Environment

A Plan for a Plan

TBlake — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:52:06 -0600

I went to the OCBoCC meeting on Monday about the transfer station. I came away more convinced than ever that locating a transfer station in a rural farming or residential area is a bad idea. I think a lot of good reasons for it being a bad idea were put forth, and as I took notes I realized that the OCBoCC all know most of these arguments and reasons not to do this, so rehashing it is not of any particular benefit. What I think has not been done yet is to put together an outline/timeline of an alternative that involves all of the potential players and describes the benefits with an end goal in mind.

So, rather than rehash, I thought I could take a stab at a plan for a plan. Obviously the outline below is a strawman (the 21st century equivalent of the back of a napkin) and needs refinement. A lot would need to happen and a lot could happen in parallel. I think you'll get the gist though.

First:

Convince yourselves and the community at large.

Eubanks Road off the preferred list (for now)

davepr — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:38:07 -0500

The Board of County Comissioners finally has seen fit to not included Eubanks Road in the narrowed list of proposed sites for the transfer station. While it ain't over till it's over, this is most welcome news. It looks like the BOCC has made strides in redemption by coming down this time for social and environmental justice.

The fight that the Rogers/Eubanks road community has waged for their neighborhood now has victory in their sights and with that victory will come a victory for the soul of Orange County. This has been a struggle that has taken decades.

Special kudos go to Reverend Robert Campbell and Neloa Jones for showing the perseverance and fortitude to make their case time and time again and lead their community against the odds. It proves that community activism and participation can make a real difference and overcome what at times seem like a never-ending series of obstacles.

However, vigilance is still required.

County Commissioners Transfer Station Siting Work Session

Ruby Sinreich — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:21:08 -0500

Via e-mail notice from Orange County:

The agenda for the Orange County Board of Commissioners' Transfer Station Siting Work Session on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. has been posted to the link below.
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/081021e.pdf

This is a large PDF file (23 MB) with 10 maps and make take some time to download.

Global Education Building Green Roof Tour

Jason Baker — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:32:42 -0500

Via an email to UNC Sustainability Listserve:

Representatives from UNC Grounds, Facilities Planning, Energy Services, and Environment, Health and Safety will be on hand to describe the system and answer any questions you may have. Come learn about all aspects of this project, everything from what it took to make the project happen to the routine maintenance requirements. And if that isn't enough, we will also be providing FREE FOOD!

Commissioners Work Session Oct. 14 on proposed Comprehensive Plan

allanr — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:17:52 -0500

The County Commissioners will provide its comments to staff on the draft Comprehensive Plan. The public is welcome to attend to hear Board comments and discussions. Limited seating is available. An agenda for this meeting is posted on the County’s main website at: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/081014.htm
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Landfill Gas Project

Linda Convissor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:35:32 -0500

As part of our move to sustainable energy practices, the University is partnering with Orange County on a project to turn the landfill gas from the Orange County Landfill on Eubanks Road into energy. On Monday, October 13, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Orange County will host an information meeting on the project at the Seymour Center at 2551 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.

Landfills like the one on Eubanks Road produce landfill gas, created as the waste stored there decomposes. The landfill gas then escapes into the atmosphere and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This project would collect the gas and transport it to University property where it would be converted to electricity. This electricity would be used for power at the Giles Horney complex on Martin Luther King Boulevard and later for buildings at Carolina North.

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Wasting economic development

Ruby Sinreich — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:58:02 -0500

I have to say that besides Eubanks Road, Hillsborough (or of any of our municipalities) is about the worst place I can imagine putting our future waste transfer station. Apparently the two sites being looked at there are in an economic development zone. Unless they are planning for it to heavy industrial development, it doesn't seem like a good fit. (The DTH has a small graphic of the top 10 sites and Hillsborough's response to the two sites on their doorstep.)
These suggestions are so off the wall that I am wondering if they're preparing us for something really awful. I am ready for the Commissioners to get rid of the siting consultants and step up to take some responsibility for our county's garbage for a change.
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Bolin Creek Festival

Ruby Sinreich — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:46:15 -0500

From BolinCreek.org:

The 5th Annual Bolin Creek Festival will be from 11am-5pm, October 4th at Umstead Park in Chapel Hill. Featuring local artist Dale Morgan, music by Club Boheme, Skeedaddle, Project Mastana—passionate Bollywood dance music, and rhythm circles by the Music Explorium. Special activities for children will include the introduction to stream critters and the popular Enviroscape by the Chapel Hill Stormwater Office.

Engaging the US Financial/Democratic Crisis: a Workshop with Robert G. Williams

sammy slade — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:21:26 -0500

A workshop on the current US financial crisis/crisis in democratic governance, with the noted economist Robert G. Williams, John K. Voehringer Jr. Professor of Economics, and Chair, Department of Economics, Guilford College, and author of the Money Changers: A Guided Tour through Global Currency Markets (Zed Books, 2006).

Sponsored by: Department of Anthropology, UNC Chapel Hill

I wasn't that impressed with Ann Arbor

monicarol.evans — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:26:53 -0500

I was fortunate enough to be a scholarship participant on the Inter-City Visits to Madison and Ann Arbor. I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, but I found that I am unable to stop comparing the Madison experience to the Ann Arbor experience.
This exercise, of course, is completely unfair. Mainly because, in my opinion, Madison wins. In everything. Hands down. Period. Ann Arbor doesn't stand a chance.
Madison has an abundance of natural beauty. It had a really great downtown that seemed accessable to both students and other people. It has the Overture Center, which always takes my breath away, and Madision is a hotbed for creativity and technology. It is so much what I want for Chapel Hill.
But Ann Arbor is different (duh). I didn't see anything particularly beautiful or extrodinary about it. Ann Arbor seems much more into function, rather than form. It ain't Madison, but it has its good parts.
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