Ecominds-a Mailing List: MUUSJA EcoMinds 8/30/10 notes

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

8/30/2010

MUUSJA EcoMinds

Attending: Joy Throm, Marcy Leussler (host), Catie Chi Olson, Chris
Burda, Lisa Herschberger, Cecelia Newton, Ralph Wyman (notes)

*  UUMFE update
*  PACE
*  10/10/10
*  Upcoming important events, next MUUSJA EcoMinds meetings

â  UUMFE - Rev. Earl Koteen has joined the board of UUMFE (UU Ministry
for Earth) and is on the UU Legislative Ministry of California's
climate working group.
He did a 1:1 phone interview with Ralph recently to find out MUUSJA's
level of engagement/interest in continuing to do federal/national
climate work.  Rev. Koteen's position is that we must continue to do
national movement building and policy work.  Individual and small
group action/change is important, but if we don't coordinate
nationally and internationally "we're all cooked."
He is attempting 1:1s with all 14 (or so) UU State Networks like
MUUSJA, and will let us know about any launch of new national UU
monthly conference calls to coordinate our efforts
Ralph has agreed to be a MN contact on the calls, one additional
MUUSJA EcoMinder might be good to have on these calls if they do
indeed start up

â  PACE - Property Assessed Clean Energy: legislation passed & signed
this year in Minnesota
Per SustainableBusiness.com, PACE "enables local governments to create
voluntary programs that will allow property owners to finance solar,
other renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle
plug-in improvements to their homes or businesses through voluntary
property assessments."
The legislation passed, but it is now up to local units of government
to pass ordinances or do policy work so that citizens and businesses
can start to actually use PACE to finance projects.  This is both a
clean energy and a jobs opportunity.
Lisa reports that there may be an unanticipated barrier.
--> Ralph will follow up with Sen. Doll (Senate lead author) and/or
Lynn Hinkle of the MN Solar Energy Energy Industries Assn to find out
what needs to happen next towards some actual implementation.
May be some issues with the banking industry (PACE uses non-bank
financing).  Where are community banks on this issue?

Note: Jean Buckley has installed a major solar system.  Can we get
info form her?  Would she write a piece for congregational newsletters
and/or MUUSJA news on how the project worked, how she got lots of
rebates/cost offsets, and how her meter spins backwards now?

Discussion moved to Community Energy Systems:  CES is a pilot program
now available in a couple dozen Minneapolis neighborhoods.  Offers
low-cost energy audits, financing packages, and bundled rebates for
installed improvements.  Important to have this pilot succeed so it
will grow.
http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/Community-Energy-Services/About-CES.aspx

Also noted as a possible speaking resource: Chuck Dayton, has a
PowerPoint presentation on ethics and morality of climate change,
could go to congregations to present.  [FYI, he has a new commentary
up on MPR News Q as of Aug 31:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/01/dayton/]

â 10/10/10  --  October 10, 2010
>From the 350.org web site:
â "Circle 10/10/10 on your calendar. Thatâs the date. The place is
wherever you live. And the point is to do something that will help
deal with global warming in your city or community.  Weâre calling it
a Global Work Party, with emphasis on both 'work' and 'party'."
â "Since we've already worked hard to call, email, petition, and
protest to get politicians to move, and they haven't moved fast
enough,  now it's time to show that we really do have the tools we
need to get serious about the climate crisis."

MPR NewsQ also has a podcast of Bill McKibben at the Aspen Ideas
festival, and this excellent 12 minute video is now up of Bill on
David Letterman just this week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JcRj-Yokuw

++  MUUSJA EcoMinds plan: "UUs save soles" ++
On Saturday, October 9th (some shoe repair stores are not open
Sundays), we're asking all area UUs to drop off a pair of shoes
needing re-soling so that they can be renewed and used, and diverted
from landfills.
- We want to try and tabulate how many pairs are diverted, so we need a count.
- Give away something to each person who drops off during the event
(will be videoing for YouTube).  Maybe a Tofutti Cutie?  Perhaps shoe
repair store will offer a coupon or incentive?

FYI: Shoe industry estimates that some 62 million pairs of shoes are
repaired and kept out of landfills each year.  Also estimates that one
new pair of leather shoes require 8,000 litres of water for the cow,
the tanning, etc.

--> Ralph call Shoe-A-New to see about dropoff logistics/possible
coupon-incentive
--> Chris or Joy (can't recall): get 'winged boot' logo from Roberta
--> A blurb has now been sent to FUS, FUC, WBUUC, Fridley, Pilgrim Hs,
UUCM, MVUUF and Unity for their October newsletters.

Related concept discussed: Second Hand Fashion Show

â  CALENDAR

Wed September 8th, 6 pm (pre-event at 5:30)  -  Rep. Ellison forum on
Green Jobs with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins of Green for All, J. Drake of
Fresh Energy.   South Education Center, 7450 Penn Ave. S., Richfield

Tues Sept 14th, 7 pm - MUUSJA EcoMinds.  First Universalist Church,
3400 Dupont Ave S, Mpls

Thurs Sept 23rd, 6 pm - Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) launch event.
 WCCO's Don Shelby guest speaker, and national IPL president Rev.
Sally Bingham keynote.  North Mississippi Park, Minneapolis.
Immediately off I-94 at the 49th Avenue North exit.

Sat/Sun Oct 9 & 10 - 10/10/10 Global Work Party.  Participate in our
sole saving, AND look for other local actions to lend a hand to on
350.org

Tues Oct 12th, 7 pm - MUUJSA EcoMinds.  First Universalist Church, Minneapolis