Earth Share of Washington

Northwest Solutions to Climate Change - Part 2 of 2 - Building the Clean Energy Economy

- Submitted by Patrick Mazza of Earth Share organization Climate Solutions

In this two-part series, we feature articles from two Earth Share of Washington organizations -- NW Energy Coalition and Climate Solutions -- offering potential solutions to the climate crisis. Last month’s article delved into some of the strategies to lower CO2 emissions, while part two outlines some specific legislation that makes up one of this year's Priorities for a Healthy Washington.

Climate Solutions readies a plan to reduce global warming pollution and build the clean energy economy

Climate Action legislation will be one of the environmental community’s four top priorities for the 2008 legislative session, and Earth Share of Washington organization Climate Solutions will take a leading role in developing clean energy solutions for Washington state.

The Washington Climate Action bill will put in place an implementation plan to meet global warming pollution reduction goals announced by Gov. Chris Gregoire and reaffirmed by the Legislature in 2007 (with passage of SB6001). Enacting a global warming pollution reduction plan will set priorities for Washington state and local public agencies as they make crucial decisions on transportation and energy. It will also create the legal groundwork for the state to take part in the carbon cap and trade system being negotiated among western states and allied jurisdictions in the Western Climate Initiative. In addition, a firm climate commitment by Washington, the second largest state in the Western U.S. with the West’s third largest metropolitan area, will send a powerful message to the nation – building support for enactment of strong climate legislation in the U.S. Congress.

A firm commitment to reducing global warming pollution is important for the Washington economy as well. It will send a strong signal that new markets are opening for low emissions technologies. This will draw investment and help build Washington’s budding clean technology sectors including energy efficiency, smart electric power grids and advanced bio-energy. Economic modeling of California’s binding cap enacted in 2006 finds that by driving new investments in efficiency and innovation, the cap could add up to 89,000 new jobs and $74 billion annually to the California economy by 2020. Clear limits on global warming pollution will drive similar economic benefits for Washington.

In fact, leadership in the clean technology economy is closely tied limiting global warming pollution. Around the world, the countries that have adopted strong limits on greenhouse gases are leading the way in transforming their economy. The two regions of the country that already have enacted caps, California and the Northeast, are drawing more than half the nation’s clean technology investments. Massachusetts, with a population slightly larger than Washington state, has garnered the largest share of Northeast clean tech venture funding.

Legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr, who helped Google and Intuit start up, notes, "Green technology is bigger than the Internet. It could be the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century." That is part of the reason he was one of the leading voices for passage of the California’s groundbreaking legislation limiting climate pollution. For him, transforming our fossil fuel economy to clean energy sources is not only a moral imperative: "It's good for the California economy." As new economy guru Thomas Freedman has noted, “In pushing our companies to go green we are spurring them to take the lead in the next great global industry -- clean power.”

Legally binding limits on global warming pollution will be good for the Washington economy, not to mention the planet and our children’s future. It will place Washington in the front rank of states working to cool down global warming, and help move the nation as a whole in that direction. Climate Solutions will be working to make sure legislation that puts our state in the lead on climate passes in the 2008 session.

To learn more about the Washington environmental community’s Priorities for a Healthy Washington, visit www.environmentalpriorities.org. Look for a comprehensive review of the top 4 2008 legislative priorities in the January 2008 edition of The Earth Page.

A Tidal Force to Restore Puget Sound Shorelines

- By Melinda Milner of Earth Share organization The Nature Conservancy

What a difference a year makes. The Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines kicked off officially more than a year ago. Since the campaign began, the Conservancy and its partners have made major strides toward their ambitious goals.

10 new parks and natural areas
The Conservancy recently purchased 28 acres of uplands and a one-half interest in 30 acres of tidelands in Tarboo-Dabob Bay on Hood Canal, the first acquisition in pursuit of the Alliance’s goal to create 10 new parks and natural areas around the Sound.

Tarboo-Dabob Bay has one of the largest and best examples of undisturbed saltmarsh estuaries and shorelines remaining in Puget Sound. Stands of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar cover the uplands, while overhanging vegetation and natural landslides supply shade and new sediment to the beaches. The tidelands and shallow waters near the shore provide key rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. Pacific sand lance and surf smelt—small fish that are a crucial part of the Sound’s food web—spawn on the undisturbed beach. Olympia oysters, dabbling ducks, brant, loons, and western and red-necked grebes also call the bay home. Although the bay is largely undeveloped, private timberlands in the area are being converted to other uses.

Restoring 100 miles of shoreline
Summer is prime time for on-the-ground restoration. This summer the Conservancy undertook several restoration projects that show the breadth of restoration actions that will help the Alliance achieve the goal of restoring 100 miles of shoreline around the Sound.

At the Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay Preserve near Stanwood, the Conservancy initiated an experiment to learn whether placing giant tree-sized logs in intertidal channels of the estuary will enhance habitat and benefit juvenile salmon. A helicopter and crew from Columbia Helicopters first dropped concrete ballasts, then ferried large logs--actually, whole trees with rootwads attached--from a nearby staging area and placed each one in careful position next to the ballasts. Ground crews quickly cabled the logs into position.

The next day, project manager Danelle Heatwole and Conservancy colleagues Robert Warren and Roger Fuller went out on the tideflats and discovered that the logs already were having the desired effect of increasing the channels’ complexity. The channel bed was scoured away in new places, and sediment had already started to accumulate in other places. “I was amazed at how dynamic an environment it is out there,” Fuller said.

The Conservancy continues to work with partners to eradicate invasive plants such as Spartina (a saltwater cordgrass introduced to the Pacific Northwest from the East Coast) from Puget Sound shorelines, and restore native Olympia oyster populations where they once thrived. In partnership with Puget Sound Restoration Fund, for example, the Conservancy is doing oyster restoration in Liberty Bay, near Poulsbo, and in Woodard Bay and Eld Inlet, near Olympia.

Promoting public policies that protect shorelines
Improved shoreline regulations in four counties have enhanced protection on more than 500 miles of shoreline. The Alliance has also made progress in pushing for toxic control and cleanup, wastewater and septic management, and efforts to control invasive species.

You can learn more about all these initiatives at www.nature.org/washington

The mud monster wants you to save Puget Sound
Did you know that there are more than 3.5 million people living around Puget Sound? The Mud Monster says it’s time for us to MudUp and do our part to save the Sound.

There are all kinds of ways to MudUp. You can MudUp figuratively, with activities such as writing letters, making phone calls, and letting your public officials know that the health of Puget Sound is important to you. Or you can MudUp literally, by pulling Spartina, helping spread oyster shells, doing a beach cleanup, or inventing your own activity.

Join with the Mud Monster at www.MudUp.org , where you can find a whole host of family-friendly ways to get muddy and help save Puget Sound.

With generous support from The Russell Family Foundation, three organizations--The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, and People For Puget Sound--are working together to protect and restore Puget Sound’s ecologically rich shorelines. The three groups, along with many other partners, are creating 10 new parks and natural areas along Puget Sound shorelines, restoring 100 miles of shoreline, and promoting policies that will protect 1,000 miles of shoreline by June 2009.

Developing Transportation Choices in 2008

- By Shefali Ranganathan of Earth Share organization Transportation Choices Coalition

Transportation Choices Coalition seeks to bring Washingtonians more and better transportation choices -- real opportunities to take a bus, take a train, ride a bike, or walk -- as well as drive alone. This year with the support of community groups, businesses and citizens, we were able to educate more than 7000 Washingtonians on transportation issues, increase resources for programs that provide commuters with transportation choices, and change the paradigm for transportation planning in the state with an emphasis on moving people and goods. We were also able to ensure that the new SR-520 Bridge across Lake Washington included a health impact assessment during the design phase. This health impact assessment - the first in the country - will identify and seek to mitigate the impacts of construction that adversely affect public health.

And we’ve still got a lot of work to do. In 2008 - with your help - we will:

• Confront the challenge of climate change by working with citizens, community groups, other environmental organizations and decision-makers to develop and implement innovative transportation policy, such as prioritizing transportation projects that reduce vehicle trips.
• Develop strategies to make more efficient use of our existing roads. These strategies will include comprehensive policy decisions and a public education campaign.
• Work with cities across the state to implement our new Sustainable Cities program, which will create and foster local transportation polices and budget decisions that encourage people to drive less.
• Work to redefine the goals of transportation planning to focus on “moving people and goods” rather than “moving cars” as a means of producing environmentally-sound and community-sensitive transportation projects.

There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in 2008. You could volunteer, come to monthly educational forums, write letters to the editor, engage with policymakers and much more. If you would like more information on how you can help, please contact Shefali Ranganathan at 206-329-2336 or email shefali@transportationchoices.org.

EarthCorps and eSurance hold first-ever Carbon Offset Day in Washington

- Submitted by Earth Share of Washington organization EarthCorps

On November 10, 2007, over 500 volunteers joined EarthCorps, eSurance and the State of Washington to celebrate the first ever Carbon Offset Day. Volunteers planted over 3,000 trees and plants at sites around the metro Seattle region and learned about other ways to reduce or offset their carbon emissions.

Plant a tree – Offset your carbon.
EarthCorps encouraged volunteers to take a direct, hands-on approach to offsetting their carbon emissions: by planting trees in parks, receiving education and resources to plant their own yards, and learning about other ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Governor Christine Gregoire proclaimed November 10 statewide as Carbon Offset Day, noting that "community-based reforestation is an effective educational tool and strategy for offsetting atmospheric CO2, thereby contributing to slowing climate change, and EarthCorps brings together community members to restore and reforest our public lands."

Seattle City Council Member Richard Conlin joined in the planting at Frink Park, where he announced the new Seattle Public Utilities Climate Action Grant, which allows community groups working on projects near streams in Seattle parks to apply for a week of EarthCorps crew time to assist their project.

As an example of rethinking everyday actions and their impact, Mr. Conlin walked to the event in Frink Park from his home. EarthCorps encouraged volunteers to walk, bike, bus or carpool to the volunteer event sites in an effort to reduce the carbon emissions of those attending the events. Online directions included Google Maps with public transit routing and timetables, and links to the region’s new real-time ride-sharing technology provided by Goose Networks, which allows users to offer or hitch rides simply by texting on their cell phones.

To extend their engagement in reducing carbon emissions, volunteers received information about everyday actions they can take, and some received shore pines and sword ferns to plant in their own yards. EarthCorps encouraged participants to continue to volunteer to restore their local parks and habitats throughout the year.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Restore = take the next step!

There are many ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and even add oxygen to the atmosphere! Top ten next steps:

1. Go native with native plants in your garden and use less water
2. Plant trees and restore forests with EarthCorps!
3. Get free native plants salvaged from construction sites around King County
4. Compost! You'll save on your and your city's trash bill and get plenty of fertilizer.
5. Buy products that use less packaging and stow a reusable shopping bag in your trunk, bike basket or backpack.
6. Play soccer with EarthCorps instead of watching TV.
7. Play board games instead of video games. Xeko is an environmentally oriented local board game company.
8. Bike, bus or carpool to work once a week. If you can't change your work commute, try changing your shopping commute: buy at local farmers' markets.
9. Turn electronics off. To avoid energy-sucking sleep mode, plug stereos, TVs, cell phone and battery chargers into a powerstrip or outlet with a switch.
10. Turn your car off. Idling or warming up cars wastes gas, pollutes the air, and doesn't help your motor. See more green driving tips from eSurance.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities - December 2007

• December 3 - Pioneer Park Restoration Work Party - 
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Work with EarthCorps and the City of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Dept. to help restore Pioneer Park! Pioneer Park is 113 acres of forested habitat, the largest forested park on Mercer Island. This park is home to over 70 bird species and 12 different mammals, and offers the most extensive trail system on the island. The restoration goals for this park include planting native conifer trees; removing non-native plants, such as ivy, that prevent native plants from growing; and site maintenance activities. For more information, contact Lina Anne Rose, Project Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 225 or email lina@earthcorps.org
• December 6 - Lecture Series: The San Juan Islands: A Neglected Nursery for Puget Sound Salmon - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seatttle, WA - An "Exploring Puget Sound" presentation by Russel Barsh, Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea. There’s a growing body of knowledge about how salmon use the marine habitats of the San Juan islands and how that knowledge ties together Coast Salish fishing lore, contemporary scientific research, and habitat conservation issues. Russel Barsh, director of KWAIHAT (Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea), a nonprofit conservation research laboratory devoted to producing “science for stewardship,” draws the threads of knowledge together. Advance ticket purchase recommended, contact KrisTina Hertz khertz@pugetsound.org or by calling (206) 382-7007.
• December 8 - Golden Gardens Restoration Work Party - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership, MudUp and the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation Department as we work to restore the urban forest of 88 acre park. Located in Ballard on Puget Sound, Golden Gardens offers extraordinary views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. This park contains a rugged coastline, sandy beaches, a trail system through the urban forest, a 2.2-acre off-leash dog area as well as a boat launch. The health of Golden Garden’s urban forest is in danger due to non-native invasive plant species such as English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and garlic mustard. Volunteers will remove ivy and other invasive plants that are detrimental to the native habitat. Other possible activities include spreading woodchips and planting native trees to restore the native tree canopy. For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org
• December 11-13 - Priorities For a Healthy Washington Community Forum for 2008 Legislative Session - Do you want to make Washington a great place to live, work, and play? Join the Priorities for a Healthy Washington partnership in a conversation with your State Senator and Representatives to learn about and discuss the Priorities for a Healthy Washington for the 2008 Legislative Session, which include 1. Washington Climate Action 2. Local Solutions to Global Warming 3. Evergreen Cities 4. Local Farms- Healthy Kids Plus; Keep Hanford from being designated as a nuclear waste dump. To learn more about this event, please visit www.environmentalpriorities.org or contact Rein Attemann at rattemann@pugetsound.org or by calling 206-382-7007.
• December 15 - Restoration Work Party at Duwamish Riverbend Hill - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm - Duwamish Riverbend Hill - In 2001, Cascade Land Conservancy, the City of Tukwila, and a local citizen group formed a partnership to work for the preservation of an undeveloped parcel of land on the Duwamish River. The Duwamish Riverbend Hill property was successfully acquired in March 2004 by the Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Tukwila. The property will be managed as a public open space preserve devoted to the interpretation of the site’s Native American cultural significance and other aspects of Duwamish River Valley natural and cultural history. Please bring Boots, work clothes, gloves, appropriate layers for the weather, and a water bottle. Snacks, drinks, and tools provided. For more information or to sign up, contact Stacy Cachules at stacyc@cascadeland.org or (206) 905-6931.
• December 21 - Winter Solstice Moonlight Beachwalk - 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Lincoln Park (south parking lot, nearest Fauntleroy Ferry) 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW. Seattle, WA - Familiar shorelines turn surprisingly magical as creatures appear in the night lowtides of winter. You are invited to immerse yourself in the chilly ambiance of a starlight beach while exploring with a local beach guide. After the beachwalk, enjoy sipping hot drinks by the bonfire and share a story or two. Bundle up against the weather and be sure to bring: a flashlight with good batteries, wading boots (you’ll be in ankle deep water), a warm hat & dry gloves. The event is free and family friendly. Refreshments will be served. Call to reserve your spot by contacting Daoud Miller at dmiller@pugetsound.org or by calling 206-382-7007 ×217.