Turn out. Take action.
Be part of this historic event.
March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm local time
World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions. Visit website…
March 24th is lobby day for all Florida citizens to ask for Renewable Energy Dividends…this initiative allows us to afford to install solar power on our roofs of our business and homes paid for by dividends! Follow the links to immediately get involved.
Time is energy!
Posted for Rob Roy, Seargent of Arms for Farenergy, and driver of www.mygogreenexpress.com
Dear Business Leaders,
The Gulf Coast Energy Network and its partners are hosting Power Up 2009 Energy Conference & Expo (April 9-11) here in Ft Walton Beach. The Executive Steering Committee selected the Ft Walton Beach-Destin area for its regional conference for many factors. The economic growth potential, the leadership at the City and County levels, and our unmatched natural resources made the area such an attractive destination for this 4-day event.
The event features six technical sessions on Energy Technology, Energy Policy, Finance/Economic Development, Bioenergy, Building Science, and Low Impact Development. We have recruited local and regional speakers for this event to include a Welcome Address from Florida’s own US Senator Bill Nelson. We have estimated that this event will have an economic impact of $330,000 on our local economy.
The Committee has discussed moving next year’s event to Tallahassee, but I am lobbying to keep the event here in 2010. But, I need your help. I need to show strong support from the business community in our area. I need to call on you to considering showing your support for conferences/events such as this. The Conference Center is a resources that can help drive our local economy. Your support sends the message that this area supports major conferences such as Power Up.
We have incorporated a Student Research Poster Competition to held at Power Up 2009. We have some incredibly talented students working on some fascinating research. Unfortunately, we have lost the sponsor that had agreed to cover the travel expenses for our students. We have interested students that have committed to attend and we have secured the prize money, we just don’t have a way to cover the lodging for students. It costs $66 for lodging and meals for each student and we have about 20 students presenting at the event. At least 15 students applied for the travel scholarship. Their respective universities will cover the actual travel, but not lodging, in some cases.
Here’s how you can help: Your company/organization can consider sponsoring a student(s) by covering their travel costs to allow them to present at our event. Or, you can pass this information along to anyone that you think might be able to help. We will acknowledge all sponsors at the Awards Ceremony and in the Program Agenda.
We want to encourage tomorrow’s leaders to continue to work in these important areas and we would hate to have to turn away any of these students.
Thanks your time and thanks for your help. Please contact me with any questions.
Dave Robau
850-855-2108
850-501-6674
Okaloosa County Science Fair, March 2009
AT&T said Wednesday that over the next decade it will replace 15,000 vehicles, or about 20% of its fleet, with cars and trucks powered by compressed natural gas, electricity and other alternative fuels.
“AT&T is making the largest-ever commitment by any U.S. company to purchase alternative fuel vehicles,” AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson said Wednesday morning in a speech in Washington.
He said the $565 million initiative will cut AT&T(T)’s gasoline bill by an estimated 49 million gallons and reduce carbon emissions by 211 million metric tons as its alt fuel fleet grows from about 100 vehicles now on the road. “That’s good for the environment and it will reduce our reliance on foreign oil – my new neighbor Boone Pickens and I have talked a lot about that,” Stephenson said.
Pickens, the Texas oil wildcatter-turned-wind magnate, advocates using natural gas as fuel for cars and trucks rather than to make electricity, which would be supplied by massive wind farms.
“Smart American companies can be green and profitable and they don’t have to trade one for the other,” Pickens said in a statement Wednesday.
The communications giant will spend $350 million to buy 8,000 compressed natural gas, or CNG, vehicles and $215 million on electric hybrid cars made in the United States. That could be a small boost for battered automakers General Motors (GM) and Ford (F). (Of course, it could also be good news for those other leading “domestic” alt fuel manufacturers, Honda (HMC) and Toyota (TM).)
A U.S. car maker will build the chassis for the CNG vehicles and AT&T will have them converted to run on compressed natural gas. The $350 million for CNG also includes the cost of installing a network fueling stations. All told, AT&T said 1,000 jobs will be created or saved through the program. Abut 7,100 AT&T passenger cars will be retired in favor of electric hybrids and other alt fuel vehicles.
The Mattie M. Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute at Northwest Florida State College will host the second annual Mattie Kelly Environmental Symposium on the Choctawhatchee Basin on May 1, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the college’s Niceville campus. This year’s them is the “Choctawhatchee Basin: Developing a Sustainable Vision.” More info
White-Wilson Medical Center “Goes Green!” WWMC is taking initiative to change the way business is done on the Emerald Coast. View press release
Earn Your Certified Green Professional (CGP) Designation APRIL 14 – 16, 2009. More info
The 2009 Fort Walton Beach Earth Day/Arbor Day Committee is accepting applications for vendors to participate in the 5th Annual Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 17, 2009, at The Fort Walton Landing on Brooks Street. The event is hosted by the City of Fort Walton Beach, University of West Florida Emerald Coast and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. View press release