350 LTE

Welcome to the 350 MA Letters-to-the-Editor team. We're glad you joined. Here's a link to a short slideshow that gives you a high-level view of what we do: http://bit.ly/350ma-lte-slides And here's the link to our "user guide" document: http://bit.ly/350-LTE-Team Please take a quick look and let us know if you have more questions. Fred Hewett, Larry Rosenberg, Mary Memmott fred.hewett@gmail.com larry.rosenberg@gmail.com memmottm@gmail.com

RPS Rally 9/19/17

   Note: RPS = (Renewable Portfolio Standard)

   On Tuesday, September 19, I attended a rally for the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). I learned about the event from an organizer at 350 Mass.org, Andy Gordon. I am a member of 350 Northshore. My plan was to go to the hearings for House bill 2700 on RPS and the $15 per hour wage. I thought this would be a good way to show my support and maybe interview people. I never got into either hearing because the rooms were too small. There must have been over 150 people there for each meeting. Many people were in the hallway talking.

   In case you are wondering, the Renewable Portfolio Standard requires utility companies to buy electricity from clean energy at a steadily increasing amount. Right now, that total increases by 1% every year. To ensure that the state gets to 100% renewable energy by 2050, the rate of increase must change to 3% increase every year.

   At 11:45 AM about 100 people from over a dozen groups gathered for a group photo on the State House steps. (See picture) Before and after the photo was taken, I interviewed people from around the state.

   On the $15 per hour wage increase, I spoke with the co-owner of Fresh Food Generation in Dorchester, Jason Renshaw. He supports the $15 dollar hourly wage because he needs workers who can work hard and solve problems. A living wage will help make that a reality.

  The rest of the time, I spent talking with people about RPS, the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Stephen Malagodi, from Lowell 350.org, wanted to see more than a 3% increase per year. Originally, from Miami, he has seen first hand how the climate is changing and the damage it is causing.

   Lucy Robinson, a member of Climate Action Now, would like the state retirement funds to reduce their investment in fossil fuels. Connie Gurfinkle, a Hull member of 350.org, said a rally is a good way to show support.

   Emily Norton, Sierra Club, Massachusetts Chapter Director, would like to see 50% renewables by 2030. New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island are making good progress. As State Director for Environment Massachusetts, Ben Hellerstein, supports persistent efforts.

   Andy Bean from Community Choice Energy for Boston, likes the idea of cities determining what type of energy sources they use. Jack Spense, a 350 member from Brookline thinks we need to shift investments away from pipelines and toward renewables. Alan Palm, 350 Belmont, recommends more climate education.

  Cassie Coveney, Salem State University Student and member of MASSPIRG, came to the event to do what she could to fight climate change. Jim Mulloy, a member of 350 Northshore, summed it up saying "Let's fix the climate!"

   At 2 PM, I was waiting in line, and no one was coming out. I went across the street to a place called Fill-a-buster. What a great name. I had a coffee. The broiled chicken lunch for $7.50 looked huge. I walked down the hill towards the Aquarium Blue Line station. Along the way I discovered, the Boston Public Market. The free sample of chocolate croissant was delicious. All in all, it was a pretty good day.

April 28 class, solar, Forecasting Solar Energy Costs

Title: Forecasting Solar Energy Costs Using Moores Law

Solar energy could get real cheap. Not a good time to own a coal plant. From this rough forecast it looks like fossil fired power generation is not going to be cost effective much longer.

Wikipedia: Moore's law integrated circuit (density) doubles approximately every two years. 

Forbes, Oct 8, 2015, Wind And Solar Energy Technologies Eat Into Fossil Fuel Power's Business Plan by Mike Scott 

in UK and Germany cost is $106/MWh for coal. $122 for solar. 

Using Moore's Law I made a crude forecast for solar energy costs. Should we moth ball some fossil fuel plants?

Tags: Solar Energy, Climate Change, Fossil Fuel, Electricity, sustainability

I plan to look at solutions --

1 - the UN Agreement at COP21  - Obama just sighed it this week!?!

2 - Ethical Eating from Cowspircy and UUA website;

3 - Nuclear Breeder reactors - 'Pandora's Promise.'

see you thursdayl

In 2015 COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

Forbes, Oct 8, 2015, Wind And Solar Energy Technologies Eat Into Fossil Fuel Power's Business Plan by Mike Scott 

in UK and Germany cost is $106/MWh for coal. $122 for solar. 

Wikipedia Moore's law integrated circuit (density) doubles approximately every two years. 

350 MA NS news

L...
Apr 22 (2 days ago)

Happy Earth Day! Since ... is away I'm sending this update to you. At our next node meeting on May 3rd, we can discuss the recent Kinder Morgan announcement of the NED (Northeast Direct) pipeline suspension. However, since KM has not withdrawn their application from FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), that pipeline is still in play and, if reconfigured, could be revived. We also still face (1) a $5-8 Billion tax/tariff for any new gas infrastructure, (2) all the climate and safety risks of Spectra and KM pipelines, compressor stations, etc. to transport gas through our region primarily for export and (3) insufficient support from elected officials for green energy strategies such as solar, wind, divestment and carbon pricing.
So, to continue to work together to move away from fossil fuels towards a better clean energy future, below is our upcoming schedule. Events in bold are sponsored by our node...& will need your support!

·       Sat. 4/23 (9-2) W. Roxbury service and NVDA (nonviolent direct action) to stop Spectra (still 2 open spaces for carpool; call me 978/979-3686)
·       Sun. 4/24 (12:30-1:30) Congressman Moulton in Essex at Essex Sr. Ctr.
·       Tues. 5/3 (1-5) Statehouse Hearing on Global Warming Solutions Act & Pipelines (11:30 for grassroots celebration & lobbying)
·       Tues. 5/3 (6:30-8:30) 350MA NS NODE MONTHLY MEETING @Beverly Farms Library
·       Thurs. 5/5 (9AM prompt) Supreme Judicial Court hearing on legality of taking conservation land for pipelines, etc. @ John Adams Court House, Boston
·       Fri. 5/6 (11-11:15) NODE REPS. MEET CONGRESSMAN MOULTON @ his Salem office
·       Fri. 5/6 (6PM) "Merchants of Doubt" screening & Moulton Q&A@NPS Visitor Ctr., 2 Liberty St., Salem
·       Sat. 5/7 “Stop Spectra” NVDA @Burrville, RI
·       Tues. 5/10 (7:30-9AM) Moulton hosts NS Chamber of Commerce coffee at his Salem office, free or $20/non-members, pre-registration required
·       Tues. 5/10 (6:30PM) 350MA ENERGY AT THE CROSSROADS’ FORUM, Ryal Side Community Ctr., Beverly
·       Thurs. 5/12 (4PM) North Shore INTERFAITH ENERGY INFORMATION MEETING by 350MA NS & St. Andrews Episcopalian @St. Andrews, Marblehead
·       Fri & Sat. 5/13 & 14: 350.org "Break Free From Fossil Fuel" NVDA Events in Albany, NY (buses & carpooling available)
·       Tues. 5/17 (6PM) N2N & 350MA LYNN ENERGY FORUM, Lynn City Hall
·       Sat., 6/4 or other date pre or post, 350MA "Distributed Action" against Baker's gas pipeline tax/tariff

350 North Shore Node, Meeting Notes - April 5, 2016, By Steven

350 North Shore Node, Meeting Notes - April 5, 2016, By Steven Levy

Please make corrections. This was my first meeting.

Location: Beverly Farms Library, Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Meeting started at 6:30 PM. Several people came in after the meeting started.

Attendees: Andy Gordon, Charlette Kahn, Charlie Perez, Fern MacDougal, Fred Hopps, Carolyn Britt (meeting leader), Herb Brown, Jay Gustaferro, Joy Gurrie, Maxine Taymore, Steven Levy (note taker), Terry Hall, Tom Gale,

Reading and approval of minutes - None

Announcements - none

Reports of officers, boards and standing committees - none

Old Business - From Agenda

(Text from meeting agenda is underlined)

1) Review of agenda and any additions – identify note-taker and facilitator

We should do updates electronically.

2) Update on Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline issues – 30 minutes

          DPU hearings – ACTION: organize attendance: April 6th there is a meeting in Lynnfield at the middle school.

          Article 97 happenings: Is for pipeline use. Kinder Morgan is suing the state. The outcome will effect public lands.

          Tariff

          ACTION: Submitting comments to Moultons web page: Survey is open ended. It would be nice to see the results.

3) Meeting with Moulton??!! – ACTION: Put together team to attend and items to be discussed -15 minutes: Is 15 minutes enough? The meeting is May 6th at 10:30 AM.

4) Attendance at Merchants of Doubt Showing in Salem on 4/22 with Moulton present – ACTION: Identify who will attend - 5 minutes.

Will Rep. Moulton be there? This is a movie about methodical corporate banding, distortion, obfuscation, and misrepresentation. http://www.commondreams.org/ is a good source for ideas. NS Chamber of commerce is pro pipeline. Markey is

5) Lynn follow-up meeting on water supply – ACTION: identify team to plan meeting, set up meeting – 10 minutes. No date has been set for water supply discussion, water shed implications, pesticide objections.

6) Pipeline tariff memes for Governor Baker – ACTION: Prepare memes -20 minutes. Prepare memes and take photos. Attendees completed the statement "I'd rather pay for". Then pictures were taken with each person and their sign.

7) Update on other legislation – solar, energy bill (Andy) – 10 minutes. Net metering is now at 3% which is higher than the 2% which was expected. There was a 40% reduction for commercial installations. Residential, municipalities and small business was not affected. The tariff on electric bills would pay for the pipeline. 47 out of 160 representatives rejected tariff. Representative Lori Ehrlich. was one of the 47. Voters in her district should say thanks.

8) 350MA Campaign Summit – Worcester, April 16 –10 minutes  ACTION- develop attendance list from North Shore Node: Five people can go.

9) North Shore Node Organizational Issues, (see notes to be sent later, including Rapid Response Legislative Team) ACTION: Review items, identify changes, identify next organizational topics for discussion -  15 minutes  Next meetings on May 3rd and June 7th at the Beverly Farms Library. There may be smaller sub meetings. Time and Place: TBD. We need a steering team of about three people. The team would set the agenda for the next meetings.

New business

1) Fern MacDougal talked about FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas. There are events planned to oppose a natural gas plant in Burrillville, RI.

2) Fred Hopps talked about walking the Greenway in Peabody.

For the good of the club (small items, happy thoughts) - None

Meeting ended at 8:30 PM.