APPALACHIAN ALTERNATIVES

Spring 2004     Number 79

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2004 ASPI EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

     June 5, 2004 Rockcastle River Day (see article)

     October 2, 2004 Solar Day

     October 16-17, 2004 - Bluegrass EnergyFest (see article)

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NET METERING BILL PASSES ON FINAL DAY OF 2004 LEGISLATIVE SESSION!

by Josh Bills

            It started three years ago when ASPI proposed a 1500-watt grid intertied demonstration solar system for our office that would offset the electricity used by our recently converted electric vehicle.  It was an effort to further our commitment to the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI - www.millionsolarroofs.org), through our then recently created Kentucky Solar Partnership.  Josh Bills contacted our electric service provider, Kentucky Utilities (KU), a subsidiary of Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) about the system.  It turned out that LG&E had some experience with net-metered systems through their Virginia subsidiary, Old Dominion Power, and were thus open to working with us on the project.

            LG&E drafted language for a 3-year pilot tariff for the Kentucky Public Service Commission allowing net metering for solar, wind and hydro power up to 10 kilowatts for residential and 25 kilowatts for commercial systems.  The Public Service Commission suspended the request for five months, then passed it on March 15, 2002.  The pilot programs were limited to 25 systems each for the KU and LG&E service areas.  Participation in these pilot programs was limited largely due to the size of the investment combined with the uncertainty of whether the programs would continue after the initial 3-year period, but a significant amount of interest was created, as evidenced by the 20+ attendees at our November 2003 net metering workshop.

            The first net metering bill was introduced in the January 2003 legislative session as HB 382. This optimistic bill never got out of the Energy and Tourism Committee, but it allowed us to introduce net metering to the committee.  They voted to discuss the idea during the interim and invited Josh to give a presentation to the Interim Special Energy Committee in October 2003.

            Providence smiled on us when Ernie Fletcher, Kentuckys new Governor, appointed Lajuana Wilcher as Secretary of the Environment and Public Safety Cabinet.  Ms. Wilcher had just attended our net metering workshop in November 2003, and her support was instrumental in pushing net metering forward during the 2004 legislative session.  Geoff Young of the Kentucky Division of Energy (KDOE) was also valuable in setting up meetings between the Cabinet and utility representatives.  Director John Davies and the KDOE as a whole were very supportive of the bill.

            SB 247 was signed by the governor on Earth Day, April 22, 2004.  The bill that ultimately passed was scaled back quite a bit during the legislative process.  It allows only net-metered solar systems of 15 kilowatts or less, which can comprise no more than .1% of peak power.  Every regulated utility in Kentucky will now be required to net meter customers with solar electric systems that qualify under the bill.  Despite the dilution of the bill, it is the greatest incentive the state has for solar electric power generation and it is an important step toward creating a viable renewable energy economy in Kentucky.

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Y'ALL COME ON DOWN TO RIVER DAY!

by Ben Perry

            Rockcastle River Day 2004 is the second edition of our "Revamped River Day."  The date for this year is June 5th.  We are trying to establish River Day as a popular local event, by reaching out to the community for participation in activities, in-kind donations and attendance.  River Day 2003 was aided by many generous donations of food and silent auction items from area businesses, but the turnout from the immediate area was low.  This year we are going to feature a new attraction and tweak a few others, in hopes of boosting attendance.  We also hope that the weather works in our favor.

            New this year be the "Taste of the Rockcastle," which will feature dishes prepared by locally-owned eateries.  Each dish will be accompanied by photos of the restaurant and staff, and a brief story about the restaurant, it's owner(s) and it's culinary (or hash slinging) philosophy.  We are also going to make a special effort to attract more of the many talented local musicians for the River Day Jam Session. 

            In addition, three attractions will be held over from last year.  River Day 2004 will incorporate our "Zero-Waste" goal again.  The softball-sized ball of trash that we produced last year was impressive for a first try, but we look forward to the day when the clean up is complete and nary a plastic wrapper nor sucker stick can be found.  We are going to have another silent auction this year as well, but we are limiting the auction to items from Rockcastle and surrounding communities. 

Last, but not least, we will proudly host the 2nd Annual Rockcastle River Day Rocktathalon.  Last year's Rocktathalon proved to be an excellent way to round out the day, and made for a lot of laughter and merriment.  High water forced us to cancel last year's river swim and the canoe portion of the Rocktathalon, so we adjusted on-the-fly and added a volleyball serve.  This year, we hope we can hold all five events: the swim, canoe, horseshoes, watermelon seed spitting and river cane toss.  We hope that Damien Mallen will return to defend his title, but we intend to recruit a few local ringers to give him a run for his money.  Contestants are encouraged to do their best, but serious competitors are strictly prohibited.

For those of you planning to attend: 1) Please bring no disposable containers and bring your own plates, cups and cutlery if you are so inclined, but we should have plenty for those who don't bring them.  2) You are welcome to bring a dish, or we request a $5 donation for those not bringing one.  Kids under 12 eat free.  3) For those of you that want to camp on-site or canoe the Livingston to I-75 stretch of the Rockcastle River (2 to 4 hours), call 606-256-0077 or email aspi@a-spi.org by the end of May.  Camping is free (donations appreciated) and canoeing costs $20 per person or $40 per canoe.  We hope to see many faces, old and new this year and we hope yours is among them.

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ENERGY UPDATES

BLUEGRASS ENERGY EXPO COMING INTO FOCUS

By Ben Perry

            The Bluegrass Energy Expo steering committee has done an outstanding job of sorting through the original heap of ideas and laying out the framework for an event that we hope will be a watershed event in Kentucky's energy future.  We have contracted for the Heritage Hall East and Heritage Ballrooms at the downtown Lexington Convention Center on October 16-17, 2004.  This will allow us 24,000 square feet of rented space, plus an attractive new "pre-function atrium area" with full daylighting, and a 45" x 140" parking lot adjacent to Main Street for solar displays, electric scooters, alternative-fuel vehicles and other such items.  There will also be hallways available, where we intend to allow non-profits to set up for a nominal fee or in exchange for volunteer time.  We have intentionally chosen the most central, accessible and egalitarian space we could find, for the purpose of attracting the broadest possible audience.

            The purpose of the Expo is to bring together the business, education, government and non-profit sectors to educate Kentuckians about proven energy solutions and connect them with marketers of energy-saving products and services.  The Target Audience is Home/Auto Owners and Families and the focus will be Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Attractions will include a Trade Show, Workshops, Exhibits and Demos, Children's Activities and Free Home Energy Consultations.  We are also planning some associated music, art and film events.

            The Expo Goals include: 1) Increasing public awareness of proven energy solutions; 2) Increasing demand for energy-saving products and services; 3) Connecting buyers with financing for these products and services; and 4) Expanding consumer awareness of renewable energy technologies.  We anticipate that the focus, goals and activities of the Expo will evolve over the years in response to an ever-more-sophisticated energy buying public, assuming we do our job effectively. 

            We have also acquired three great new steering committee members. They are:

            Rich Meisenhelder with the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center also joined the committee but had to drop out when  the Expo focus became strictly residential.

            As always, we welcome participation from any and all of our supporters.  If you own a business that fits the Expo theme, we welcome your participation as an exhibitor, sponsor or workshop presenter.  If you have a non-energy related business but want to support the event, we invite you to donate funds or employee volunteer hours, or buy an ad in the program/resource guide.  If you are an interested individual, we invite you to volunteer, donate, or refer appropriate businesses and individuals to us.  While certain skills are needed to make the event happen, it is enthusiastic volunteers that will make the Expo exceptional.  Contact Ben Perry at 606-256-0077 or benperry@a-spi.org, for booth space, sponsorships, donations and volunteer opportunities.  Contact Andy McDonald at 502-227-4562 or andyboeke@yahoo.com, regarding educational exhibits, demos or workshops.

KENTUCKY SOLAR PARTNERSHIP (KSP) and A-SPI
UNVEIL RENEWABLE ENERGY/GREEN BUILDING DIRECTORIES

by Andy McDonald

The Kentucky Renewable Energy and Green Builder Resource Directory is an on-line, searchable database of Kentucky businesses and professionals specializing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmentally-responsible building practices.  Those listed include architects, engineers, designers, consultants, the building trades, product manufacturers, and distributors.  The Directory is a project of the Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) and ASPI.

The Directory will go on-line in May 2004 and is seeking businesses and professionals to register.  Directory listings are free and completely voluntary.  Everyone who registers by June 9, 2004 will also be listed in the first print edition of the Kentucky Solar Energy Guidebook.  If you are aware of a company that you think should be listed, please send us an email at andyboeke@yahoo.com with the company's contact information, or ask a company representative to register by one of the means below.

KSP and ASPI make no endorsement or recommendation of firms and individuals listed in the Directory and registrants may not claim endorsement by KSP or ASPI as a result of being listed.  To register by mail, contact KSP at 50 Lair St., Mt. Vernon, KY 40456-9806. 
On-line: www.greenprofessionals.net/ky. 
By fax: (606) 256-2779. 
Please call (606) 256-0077 with any questions you may have.         

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NATURE CENTER NEWS

PRIDE GRANT UPDATES

By Sara Helton

April has proven very productive for the 2003-2004 PRIDE Grant project, which includes the planting of a wildlife garden and the construction of a bird blind/outdoor classroom.  We have purchased and planted a total of $700 dollars worth of native plants from the The Salato Center and Shooting Star Nursery, both in Frankfort.  An $800 Project Learning Tree Greenworks grant provided $200 of the Shooting Star Nursery purchase. 

            We hosted a field trip for St. Camillus Academy's PRIDE Club from Corbin, KY., on April 1st and they helped us plant the bird and butterfly gardens.  A variety of birdseed was also purchased, which the students placed in feeders and in the location of the future bird blind.  The students had a blast on their field trip.  Not only did they enjoy the planting and hanging of feeders, but most said their favorite part of the day was the hike on the Michael Francis Zalla Trail.  I went back and refilled the feeders last week, and there were several species of birds at the feeders, including nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, and a flock of about 50 goldfinches.  I was impressed, especially considering the short amount of time the feeders had been out (less than a week).

The bird blind plans are being worked on by Joshua Gilbert, my fiancé and head volunteer, and we hope to have all the needed materials purchased by May.  The goal is to have the project complete and ready to show off by River Day (June 5th).  Ceina Penn of the Pine Knot Job Corps is overseeing her student's work on the bird and bat houses for this project.

2003-2004 APPALACHIAN ECOLOGY PROGRAM WINDS DOWN, BUT NEW FUNDING ON THE WAY

by Bianca Hawkins

            In March, Bianca visited about 100 third graders at Whitley Central Elementary and the feedback from both students and teachers was very positive.  This put us over our goal of 1,000 students instructed for 2003-2004.  Pulaski Elementary was scheduled in April as well, but they cancelled at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts.  They are still very excited about the program and want to be first on the list for next fall when they have more time to devote to the curriculum.  April is testing month in Kentucky and most schools dont do field trips in May, so the student program is pretty much shut down for the season, however two Project Wet workshops for teachers were presented in April.

            This will conclude the project year supported by the Franciscan Friars - St. John the Baptist Province grant, but we are happy to announce that the Toyota Corporate Contributions Program has granted partial funding for the Appalachian Ecology Program for the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 schoolyears.  They are gifting $5,250 per year, which will cover half of the basic costs of the program, allowing about 1,500 students to receive the in-class instruction and visit to ASPI's Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center.  We are currently seeking matching funds for the project, which will allow 3,000 total students to experience the program over the 3-year period. 

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GINSENG NEWS

Note: Readers interested in more in-depth information about ASPI's Ginseng Project should contact us about our Appalachian Ginseng Foundation (AGF) newsletter.

DOCTORAL STUDENT TO EXPLORE OBSTACLES TO GINSENG MARKETS

By Ben Perry

            ASPI is happy to announce that Randi Pokladnik, a doctoral student at Antioch University will be working with us this year.  Randi has chosen to do her required 300-hour service project with our Appalachian Ginseng Foundation (AGF) and will be looking at obstacles to ginseng and other medicinal herb markets.  She anticipates that her work will involve interviews and surveys from growers, marketers and buyers.  She will be considering issues such as poaching and standardization of dosages.  Working with ASPI will allow her to get a jump on the research for her doctoral dissertation and she is looking forward to providing "hard labor" to further the work of the AGF.

            Her drive to improve markets for ginseng is fueled by several things.  She wants to try to find ways that rural folks can make a living on the land without degrading it.  She wants to help save the plants her Grandmother and Great Aunt cherished and taught her about as a child. Having had both parents die from cancer, she hopes that she might someday help find a cure in the forest.  She's "Pretty darn passionate about those hills!" and gets upset when she sees things like mountain top mining, which destroy herb harvests and alter forest ecology forever.  She reasons that people will be less likely to destroy and degrade the hills of Appalachia if they can see the value of healthy, intact forests.

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PUBLICATIONS

ASPI PUBLISHES HIGH PERFORMANCE (GREEN) BUILDING TECHNICAL PAPER

by Andy McDonald

            Appalachia- Science in the Public Interest (ASPI) is pleased to announce ASPI Technical Paper #71: High Performance Buildings- Bringing Environmentally Sound Building Practices into the Mainstream in Kentucky.  As the Introduction to the report states:

            The movement to make high performance building standard practice is gaining momentum in the United States and Kentucky.  "High performance building," also known as "green building", emphasizes reducing the impact of buildings on the environment.  Such buildings have been proven to provide &reduced long-term operational and maintenance costs and improved health and well-being for building occupants.

            This report provides an overview of the benefits and principles of high performance building.  It addresses activities around the USA and within Kentucky aimed at bringing high performance building into the mainstream.  Examples of green building initiatives in Kentucky are described, followed by strategies which can help this movement flourish in the Commonwealth. 

            This report demonstrates that the national movement for high performance building has arrived in Kentucky and is beginning to transform how buildings are constructed and energy is used in the Commonwealth.  Investing in high performance buildings can:

            To learn more about high performance building and how it is being applied in Kentucky, call us to order your copy of High Performance Buildings- Bringing Environmentally Sound Building Practices into the Mainstream in Kentucky.  The report also includes contact information for agencies and organizations working on green building in Kentucky along with a list of high performance building resources.

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THANK YOUS

David & Martha Lester, Richard & Martha Lammers, Betty Willson, Ed & Tricia Cortas & family, Kurt Waldheutter, Sabrina Kirby, Richard J. Hoar SJ, Walter Farrell SJ, Kathleen Zanio, Roger & Stacy Campbell, Donna Graham OSF, Sr. Rose Marie Cummins, Leonard Levine, John & Sarah Belanger, Ian Rudick, William Galbraith, Charles & Joy Perry, Katherine Thiel, Nancy Jackson, Mary E. Clark, John & Colleen Harmeyer, Tom & Joan Marsh, Sr. Joye Gros OP, Srs. Of Divine Providence, David Schmenk, Don Russell & Susan Morley, Elizabeth Elmlinger, Richard Mercy, Ten Percent Committee - Church of Epiphany, Stephen and Judith Peterson, Robin Reed, Paul Vogt, Angela Showalter, Sarah Moore.

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WISH LIST

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THE ASPI FLEA MARKET

            2004 Calendars - We still have more than 1,000 calendars left, so we are discounting them one last time to "Move 'Em Out".  Calendars will sell for $1.00 each in any quantity.  Shipping is $5.00 for 1-9 calendars, $7.00 for 10-24, $9 for 25 to a boxful (105-110).  For example, 20 calendars would cost $20 + $7 shipping + sales tax (in KY).

            Notecards - We still have ASPI Appalachian Wildflower & Appalachian Winter notecards.  The Wildflower notecards are all full-color pictures of daisies, roses, dogwood blossoms, rhododendron, phlox, and black-eyed susans growing near rustic structures such as split-rail fences and log cabins or in other Appalachian Settings.  The Appalachian Winter notecards are all black-and-white snow scenes of Appalachian mountains, forests, fencerows, barns and outbuildings, and are equally stunning. 

            Light Bulbs -  We stock 20 and 25 watt Compact Fluorescents - CFs (75 and 100 watt equivalents), 11 and 15 watt mini-CFs (40 and 60 watt equivalents), and 3-way 11-18-23 watt CFs (30-70-100 watt equivalents).  The 11 and 15 watt mini-CFs fit anywhere a standard light bulb fits.  Unlike older and cheaper CFs, these give off a warm light, light up instantly and dont flicker.  We have replaced all of our 40-watt tube fluorescents with 23 watt CFs here at the office.  Operating six hours a day, each 23 watt bulb will last almost five years, saving an average of $54 on electricity and 770 lbs of coal versus a standard 100 watt bulb.