January 2008 - Sustainability - list.sfgreens.org

Re: [Sustain] CO2 Cap & Trade?
by Eric Brooks 21 Jul '08

21 Jul '08

Well, the idea is that you put a top limit or 'cap' on how much each county/state/corporations can emit. Concurrently with that, you create a market for trading reductions in CO2 emissions such that corporations get 'credits' (which are worth real money) and sometimes (but not always) corporations receive financial penalties or taxes for exceeding limits. The idea is that you make reducing CO2 emissions desirable by making it valuable. Then, you set up a market in which the CO2 credits get turned into electronic trading notes (a lot like stocks). So, one company, say, a carpet maker, figures out ways to greatly reduce it emissions, and its trading exchange issues that company a given amount of credits for free. Then, another company, say, a cement manufacturer, knowing that it is going to exceed its limits, buys the credits created by the carpet company so that, on paper, the cement company has bought enough credits to -not- exceed its limits; and so, it can therefore avoid emissions penalties (if there are any) or the cost of installing pollution controls (if their state requires any). Depending on the current or future cost of pollution control requirements, and taxes and penalties on fuel use or CO2 production, some companies may see the credits as even more valuable and pay more for them than their set value, and this makes the credits rise in value on the trading 'floor'. Now, as we all know, from any quick glance at the stock market, and especially at markets trading currency values, speculators over the last many decades have developed incredibly clever and complex ways of making money from trading even though they aren't creating any value or production whatsoever. Add this to the fact that corporations have high incentives to use tricks to pretend on paper that they are reducing their emissions when they are not, that corporations will continue to get laws passed to reduce pollution controls and penalties and even to change the way CO2 trading systems work, and it is easy to see that such cap and trade systems are doomed to failure. Indeed, the cap and trade system adopted a few years ago in Europe is already failing dismally. See http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21202 cheers Eric Anne Garrison wrote: I can't even figure out how this cap and trade business is supposed to work. Somebody told me that carbon offsetting meant something fairly simple like paying to plant a tree in exchange for some sort of excess energy use, but I can't even tell how this is supposed to work. If I'm around and anyone can enlighten me at the next meeting, I'd appreciate it. I know it's crap, and don't much feel like sorting it out, but feel like I should.

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[Sustain] Combustion Turbine Hearing Now Starting 4:47pm - Monday, Jan 28, City Hall Room 263!
by Eric Brooks 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

Hey all, The hearing described below is just getting started at 4:47pm so there will be time to comment if you want to go there this evening. peace Eric Brooks Ok all - We're on again! Michela Alioto-Pier's hearing on alternatives to The JPower Combustion Turbine plant is finally on for real, and will be item 4 (of 4) at the Land Use Committee this Monday, Jan 28, Room 263. The hearing begins at 1pm and so the first hour may well be taken up by other items. But as we know, Supervisor Maxwell as chair of the committee might play games with the schedule and call our item early, so if you can, be there at 1pm. **This is our first big chance to show a major public turnout to the Board of Supervisors opposing the JPower CT plant and supporting solar, wind and other renewable energy measures instead.** Here's the hearing link, followed by the actual agenda (Item 2 is a measure to keep the Academy Of Art College from taking over the Flower Market and kicking out the local wholesale flower merchants.) Our item is last on the list: http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=13956 San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee Room 263, City Hall Monday, January 28, 2007 1:00 PM Members: Sophie Maxwell, Gerardo Sandoval, Jake McGoldrick REGULAR AGENDA 1. 071567 [Urging the Recreation and Parks Commission to enter a grant agreement with the Friends of the Geneva Office Building for the rehabilitation of the Geneva Office Building] - Supervisor Sandoval Resolution urging the Recreation and Parks Commission to enter a grant agreement with the Friends of the Geneva Office Building for the rehabilitation of the Geneva Office Building. 2. 080093 [Zoning - Extending the interim moratorium on institutional uses in the Western SoMa] - Supervisor Peskin Urgency Ordinance approving an extension of interim zoning moratorium to prohibit the establishment of new institutional uses in the Western SoMa Planning Area Special Use District for an additional 22 months and 15 days and making required findings, including findings of consistency with the priority policies of Planning Code Section 101.1 and environmental findings. 3. 071557 [Citywide economic development plan for San Francisco titled "Sustaining Our Prosperity: The San Francisco Economic Strategy"] - Supervisor Alioto-Pier Hearing on the first ever citywide economic development plan for San Francisco titled "Sustaining Our Prosperity: The San Francisco Economic Strategy". The plan contains a review of San Francisco's recent economic performance, identifies those industries that drive the local economy and outlines goals and strategies for achieving economic success in San Francisco. The hearing will review the plan. Further, during the hearing we will ask the OLA to report on the plan and if it is consistent with the Board's annual budget priorities. 4. 071485 [Alternatives to the Proposed Combustion Turbine Project] - Supervisor Alioto-Pier Hearing on Alternatives to the Proposed Combustion Turbine Project. How can energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable power be used to close the Potrero Power Plant? ###

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[Sustain] Zoo Hearing! CORRECTED HEARING LINK
by Eric Brooks 26 Jan '08

26 Jan '08

Hi all, The previous Zoo hearing email alert had the wrong web link. Here's the correct one: http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=29787

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[Sustain] Zoo Hearing! (Supervisors) Monday, Jan 28, 11am, City Hall Room 250!
by Eric Brooks 26 Jan '08

26 Jan '08

The Zoo will get its first real public hearing in the Board of Supervisors' Government Audits and Oversight Committee this Monday around 11am in City Hall Room 250. The Zoo is the first item on the agenda. The Zoological Society, as it did at the bogus joint Parks/Zoo Commission meeting earlier this month, will stack public comment with scores of their employees and volunteers to say that everything is ok at the Zoo, and that management and operations should not be changed. If we are going to overcome this and make serious dramatic change, we have to show up! IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a closed session with the City Attorney at 10am which may or may not last a full hour before the hearing is opened to the public. Here's the hearing link, followed by the agenda http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=13956 City and County of San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Legislative Chamber, City Hall, Room 250 Meeting Agenda - Special Meeting Monday, January 28, 2008, 10:00 AM Members: Sean Elsbernd, Michela Alioto-Pier, Chris Daly Clerk: Linda Laws (415) 554-4441 CLOSED SESSION 10:00 - 11:00 AM Conference with City Attorney [Convene in Closed Session - Anticipated Litigation - City as Plaintiff and/or Defendant] Motion that the Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the Board of Supervisors convene in closed session with the City Attorney for the purpose of conferring with, or receiving advice from, the City Attorney regarding anticipated litigation involving the City related to the December 25, 2007 tiger incident at the San Francisco Zoo. Government Code Section 54956.9(a) and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(d) permit this closed session. Discussion in open session concerning these matters would likely and unavoidably prejudice the position of the City in the pending lawsuits and claims. REGULAR AGENDA - 11:00 AM 1. 080031 [Zoo Incident] Supervisors Elsbernd, Alioto-Pier, Ammiano Hearing to consider the Zoo incident on Christmas Day. 2. 071371 [Increasing the gate fee that may be charged by "full-service" taxicab companies from $91.50 to $110, provide for annual adjustments to the gate fee cap, and ratifying gate fees previously] Supervisor Alioto-Pier Ordinance amending the San Francisco Police Code by adding Section 1137.1, to: increase the gate fee that may be charged by "full-service" taxicab companies, as defined in the ordinance, from $91.50, as authorized by Board Resolution No. 605-06, to $110; provide for annual adjustments to the gate fee cap and, ratify gate fees previously charged retroactive to January 1, 2003.

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[Sustain] Combustion Turbine Hearing! Monday, Jan 28, City Hall Room 263!
by Eric Brooks 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Ok all - We're on again! Michela Alioto-Pier's hearing on alternatives to The JPower Combustion Turbine plant is finally on for real, and will be item 4 (of 4) at the Land Use Committee this Monday, Jan 28, Room 263. The hearing begins at 1pm and so the first hour may well be taken up by other items. But as we know, Supervisor Maxwell as chair of the committee might play games with the schedule and call our item early, so if you can, be there at 1pm. **This is our first big chance to show a major public turnout to the Board of Supervisors opposing the JPower CT plant and supporting solar, wind and other renewable energy measures instead.** Here's the hearing link, followed by the actual agenda (Item 2 is a measure to keep the Academy Of Art College from taking over the Flower Market and kicking out the local wholesale flower merchants.) Our item is last on the list: http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_page.asp?id=13956 San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee Room 263, City Hall Monday, January 28, 2007 1:00 PM Members: Sophie Maxwell, Gerardo Sandoval, Jake McGoldrick REGULAR AGENDA 1. 071567 [Urging the Recreation and Parks Commission to enter a grant agreement with the Friends of the Geneva Office Building for the rehabilitation of the Geneva Office Building] - Supervisor Sandoval Resolution urging the Recreation and Parks Commission to enter a grant agreement with the Friends of the Geneva Office Building for the rehabilitation of the Geneva Office Building. 2. 080093 [Zoning - Extending the interim moratorium on institutional uses in the Western SoMa] - Supervisor Peskin Urgency Ordinance approving an extension of interim zoning moratorium to prohibit the establishment of new institutional uses in the Western SoMa Planning Area Special Use District for an additional 22 months and 15 days and making required findings, including findings of consistency with the priority policies of Planning Code Section 101.1 and environmental findings. 3. 071557 [Citywide economic development plan for San Francisco titled "Sustaining Our Prosperity: The San Francisco Economic Strategy"] - Supervisor Alioto-Pier Hearing on the first ever citywide economic development plan for San Francisco titled "Sustaining Our Prosperity: The San Francisco Economic Strategy". The plan contains a review of San Francisco's recent economic performance, identifies those industries that drive the local economy and outlines goals and strategies for achieving economic success in San Francisco. The hearing will review the plan. Further, during the hearing we will ask the OLA to report on the plan and if it is consistent with the Board's annual budget priorities. 4. 071485 [Alternatives to the Proposed Combustion Turbine Project] - Supervisor Alioto-Pier Hearing on Alternatives to the Proposed Combustion Turbine Project. How can energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable power be used to close the Potrero Power Plant? ###

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Re: [Sustain] Mozambique, Bio-fuels Superpower..?
by Dennis Brumm 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

At 01:40 AM 1/25/2008, you wrote: ><http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta74741.htm>http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta74741.htm Here's something a little more hopeful off another list I'm on... Critique Mounts against Biofuels By Charles Hawley in Berlin The European Union has announced plans to increase the use of gas and diesel produced from plants. But the critique against biofuels is mounting. Many say they are even more harmful than conventional fossil fuels... http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,530550,00.html

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[Sustain] Mozambique, Bio-fuels Superpower..?
by Eric Brooks 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta74741.htm Alexanders Gas and Oil Connections previous <http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta74740.htm>home <http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/welcome.html> next <http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta74742.htm> * volume 12, issue #21 - Thursday, November 22, 2007* sponsored by: <http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/marketintelligence/era/emerging_chinese_energy…> Will Mozambique become a biofuel superpower? 30-10-07 Investment committed to biofuel projects in Mozambique totals $ 700 mm, which will put the country at the cutting edge of clean energy production in Africa. According to The Investor, a weekly publication of AIM, Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC) pledged to invest $ 510 mm over the next few years in producing ethanol from sugar cane. Until CAMEC's investment was announced, the main biofuel project in the country was that of state oil company Petromoc and agricultural cooperative Cofamosa, worth an estimated $ 125 mm. Another project being carried out by the government includes spending $ 14 mm on a factory for ethanol production. Mozambique Biofuel Industries (MBI), owned by South African investors, plans to invest some $ 18 mm and more recently, Canada's Energem Resources announced it would invest up to $ 5.5 mm on a jatropha plantation. Mozambique has only recently begun to understand that it is a "biofuel superpower," it is reported. Its agro-ecological resources allow for the production of a wide range of efficient energy crops, including cassava, sugarcane and jatropha, AIM said. Analysts affiliated with the International Energy Agency estimate that the country can produce around 7 ExaJoules (EJ) of biofuels sustainably. Mozambique currently consumes around 590,000 tons of oil products per year, the bulk being diesel, which equates to around 0.18 EJ. Achieving full energy independence is well within reach. When it comes to the availability of land for energy crops, the country currently uses around 4.3 mm hectares out of a total of 63.5 mm hectares of potential arable land, or 6.6 %. Moreover, some 41 mm hectares of poor-quality land are available for the production of energy crops that require few inputs and are not suitable for food production. Source: www.downstreamtoday.com / Xinhua News Agency

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[Sustain] SFBG Report On Local Biodiesel
by Eric Brooks 23 Jan '08

23 Jan '08

Hi all, This report is much more responsible and realistic than the one a couple of months ago at beyondchron.com. However, it is a bit vague about exactly what specific locally sourced biodiesel the SFPUC plans to use, and I seriously wonder whether a lot of that fuel is planned to come newly produced from local field grown agriculture, rather than waste restaurant grease and oil... http://www.sfbg.com/printable_entry.php?entry_id=5495 From fryers to fuel /SFGreasecycle hits the restaurant circuit/ By Rachel Stern > news(a)sfbg.com <mailto:news@sfbg.com> *GREEN CITY* At Ar Roi Thai in Nob Hill, about 75 gallons of oil are left over every month from the creation of the restaurant's deep-fried cuisine, according to manager Theresa Shotiveyaratana. But instead of dumping it, the business donates its gunk to the newly established SFGreasecycle, which converts it into biodiesel that is now used to power San Francisco city vehicles such as Muni buses and fire engines. As of Dec. 31, 2007, the city completed a yearlong project proposed in Mayor Gavin Newsom's Biodiesel Initiative, which called for all 1,600 municipal vehicles to run exclusively on B20, a mixture of 20 percent pure biodiesel and 80 percent traditional petroleum diesel. The blend is compatible with most modern-day diesel engines and reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 12 percent and the particulate matter found in smog by 20 percent. But most of that biodiesel hasn't been generated locally: the city is halfway through its three-year master fuel contract with San Francisco Petroleum, which gets the stuff from soybean oil produced in the Midwest. "It's really not enough that a city looks at using biofuels to offset fossil fuels," said Karri Ving, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's biofuels coordinator and one of SFGreasecycle's three staff members. "We don't want to go from one environmentally disastrous fuel to another. We want less shipping miles from the middle of the country." That's where SFGreasecycle, a $1.3 million program put into action by the SFPUC last month, comes in. It picks up used fats, oils, and grease (known in the program as FOG) at no charge from wherever people are willing to spare them. The list currently comprises mostly eateries, from chains like Baja Fresh and locals like Ar Roi, but also households, high schools, a synagogue, and museums such as the de Young. About 170 restaurants have signed up so far, allowing the organization to collect an average of 5,000 gallons of so-called yellow grease --- or what comes straight from the frying pan --- per month. Furthermore, its efforts are a way of keeping congealed grease out of sewer pipes, which costs the city roughly $3.5 million in cleanup efforts per year, according to the SFPUC. Ving said the organization has even loftier goals in mind. By the beginning of 2010 it aims to collect 100,000 gallons of grease per month. That's about 20 percent of the five to six million gallons of diesel that the Department of the Environment estimates the municipal fleet burns per year. Mark Westlund, the spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, said using the grease as a replacement for the imported fuel is a real possibility as they have "an almost one-to-one conversion rate." SFGreasecycle uses four biodiesel treatment plants in the Bay Area to convert the grease to usable fuel. And sticking with its zero-waste goals, it donates the small amount of unusable, low-quality grease to the plants, which convert it into methane, which in turn powers these facilities. Eric Bowen, chair of the city's Biodiesel Access Task Force, shares Ving's sentiment that "not all biodiesel is created equal," he told us. The task force is working with the Board of Supervisors to expand the local sources of biodiesel when the fuel contract expires in 18 months and to look into building a production facility in the city, where none currently exist. The United States Department of Energy estimates that biodiesel contains roughly 8 percent less energy per gallon than petroleum diesel, although that translates into only about a 1 percent difference in mileage and performance. Bowen said using biodiesel is a win-win situation since it acts as a natural solvent to clean fuel filters. And "the improved lubricity extends the vehicle life," he said. But before they use biodiesel for the first time, diesel tanks must be cleaned out, which the Fire Department found costs $2,000 to $3,000 per tank. SFGreasecycle also complements the city's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. "The goal is not just to make San Francisco sustainable," Ving told us, "but to develop a program that can be implemented by other municipalities." /Comments, ideas, and submissions for Green City, the /Guardian/'s weekly environmental column, can be sent to news(a)sfbg.com <mailto:news@sfbg.com>./ Wednesday January 23, 2008 -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara

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[Sustain] Meet This Thursday 6:30pm (7:30pm for Sustainability Only)
by Eric Brooks 23 Jan '08

23 Jan '08

Hi all, Since no one has stated a preference I am going to go ahead and plan to be at the SFGP office this Thursday at 6:30pm to facilitate a joint Transportation/Sustainability meeting like the one we had last month. A lot of very important stuff is happening on transportation, energy and gentrification policy so I hope all of you come. As before, let's take Transportation issues first because that group tends to prefer earlier meetings. Suggested Topics Transportation - Mayor's Ousting Of Leah Shahum From The MTA - McGoldrick's Charter Amendment For An Elected MTA Board - Mark Sanchez/Free Muni Sustainability - Serious Mayoral/PG&E Attacks On Community Choice - New SFPUC Member David Hochschild & His Involvement In Those Mayor/PG&E Maneuvers - Charter Amendment For Split Appointments To SFPUC - Very Important Update On Combustion Turbines - Lennar/Stadium/Treasure Island - Peak Oil Taskforce Update peace Eric -- "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." – Che Guevara

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[Sustain] Fwd: Stop Monsanto - Support CA Farmer Protection Bill - AB541!
by Eric Brooks 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Center for Food Safety <http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/home.cfm> Support the California Farmer Protection Bill - AB541! _AB 541, the Farmer Protection Bill, which could become California's first state law protecting farmers from the hazards of genetically engineered crops, passed through the Assembly Agriculture Committee on January 16th by a vote of 5 -- 0! It will be heard by the full Assembly the week of January 28th._ AB 541 will enact protections for California farmers against frivolous lawsuits that intimidate and harass those who have not been able to prevent the inevitable drift of GE pollen or seed. It will level the playing field for farmers accused by Monsanto and others of contract violations, and discourage their practice of sampling crops without explicit permission from farmers and prosecuting based on unverifiable testing results. *Specifically, the bill would provide for:* *1. Protection from patent infringement lawsuits for farmers unknowingly contaminated by GE crops.* Currently, farmers with crops that become contaminated by patented seeds or pollen have been the target of such lawsuits without clear recourse or defense. *2. The establishment of a mandatory crop sampling protocol to be used by patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have violated patents or seed contracts.* This protocol would require the farmer's written permission for sampling, and provide for a state agriculture official to accompany the patent holder during the sampling and collect duplicate samples for independent verification if requested by either party. *Please email and call or fax your Assembly Member no later than January 25th! *Click on "send this message" to the right to send your email, or go to http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541 to send your email online. *Your Assembly member's contact information is: *Assembly Member Mark Leno State Capitol, Room 2114 PO Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0001 (916) 319-2013 Check the website for Fax listing: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13/ <http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?> Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Your Assemblyperson (if you live in California) Below is the sample letter: Subject: AB 541 - SUPPORT Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], I am writing to urge your support for AB 541, which establishes some basic and fundamental rights for farmers whose crops may be contaminated by genetically engineered varieties. It is current practice for Monsanto and other biotechnology corporations to sue farmers if they find that their crops contain any patented genetically engineered material, regardless of how it got onto the farm. This has affected farmers who have been unknowingly contaminated. Monsanto also investigates farmers that it thinks may have their patented material using intimidating and harassing techniques, including gathering crop samples without the express permission of the farmer. AB 541 as currently amended would do the following: 1. Protect from patent infringement lawsuits for farmers unknowingly contaminated by GE crops. Currently, farmers with crops that become contaminated by patented seeds or pollen have been the target of such lawsuits without clear recourse or defense. 2. The establishment of a mandatory crop sampling protocol to be used by patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have violated patents or seed contracts. This protocol would require the farmer's written permission for sampling, and provide for a state agriculture official to accompany the patent holder during the sampling and collect duplicate samples for independent verification if requested by either party. These provisions will protect California farmers and create more fair conditions if they are faced with intimidation by biotechnology companies. Please vote Yes on AB 541. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. Sincerely, [Your Name Here] <http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?> Take Action! Instructions: Click here to take action <http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/8un56k84075ebx6b?> on this issue Tell-A-Friend: Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-Friend! <http://ga3.org/campaign/AB541/forward/8un56k84075ebx6b?> What's At Stake: Campaign Expiration Date: January 30, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Center for Food Safety <http://ga3.org/cfs/join.html?r=y1eJFssqfz8UE>. <http://www.convio.com>

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