PACE ourselves for Clean Energy

A common experience for almost everybody these days is the constant stream of invitations to events, pleas for donations, and calls to action. Whether its in your paper mail, your email inbox, over the phone, radio, or word of mouth, we are all constantly bombarded with messages and faced with the choices of which causes to support with time or money, which messages to pay closer attention to. People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) struck me as a worthy cause because of their grass roots nature, simple message and sensible position focusing on concrete actions that can be taken to achieve a common goal.

PACE is sponsoring a free educational event and award ceremony this Saturday which will feature Middletown's Representative in the state legislature Matt Lesser among other distinguished local guests, speakers, and awardees. More event details are at the bottom of this post.

Bob Wall of the CT Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) gave me some statistics on how Middletown is doing to promote and utilize clean energy.

"As of September 30, 2009 (most recent info available), Middletown had:

395 signups for CTCleanEnergyOptions – 11^th place overall (signing up is easy and can be done from the PACE-cleanergy.org website. And it DOES NOT cost you any more as a consumer.)

28 clean energy systems (27 photovoltaic [PV] solar systems, 1 fuel cell)

Middletown was the first town in the state to qualify as a Clean Energy Community. It has earned 5 kW of which 2 kW were installed on the former Middletown High School (Vo Ag School).

Solar has been increasing everywhere including in central CT. Although funding for commercial solar has tightened up, the CCEF’s residential program is going strong. In addition, a solar thermal program was just launched with funding from the ARRA. These systems, which cost about one-quarter of a PV system, heat water for your home (showers and kitchen use only; not allowed to heat swimming pools per federal regulations)."

Could we be doing more?

The truth about a taboo subject: Nuclear Power
and
A Clean Energy Exposition

Saturday 21 November 2009

Event Location:

Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, (1/10 mile north of intersection of Routes 44 & 189)

Admission is free to the public. Donations are welcome.

4:00 - 5:30	Film: Meltdown (FX Cable)
5:00 - 7:00	Exposition open Solar Energy Installers (CT Clean Energy Fund) Environmental Exhibits Little City Pizza; homemade desserts; coffee
7:00 - 7:15	PACE Annual Meeting (Jim O’Rourke, President)
7:15	Awards Lifetime Achievement: Eric Epstein - Three Mile Island Alert Staff - Beyond Nuclear Legislative: Rep. Vickie Orsini Nardello Rep. Sean Williams Rep. Matthew Lesser Lonnie Reed Elizabeth Esty Organization: Chris Phelps - Environment Connecticut Media: Adam Ney - Buildingctgreen.com
8:00	“THE TRUTH ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER” Eric Epstein - Three Mile Island Alert Cindy Folkers, Kevin Kamps, Paul Gunter, Linda Gunter - Beyond Nuclear Award Winners and National Experts