging of PCBs from the upper Hudson begins next year. Low-level PCBs were found in Port Ewen's drinking water, as well as in most of the other community supplies that draw from the Hudson (I don't see Highland or Hyde Park on the list, which is odd, since Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck are also there, and presumably would be using the same treatment and drawing from the same general spots in the river). The concentration of PCBs detected is within federal drinking water quality standards, so presumably not something to worry about... Though I'd prefer PCB-free drinking water, myself.
When I was writing about the PCB issue for the Poughkeepsie Journal, I was always told by water treatment officials that PCBs could be detected in raw water, but that they were generally removed during filtration. It's not that there's a specific process that removes them chemically, but because they tend to adhere to sediment and sediment is removed, the finished drinking water tends to be PCB-free. The news story says the PCBs were found in "drinking water" which I would interpret as finished treated water, but it's a point I'd like clarified.
When I was writing about the PCB issue for the Poughkeepsie Journal, I was always told by water treatment officials that PCBs could be detected in raw water, but that they were generally removed during filtration. It's not that there's a specific process that removes them chemically, but because they tend to adhere to sediment and sediment is removed, the finished drinking water tends to be PCB-free. The news story says the PCBs were found in "drinking water" which I would interpret as finished treated water, but it's a point I'd like clarified.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Green Best Practices for Local Governments
Here's a link to the NYS comptroller report Andy mentioned in the meeting.
Green Best Practices: How Local Governments can Reduce Energy Cost and Minimize Impact on Climate Change.
(This links to a Press Release. The report itself is a pdf, and there's a link on the page to download it. Here's the pdf.)
Quick read shows a lot of what we know: Efficiency is the first step, and second is producing your own alternative power. Some potential action items for us to explore - water and wastewater submetering, and peak load management.
Green Best Practices: How Local Governments can Reduce Energy Cost and Minimize Impact on Climate Change.
(This links to a Press Release. The report itself is a pdf, and there's a link on the page to download it. Here's the pdf.)
Quick read shows a lot of what we know: Efficiency is the first step, and second is producing your own alternative power. Some potential action items for us to explore - water and wastewater submetering, and peak load management.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
cfl cleanup
Attached is a link to the EPA page on cleaning up after a cfl breaks. As you can read, they (and we should) take this very seriously. I think the public desperately needs to be informed of the dangers of spreading mercury around their homes before it is too late. (think lead paint) The last time I was in Lowes in Lloyd there were broken cfls in at least two locations around the store. Perhaps it is time to reconsider the home improvement store as a fun place to take my children.
Dave
www.epa.gov/hg/spills/index.htm#fluorescent
Dave
www.epa.gov/hg/spills/index.htm#fluorescent
Sunday, June 22, 2008
6/22/08: Water chestnut pull
Sunday, June 22, 200810 AM to1 PM
George Freer Beach Park
Canal Street, Port Ewen
Volunteers Needed!
Please join in to help make our riverfront more navigable and clear this invasive, non-native plant!
You will need to wade into the river to pull these pesky plants.
Sturdy sneakers, long sleeved shirts, long pants and work gloves are a MUST.
Under 18 must be closely supervised by their parents.
No Rain date has been scheduled
Do you like being on the water? Don't mind getting your hands wet? Want to help rid the Hudson of bad neighbors, and regain access to the river? No, not people, we're talking about water chestnuts. We need help pulling these weeds from the water where they grow uncontrollably and choke out other plant and aquatic life. Remember to bring sturdy sneakers, long pants, and gloves. Refreshments donated by local businesses are available to all volunteers.
---------------------------------------------------------
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Volunteers Needed!
Please join in to help make our riverfront more navigable and clear this invasive, non-native plant!
You will need to wade into the river to pull these pesky plants.
Sturdy sneakers, long sleeved shirts, long pants and work gloves are a MUST.
Under 18 must be closely supervised by their parents.
No Rain date has been scheduled
Do you like being on the water? Don't mind getting your hands wet? Want to help rid the Hudson of bad neighbors, and regain access to the river? No, not people, we're talking about water chestnuts. We need help pulling these weeds from the water where they grow uncontrollably and choke out other plant and aquatic life. Remember to bring sturdy sneakers, long pants, and gloves. Refreshments donated by local businesses are available to all volunteers.
---------------------------------------------------------
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
INGREDIENTS
1 pound bacon
Water chestnuts, cleaned and dry
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons dill pickle relish
1/2 cup ketchup
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Wrap single pieces of bacon around individual water chestnuts, securing with a toothpick.
Place the wrapped water chestnuts on a large baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. Remove from heat and drain.
In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, white sugar, dill pickle relish and ketchup. Pour the mixture over the wrapped water chestnuts.
Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly.
1 pound bacon
Water chestnuts, cleaned and dry
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons dill pickle relish
1/2 cup ketchup
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Wrap single pieces of bacon around individual water chestnuts, securing with a toothpick.
Place the wrapped water chestnuts on a large baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. Remove from heat and drain.
In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, white sugar, dill pickle relish and ketchup. Pour the mixture over the wrapped water chestnuts.
Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes, or until the sauce is hot and bubbly.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
6/11/08: Go Green, Live Rich book discussion in Kingston
Go Green, Live Rich by David BachWednesday, June 11, 7 PM
Barnes and Noble, Route 9W, Kingston
Join Holly Anne Shelowitz, Certified Nutrition Counselor, as she leads this lively discussion about what "going green" can mean for you, how to eat local food and what that means, support your community, be healthier, and save money at the same time. Go to Nourishing Wisdom to learn more.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
6/10/08: John Burroughs lecture in Kingston
Tuesday, June 10, 7 PM
Hudson River Maritime Museum
50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
HRMM Lecture Series:
John Burroughs and the Hudson River
Dr. Stephen M. Mercier, Marist College English Dept.
Admission:
Hudson River Maritime Museum
50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
HRMM Lecture Series:
John Burroughs and the Hudson River
Dr. Stephen M. Mercier, Marist College English Dept.
Admission:
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