Page 6 - North American Clean Energy May/June 2019 Issue

editor's note
news bites
MY CHILDREN’S SCHOOL SENT OUT AN EMAIL ALERTING
parents that they conducted yet another lockdown drill. e rst few emails made me feel a little on edge, but now it’s about as worrying as a re drill. No big deal, right? We’ve all had to line up in the hall, our teachers warning us to keep quiet
as they attempted to lead us out of the building in an orderly fashion. Fire drills could be a blessing in disguise if they were timed just right to help you avoid taking a test you hadn’t studied for, or if you just wanted to talk to your friends (quietly) and get some fresh air. Lockdown drills are di erent. In the shadow of the recently acknowledged 20th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting, and the 18th anniversary of 9/11 coming up in just a few months, our attitude about preparedness has changed drastically.
In 2007, the Department of Education outlined security procedures that require most schools to conduct drills that “respond to an emergency situation including, but not limited to, a non- re evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation and that is similar in duration to a re drill.”1
Sadly, due to the frequency of these drills and subsequent emails, I’ve begun to feel a bit complacent about the whole thing.
At least I know my kids are getting practice at school. Considering the lack of disaster preparedness in my own home, I’m in no danger of being nominated for Mother of the Year. My house has re detectors with working batteries (thanks
to their piercing cry for attention that has us all scrambling around the house, waiting to hear which one is the culprit). My kids know how to crawl on the oor beneath the smoke, to avoid online strangers, and to dial 911.
But if there’s a town wide major emergency, I’m embarrassed to admit that we don’t have a plan of where to go or where to meet. I guess the assumption is that we’d all use our phones to either call each other, or wait for help from the powers that be. But what if the “powers that be” no longer had any power?
I had an up close and personal experience with the disruption caused by Hurricane Sandy when it hit us here on the east coast. Lives were lost, tempers ared, and people in the midst of the blackouts and power outages and fuel shortages quickly lost patience with how long it took for those in charge to get their acts together. Given the weeks we spent waiting for basic services to come back online, you’d have thought the utility companies had never considered
the possibility of a big storm. It’s easy to examine a disaster in retrospect, trying to dissect all that went wrong in the hopes of preventing a repeat. It’s a lot
harder to trust that we won’t su er the same problems in the future. No doubt emergencies have been averted thanks to past lessons learned and thoughtful preparation, but we so rarely hear about any positive news that I’d be surprised if those successes were widely reported.
Green power can bene t from the decades of experience conventional energy has had learning how to prepare for, and recover from Mother Nature’s tantrums. After all, clean energy faces many of the same challenges from weather, unsuitable terrain, or hostile environments. While we have little control over the national grid, we have an obligation as an industry to take advantage of our remarkable talent to develop cutting edge technology that solves problems, and to disarm threats before they lead to catastrophe.
In our second annual Extreme Conditions issue, you’ll read about the advancements your peers are making as they address some of the most punishing elements on earth. We’re relative newcomers on the energy
scene, rushing into the future while still trying to heed the warnings of our predecessors. Yet, we are all thoroughly connected, so - whether they are old or new - ensuring our regional power sources and national network are prepared for disaster is in everyone’s interest.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
– the late Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man
Meg
1 https://www.nj.gov/education/schools/security/drill/Guide.pdf
Contest launches with $500,000 prize
e NYC Curb-To-Market Challenge (CTMC) is a contest o ering a $500,000 prize for the best idea and business plan to repurpose New York City’s recyclable waste and locally manufacture a product to sell in the New York City market. e winning entry will demonstrate the most e cient, sustainable, and environmentally aware way to implement the entire process of sourcing and converting the recycled waste for use, manufacture a product locally in New York City, and sell the product to the largest potential market. e winning business plan will receive a $500,000 prize, split between a $100,000 cash prize and a $400,000 equity investment in the associated startup. e winning team or individual will also receive involved advising from the NYC CTMC founder Chris Gra , as well as access to a network of advisors and angel investors.
e application period opened on February 1 and will remain open through June 1, accepting proposals from applicants from New York City and beyond. Finalists will be own to New York City during the nal two weeks of June to present in front of the judging panel. e winning business plan will be announced on July 1.
The NYC CTMC /// www.curbtomarket.com
Walnut shells bring energy independence
Dixon Ridge Farms, a handler of California organic walnuts, has reached complete energy self-su ciency - with energy to spare, via the transformation of their walnut shells into renewable heat and power. is leadership in advancing sustainable climate change solutions in agriculture has led to the Farm’s receipt of California’s highest environmental honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Key to Dixon Ridge’s sustainability is their use of SynTech Bioenergy’s BioMax technology, which has led to the entire operation of 1400 acres and walnut processing being con rmed by UC Davis as greenhouse gas and carbon negative, producing about half of the emissions of comparable organic farm systems. By implementing SynTech's technology, Dixon Ridge Farms has demonstrated an advanced approach to clean energy in its farming practices and serves as an archetype for sustainable climate action in the agriculture industry.
SynTech Bioenergy /// www.syntechbioenergy.com
Vacation for a sustainable future
A popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotel in Saint Lucia, Calabash Cove Resort and Spa is a Caribbean gem o ering seclusion, beauty, and mesmerizing views at every turn. Along with reducing the use of plastics, the intimate 26-room property o ers the following green features: solar power to heat water, energy saving LEDs in
all light xtures, operates their own on-site water treatment plant and recycles the water for irrigation, timers for all pool pumps, collect rainwater, no disposable food containers or disposable cups and glasses, lunch boxes made from recycled material, straws made from degradable paper, no disposable plastics like cutlery or plates, all produce sourced from local farmers whenever possible, collects used kitchen oil and sends to a commercial laundry and Saint Lucia Distillers on island to use as fuel to heat laundry water or re a distillation still, extremely seldom fog grounds for mosquitos
to allow birdlife to ourish, grass cuttings are mulched back into the ground, kitchen waste is collected and given to a pig farmer and more.
Calabash Cove /// www.calabashcove.com
MAY•JUNE2019 /// www.nacleanenergy.com
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