whna | Entries tagged with environment

Via the "Foss Park Friends" mailing list:

Hi Everyone

You are invited to participate in a Community Meeting (via ZOOM) reporting on research done by the CAFEH research team on how traffic related air pollution and noise affects the health and wellbeing of Somerville residents.

to register go here
https://tufts.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YHwhMwWoTUG5w56zK83vvg

Jun 1, 2020 05:00 to 6:00 PM

--
Benjamin Echevarria Jr.
Executive Director
The Welcome Project

++++++++++++++

You are invited to participate in a Community Meeting (via ZOOM)

reporting on research done by the CAFEH research team on how traffic

related air pollution and noise affects the health and wellbeing of

Somerville residents.

At the meeting we will cover what we have learned about the

impact of traffic related air pollution on health, the results of

noise testing along I-93 and how noise pollution affects our health.

And, We will present the results of recent air pollution monitoring

during the Covid pandemic when traffic has been very reduced in

comparison to the more typical heavy traffic traveling through

Somerville.

mem_winterhill

I just got this email from GECA. I bought my car through their electric vehicles program. But I liked this and wanted to post it because I thought their explanation of the Class 1 green energy was helpful. People who I spoke with had concerns about that, but I didn't explain it as well as they do here. It supports the production of local green energy by funding projects around this area.

Somerville's program details: https://cce.somervillema.gov/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Mary,

Have you been solicited by "green" electricity suppliers like CleanChoice Energy? Maybe you want to support renewable energy, but are skeptical if your money will actually go toward shifting our electricity away from fossil fuels. You're right to be skeptical!

Don't take the bait.

Your community already has a great community electricity aggregation program, ensuring that everyone in town is helping to add more renewable energy to our electric grid with each and every bill (affordably). But the competing offers from other suppliers are not so green.

Here's a quick summary of why your community's program is better.

When you buy green electricity, you want this to happen.

But guess what? It doesn't always. You can buy renewable energy to line someone's pockets, or you can buy renewable energy to help build more of it. How do you tell the difference?

In MA & RI, laws require that utilities and suppliers buy an increasing amount of local "Class 1" or "new" renewable energy on our behalf. This creates an incentive to build renewable generators in New England, and by voluntarily choosing to add more Class 1, your whole community is driving up demand.

Most "green" electricity suppliers only offer what's required by law, and the rest comes from projects that don't need your money. If it's not Class 1, you're doing nothing to help shut down fossil fuel plants in our region, or anywhere else.

Lucky for you, your community's aggregation is focused on Class 1. If your interest is piqued, go more in depth on our blog: https://blog.greenenergyconsumers.org/blog/there-are-three-ways-to-buy-green-electricity-two-are-good-and-one-is-bad

mem_winterhill

Via: https://www.facebook.com/events/2479015989080787/

In February 2019, Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced the historic Green New Deal resolution, a bold set of goals that calls for a national mobilization to transform the economy, fight climate change, and create millions of jobs. In Congress, Ed is fighting for the climate action we need to avert a catastrophe.

Central to the Green New Deal resolution is ensuring a democratic, inclusive process for determining how we move forward as a nation. Ed invites you to join him in Somerville for a town hall discussion on the Green New Deal and more.

DATE: Thursday, February 13th
TIME: 6:30pm – 8:00pm (Doors open at 6pm)
LOCATION: Somerville High School
ADDRESS: 81 Highland Ave., Somerville

Public Transportation: The high school is served by MBTA bus routes 80, 88, and 90
Parking: On street parking will be permitted in the surrounding area for non-residents from 6pm-8:30pm

mem_winterhill

A good piece about a greener option, and how we are actually making progress in Somerville on this.

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/save-the-planet-and-money-at-the-same-time/

Save the planet and money at the same time

Renewables now; natural gas is not a bridge fuel

Starting New Years’ Day, 26 percent of the electricity used in Somerville will be generated from renewable sources. That’s up from 20 percent in 2019. The share of renewables will rise to 30 percent in 2022 and we should be above 50 percent before the end of the next decade. What’s even more notable is the cost to local ratepayers will be 15 percent lower than Eversource’s standard residential rate. You’re reading this correctly; we are increasing our share of renewable energy and lowering consumer costs at the same time.

mem_winterhill

Some of you may be aware of the issues around the particulate pollution that we are exposed to, thanks to the traffic that goes through Somerville each day. I participated in the Tufts study a while back, and am glad to see that this knowledge is getting around.

WGBH has a 3 part series on this.

1. Car Pollution In Boston Area Neighborhoods Poses Health Risk To Residents, New Research Finds https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2019/09/22/car-pollution-in-boston-neighborhoods-poses-health-risk-to-residents-new-research-finds

2. Dangerous Air Pollution Is Getting Into Schools And Homes Near Highways, Research Shows https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2019/09/23/dangerous-air-pollution-is-getting-into-schools-and-homes-near-highways-research-shows

3.Communities Surrounding Logan Airport Exposed To Harmful Air Pollution, Research Finds https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2019/09/24/air-pollution-from-logan-airport-harms-surrounding-communities-research-shows

mem_winterhill

Via Tim Devin on twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_Devin/status/1167426427769298946

Up until the late 1800s, a stream ran from Spring Hill to Union Square in Somerville. It never had a name, and there’s no record of when it was buried—and that speaks volumes about our civic ancestors’ views on nature.

Join me for a group exploration of where the river went; what it might’ve looked like; what lead to the decision to bury it; and what the long-term effects are of burying an urban waterway.

Starting point: Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (in the first floor entrance way / hallway)

Date & time: Sat., Sept. 14, 11-12:30pm

Rain date & time: Sun., Sept. 15, 11-1230pm

FREE!

This program is supported in part by the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. And special thanks to the Armory for letting us meet there!

mem_winterhill

Via the Sustainaville July newsletter:

Somerville's new curbside textile recycling program starts next week. If you currently receive City trash and recycling service and you haven't received your pink bag by the end of this week, please contact Simple Recycling. Once you have a bag, you can fill it with used clothing and shoes and put it out next to your trash and recycling bins on your regular trash/recycling day. For more information please visit somervillema.gov/textilerecycling or contact Simple Recycling at info@simplerecycling.com or 866-835-5068.

mem_winterhill

Another find on reddit--I never heard about this anywhere else. Original entry (can find redacted emails there): https://redd.it/8s5ave

Community Meeting – Sound Walls to Reduce Noise and Air Pollution along I-93 in Somerville

Monday, June 25, 2018, 6 – 8 pm (free pizza & drinks)

Community Assembly Room, Assembly Square

50 Middlesex Avenue, Somerville (behind the Kmart store)

Contact: Ellin Reisner [reisner51@[redacted]] | 617-776-1987 and visit http://sites.tufts.edu/cafeh/

Background info:

---------------------

When I-93 was built in the 1970’s the state was supposed to build sound walls along the highway. It never happened.

What can you do to help?

Help us Measure Noise along I-93 in Somerville to determine if we need sound walls and where to put them.
Get involved in the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to collect and share information about sound walls along I-93.

Attend Community Meetings to learn about:
Proposal to build sound walls along I-93 in Somerville
Research on how people’s health is affected by near highway air pollution along I-93 in Somerville
History of I-93 in Somerville
Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

Your questions and concerns
Visit our website http://sites.tufts.edu/cafeh/
Organizers: Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP); The Welcome Project; Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Tufts University, Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health Study (CAFEH)

mem_winterhill

Hey neighbors--we made the news. For pollution. But also attempts to do better.

https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-04-10/better-air-means-better-health-in-somerville-massachusetts

BTW, some of us participated in the particulate studies. Ian posted about them here: https://whna.dreamwidth.org/9298.html

mem_winterhill

Just came across my emails. As part of Sustainaville week, the city is offering a bus trip to an abbey. We will see some green energy, and obtain some carbohydrate energy, it seems.

Here's what I got in the letter:

Somerville's SustainaVille week is coming up, and we're getting involved. On April 28th, we're co-hosting a renewable energy tour with Somerville's Office of Sustainability and Environment to show off the big impacts of Somerville Community Choice Electricity (CCE). You'll see wind, solar, and even geothermal in action.

Come on the tour!

The tour is free & open to the public!

We're offering a free bus ride from Somerville High School to beautiful Mount St. Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, MA. There, we'll see solar and a 100kW wind turbine (supported by Somerville's CCE program) up close. We'll also enjoy a free tasting of Trappistine Candy, handmade onsite by the Sisters of the Abbey.

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainaville-wind-solar-tour-with-handmade-candy-tasting-tickets-43751355482

mem_winterhill

Hello neighbors--

I have some terrific news. In fact, it's probably my favorite thing that happened this year. A local non-profit has been selected to get the 5kW array that was a result of our success with Solarize Somerville. It has just been announced today:

https://www.somervillema.gov/SolarDonation

"Local non-profit CASPAR, Inc. (Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation) will soon expand its tremendously positive impact on the community. The organization was selected to receive a 5kW solar array donation that, once in place, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and lower utility bills. The 5kW array donation from SolarFlair, the City’s installation partner, is the result of resident participants exceeding the goal of the citywide Solarize Somerville initiative to install 400 kW of installed solar capacity. So far, SolarFlair has installed 99 solar arrays, adding 531.34 kW of installed solar capacity to Somerville."

[more details over at the link]

Thanks so much to the volunteers who helped to get the word out during our program, and to those of you who were able to participate in the program to help us reach this goal.

In the spring we'll have a celebration when they get their panels done. I'm delighted that this very worthy cause--in this time of the opioid crisis--can benefit from this green power and help them with their baby laundry and breast pumps!

I hope this will warm your hearts during this chilly winter time, and that you have wonderful holidays, whatever you celebrate.

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Winter Hill Neighborhood Association

Unofficial forum of Somerville Winter Hill Neighbors

Entries tagged with environment

Community meeting on Traffic Pollution in Somerville | Jun 1, 2020 05:00 PM

Somerville's Community Choice Electricity (CCE), explained

Here's a quick summary of why your community's program is better.

Green New Deal Town Hall | Sen. Markey Feb 13, SHS, 6:30pm

Joe Curtatone on Green Electricity for the city

Particulate pollution in Somerville, WGBH covers it

The River Never Left Us: Let's Explore A Long-Buried Stream

Textile recycling starts Monday 7/30/2018

Community Meeting – Sound Walls to Reduce Noise and Air Pollution along I-93, Monday, June 25

Fighting for Breath in Near-Highway Neighborhoods

Tour a wind turbine, and have candy. Apr 28

Solarize Somerville donated solar array announced

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