EcoEKY: Green News from Eastern Kentucky

from WYMT News:

24 Hour Recycling Center

Reporter: Matt Barbour
Email Address: matt.barbour@wymtnews.com

The city of London and Laurel County now has a new 24 hour recycling center.

The public works director says it will save the city thousands of dollars.

People using the new recycling center in Laurel County say it's easy and convenient.

“It's just one of them things if I don't I have to pay for the garbage truck when I can bring it here on the trip to town,” Bennie Smith said.

The city of London opened the new regional recycling center Monday and the city's public works director says it's a big improvement from the county's old center.

“It can only help them, with the roadside litter and with the way they had to process it, it was labor intensive,” Steve Edge said.

Edge says in the first year alone he expects the facility to process about 3,600 tons of material that would normally be going to a landfill and that will save the city about $75,000.

Robby Blair is the center's supervisor and says everyone should make an effort to recycle.

“What happens, ten years from now? You know, there's not going to be many landfills left,” Blair said.

He says they've designed this center to be more user friendly.

The old one had dispensers that were much higher off the ground.

Just ask Zelma Rice, “Well, if you've got a bag of papers, they're heavy. They get heavy. and it's harder for older people especially, or short people to reach up and put those in there.”

She says hopefully the convenience will encourage others to make a difference in their community.

Blair says curbside recycling service could be provided within the next two years.

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from the Lexington Herald Leader:

School project generates student interest in 'green' jobs

The Associated Press


RUSSELL, Ky. -- An eastern Kentucky school is generating student interest in "green jobs" by using more alternative energy sources.

The Russell Area Technology Center plans to install six solar panels on the roof of an outbuilding next week, teacher Doug Keaton said. Students installed a wind turbine at the school a year ago.

The wind and solar systems will be wired into the school's electrical system and will supply enough power to light the technology center building, Keaton said. It is expected to cut about $6,000 per year from the district's electricity bills, Keaton said.

Although the savings is nice, Keaton said the interest generated for students in alternative energy careers is more important.

"These guys are being trained for the green jobs of the future," he said.

Senior Shawn Stephens said he was impressed by what he learned about the cleanliness and cost effectiveness of solar and wind energy.

"This has helped me choose my career path," said Stephens, who plans to attend Shawnee State University and become an environmental engineer.

Junior Jaren Bowen said he learned that alternative energy systems are practical for home applications.

"I didn't think it would work on a small scale," he said. "I thought it would have to be like the huge wind farms. But it's really cost-effective."

which are about the size of a couple of sheets of plywood

Keaton said he plans to share details of his energy science program with educators from technology centers in other Kentucky counties.

Meanwhile, he has been working with physics and science teachers at Russell High School and plans to work with math teacher Carol Stephens in the fall.

Stephens said she will teach trigonometry, which can be used to design and build wind turbines.

"I can associate the math with the practical applications," she said.

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from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Solar saving

Panels at Russell ATC will save big bucks in district

By MIKE JAMES
Published: May 21, 2008 11:03 pm

RUSSELL — All together, the six solar panels on a workbench at the Russell Area Technology Center are about as big as a couple of sheets of plywood.

But once they’re installed on the roof of an outbuilding, they’ll start saving money for the Russell School District.

Together with a wind turbine students installed a year ago, the panels are expected to cut about $6,000 per year from district electricity bills, said Doug Keaton, a teacher at the school.

The wind and solar systems will be wired into the school’s electrical system and will supply enough juice to light the ATC building, he said. In terms more familiar to homeowners, it will be enough electricity to power a 1,000-square-foot house.

The solar arrays — two sets of three panels each — should be ready to install Monday and the entire system should be up and running by Sept. 1.

Keaton’s records show that in the year since the wind turbine was installed, the breeze has blown briskly enough to generate usable electricity on 320 days.

The combined solar and wind project is generating one thing that is even more important than electricity. That is interest in alternative energy careers, Keaton believes. “These guys are being trained for the green jobs of the future,” he said.

“This has helped me choose my career path,” said senior Shawn Stephens, who plans to attend Shawnee State University and become an environmental engineer. He’s impressed by what he has learned about the cleanliness and cost effectiveness of solar and wind energy.

Also impressive, said junior Jaren Bowen, is that alternative energy systems are practical for home applications.

“I didn’t think it would work on a small scale,” he said. “I thought it would have to be like the huge wind farms. But it’s really cost-effective.”

Keaton plans to meet at Russell with educators from area technology centers in several other Kentucky counties to walk them through his energy science program. His guests will then launch similar programs in their schools.

He has been collaborating with physics and science teachers at Russell High School and this fall will also collaborate with math teacher Carol Stephens as well.

Among other things, Stephens said, she will teach trigonometry, useful in such technical applications as designing and building wind turbines.

“I can associate the math with the practical applications,” she said.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

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from the (Pikeville) Medical Leader:

EKSC to construct permanent exhibit: Governor OKs $400,000 grant for energy-themed project

By: Mary Music - mary.music@pikevillehospital.org, Staff Writer
Published: 05/16/2008

PRESTONSBURG — The Eastern Kentucky Science Center is a step closer to constructing a new interactive energy exhibit after Governor Steve Beshear recommended his approval of a $400,000 grant.

Beshear and Tony Wilder, the commissioner of the Governor’s Office for Local Development, toured the center on May 6 with students and teachers from Jackson Independent Schools. Area officials were also present, including former Governor Paul Patton and his wife, Judi.

Beshear also announced his recommendation for the approval of a $400,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant that will fund the construction of Energy Transformations, a permanent interactive exhibit that will interest students in careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics. The Floyd County Fiscal Court has already allocated $100,000 in coal severance money for the exhibit.

In constructing the exhibit, the center hopes to decrease its dependence on expensive traveling exhibits and, promote interest in math and science. Once completed, the exhibit will be on display for half the year and then it will be stored on campus or leased to other institutions.

An advisory group consisting of center staff, teachers and volunteer patrons developed the concept for Energy Transformations. The Cincinnati Museum Center designed the initial exhibit concept in collaboration with the advisory group, the Floyd County Fiscal Court, Chesapeake Energy, Interstate Natural Gas and the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Corporation.

The exhibit pieces are workstations that explore aspects of different types of energy. Students who see the exhibit will learn what energy is, where it comes from, how it moves through systems, where energy is found, how it impacts the environment, were new energy sources can be located in the future and how to wisely use energy resources.

The East Kentucky Science Center draws in students from surrounding Kentucky counties and other states, he said. Each year, more than 10,000 people from over 22 Kentucky counties and 16 states visit the center.

The center opened in 1998 as a reaction to low student test scores in math and science, Beshear said.

“With the addition of a permanent Energy Transformations exhibit to the East Kentucky Science Center, we see the alignment of three key issues critical to Kentucky’s future,” he said. “First, improving the math and science skills of our children. Second, promoting the public’s understanding of energy production, supply, conservation and use. And finally, drawing additional tourism to this region.”

Appalachian Regional Commission grant applications are submitted to the Governor’s Office of Local Development for review. The grants can not be awarded without a recommendation from the governor. No project activity can begin until the ARC gives final federal approval.

During the Governor’s visit to the science center last week, the Pikeville Rotary Club donated $5,000 to the center’s student access program. Dr. Seema Sachdeva, president of the Pikeville Rotary Club, said her daughters visit the center and come home “beaming” about what they learned.

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from the Richmond Register:

Saving the river

Students working to help preserve Kentucky River

Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer
Published: May 12, 2008 08:25 am

The final exam for several Eastern Kentucky University students is more about just getting a good grade.

For a group of eight students under the leadership of professor Alan Banks, director of the EKU Center for Appalachian Studies, their final exam could result in saving the Kentucky River.

Students Ivy Brashear, Christopher Mullikin, Kelley Davidson, Ashley Evans, Ashley Hallis, Warren Oliver, Jeremy Roberts and Gary Underwood have worked to compile survey questions that are being distributed to elected officials representing the 41 counties located along the Kentucky River watershed.

The students met Wednesday at The Waterfront restaurant to discuss their initiative with local elected officials.

The Center for Appalachian Studies partnered with the Kentucky Riverkeepers to do a survey to get an idea of what is important to local elected representatives.

The surveys are a part of the project’s first phase which eventually will include a filmed documentary about the importance of saving the Kentucky River. It will be a two-year process, said Kentucky Riverkeepers and Berea artist Pat Banks.

“It’s going to be a great process,” said Kentucky Riverkeepers Pat Banks. “We hope to use these surveys to write grants, to bring resources to our region to make things happen.”

The 45-question survey asks officials what they consider important and relevant to their respective communities. Categories include community assets, problem areas in their communities and what they think about several issues related to the use, marketing and preservation of the Kentucky River.

The experience of compiling questions for the survey was a learning experience in itself for Brashear.

“It was a team effort,” she said. “I learned a lot about activism and how you get things done in an organized fashion. We also learned how to get results and how to reach the goal that you’re working toward in a civil manner.”

Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson expressed her love and appreciation for the Kentucky River at Wednesday’s meeting, but also said she was aware of its deterioration.

“The river, as we have known it, is gone,” Lawson said. “It breaks my heart.”

Rules and regulations have been put in place that many ignore, according to Pat Banks.

“There are laws in place for clean water, but we can’t swim in our river or eat our fish,” she said.

The Kentucky River was a large part of Mullikin’s childhood, but he has seen the decline in the community’s interest in the river, he said.

“The (Kentucky) river needs more publicity,” he said. “When was the last time you saw a commercial for the Kentucky River? I think we need to change people’s opinion about the river.”

The main goal of the EKU/Kentucky Riverkeepers relationship is to identify ways to find resources that can help increase community awareness about the needs of the Kentucky River and create a vision for the river’s future, Banks said.

The Kentucky Riverkeepers is a non-profit organization and is sponsored by the EKU Center for Appalachian Studies.

Send an e-mail to kyriverkeeper@eku.edu or call 622-1622 for more information about the project or the Kentucky Riverkeepers organization.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.

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from the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) website:

MACED Launches Energy Efficient Enterprises Project

May 8, 2008

Berea, Ky — The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development announced recently the launch of Energy Efficient Enterprises (E3) to enhance the financial strength of businesses and organizations and to benefit the natural environment. The program helps enterprises realize cost savings through the use of energy efficient equipment and systems or through renewable energy sources.

With rising energy prices, many companies are paying more for natural gas, propane and electricity. These vital inputs are cutting into profit margins and weakening the ability of businesses to invest in their futures.

In addition, growing awareness of the effects of carbon dioxide on climate change has spurred many people to seek ways to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the adoption of other energy sources such as wind, solar and low impact hydro-electric power.

In response, MACED developed the E3 program. It begins with an on-site energy assessment, followed by recommendations for change and assistance with identifying and choosing an independent installation company. MACED provides financing for identified improvements at low rates and flexible terms for each enterprise.

According to Joshua Bills, MACED’s energy specialist, “Businesses and organizations that seek to be successful financially and which are careful to protect the natural world around them are the cornerstone of a vibrant Appalachia. By investing in energy efficiency, enterprises can be more profitable, improve working conditions and reduce negative effects on the environment. With the money saved from energy efficiency measures, enterprises may then choose to invest in renewable energy sources, further reducing their environmental impact.”

MACED is a 31-year-old nonprofit organization that works in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia to create economic opportunity, strengthen democracy and support the sustainable use of natural resources. To find out more about MACED’s E3 project, visit www.maced.org or contact MACED’s energy specialist, Joshua Bills, at 859-986-2373 or jbills@maced.org.

The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide

The Second Edition of The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide is now available through ASPI Publications. The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide is a comprehensive resource for those interested in using solar energy in Kentucky. The Second Edition contains updated chapters on financial incentives, renewable energy and green building professionals in Kentucky, a new case study, and an updated cover!

The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide can be purchased from ASPI Publications for $13.95 plus shipping and handling. Due to our commitment to the environment, the Guide is printed on high-quality, 100% post-consumer, process-chlorine free recycled paper.

Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest
50 Lair Street
Mount Vernon, KY 40456
Phone (606)256-0077 (9am-4pm EST)

Shipping and Handling:

1-5 copies......$4.00
6-10 copies....$6.00
11+copies......please call for rates.

For more information (including excerpts from the Guide) visit the Kentucky Solar Partnership website.

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from the Kentucky Solar Partnership website:

Low-Interest Loans for Solar Water Heaters

The Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) and the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) are partnering to offer low interest loans for the installation of solar water heaters. Loans cover the full equipment and installation cost. Interest rates are fixed at 6.0%. All loans are to be repaid in monthly installments, with a fixed term of six years.

Who can apply?

Residents and businesses in Eastern Kentucky are eligible to apply. A credit check is required before final loan approval. Click here to see a map and list of the 51 counties in MACED’s service area.

What does a solar water heater cost?

Installing a residential solar water heater in Kentucky will typically cost $3,000 to $6,500 and will save a family about $150 to $400 or more per year on their utility bills. The price range for installing a system depends on the amount of hot water used each day, whether a new water storage tank is required, the size of the home, whether the system is installed by the homeowner or a professional contractor, and other factors.

To learn more about this low-interest loan program, visit KSP's website. Click here.

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Press Release from the KY Division of Waste Management:

Recycling organization will meet in June

Press Release Date: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Contact Information: Fred Kirchhoff, 502-564-6716


FRANKFORT Ky. (May 7, 2008) – The Kentucky Recycling Interest Group (KRIG) will meet June 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastern Kentucky University campus in Richmond. The meeting is open to members and others interested in recycling in Kentucky.

The statewide networking organization membership includes key players in the recycling industry – collectors, processors, brokers and manufacturers who are end-users of recycled materials. An organization meeting was held earlier this year under sponsorship of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection’s Division of Waste Management and the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center (KPPC).

Attendees will have a chance to review draft mission and vision statements written by a steering committee from information developed at the initial meeting:

Mission Statement – “The Kentucky Recycling Interest Group promotes ‘zero waste’ through resource conservation, increased recycling, and waste reduction.”

Vision Statement – “The Kentucky Recycling Interest Group (KRIG) will identify and recommend practices to develop sustainable and economically viable recycling and waste reduction policy. The primary goal of this initiative is ‘net zero’ waste output for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This will be achieved through the examination, demonstration, and implementation of conservation, resource recovery, and waste reduction practices. KRIG will promote economically viable, safe, energy-conserving, sustainable recycling and waste management practices through public/private partnerships.”

To register for the June 17 meeting, go to the KPPC Web site -- www.kppc.org -- and look for KRIG under Upcoming Events. The registration page has a map and directions, and an agenda will be posted later.

For more information about KRIG, contact Fred Kirchhoff or Dara Carlisle at the Division of Waste Management, 502-564-6716. Their e-mail addresses are Fred.Kirchhoff@ky.gov and Dara.Carlisle@ky.gov

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from the Corbin Times Tribune:

Cumberland Falls Clean-up is May 17

Special to the Times-Tribune

Published: May 12, 2008 09:05 am

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is looking for volunteers to help clean up around one of Kentucky’s most scenic areas on Saturday, May 17.

Spring floods bring large amounts of trash down the Cumberland River and that garbage collects around Cumberland Falls. The park is asking volunteers to wear boots and bring work gloves to help clean up this area.

Registration will be at 9 a.m. at the gift shop near the falls. Trash bags will be distributed and areas will be designated for volunteer work. All participants will be able to take part in a cookout at noon. All volunteers will get a free T-shirt at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Bret Smitley at 1-800-325-0063 or at bret.smitley@ky.gov

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from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

Guided hike through Blanton Forest set

By JOEY WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:54 AM CDT

The beauty of Blanton Forest will be on full display May 24 as the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) will host a guided hike through the forest.

Hikers will be able to enjoy the strenuous trails of Knobby Rock and Sand Cave Loops. It is recommended that anyone looking to hike the trails should be in good physical condition and also bring a lunch and plenty of water.

The hike is scheduled to last for several hours. Merrill Flanary, KNLT Forest Steward, will be the guide. Donna Alexander, program manager for KNLT, says the hike draws a lot of attention from people all over Kentucky.

“A lot of people don’t realize the beautiful scenery that we have here in our state. Once people have the chance to get out here and see how beautiful nature can be, they’re really impressed, “Alexander said. “We have people hike from southeastern Kentucky, Frankfort and also Louisville. Over the years, people from those areas have shown great interest in the hike.”

*
Alexander also pointed out that this year’s hike will make history as a family from Washington, D.C., will come to Harlan to go on the hike. She says that’s a great example of growing interest in Blanton Forest.

“I think that really shows how interested people really are in the forest. When you see people coming from that far away just to visit this forest, you know interest level is high. This is a really exciting thing for people to see, so, hopefully, we can continue to draw great interest. This is a way that people can see things that the early settlers probably saw hundreds of years ago. So it really is an exciting and unique thing to do.”

Blanton Forest is the largest known old-growth forest in Kentucky. It is home to several distinct natural communities, including the mixed mesophytic forest. This forest normally includes a large variety of canopy trees such as sugar, maple, beech, tulip, poplar and several other species of oak and magnolia trees.

KNLT is a nonprofit organization celebrating 13 years of working to preserve Kentucky’s diminishing natural places. Since 1995, KNLT’s activities have been focused on the protection and preservation of Blanton Forest. For more information about KNLT, visit KNLT.org.

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One more eco-conscious perspective in eastern Kentucky.

Today's Breathitt County Voice contains an interesting opinion piece by Andy Mitchell on "greenwashing." In it, he states:

I completely agree with being environmentally friendly. I believe that we have a responsibility to not only ourselves and the planet that provides for us everything we need to survive, but to the coming generations of people that will be affected by our actions forever. It makes perfect sense to conserve the resources we have, search for alternative, renewable, and less polluting forms of energy, and to be aware of our impact upon the Earth. I came across an ad for a powerful energy company recently. It stated that they were finding alternative fuels, creating less of an impact upon the Earth, and “going green”. On the surface, this looks great. Then I thought, “Why would they all of a sudden care so much about the environment?” It seems to me that if they were truly interested in the health of the planet and its peoples, they would have been doing this from the very start. I know, as companies, their main goal is to make a profit. I understand this. However, if being environmentally friendly is so expensive, why would they ever do it, unless it’s just a scheme to get people to buy their products or to improve their image as a “green” company? And if it is not hurting them financially and is cheap to go “green”, why haven’t they done it since the start? It seems to me that all these companies are jumping on the bandwagon of public fear and feeling over global warming.

Click here to read the whole piece.

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from the Pikeville Appalachian News Express:

Be air quality aware

May. 4, 2008

The Kentucky Division for Air Quality works hard every day to help ensure clean air for all Kentuckians — inspecting air pollution sources, responding to complaints from citizens, and maintaining a statewide monitoring network. But individuals also have a role to play in keeping our air clean. Every time you use energy — whether burning wood, gasoline, diesel, or electricity — you are contributing to air pollution in your community and those downwind of you.

Ozone and particle-forming pollutants come from a number of sources. Mobile sources like cars and trucks account for over 25 percent of air pollution in the United States. In Kentucky, power plants, industry and open burning are the largest sources of pollution. Illegal backyard burning is estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be the largest non-point source of dioxin pollution in the United States. Dioxin is a toxic air pollutant that has been associated with cancer, birth defects and nervous system damage, and is released when anything containing chlorine, like plastic, is burned. Natural sources like wildfires also contribute to particle pollution.

Saving energy helps your pocketbook as well as your lungs. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

* The Division for Air Quality will be giving away energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs at the Governor’s Derby Breakfast in Frankfort on May 3; come by to get yours.

* Purchase ENERGY STAR- rated products, from light bulbs and appliances to home entertainment systems.

* Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.

* Keep your vehicle maintained and your tires properly inflated.

* Mow your lawn and refuel your vehicle during cooler morning and evening hours.

* Combine errands and reduce car trips whenever possible.

* Avoid burning trash, which is illegal and highly polluting.

National Air Quality Week, April 28 - May 2, 2008, creates an opportunity for Kentuckians to “Be Air Aware.” Information on air quality is available at the division Web site, www.air.ky.gov.

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from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Buses to connect Tri-State

Published: May 04, 2008 11:25 pm

Two routes to service Lawrence

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

ASHLAND — For the first time in almost three decades the Tri-State will be linked by bus service.

Beginning July 1, the Tri-State Transit Authority, under contract with the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, will begin running continuous bus service from Lawrence County to Huntington and Ashland.

There will be two fixed routes serving Lawrence County, according to Mike Payne, director of public transportation within the Lawrence County Port Authority. The port authority was the designee of the state and federal grants funding the service and is working with the CAO and TTA to provide the service.

The first fixed route will run from Proctorville to Ironton along the river with destination stops in Huntington including Marshall University, St. Mary’s Medical Center and Pullman Square and the TTA bus center at 13th Street and Fourth Avenue. It will also make stops at the Wal-Mart and Sam’s in Burlington and at Ohio University-Southern and the Ironton Hills Plaza. That route will run continuously from east to west all day long, Payne said.

The second fixed route will serve the city of Ironton and will go to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, the Ashland Wal-Mart, Ashland Town Center and King’s Daughters Medical Center, along with the Ashland Bus Depot. That route will run four times a day.

Buses will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Initial fares are expected to be 75 cents but Payne said it may increase based on fuel prices that could increase even before buses begin running July 1.

Five buses have been purchased using federal funds, Payne said. Three will carry up to 20 passengers and the remaining two up to 30 passengers. All are handicap and wheelchair accessible.

Mike Rogers, superintendent of Ashland’s Bus System, said the addition will be an asset to both Ohio and Kentucky residents.

Payne said the routes will “connect the Tri-State.” Ohio riders will get to destinations in Ashland and Huntington, while riders from those areas will also be able to get to Ironton and Ohio destinations, although the routes will not be direct, he said.

Payne said there is a possibility that some express runs to major employers and area colleges could be added in the future. “We want to establish the basic fixed service now and grow from that,” he said.

CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

From the Breathitt County Voice:

35th year for Conservation Awards banquet big hit for first-timers

By Jeff Noble

Voice Editor

Since its inception back in 1974, hundreds of families have come to the annual Awards Banquet held by the Breathitt County Conservation District (BCCD).

Their children are rewarded for the essays they write, and the pictures they draw, which honor the works in land conservation and preserving wildlife.

Their parents are also honored for their work in farming and environmental quality, along with beautifying their homes and property.

But the best part of all? It’s watching those students who come to the event for the very first time.

And win.

Last Friday’s edition of the awards banquet - the 35th Annual one - was no exception.

For Tabitha Roark, her first time in the contest landed her a First Place prize in the 3rd Grade Art Contest. And she was totally excited about her drawing. “It was about nature and what’s in the forest. There were grizzly bears, eagles, robins, ducks and elk in the picture!” said Tabitha, an eight-year-old student at Marie Roberts-Caney. Along with her mom Wendy, the two were dressed “pretty in pink”, as they discussed the evening ahead. “It’s my first time here, and I’m looking forward to winning. And some good food.”

The theme this year for the contest was about wildlife. “Kentucky’s Backyard - Where Life Is Wild”, to be exact. Tabitha and Wendy were among some 280 persons who came to the Breathitt High School Cafeteria to enjoy the awards, to eat fried chicken and ham, and to see if they had the lucky ticket to win them a door prize later that evening.

But there was one first-time winner who already has bright plans for the future. And he loved to let people know about those plans. Dressed for success with a dark blue shirt and tie, ten-year-old Austin Hudson was a hit with everyone he talked to. “I want to be a famous artist in Breathitt County. I want to make cartoons. And my role model is Whistler, who did a painting.”(artist James Whistler, who painted the classic “Whistler’s Mother” back in the 1870’s). The 4th Grader at LBJ had won 1st Place in his school’s Art Contest, and after introducing everyone in his family who were at his table, got up and showed visitors his winning picture. There, on a post in the cafeteria, was his drawing, which featured a ferret, a black bear in hiding, and a scarecrow with some crows hanging on its arms. “I patterned this scarecrow after the one in “The Wizard Of Oz”, Austin proudly exclaimed. On the picture he also wrote, “We must feed the animals. Whatever food they like”. Walking back to his table with Sherry Mullins of the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), an pumped-up Austin was ready to start the festivities. “This is awesome. I’m looking forward to getting that award, and watching everyone get lots and lots of awards. And I get a ten-dollar prize, too!”

Over a thousand students in four school districts entered this competition. And when the key awards were given out, the winners were Travis Arrowood, of Jackson City School, who was the County Winner of the Art Contest. His winning entry, “Ky’s Backyard, Where Life is WILD” was featured on the programs given out to the audience, as well as on a big video screen, and on a billboard on Route 15 in Jackson. Rousseau Elementary student Jackie Howard was the County Runner-Up in the Art Contest.

For the Writing Contest, another Jackson City School student - Alexandria Herald - took the top prize, as she read her essay about wildlife conservation and keeping our environment free of garbage and litter. Breathitt High School student Brayton Fugate was the County Runner-Up in the Writing Contest.

In addition, scholarships were awarded to two students - Faith Stewart of Breathitt High, and Randi Barnett of Jackson City. Then, awards and prizes were given out to scores of students from the schools that participated, beginning with Highland-Turner, continuing with Jackson City, LBJ, Marie Roberts-Caney, Mount Carmel, Riverside Christian, Rousseau, SMS, and ending with Breathitt High.

Carrie Banks liked being one of the winners from her school. “I wrote about deer and wildlife, and what we can do to help them have a happy balance with nature,” said the Sophomore at Riverside, who was the Overall School Winner in the Writing Contest. While waiting in line to get a bite to eat, Carrie continued. “Like several students here, this is also my first time at this awards banquet, and I think it’s pretty cool.”

“We’ve got around ten participating this year, which is a little bit down from last year,” noted Lawrence Monroe, a science teacher at Riverside. Later in the ceremony, Monroe himself would be honored, as he received one of the Outstanding Assistance Awards for conservation work with his school. Ogelle Parks was given the “Conservation and Beautification Around the Home Contest” Award for her work on her farm that began the same time as the banquet began - 35 years ago.

This year’s “Outstanding Breathitt Countian” Award was given to Roy Spencer. Involved in youth, agricultural development, water conservation and recreation for 55 years of his life, Spencer told the Voice afterwards, “There’s more who deserve this award, but I’ll just say, ‘How sweet it is.” I feel pretty good getting it.”

But even the drawings of birds, critters and grizzly bears growling had to take a backseat to the stomachs growling of those getting their awards for the first time. Before they got in line to eat, nine-year-old Krista Back quickly described her drawing. “I drew a squirrel on the tree. I had blue skies, and lots of land,” said the Second Grader at LBJ who won 2nd Place in her school’s Art Contest. Sitting with her sister Haley and her Grandma, Nadine Back, Krista painted a colorful picture of her artwork on paper, of the picture of it in her mind, and of the awards banquet itself.

“I like the whole thing.”

From the London Sentinel Echo:

Memorial, family trees bring much-needed Releaf

By Tara Kaprowy
Staff Writer
Published: April 29, 2008 10:22 pm

Skip Little has his own green space in London now. On Wednesday, Little’s family members, friends and members of the new Releaf London committee gathered at A.R. Dyche Cemetery to plant a yellow wood tree in honor of the former attorney, who died 10 years ago.

Getting more leaves growing in a meaningful way in Laurel County is the goal of the new committee, a subset of the London Downtown organization. Ultimately, they want to expand London’s urban forests.

People can donate $150 to the committee and get a tree planted in memory of a loved one or even as a family tree.

The tree — which will be hand-selected according to the habitat where it will be planted — will be marked with a permanent hang tag.

“The plaque will identify the tree and the name of the family,” committee member Chris Robinson said.

The donation will pay for the cost of the tree, the cost to plant it and guarantees the tree’s survival.

The idea for the committee was spawned thanks to feedback given to London Downtown by America in Bloom, a nationwide beautification program that judged the city last year.

“Urban forestry and environmental awareness were our two lowest scores,” Robinson said. “Releaf London is a way of developing an urban forestry plan.”

Robinson said committee members are in the process of assembling a recommended tree list.

“We want to make sure the trees are in a proper location for the growing conditions they need and the space they need,” Robinson said.

Robinson expects trees like yellow wood, kousa dogwood, pin oak and flowering cherries to be on the list.

“These are good, easy to love trees,” Robinson said.

Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.

..........

from the Middlesboro Daily News:

Looks like a Yellow Jacket, but doesn’t sting at the pump

Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:12 PM CDT

Smart Car gets 36 MPG in the city, 40 on the highway

By Andrea Schneider/Staff Writer



Photo: Lynn Jones’ chose yellow for the color of her Smart car because yellow says “caution I’m here don’t hit me,” but mostly because yellow and black are the school colors of the Middlesboro Jackets. (ANDREA SCHNEIDER)

MIDDLESBORO— It is very likely that several people who have been driving through Middlesboro over the past month have seen a little yellow flash pass them by on the roads.

Most drivers do a double-take in order to see exactly what that little yellow flash is. With a second look, drivers notice the tiny car.

*
This tiny car is Middlesboro’s first Smart Car. Lynn Jones, owner of the car, says it gets “a lot of looks, stares and questions.”

The Smart Car, by Daimler AG, was designed as a compact fuel efficient car. It has a one liter, 71 horse power, three cylinder engine and travels at a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour. The nine feet long car is a two seater and can be driven in either manual or automatic. However, the best feature has to be the 36 miles per gallon the car gets in the city. It gets 40 plus miles per gallon on the highway and only has an eight gallon tank.

“I followed the car for six years,” said Jones who found the car online. “It has been very popular in Europe, and in January of 2008 it was released in the United States.”

Once Jones found out it was going to be released in the U.S. she knew she had to have one. She reserved her custom made car— in Middlesboro Yellow Jackets yellow— a year in advance.

“In April of 2007, I paid $99 and reserved my car online at the Smart Car website,” said Jones. Then on April 2, 2008 she traveled to a Mercedes dealer in Knoxville, Tenn. to pick up her car.

“I wanted the car because it was small and fuel efficient and I knew the gas prices were not going to go down, even a year ago.”

Jones was driving a Chevrolet Trail Blazer at the time and said she felt she did not need a big car just to drive around town.

By driving the Smart Car, Jones has saved quite a bit of money. Jones says she fills up the eight gallon tank every two and a half weeks and even though the car runs on premium gasoline she still only spends around $27 per fill up. She said that in her Trail Blazer she would spend around $60 per tank of gas.

“I get a lot of questions about the car,” said Jones. “I feel like I am an ambassador of the car. So maybe with mine there will be more people aware of it.”

The car comes with every modern comfort feature including heated leather seats, a six CD sound system and a sun roof. For more information on the Smart car visit www.smartusa.com.

Andrea Schneider is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be contacted via e-mail at aschneider@middlesborodailynews.com

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from the Corbin Times Tribune:

Farmer's Market opens Saturday

Published: May 01, 2008 11:46 am

Spring has sprung and Laurel County farmer’s are kicking off another growing season this weekend.

The farmer’s market located in downtown London will open for the season Saturday at 7 a.m. The market is located on the corner of Dixie and Main streets, across from the London Community Center.

The London-Laurel County Farmers Market is proud to promote local farmers and the products they produce. Selections range from fruits and vegetables to jams and jellies and live plants.

The London-Laurel County Farmer’s Market is open at 10 a.m. to sell-out Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 7 a.m. to sell-out Saturdays through October.

For more information call (606) 864-4167.

..........

from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

Local students honored at soil conservation banquet

By JOEY WILLIAMS
Staff Writer

Published:Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:05 AM CDT

Students throughout Harlan County were recognized Tuesday by the Harlan County Conservation District for their efforts in an essay and poster contest. Nearly 200 Harlan Countians gathered for the Soil Stewardship and Awards Banquet at the Harlan Baptist Church.

This year’s contest featured 620 participants. In all, 28 winners were honored during the banquet.

David Howard, chairman of the Harlan County Conservation District, said the event is a positive experience for local students.

“This event gives students an opportunity to be recognized for a job well done. That is something that is a great initiative for children because they’re getting credit for working hard and doing an important thing,” said Howard. “This also gives us as board members a great opportunity to show off soil stewardship week. I think this really gives us a great spotlight to showcase what we are all about.”

*
The theme of this year’s contest was “Kentucky Wildlife,” an appropriate title considering how much wildlife in southeastern Kentucky has been discussed over the past few years, as well as the arrival of the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid — a bug that surfaced in southeastern Kentucky several years ago and has recently infested over 200 hemlock trees in Camp Blanton alone.

During the banquet, the HCCD provided a $3,000 grant designed to treat the infected trees of Camp Blanton with an insecticide. Howard says the money should go a long way to help combat the threat to hemlock trees.

“This money will be used solely to deal with this growing problem. This is a bug that has caused a lot of problems to a very important tree. Hopefully, this money will go a long way in solving the problems these bugs have caused,” Howard said.

Also presented during the banquet was the J. Clark Metcalfe Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is for $1,000 and is named in the honor of Jerry Metcalfe, who served on the HCDD board of supervisors for many years until his passing in 2002. This year the scholarship was presented to Derek White.

White is a senior at Evarts High School and maintains a 3.975 grade point average. He plans to begin his college studies at Southeast Community College where he will pursue a degree in science and biology.

James Lacy was the guest speaker during the banquet. Lacy, who is the chairman of the stewardship committee and is the executive board member for the Southeast Region of the National Association of Conservation Districts, emphasized the importance of young people.

“The future depends on children getting active. Years from now it’s gonna be the children who are gonna run the conservation district. So getting the youth involved and educated is the key to our future,” said Lacy. “Education is without a doubt what needs to be stressed.”

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A Dozen Good Ideas

Healing Appalachia is the first book to apply “appropriate technology,” or the most basic technology that can effectively achieve the desired result, specifically to the Appalachian region. The authors examine thirty low-cost, people-friendly, and environmentally benign appropriate technologies that are concerned with such issues as food preservation, land use, shelter, and transportation. Some examples include:

• Microhydropower
Producing 5 to 100 kilowatts of power, microhydropower generator systems are easily placed on low-flow streams. Hydro power is by far the cheapest form of electricity generation, a technology that suits the limited incomes in Appalachian communities.

• Edible Landscaping
Because of chemical fertilizers and manicuring time, grass lawns are not economical. Growing vegetables, fruits, grapes, nuts, and herbs produces a form of economic payment resulting from hard work. Low maintenance beekeeping helps edible landscapers pollinate plants and enjoy honey year-round.

• Wood Heating
Burning wood, a renewable resource, emits far fewer ozone-depleting chemicals than more popular fossil fuel competitors. New government regulations and wood heater designs have increased the effectiveness and manageability of wood heaters. Wood heaters should be used as supplements to existing heating elements to avoid depleting living forests.

• Nontimber Forest Products
Native foods, fuels, medicinals, seeds, and other nontimber tree products abound in Appalachian forests. As many Appalachia residents own tracts of forest-covered land, harvesting economic products while keeping the land scenic and available for tourists carries double the profit of cutting trees for timber.

• Solar Photovoltaics
Solar panels and shingles combined with today’s energy efficient lighting greatly reduce reliance upon fossil fuels for generated electricity. Net metering feeds surplus energy back into the community’s electric utility grid to be used by others.

• Retreat Cabin Sites
A far cry from formal five-star resorts, the mountains of Appalachia provide an idyllic retreat from hectic schedules. The mountains and valleys are full of coves, lakes, streams, waterfalls, and other tranquil, yet accessible, spaces for tourist relaxation.

• Cordwood Structures
Building with cordwood: cutting debarked logs to desired stacking length and cementing them into place with a windproof, thermal insulator. Cordwood buildings retain desirable summer and winter indoor temperatures, do not harbor mold, and are surprisingly fireproof.

• Yurts in Appalachia
Yurts, circular dwellings common in Mongolia, are cost-efficient, durable and require little maintenance. The Woodlands Mountain Institute has built a system of yurts used for community centers and student housing.

• Regional Heritage Plants
Losing regional plants, particularly food plants, to new technology and hybrids is detrimental to the natural balance of the earth. Reducing our reliance on a monoculture based on mass produced seeds and genetically altered plants will help ensure biodiversity in the region.

• Composting Toilets
Installing sewer lines in rural and mountainous areas can be expensive and inefficient. Relying upon the technology of hunter-gatherers, human waste in a composting toilet becomes devoid of water and bacteria. It then can be used as a natural fertilizer.

• Cisterns and Water Catchments
Cistern water is naturally soft and generally used for pets and for washing hair and clothing. Drier climates benefit from the storage of clean filtered water. Water collected in cisterns is often cleaner, better-tasting, and cheaper than municipal water.

• Food Preservation
Old-fashioned food preservation techniques—root cellars, canning, preserving, and drying—are more economical than buying produce year-round. Today’s technology allows for deep freezing and solar drying, speedier takes on ancient preservation practices.


-------------------------

Thirty Environmentally-Friendly Ways to Save the Mountains

Lexington, KY—

America’s interest in and concern about environmental protection has never been higher, as illustrated by director David Guggenheim’s recent Oscar win for An Inconvenient Truth. His documentary of former Vice President Al Gore not only brings to the forefront the statistics about ozone depletion and already-documented changes in worldwide weather patterns, but it also serves as a warning of what could happen to the Earth if no immediate change was made to halt the hazardous effects of global warming.

Coinciding with this warning, the citizens of Appalachia, known for their strong ties to the land, have taken the first steps to end the worldwide crisis between nonrenewable and renewable resources. In Healing Appalachia: Sustainable Living through Appropriate Technology, Al Fritsch and Paul Gallimore offer thirty examples and explanations of environmentally-friendly technology. Each chapter systematically examines the definition and origin of a given technology, its application to Appalachia, and the best methods for implementation.

Healing Appalachia covers a broad range of topics, including electrical energy, energy efficiency and conservation, food, land, forest, shelter, waste water, and transportation. Among the most innovative ideas are the use of solar greenhouses, expanding the prominence of silviculture, and constructing artificial wetlands. Solar greenhouses offer the farmer a way to cut the price of propane used in many traditional greenhouses, and also provide a source of healthy food during the winter months. When attached to another building, a solar greenhouse can provide space heating by reducing the amount of cold-air exchange with the environment. Silviculture, the care and maintenance of forests, is necessary to produce and maintain a healthy forest environment. Not only must one select the proper species of tree to plant by taking into account the ecological environment, but the removal of exotic and invasive species must be managed and maintained in order to ensure the survival of these native trees. Human-constructed wetlands can be built on difficult, rocky terrain at a low cost by using local materials and benefit the environment by naturally processing gray water from activities such as bathing and washing dishes.

With Healing Appalachia, the authors hope “to ease the hesitancy at matters of technological innovation by giving down-to-earth solutions to frequently raised problems,” as well as to instigate the necessary reform within the communities. Not only do they offer their audience extremely detailed explanations of the technology, but the conclusion suggests methods for implementation, both for mass-expansion in Appalachia and throughout the country as a whole.

Al Fritsch is the founder of Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest and co-author of Ecotourism in Appalachia: Marketing the Mountains.

Paul Gallimore is the founder and executive director of the Long Branch Environmental Education Center in Leicester, North Carolina.




..........

The following is a press release from Sustainable Table, a national non-profit located in New York. However, the info in the press release is applicable to Appalachian Kentucky, as well as the rest of the US. Also, you can use their Eat Well Guide (www.eatwellguide.org) to search for and find farms and farmers markets in southeastern Kentucky as well as elsewhere. A quick search for an e. KY zipcode turned up 2 farms and 11 markets within 50 miles: previously unknown sources of local food. Check it out:

From Today's Rose Garden Speech...President Bush Said...

"We are deeply concerned about food prices here at home"

"Creative policy is to Buy food from local farmers"


New York City-April 29, 2008-Sustainable Table fully supports the creative solution suggested today by President Bush to buy food from local farmers as a means for communities to be more self sustaining. The nonprofit program adds that purchasing sustainably-raised local food is the best option for all Americans.

"Sustainable Table agrees with President Bush's statement made today that large subsidies to multimillionaire farmers should be cut," said Diane Hatz, Founder/Director of Sustainable Table. "We also think people should buy locally grown, sustainably produced food from small family farmers because it can save people money since it does not have to be shipped long distances, and saves consumers the added costs of transportation, which has helped make the price of food skyrocket because of the rising costs of oil and energy."

Hatz also offered other benefits to eating locally:

· Better tasting food -There's less time from the field to your dinner plate, meaning the food is fresher and is picked when ripe.

· Supports local communities - Money spent on local food is put back into the community. For example, the farmer you buy your tomatoes from will then go to the local diner, barber, hardware store, and put that money back into the local community, thus helping to strengthen the local economy

· Helps save family farms - According to Farm Aid, every week 330 farmers leave their land. By purchasing local food, you'll be supporting local farmers, thus helping them stay in business.

Today's industrial form of agriculture is funded by tax payer subsidies which can push small, family farmers out of business and pollute the environment. That's why it is better for people to purchase foods grown locally, on sustainable family farms or at farmers markets.

Spring is here, and more and more farmers markets are sprouting up in communities across America. One way to support local farmers and save money is to go to farmers markets to purchase as much locally grown, sustainably produced food as possible. The Eat Well Guide, a project of Sustainable Table, can help direct you to farmers markets in your area, as well as farms, stores, restaurants, and other outlets where you can purchase locally grown foods.

If you'd like to know what foods are in season in your area, visit Sustainable Table's Eat Seasonal page.

And look to Sustainable Kitchen to find recipes to that you can pair with food you might find at your neighborhood farmers markets.

Sustainable Table is a New York based non-profit group that celebrates the sustainable food movement, educates consumers on food related issues, and works to build community through food.


For more information contact:
Denise Hughes @ 917.549.2621,
Or, Denise@creative-connectors.com


www.SustainableTable.org

###

from the Harlan Daily Enterprise:

JOHN MIDDLETON/Harlan Daily Enterprise
Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage presented a check in the amount of $500 to Harlan County 4-H agent Raymond Cox during the annual Earth Day festivities Thursday.


Trees distributed as part of Earth Day celebration

By JOHN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer
Published:
Friday, April 25, 2008 1:15 AM CDT

Residents from around Harlan County traveled to Wal-Mart on Thursday to pick up trees that were given away as part of an annual Earth Day celebration.

Hundreds of people waited in line outside of the building to receive one of the hundreds of black oak, red oak, black walnut, redbud and white dogwood trees that were donated by the Harlan County 4-H Club, Harlan County Conservation District, Kentucky Division of Forestry and Wal-Mart.

“We have tree seedlings here to give to everybody,” said Susan Mavinidis of the Harlan County Conservation District. “We are hoping they will go home and plant them and beautify their home and Harlan County.”

Raymond Cox, a 4-H agent with the Harlan County Extension Office, said he was happy to see the trees given to citizens who will plant them around the county.

*
“We will be giving away about 1,000 trees today,” Cox said. “If they take the trees and set them out in their community, we will have some more of these beautiful trees that you see around on these mountains.”

During the event, Wal-Mart donated a $500 check to the Harlan County 4-H Camp.

“We raised $500 that we are going to donate to 4H camp to kick off the tree event,” said Wal-Mart assistant manager Ross Everage. “We wanted to participate with them this year and actively be involved in the event.

“We hope it will show people that Wal-Mart is trying our best to be a part of the community here in Harlan.”

Wal-Mart also raised $550 that was used to purchase trees for the event.

“People can plant these trees around their homes and restore the environment,” Everage said. “We want to do our best to give back to the community.”

Bob Kelly of the Kentucky Division of Forestry said the trees that were given away would help the county in the future.

“This helps our tree production through the years,” Kelly said. “It’s good for the environment.”

In addition to the trees, a Yard Machine riding lawnmower was given away. The mower was won by Donnie Ray Lewis, of Evarts.

Officials said the were pleased with the turnout for the event.

To conclude the festivities, a tree was planted behind the Wal-Mart building. Everage said employees will look after the tree as it grows in the upcoming years.

..........

from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Energy event scheduled in Morehead

Published: April 24, 2008 11:23 pm

Morehead — The Kentucky Green Energy Roadshow, offered through a partnership between the Kentucky Solar Energy Partnership, Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest and the Kentucky Solar Energy Society, will offer workshops about renewable energy and energy efficiency from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Morehead State University.

Experts will discuss issues, including environmentally friendly building design and construction, application of energy efficiency and conservation in the home and business and renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind and hydro power. The event will include a discussion about state policies and incentives needed to accelerate the use of sustainable energy and building practices. There will be booths and exhibits demonstrating renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.

Events will be in Room 111 of Rader Hall. Lunch is included in the $20 registration fee. For more information, visit www.kysolar.org or call (888) 576-6527.

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from the Ashland Daily Independent:

Trees by the sack

Wurtland students prepare seedlings for ‘Project Earth’

By MIKE JAMES
The Independent

Published: April 24, 2008 10:43 pm

WURTLAND — A white pine seedling isn’t much to look at, being only a few inches long with scraggly brown roots.

But they grow fast enough that in a few years they’re head-high. Executives from the duPont plant in Wurtland came to Wurtland Middle School on Thursday with enough of the seedlings for all 330 students, plus their teachers, and a few more for an outdoor classroom the students plan to construct.

“We hope they’ll take them home and plant them. We’re trying to be a good neighbor,” said plant manager Tim Albert. “These kids are the future. Some of them are the folks that will work at the plant in a decade or so.”

Dupont purchased the trees from the Kentucky Division of Forestry and donated them to the school. The seedlings come in bags the size of feed sacks, 100 to the bag.

Students helped teachers separate the seedlings and carefully wrap the roots in wet paper towels.

“This is a good way to learn how to put a diaper on a baby,” said Skyler Nichols, a sixth-grader.

He is looking forward to taking a tree home to plant, because he still has the one he received in a similar giveaway when he was in second grade. That tree now is between eight and 10 feet tall.

“I like this idea because it helps put out more oxygen,” Skyler said. “Since people cut down all kinds of trees, this is a good way to replant them so they don’t all disappear.”

Some of the trees will end up in the outdoor classroom, which is the brainchild of Wurtland’s seventh- and eighth-grade community problem solving team, said team adviser Lori Newman. Dubbed “Project Earth,” the classroom was conceived as a tool to raise awareness of environmentally friendly practices, she said.

It will include habitats for butterflies and bluebirds, planting beds for vegetables or botanical projects, an erosion station to demonstrate the effect of water dripping on limestone, and lots of flowers, shrubs and trees.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

...........

More information (including how/when to register and directions) at the Kentucky Solar Partnership website: http://www.kysolar.org/roadshow_2008.htm.


Morehead, April 26th
Morehead State University
Rader Hall, Rm. 111

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:

8:30 – 9:00 am
Registration

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

9:00 – 9:15 am
Setting Priorities for Efficiency, Conservation, and Renewables in Your Home or Business
Andy McDonald, Ky Solar Partnership

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

9:15 – 10:15 am
Principles of Energy Efficient, Green Home Construction
Robert Fehr, UK Extension Professor, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

10:15 – 10:30 am
Break

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

10:30 – 11:15 am
Gone Solar in Morehead – One Man’s Story
Michael Campbell, Morehead Resident

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

11:15 – 12:00 pm
Case Study: A Green Office Building in Cincinnati Earns LEED Gold Certification
Steve Melink, Owner, Melink Corporation

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

12:00 – 12:30 pm
Lunch Pick-Up

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

12:30 – 1:15 pm
Policies & Incentives that Support Renewables and Efficiency:
A Panel Discussion On Federal & State Programs
Speakers To Be Announced

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1:15 – 1:30 pm
Energy Efficiency Improvement Grant and Guaranteed Loan Programs for Small Business
Scott Maas, USDA – Rural Development

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1:30 – 1:45 pm
EKPC at the Crossroads: A Report on Potential Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs for East Ky Power Cooperative
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth/Kentucky Environmental Foundation/Sierra Club

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1:45 – 2:45
Introduction to Solar Photovoltaics
Matt Partymiller, Solar Energy Solutions

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2:45 – 3:00
Break

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3:00 – 4:00
Solar Water Heating Systems
Jason Streit, Kentucky Solar Living

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4:00 – 4:15
Renewable Energy Credits & Green Tags
Bob Fairchild, Soft Energy Associates

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4:15 – 5:00
Wind, Hydro, and Biomass Energy Resources in Kentucky
Bob Fairchild, Soft Energy Associates

..........

from the University of Louisville's Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center blog:

Kentucky Recycling Interest Group Meeting

The Kentucky Recycling Interest Group will advocate "zero waste output” through resource conservation, increased recycling and application of waste reduction techniques in Kentucky through effective applications of education, investments, planning and technology.

June 17, 2008

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Eastern Kentucky University
Perkins Building
Richmond, KY

Registration required by 10:00 a.m. June 16, 2008.

Lunch will be provided.

There are three easy ways to register for this event:

* Call KPPC at (502) 852-0965, or
* Send Email to registration@kppc.org with Subject: "KRIG Meeting", or
* Register online

Directions for Perkins Building from I-75

From either direction, take exit 87, Eastern By-Pass. Travel down the By-Pass, turn right at light #6, KY 52 West/Lancaster Ave. Turn left at next light, Kit Carson Drive. The Perkins Building and parking lot is at the top of the hill on the left.

Eastern Kentucky University campus map with the Perkins Building highlighted. (PDF format)

For questions concerning registration, please contact KPPC at 502-852-0965 or registration@kppc.org.

For questions concerning KRIG, please contact Dara Carlisle, Kentucky Division of Waste Management, at dara.carlisle@ky.gov or call Dara at 502-564-6716.

This event is hosted by the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in partnership with the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center.

...........

from the London Sentinel-Echo:

Mayor backs curbside recycling

By Tara Kaprowy
Staff Writer

Published: April 22, 2008 06:54 pm

Mayor Troy Rudder told London Downtown members about his plans for the future of recycling in London — and they’re big.

“If we’re going green, we’re going all the way,” he said.

If Rudder has his way, curbside recycling in London will be a reality in two to three years’ time. He also wants to see the amount of garbage going into the landfill reduced by 75 percent in the coming years. In the first year, he wants to cut the amount down by 25 percent.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “All towns need to be looking at this right now because that’s the future.”

For Rudder, recycling boils down to a question of economics.

Right now, the city dumps 150 tons per day at a cost of $22.50 per ton.

“We spend about $522,000 a year to dispose of just dumping garbage at the landfill,” Rudder said. “Every pound we can keep from the landfill saves us money and, in turn, saves the households and businesses in town.”

Moreover, Rudder expects the cost to dump in the landfill to rise exponentially.

“We known in four years what is going to happen to our dumping fees,” he said. “It’s going to skyrocket.”

“We can look at doubling our tipping fees,” he added, estimating that that in four years, the price to dump at the landfill will likely jump to $40 or $42.

To make the recycling goals a reality, the city and county have applied for a $310,000 grant to expand the program. In the grant application, the city proposed taking over the program.

London Public Works Director Steve Edge, who is to be in charge of the program, said he is “80 to 90 percent” sure the grant will be awarded to the area. Even if it isn’t, plans are still moving forward.

“We’re getting the facilities ready to implement it,” Edge said. “It will be another 60 to 75 days.”

Edge said the city plans to recycle “everything from e-waste down,” meaning electronics will be recycled, along with paper, plastic, cans, cardboard and all types of paper.

Edge said the grant will be used to buy recycling equipment — a compacter, can densifier, glass pulverizer, shredder — that would make the program less labor intensive.

Laurel County has had a recycling program since 2001. Though it was considered to be one of the most progressive centers in southeastern Kentucky, lay-offs made in July 2007 ground the program to a halt.

Laurel County Solid Waste Coordinator Jim Ed McDaniel said the county no longer has the manpower to distribute the recycling bins to various locations in the county, and is having trouble keeping up with the products dropped off at the McWhorter Street center.

“It will be a godsend for us,” McDaniel said of the city taking over the program. “Me and my other two employees will go back to our solid waste part. We’ll be able to pick up the appliances as they come in and do the road litter pickup.”

To encourage Londoners to recycle, Edge said the city plans to charge residents who recycle less for garbage pickup than those who don’t.

“For example, we would charge them a rate of $10 if they do recycle and $15 if you don’t,” Edge explained. “We’re going to let you save yourself money.”

Neither Rudder nor Edge anticipate the recycling center will actually make the city money.

“We’re hoping it can break even,” Rudder said.

“We’ve got to make it pay for itself,” Edge added.

..........

from Solar Nation:

Renewable Bills Pass Kentucky Legislature
Good news for energy efficiency and net metering

The Legislature has passed bills promoting energy efficiency and net metering. That means tax credits for solar PV and solar hot water good until 2016, with a $500 ceiling for residential and $1000 ceiling for commercial properties.

The bills include tax credits for solar, wind and energy efficiency measures. The solar tax credit applies to PV, solar water heating, solar space heating, and passive solar. The bills also encourages state government to use renewable energy in their facilities. At this moment, the bills awaits Governor Beshear's signature.

..........

from the Mountain Area Community Economic Development (MACED) website:

FOREST CARBON CREDITS

Enrollment is open to private forest landowners in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Forestland outside this region will be considered on a case by case basis. Forest landowners owning 40 acres or more are encouraged to apply.

The application process begins when a forest landowner contacts the MACED office and requests an Application Packet. This packet contains detailed information about the program, information for completing the enrollment requirements and an Application Form. We also include a copy of the Kentucky Forest Landowner's Handbook for all interested landowners.

Applying is easy. To apply, a landowner fills in and returns the one page Application Form that comes in the application packet. This form serves as a landowner's place holder for enrolling in the program. After applying the landowner proceeds to complete the four enrollment requirements listed below.

Four requirements must be met in order to enroll. Enrollment is the final step that makes a landowner eligible for carbon credit payments. These requirements acknowledge a commitment to sustainable forestry and document an intent to maintain the enrolled land in forest cover. Landowners may apply before these requirements are completed, but enrollment will not occur until all requirements are met.

1. A Stewardship Plan must be in place. This is available free of charge through the Kentucky Division of Forestry. To have your property designated as a Stewardship Forest contact your local state forester. Click here to find a forester in your district.

2. Forest Certification is required, unless a conservation easement is in place. Certification through the American Tree Farm program is provided free of charge through the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Certification by the Forest Stewardship Council is also acceptable, but is not free of charge.

3. A forest inventory must be completed by a consulting forester. Dependent on the amount of acreage involved, a landowner could reasonably expect to pay $5 – $10 per acre for their forest inventory, however this will need to be assessed by your consulting forester. MACED provides loans to cover the cost of the inventory.

4. Landowners must sign a contract agreeing to abide by the program's rules. This contract, and more information about the program are available by contacting MACED's forestry staff.

Click here for a glossary which defines some terms used in the contract.

Based on the June 2007 Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) market price, a forest landowner could expect to receive $4.00 – $5.00 per acre per year dependent on the average age of their trees and the overall condition of their property.

For every forest property enrolled in its program, MACED will:

• measure its change in wood volume over time;

• convert its wood volume to volume of carbon credits;

• and sell the credits based on their value in the marketplace.

In exchange for providing its services, MACED will deduct a management fee from each landowner's gross carbon payment.

Be the first in your community to join this newly emerging market!

Contact MACED at 1-888-677-2373 or email forestry@maced.org.

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from: www.ekpcrfp.com

EKPC Request for Proposals

Renewable Energy Resources RFP 2008

East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) is committed to protecting the environment while providing affordable, reliable power to its members. EKPC has a rich history of responsible environmental stewardship in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. EKPC has been a pioneer of green energy and, today, generates more green energy than any other utility in Kentucky. As the cooperative plans to meet future load growth, EKPC is seeking opportunities to diversify its portfolio of generation resources with renewable resources that really work for Kentucky's homes, farms and businesses.

Renewable energy resources may include, but are not limited to:

* Wind
* Biomass
* Solar (Electric and/or Thermal)
* Hydro
* Geothermal
* Recycled Energy (Waste heat, etc)

EKPC is seeking 200 up to 300 MW of renewable capacity and associated energy resources. EKPC will give first preference to proposals that locate the source(s) of capacity within the existing control area of EKPC and second preference to sources inside Kentucky. Proposals that involve resources outside the state of Kentucky will be considered.

This RFP is open to those parties who currently own, propose to develop, or have rights to a renewable energy generating facility larger than 1 MW. Bidders may submit multiple proposals to fulfill the resource request. EKPC does not intend to offer a self-build option for this RFP. The proposal must be based upon a proven technology. EKPC will retain all environmental attributes associated with Bidder’s proposed bid energy, including but not limited to renewable energy credits, green tags, greenhouse gas or carbon credits, and any other emissions attributes.

Proposals are due at EKPC Headquarters no later than 4 PM EDT on June 30, 2008. Proposals are to be submitted by mail, e-mail, fax, or hand delivery. Faxed or e-mailed proposals must be followed up by mail with a signed original which must be received no later than 4PM EDT on July 3, 2008. All correspondence should be directed to EKPC's Official RFP Contact:

Fernie Williams, Resource Planning
RE: Renewable Energy Resources 2008 RFP
East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc.
4775 Lexington Road
Winchester, Kentucky 40391

Phone:(859) 745-9429
Fax: (859) 737-6123
E-mail: renewable@ekpcrfp.com


RFP Issue Date: April 15, 2008
Notice of Intent to Submit Proposal Due Date: May 1, 2008
Proposals Due: June 30, 2008
Evaluation Completed: August 29, 2008
Select Short Listed Proposals: September 5, 2008
Execute Project Agreements: November 7, 2008

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from the Eastern Progress Online:

Batteries: heavy metal you can recycle

by Casey Tolliver
4/17/08

If you have ever been to the Richmond campus, chances are, you have been in close proximity to dangerous toxic substances.

In fact, there are poisonous heavy metals and corrosive electrolyte solutions throughout your house, and even in your car.

Found in batteries, these hazardous wastes are detrimental to the environment, dotting the landscapes and landfills with poison; other than simply throwing them in the trash, there is no effective and convenient way to dispose of batteries.

The Universal Waste Battery Program, a new environmental stewardship program, plans to try to reverse this practice at Eastern by providing the preferred disposal alternative for hazardous batteries on campus, according to the UWBP outline.

"The biggest thing we want to do is to let the university community know that we are rolling out this recycling program and pay attention when you check out what can be recycled," Eastern Facilities Services recycling spokesperson Randy Wilson said. "Some batteries contain lead and mercury and these are horrible to the Earth. The lithium batteries, when they decay, they release ether."

Students wishing to responsibly dispose of their batteries can ask for a Universal Waste Battery pre-printed envelope from their building supervisors or residence hall advisers.

The universal waste batteries and the university's collected e-scrap waste are processed at Kentucky Recycling.

Batteries contain several components that can be recycled, but the focus is primarily on the recovery of metals, including mercury, silver and cadmium, according to the UWBP outline.

Wilson said the UWBP is a unique program and Eastern is one of few universities in the state with a battery recycling program.

"This is a fairly new program, and I'm excited about it," Wilson said. "It means that we're going to be leaders in environmental sustainability, and that is something most of the other universities aren't doing."

A few other universities have also hired outside recycling coordinators, but recycling programs done at Eastern are done "in-house", Wilson added.

With Facilities Services' commitment to environmental and recycling issues, the scope of its projects is broader than just recycling batteries.

Facilities Services works to recycle numerous waste products at Eastern: plastics, newspaper, ink cartridges and cell phones are only some of the items on its list.

In addition to its budding work with batteries, Facilities Services also has a partnership with Habitat for Humanities in the Cans for Habitat program.

Because of programs like Universal Waste Battery and Cans for Habitat, Eastern is a model for recycling for other regional universities and the community, according to the Eastern Recycles Web site.

The next recycling project for Facilities Services is end-of-semester recycling, which may appeal to seniors and other students exhausted by the semester.

"If you have any notes, throw them in the recycle bin," Wilson said.

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from Pol Watchers, the Lexington Herald-Leader's political blog:

April 15, 2008

Could an energy bill be a seed for bicameral agreement?

The last crucial work day of the Kentucky General Assembly began Tuesday with the merging of two energy bills -- one from the House and one from the Senate -- aimed at making Kentucky's government, small businesses and homes more efficient.

The Senate's Appropriations and Revenue Committee blessed the marriage of H.B. 2, offered by House Democratic Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, to S.B. 165, a measure sponsored by independent Sen. Bob Leeper of Paducah.

The full Senate and House now must approve the new mega-energy-efficiency bill before midnight when all legislative work for this session must be completed.

Adkins' energy bill would provide tax credits for home builders to construct more efficient and "green" houses as well as home buyers to purchase U.S. Department of Energy-approved Energy Star appliances.

"If we’re going to have a comprehensive and balanced energy policy in Kentucky, then we have to look at all the energy opportunities that we have,” Adkins said. “I think that energy efficiency and conservation and renewable energy opportunities are a big part of us trying to achieve the type of policy in Kentucky to reach energy independence in this country."

If the bill is approved, taxpayers could apply for credits on their 2009 tax forms for purchases made after Jan. 1, 2009.

It's unclear how much those new state tax credits -- which Adkins said will be structured similar to the federal tax credits -- will cost Kentucky in revenue, said Adkins, of Sandy Hook. But the costs wouldn't be seen until the second year of the 2009-2010 biennium.

But whatever the cost will be, Leeper's bill should free up enough cash to cover it, said Leeper.

Leeper initially proposed $50 million worth of bonds to be sold to cover low-interest loans to small businesses to purchase energy efficient electronics and make their buildings better insulated. But he agreed to reduce that amount to $30 million in bond funds to free up money to cover the tax credits in Adkins' H.B. 2.

"It ends up being a bottom line wash," Leeper said.

His legislation also calls for $50 million in bond funds to pay for state government buildings to be fitted with energy efficient lightbulbs, windows and other more efficient components. Energy savings will cover the annual payments on those bonds.

Both Adkins and Leeper denied that the pairing of their bills was part of a broader game of horse trading. Instead, it was something that came together two weeks ago when both men were working on crafting the state budget.

"It's just good, sound policy," Leeper said.

- Ryan Alessi

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