U.S. Congress Passes Landmark Renewable Energy Legislation

Well, not quite yet. But, it will happen if Stefanie Spear and EcoWatch have anything to say about it.

by Paul E McGinniss



One of my eco-idols, Stefanie Spear of the must read EcoWatch, has started a new petition to tell the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to expedite the necessary transition to a renewable energy future.

The petition is directed to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources and House Energy & Commerce Committee and can help serve as a basis for bipartisan legislation that members of Congress can introduce in their committees and ultimately bring to the House and Senate Floors.

Everyone needs to sign this petition and tell our elected officials that now is the time to develop an effective federal renewable energy policy.

To sign the petition, click here.

If your organization is interested in endorsing this petition, email Stefanie at spear@ecowatch.org.

Copyright Paul E McGinniss 2012

Tsunami of Greenwashing: Petrochemical Industry Backs American High-Performance Buildings Coalition

by Paul E McGinniss

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, fourteen billion pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is produced each year in North America. But, because of the toxins involved in manufacturing, using and disposing of it, it is a health and environmental sustainability disaster. Pic by Danielle Bonardelle from Fotolia.com via ehow.com

Talk about hiding in plain sight. An alliance of petrochemical product front groups, including the Vinyl Siding Institute and related industry alliances such as The American Chemistry Council, have at long last decided to embrace green building! NOT.

Among the many "pro environmental" groups to join the coalition, one has a particularly impressive and illustrious history of supporting renewable energy and sustainable building: the trade group American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. (AFPM). NOT

AFPM describes itself as "a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life."

Yes, we are reminded constantly that fossil fuels are vital right here, right now. But, do we have to rely on them forever?

As usual, the folks at BuildingGreen are on top of the story. In an article about the High- Performance Building Association called "The New Anti-LEED", Tristan Roberts, editor at large for BuildingGreen, reports: "The American Chemical Council (ACC) has opened a new front on its war with LEED and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - one with similarities to greenwash tactics we have seen before."

Lloyd Alter of TreeHugger wrote: "What Are The Plastic People So Afraid Of That They Want To Kill LEED?"

I'm not necessarily the most enthusiastic USGBC flag waver as there are other exciting green building programs and groups like Passive House Institute to also pay attention to and learn from. There's also the excellent International Living Future Institute (which actually cooperates with USGBC and LEED.)

But, hey, thanks American High-Performance Building Coalition. Fillerup! Next time I want to get high on VOCs and clad my house in that super eco-friendly insulation, Vinyl Siding, I'll check out what you are up to!

Nothing like having a fox protecting the chickens in the henhouse.

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2012

Artists Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon Launch Artists Against Fracking

By Paul E McGinniss

The anti-fracking movement got a huge boost yesterday when Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon
launched the website Artists Against Fracking on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and performed their new environmental protest song—Don’t Frack My Mother.

After hearing about plans to drill near their home in New York, Ono and Lennon gained the support of actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore, musicians such as Lady Gaga and other celebrities like spiritual guru Deepak Chopra and author Salman Rushdie.

Yoko Ono & Josh Fox in Reykjavik for the 2010 LennonOno Grant for Peace ceremony.

Yoko has been a huge advocate to stop fracking and in 2010 awarded New York filmmaker activist Josh Fox of "Gasland" fame The LennonOno Grant for Peace. The LennonOno Grant for Peace was created to honor Yoko Ono Lennon’s late husband, John, and his dedication to peace and commitment to the preservation of human rights.

I am happy to report that The Town Of Rochester in Ulster County, New York, where I live, has put a moratorium on fracking and is set to ban it permanently. Many other townships in Ulster County are making efforts to ban fracking as are many other local municipalities throughout New York State.

All this anti-fracking advocacy goes to show you that coordinated local, regional and national advocacy has a real impact on our collective future.

Check out the video below of Yoko & Sean Lennon on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon".


Double Click Above to Watch Full Screen

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2012

Via EcoWatch. Thanks Stefanie Spear and EcoWatch.