State GREENLegislation

Governor signed this bill a little over a week ago!
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Senate Bill 1919 by *Johnson, Overbey, Faulk, Marrero B, Finney L. (House Bill 1468 by *Shepard, Gilmore, Cooper B, Hackworth.)

Planning, Public - As introduced, incorporates the use of green building design, sustainable infrastructure, and energy efficiency technologies into the powers authorities are authorized to exercise for redevelopment projects. - Amends TCA Section 13-20-202.

Bill Summary
Present law authorizes a housing authority to establish a redevelopment project and lists the powers the housing authority has to carry out the project, such as:

(1) Installing, constructing, or reconstructing parks, public open spaces, public playgrounds, pedestrian ways, and parking garages in accordance with a redevelopment plan; and(2) Paying expenses for relocation, administrative costs, planning and engineering costs and legal expenses associated with carrying out a redevelopment plan.

This bill clarifies that the housing authority may install, construct, or reconstruct the structures listed above in (1), "regardless of use." This bill further clarifies that in addition to the expenses listed above in (2), the housing authority may pay any energy efficiency costs associated with carrying out a redevelopment plan. This bill adds the following powers a housing authority has to carry out a redevelopment project:

(1) Pay leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) costs, commissioning costs, costs of required documentation to meet LEED or other similar programs, and fees associated with commissioning, as well as greening costs and energy modeling costs for LEED certification or similar programs;
(2) Install, construct, add to, improve or reconstruct public infrastructure; and
(3) Take all other necessary actions designed to further the goals and local objectives articulated in a redevelopment plan.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the provision described above in the bill summary in (1) regarding paying costs to specify that the housing authority may pay the design costs, commissioning costs and fees, and costs of required documentation associated with meeting the requirements of LEED, Green Globes or other similar programs as well as greening costs and energy modeling costs for certification by such programs of both new construction, existing buildings and other projects.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

The House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act with an 219 to 212 vote. .

Now is the time to tell your Senator to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,” is comprehensive energy legislation. The legislation will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America’s energy independence, and cut global warming pollution.
The legislation has four titles:
(1) “Clean energy”: promotes renewable sources of energy and carbon capture and sequestration technologies, low-carbon transportation fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission; (2) “Energy efficiency”: increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry; (3) "Global warming”: places limits on the emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and (4) "Transitioning”: protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.
Check out a complete summary

From: TRANSIT NOW NASHVILLE

Take Action: Transportation bill moving fast!
Congress is about to pour billions of dollars into transportation. But we can't just throw money at the problem the same way we have been - we need smart investments.

The U.S. hasn't had a vision for transportation policy in decades. We've been trying to build our way out of a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to link our roads, trains, busses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets. But the new transportation bill released this week needs to change all that.

Fill out the form at T4America.org to tell your member of Congress to ensure that our country's transportation investments strengthen our economy, our environment and our health.

3rd Annual Dragon Boat Race and River Festival!

Sign up today for the 3rd Annual Nashville
Dragon Boat Race and River Festival!
On Saturday, August 22nd, the Cumberland River Compact and the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association are hosting the 3rd Annual Dragon Boat Races and River Festival at Riverfront Park, in Downtown Nashville. The purpose of the event is to promote the health of the Cumberland River and raise awareness of the work of these great organizations.

Organize a team!
Put together a competitive team of friends, coworkers, family members, or colleagues and try your hand at paddling a Dragon Boat for 250 meters down the Cumberland River. Each team is made up of 22 members and receives one practice session in the week before the event. To sign-up a team, click here to contact Brooke or give her a call at 615.430.4900. The cost is the same as the last two years: $1250!

The mission of the Cumberland River Compact is to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education and by promoting cooperation among citizens, businesses, and agencies in Kentucky and Tennessee.
http://www.nashvilledragonboat.com/home.html

See YouTube from TeamGreen

KWB Living Green Expo: August 29, 2009

Be a part of Keep Williamson Beautiful’s Living Green Expo, August 29, 2009. This event is KWB’s endeavor to educate the people of Williamson County as to how companies can contribute to making their lives cleaner and greener.
The event will be held at the Factory at Franklin where hundreds of people shop daily. On Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market on the grounds of the Factory where environmentally aware shoppers gather for fresh vegetables and more. These same people will be an audience green companies will want to attract. In addition this will be KWB’s Environmental Leader class graduation and our annual volunteer appreciation event. Judge Larry Potter, presiding judge of the Memphis/Shelby County Environmental Court will be the speaker and we expect a large crowd to hear this 2006 Keep America Beautiful Iron Eyes Cody Award recipient.
Read More and be a vendor!
http://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1599

Emerson Quote

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

Residential In-Home Energy Evaluation

Middle Tennessee Electric Corporation, MTEMC, in partnership with TVA, offers the In-Home Energy Evaluation. Reduce your power usage and receive cash incentives or financing assistance for installing energy-efficiency improvements.
Participants pay an up-front fee of $150 for the evaluation. If any recommended improvements are made over $150, the fee will be reimbursed. Plus, you will be reimbursed 50% of the installation cost up to $500 (thanks to Miles for reminding me about this).>>More Info

Nashville Electric Service, NES
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit
Just complete a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail!(I've done this!) >>More