Ecomunicipality.com

I've got wind on my mind.

It may be because I am in process of being certified as a wind-site assessor through the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.  It may be because of the recent proposals by T. Boone Pickens and Al Gore, to turn America into the kingpin of wind.  It may be because I am looking carefully at where and how I can harvest wind from my own modest homestead in Wisconsin.

Or, it may be because there are articles like this popping up all over the media these days. 

What a week.

First, T. Boone Pickens, the Texas oil man, comes out and basically says he's going "all in" in investing in wind energy and renewables throughout the Midwest.

Then, Al Gore, former Vice-President and creator of An Inconvenient Truth, comes out with a speech detailing the imperative nature of transitioning to renewable energies--and fast.

Gore's plan calls for going to 100% renewable energy electrical generation in the next decade. While this is an aggressive goal, perhaps even aspirational, there are a lot of people in the know who believe it can be achieved--but only if America gets the kind of leadership that summons the national will to act, much like JFK did in getting a man on the moon in the 1960s

Let's start by admitting that a human being on a bicycle is as close to mechanical perfection as we are ever likely to get.  Zero emissions, maximum energy efficiency, appropriate design, few mobility or parking issues, easily repaired by simple tools and technology, free exercise, good for the brain--you just don't get much better than a human on a bicycle.

So, the trick becomes how to maximize the possibilities for biking while not pissing off people who still cling to their carbon-emitting, fossil fuel chugging, unsustainably wrong paradigm believing vehicle owners.  Of which, because I do own a car, I also include myself.

Where to start?

Minneapolis is already the second most bike-friendly city in the country, after Portland, Oregon.  And, by the look of recent policy initiatives, they may have their eyes on taking over the top spot.

James Hansen is widely considered the pre-eminent scientist when it comes to understanding the potential for global climate change and human contributions to the problem.

He recently presented testimony to Congress on the 20th anniversary of his initial insights into the reality that climate change was likely underway in 1988.

I give you Dr. James Hansen of NASA:

The price of oil continues to spiral, and sadly, as high as gasoline goes there are always people lined up and ready to pay whatever for a fill.

Is that the definition of dependency? I think it is.

So, what's the end game here? $8 a gallon gas? $10 a gallon? And, at what point do people ditch their dependency on dead dinosaurs and do something else?

Here's one scenario, from Jeff Rubin. He foresees a continued escalation of gas prices despite the loss of as many as 10 million cars from America's roads in the next four years. Those of us that follow such things understand that for every car taken off the road in the United States, another 2 or 3 will the pavement in China and India. So, no great hope that eventually we will reach market stabilization.

And, how long will it take for America to build a new transportation infrastructure built around expensive energy? A very long time, so the transition could be rough. Hell, it's rough now.

We all know the story (or should): post World War II, lots of baby-boom families getting started, Leavittown, New York, cheap land, cookie-cutter homes, safe sub-divisions, a lot of road-building, new schools, new municipal governments. A whole new American Dream with profits galore.

Welcome to America's suburb. Land of enchantment, of dreams, of the perfect American experience. Clean. Ordered. Safe. Affluent.

I've never had the pleasure to live in one, though I did, as a teacher, work in one for a decade.

Well, the suburb has come in for a lot of criticism over the last several decades. From the atomizing effects of its single unit, single lot, single family approach to housing, to its consumption of massive amounts of land and habitat, to its wasteful dependence upon fossil fuel as a premise for its existence.

Now the question becomes is the suburb a thing of the past? New studies and new thinking suggest that it is.

Wisconsin is one of the leaders in the United States when it comes to municipal action to fight global climate change. There have been 16 communities, at last count, to stand up and take a stand by declaring themselves ecomunicipalities.

Hopefully, Amery will be the 17th next month when the resolution below goes before the city council. I am publishing this on the Web so that other individuals and communities can begin, or complete, the process of introducing their own resolutions. Steal as much or as little as you want.

Or, leave some comments and feedback. This is an open-source website afterall, with over 30 members, so presumably, there are minds out there ready and willing to engage.

 
(Apologies about the formatting;  not sure why it won't paste in decently.)

Yes, you read that right. 

TV is going green.  Well, at least one channel anyway.  Find the story and some examples of shows here. 

I don't watch TV much myself, but since other people do, I think this is a great idea.  

One thing for sure, there is tremendous communicative potential in this country, given the media empires that have arisen.  We can communicate with each other effectively, through radio, TV, movies, phones, the Internet.

We have more ways than ever to say "Hi" or to deliver information that will save someone's life.

But, will we actually use all this communicative potential for something as invaluable as saving the planet?  

Not sure.  Up to this point, media and communicative devices have been more about making money and spreading the kind of standard thinking that has gotten us into this mess.

Part of what is happening in the sustainability movement, as we speak, is a general thrashing about for the right language and concepts, or at least, common and effective ones, that will move us forward--LEAD US-- toward smaller carbon footprints.

Already the terms and concepts have evolved quite a bit in the last couple years, to the point where we sometimes step on each other trying to do the right thing.

I bring this up in regard to a couple terms listed in the title--all of which can be pronounced "leed" in common speech, though LED is most often called L-E-D.

Time to start getting more specific and tangible in the ecomunicipality movement.

One of the first things any village, town or city can do is to declare themselves an ecomunicipality.    To do this, the governing entity of that municipality simply passes a resolution stating in plain English what their principles are.  Not a big deal perhaps, but it does help on several levels.

First, it establishes the values and intention of that municipality to be part of the solution, rather than the problem when it comes to fossil-fuel and heavy metals consumption, as well as trying to do something positive for that area's natural resources. 

Second, it is the first step in a multi-step process designed to accomplish the goals  of The Natural Step program.  In case you have forgotten, here they are: