The Viable Climate

Monday, May 18, 2015

Moving Gay Head Lighthouse Part of the 3D Division's work come to fruition!

The day has come when the Gay Head Lighthouse is to be moved from its current location on the western end of Martha's Vineyard, to a new safer location. However, the new location is only about 130 feet back where the lighthouse will rest on a newly formed concrete platform. The lighthouse was settled on the edge of the Gay Head Cliffs, which were created about 20 million years ago from the receding of the glaciers. The lighthouse became at risk when erosion was a threat to the cliffs where they would lose about two feet every year.

Richard Saltzberg
http://www.mvtimes.com/2015/05/13/gay-head-lighthouse-move-is-on-track/

Thursday, April 30, 2015

We are looking for an Instrument Operator. Is that YOU?!

Instrument Operator/Surveyor

A well-established North Shore based firm providing land development, land surveying, 3D mapping, civil engineering, renewable energy and sustainability consulting services to residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public sector clients seeks to fill an immediate opening for an Instrument Operator/Surveyor.

The successful candidate MUST be ambitious and eager to contribute immediately to the success of on-going projects and a progressive organization and be willing to travel throughout New England with occasional possibility of national/international travel.

The successful candidate shall have a minimum of (1) year of experience in all aspects of land surveying. The candidate should be familiar with robotic total station instruments, electronic data collection, and GPS. 10 hour OSHA Construction Safety & Health Certification and experience with AutoCAD, Carslon Serv. CE, and TDS Software is desired, but not required.

Benefits package includes: Health Insurance, 401K R Benefits package includes: retirement Plan, Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, Short/Long Term Disability, Sick and Vacation Days, and Holiday Schedule.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter with salary requirements along with a resume to eneville@meridianassoc.com. No Phone Calls Please. To learn more about Meridian Associates, Inc., please visit our website at www.meridianassoc.com.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Why do elected Senators and Representatives in Congress ignore the opinions and priorities of American People?

Opposing views in the battle between large-scale power generation sources are often categorized by those who want inexpensive electricity vs. those who favor renewable resources to lessen our collective contribution to the devastating effects of climate change.

This assumption is false.

Over 90% of our current electric supply is sourced from carbon based fuel and has continued to rise and is disconnected from declining trends in fuel costs.

Using renewable sources of energy have reached grid parity, producing electricity at or below the cost of carbon based fuels.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress who promote carbon-emitting sources are economically driven by their donor base principally in the oil and coal industries. Their voting record and political views have nothing to do with the cost of electricity or (sadly) the preferences and requests of voters. The exception to this is obviously in the coal & oil producing states that see renewable alternatives as a threat to their livelihood and would rather disregard the catastrophic impact of climate change.

“I’m not a scientist either, but I can use my brain, and I can talk to one,” Crist said at a Florida State University presentation on greenhouse gases and rising sea levels... Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist

As you may read below, almost every category (except extremists in the Tea Party) want their energy to come from renewable sources and want Congress to act on climate change.

· 97% of National Medical Association (NMA) members said climate change is happening the NMA is the main association for African-American physicians). 62% said it is mostly or entirely caused by human activities.^{^[i]}

· 78% of Americans say the federal government should limit greenhouse gases, including 87% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans.^{^[ii]}

· 87% of small business owners named one or more consequences of climate change as potentially harmful to their businesses.^{^[iii]}

· 66% of Americans would be more likely to support a candidate who believes in global warming and wants to act on it, including 81% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans. Only 13% of Americans would be more likely to support a candidate who believes global warming is a hoax.²

· 88% of NMA members think the U.S. should make a large scale effort to protect people from current effects of climate change even if it has large economic costs, or a medium scale effort to protect people even if it has medium economic costs.¹

· 70% of Americans think the federal government should limit the release of greenhouse gases from existing power plants in an effort to reduce global warming, including 78% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans.^{^[iv]}

· 70% of Americans think the federal government should require states to limit the amount of greenhouse gases produced within their borders, in an effort to reduce global warming, including 79% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans.⁵

· 63% of Americans would support restrictions that significantly lowered greenhouse gases but raised energy bills by $20/month, including 71% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans.⁵

· 67% of Americans support the EPA’s rule regulating carbon dioxide.^{^[v]}

· 80% of Americans say the federal government should provide tax breaks to produce more electricity from water, wind, and solar power, including 83% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans.²

· According to a survey by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, “Americans across political lines, except conservative Republicans, think government, (including their own member of Congress, their governor, local government officials, and President Obama) should do more to address global warming.”⁴

The overwhelming consensus among scientists is that fossil fuel use is the largest contributor to high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and that continuing our high consumption risks even more serious environmental change. Americans understand the tradeoffs required for energy, and are willing to make them. They understand that wind and solar energy is cleaner than fossil fuels, and that oil and nuclear energy is more expensive than natural gas or coal. Contrary to the common political debate, Americans’ energy preferences are not based on partisanship.⁷

Climate change is happening. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of climate scientists have confirmed that human actions are causing global warming. Even though it has been cold in the U.S. recently, 2014 was the warmest year on record and 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred in the 21^st century.

“Admit it. In some fashion, you’ve probably given voice to the thought. If climate change is real — if the world is supposedly heating up — then how come last winter was so long and our summer so cool? It’s because our perspective is skewed. We’re like a guy with his head in the refrigerator while his house is burning down, thinking nothing’s wrong.” -Tom Keane, Boston Globe

Republicans and some members of the Democratic Party embrace the pentagon and throw their full, unwavering support for almost unlimited resources and maintain a blind commitment to the recommendations by senior military personnel – except when the Navy Task Force on Energy forcefully chastises Congress for “ignoring the warnings” of climate change.

The Rolling Stone article titled “The Pentagon and Climate Change: How Deniers Put National Security at Risk”. The incendiary title illustrates the mounting frustration and disgust the Joint Chiefs of Staff exhibit toward Congress.

Donald E. Bowen, Jr., P.L.S.
Principal

[i] http://climatechangecommunication.org/sites/default/files/reports/
20140623%20FINAL%20REPORT%20OF%20KEY%20FINDINGS%20NMA%20SURVEY.pdf

[ii] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/29/us/global-warming-poll.html

[iii] http://asbcouncil.org/sites/default/files/asbcpollreportclimateenergypolicyreform_final.pdf

[iv] http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/06/02/National-Politics/Polling/release_346.xml

[v] http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/06/18/obama-carbon-rule-backed-by-most-americans-wsjnbc-poll/

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Celebrate Earth Day

What IS Earth Day?

In 1970, millions of Americans concerned about the environment observed the first "Earth Day." The event, the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, was designed to increase public awareness of the world's environmental problems. Students from thousands of colleges and universities across the United States participated in rallies, marches, and educational programs in a show of unity for the grassroots environmental movement.

~ Journal Star

Earth Day 2015 - by RayCorp

What is happening in New England?

For Kids!		For Adults
Earth Day, noon to 3pm, Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History, 235 Wellesley St., Weston. Decorate recycled items with stamps, make stamp crafts and play games. Free with admission. 781-768-8367; spellman.org.		At Garden in the Woods' annual Earth Day Celebration take a guided walking tour and learn about the site's history, design, and conservation efforts. Special activities from noon-4 p.m. $5 for adults, $1.50 for children 17 and under. Garden in the Woods,180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham. 508-877-7630. newenglandwild.org
Celebrate eARTh Day!, 11am - 3pm, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Turn trash into treasures by making recycled art. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org		Picnic for the Planet The Guinness World Record for the largest global picnic is on the line. Help break the record by breaking bread from noon-3 p.m., and celebrate Earth Day with local vendors, family-friendly activities, and a nature treasure hunt. April 22 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. Free. Boston Common Frog Pond. www.nature.org/bostonpicnic
Earth Day, 10am - 3pm, Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Road, Boston. A fun day to raise awareness for the planet. Meet the zookeepers, watch animal enrichment activities, and much more. Free with admission. 617-541-5466; franklinparkzoo.org		Race Against Extinction 5K Runners and walkers (both the two-legged kind and the four-legged kind) are invited to participate in a 5K at Artesani Park in Boston on Sunday. Proceeds from the race will be donated to The World Wildlife Fun and The Nature Conservancy. 11 a.m., $25, Artesani Park, 1255 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston. www.theraceagainstextinction.org

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Mendon, MA approval for a solar farm

Some wonderful news for the Sustainability division. The Mendon, MA planning board approved the planning for a solar farm.

"Bluewave representative Lexi Barlow and Meridian Associates engineer Adam Christie presented the project to the board.

"(The solar panel) rows will be spaced 12 feet apart to allow for access and avoid shading," Christie said Monday. "They can be put in place with the existing contours of the land ... we'll be clearing approximately 13 acres of land.""

For more information on the proceedings:

Mendon: Planning Board approves solar farm plan

Monday, April 20, 2015

Rebates in Massachusetts $750 - $2500 dollars!

Receiving a rebate of $750 to $2500??!!

Something to be excited about!
Before leaving office the Patrick Administration offered a great incentive for Electric Vehicles. Duly named Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) Program.

There are a few stipulations to receiving this rebate after submitting the application:

Within 3 months of the purchase or lease date of a new vehicle
After taking possession of the vehicle
Prior to exhaustion of available rebate funds (Rebates are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.)

There are also specific amounts based on the vehicle. Vehicle, by their definition includes both 4 and 2 wheeled, so if you are riding an electric motorcycle, you MAY qualify!

For a listing of the qualified vehicles: https://mor-ev.org/eligible-vehicles-list

Thus far there have been significant refunds, but the more people who move over to Electric will not only help the environment but also help their pockets!