Going Green!

The Citizens Advisory Committee of the Center for the Inland Bays is keeping steadfast to their priorities on cleaning up the Inland Bays watershed. At their August meeting, in continuing their advocacy for cooling tower technology at the Indian River Power Plant to reduce fish kills, for cleaning up present coal ash piles “by the best scientific way as soon as possible” and expressing their position on land use, CAC members put those priorities on the table.

Bethany Beach planning commissioners this week continued their work on town legislation related to “green” energy systems with work on a second draft of a proposed ordinance on solar energy systems.

The Center for the Inland Bays’ Science and Technical Advisory Committee met on Friday, Aug. 21, at the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown, to discuss a variety of topics related to the area’s environment.

On a fabulously windy day – the kind of day wind-energy proponents dream of as a backdrop – Gov. Jack Markell joined DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, state Rep. Gerald Hocker, state Sen. George Howard Bunting and other dignitaries at Delaware Seashore State Park to celebrate a wind-energy partnership with the installation of two 45-foot-tall Skystream 3.7 wind generators.

Kathleen Cramer, Ruth McNeill and Peter Sarafa, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Bethany Beach, have earned the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.

With recently adopted state legislation removing much of local and county governments’ and home owners’ associations’ ability to prohibit the installation of wind turbines for power generation, even those who support wind power have been left wondering who — if anyone — is now enforcing requirements to keep those installations safe, and what exactly those requirements should be.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued its 2009 report, “Testing the Waters,” listing Delaware beaches as first in beachwater quality.

DNREC’s Division of Air and Waste Management, Air Quality Management Section will conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the air permit applications filed by Indian River Power, LLC Millsboro, to construct air pollution control equipment necessary to comply with state and federal air quality regulations and the Department’s Consent Decree for the facility.

As August rolls around and students get ready to go back to school, the “going green” movement is alive and well, as part of the college community and curriculum, both nationally and here locally.

Secretary Collin O’Mara of The Department of Natural resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) recently issued a Coastal Zone Act permit to Granthan Lane Associates, LLC., a New Castle construction company whose works includes demolition and excavation of existing roadway.

Smokers have to step outside at the VFW Post 7234 in Ocean View after a decision to curtail the health affects of second-hand smoke for the members.

Around 8:15 on Tuesday morning, July 28, while employees at the Indian River Indian River Generating Station near Millsboro were performing routine maintenance on an ash silo, an inspection port on the silo failed, causing ash to land on the concrete floor, NRG officials said Tuesday. Some ash, which they said is a nonhazardous byproduct of coal-powered generation, created a cloud for a time.

In a fitting complement to receiving $19.2 million in stimulus money from the EPA recently, for environmental projects throughout Sussex County and the rest of Delaware, several pieces of legislation were signed into law after the most recent General Assembly session, in an effort to help “green” the state.

While most of the focus of the waning hours of the legislative session was on the state’s finances, several pieces of legislation were considered and cleared the General Assembly Tuesday night, June 30, into Wednesday morning, July 1.

Jennifer Hughes of ResortQuest Real Estate has been awarded the National Association of Realtor’s (NAR’s) Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.

In recognition of the contribution Delaware agriculture makes to the state’s economy and quality of life, Gov. Jack Markell last week presented a proclamation to Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee that designates the summer of 2009 as “Delaware Eat Local Summer ’09.”

In an effort to encourage the design and construction of greener buildings in Delaware, the state has joined the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Citizen’s Advisory Committee – one of two standing committee to the Center for Inland Bays – heard on June 24 from outgoing Indian River High School senior Crystal Wright, about the school’s schoolyard habitat, as well as from Fenwick Island Town Councilman Todd Smallwood about Fenwick Island’s stormwater management and from Sussex County Councilwoman Joan Deaver.

In terms of green projects, there are involved projects such as solar panels or rooftop windmills, wherein a return on investment can be calculated out to the penny, depending on the system, the geography, any rebates offered, and, of course, time. And then there is green that simply makes good financial sense right away.

As the nation has seen an upturn in more people struggling with everyday needs, such as keeping a roof over their head and having sufficient food to eat, there has been a renewed interest in “back to basics” living.