Staunton Green 2020

Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is now accepting applications for Fellows.

Here’s more info on the program:

VNRLI is changing the way people make environmental decisions in the Commonwealth by helping Virginians take on the most challenging, costly and divisive local, regional and state environmental and land use issues through collaborative problem solving – reaching beyond common ground to “higher ground.” Our graduate Fellows – numbering over 250 – are working professionals in industry, small and independent businesses, local, state and federal government, educational institutions, and environmental, civic and non-profit organizations.

We are accepting applications for the 2010-2011 session workshops: six three-day learning experiences that we offer approximately two months apart – starting in September 2010 and ending in June 2011. The sessions usually start at mid-day on a Wednesday and end by mid-day on Friday. We offer each session in a different location in Virginia and focus on a set of natural resource issues of interest to citizens there. However, the underlying Institute theme across all sessions is to develop leaders who can help groups involved in contentious natural resources issues move beyond conflict toward consensus building and collaborative problem solving.

The VNRLI program grew out of a strong partnership between the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Forestry and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Our alumni are involved in collaborative efforts in local, state and federal government, business and the nonprofit sector. They tell us that the VNRLI experience has helped them have the confidence and skill to get involved in resolving conflict in their work. They also report that the VNRLI experience has enhanced their careers and fostered new opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a VNRLI Fellow, please visit our website:

http://www.virginia.edu/ien/vnrli/index.html

For your enjoyment, we’re doing a brief re-cap on this week’s switchgrass event. Our guests were kind enough to share their presentation slides.

Bobby Whitescarver, District Conservationist from Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation kicked things off with this presentation. In it,

Slides 4-7 – you’ll see photos of switchgrass, a warm season grass (wsg), grown on local farms.

Slide 8 – switchgrass being burned and used as a heat source

Slide 9 – here, heating a chicken coop

Slide 10 – This 60-foot border will be planted with switchgrass for wildlife benefits. (For quail and other endangered Virginia birds.)

Slide 11 – Indian grass (native and beautiful)

Slide 12 – A controlled burn – used every few years to reinvigorate switchgrass production.

What stands out for you from his presentation?

A big thanks to our panel – and all the attendees – for coming out to the SG2020 event, “Switching to Grass in Staunton and Augusta County” last night.

Please comment here if you have questions you’d like to pass along to our panel of experts, and, what you thought.

We’re planning more events that capture the Staunton Green 2020 mission to build community partnerships that through education, research and collaboration:

~ Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions

~ Increase renewable energy

~ Generate Green jobs

~ Preserve green space

~ Facilitate sustainable community development

Also, thanks to Mary Baldwin College for hosting. See you at our next event:

Dirt, The Movie
Thur. Mar. 18 @ 7pm

• Mockingbird Restaurant – Downtown Staunton (doors open at 5:30pm for delicious dinner)
• A free, fast-paced film about the threatened life sustaining soil on which we depend
• Co-sponsored by Transition Staunton Augusta & Valley Conservation Council

Did you know much of Virginia’s fresh water originates right here?

A new group, Friends of the Middle River has formed to “promote clean water and improve the health of the aquatic ecosystem in the Middle River Watershed of the Shenandoah – Potomac River System.” Find the Friends of the Middle River website here, or join their Facebook page.

Staunton and area residents are lucky to have neighbors who are committed to improving our waterways. Here’s a listing of projects completed in recent years.

Are you eligible for an energy efficiency rebate?

The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME), Division of Energy will provide up to $15 million in rebates for energy efficiency measures and equipment to retrofit homes and commercial property, and up to $15 million in rebates for renewable energy equipment and systems for residential and commercial applications.

An online form to request a conditional reservation of funds is available here:
http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml

Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. A two-step process will be used to allocate the money. First, applicants will request a conditional reservation of funds. When a reservation is confirmed, funds will be set aside while the applicant is allowed up to 180 days to complete work. The second part of the rebate process requires the applicant who successfully reserved funds to provide documentation of costs and compliance with all program requirements in order to receive a rebate check.

Questions about the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program should be directed to the following email address: FAQefficient -AT- dmme.virginia.gov

Questions will be answered by DMME and posted to a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the website, here:
http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml

Don’t forget: there is also money available to those who qualify to weatherize of your home. If you don’t qualify for either of these programs, please tell someone who may…

Reminder: November 3rd is election day! Make your voice heard in Staunton and in Virginia’s 20th District.

Take some time between now and Tuesday to study the local ballot—and then go use your vote to help decide how you want our community improve our environment! Links to official websites below.

Dickie Bell (R)
Erik Curren (D)

SG2020 remains non-partisan.
(Disclosure: SG2020 was co-founded by Erik Curren as a private citizen.)

As cold weather approaches you might be wondering if you can afford to do some weatherization upgrades around your home or apartment.

Thankfully, the state of Virginia (through the U.S. Department of Energy) offers a range of grants to make energy-efficient improvements to those with low- to moderate-level incomes. Do you qualify?

Here are the links you’ll need to get started.

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development – Weatherization FAQs. It details the kind of work the grants cover, such as

• Sealing air leaks with insulation, caulking, and weather-stripping;
• Installation of ventilation fans;
• Repairing drafty duct systems;
• Repairing and replacing inefficient or unsafe heating and cooling systems; and
• Installation of energy efficient lighting

Download the PDF with income requirements here.

Staunton residents will need to make arrangements through the office of Community Energy Conservation Program, 1819 Broadway, Charlottesville, VA 22902 [they also cover: Counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Fluvanna,
Greene, Highland, Louisa, Nelson and Rockingham; Cities of Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Waynesboro].

Contact: Linda Rayner
Phone: (434) 293-3777
E-mail: lrcecp-AT-aol.com (Add an @ symbol in place of -AT- when emailing)

Did you know? Virginia has the highest percentage of U.S. vanity license plates. Soon, vegetarians and vegans can join the ranks of specialty Virginia plates. If enough people reserve the “veggie plate” by November 30th, it will happen. The proposed plate design is below. Here’s how to get yours.

What does this have to do with SG2020’s goals?

Dietary choices are highly personal. Reducing your meat consumption helps reduce carbon emissions because conventional factory farming is so resource intensive. Choosing to abstain from meat just one day a week (e.g. “Meatless Mondays”) can save you money and be good for your health, too.

If you can’t imagine giving up meat entirely a better option is to buy locally-raised and locally-slaughtered meat. This meat production requires less transportation than meat from the supermarket chain and raised more humanely. Two local options are Polyface Farms and T&E Meats.

Honk if you’re eating for the planet!

(Disclosure: I am co-owner of  George Bowers Grocery, a local retail outlet for Polyface and T&E meats. I’m also a longtime vegetarian!)

proposed Virginia Vegetarian license plate

Staunton Green 2020 remains non-partisan.  We encourages discussion and participation from all residents and all viewpoints.

Do you have questions regarding good jobs for the Valley? Green jobs for the Valley? If so, you must come to the Staunton Public Library tomorrow night at 7pm.

SG2020 co-founder, Erik Curren, is currently running for Virginia’s 20th District.  Come and hear Erik unveil his plan, “Good Jobs for the Valley”.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend.

FREE! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC…RSVP by September 28:

The second meeting of the Virginia 25x’25 State Alliance will be held on the campus of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on Tuesday, October 6th. Please share this with others whom you think may be interested in attending on October 6. This session will begin at 2 PM and be held in Moody Hall.

We have organized this meeting to be held prior to the Commonwealth of Virginia Energy Symposium (COVES) to help maximize travel and facilitate new connections across Virginia. Please visit: www.vmi.edu/coves for more information on COVES and to register for the event. A panel is being coordinated to focus on 25x’25 in Virginia as a part of COVES and will be held on October 8th.

I hope you will be able to join us in Lexington on October 6. Please RSVP to Ryan Cornett (cornetrp AT jmu.edu) by September 28.

Virginia Energy Work Session