Comments colinpeppard has made

  • Don't Forget Green Transportation!!

    I'm glad to see everyone excited about the potential for a "green stimulus."  Improving our economy by investing in our future and protecting us from climate change is the way forward!  But I am concerned about the inclusion of billions of dollars for roads and highways in every stimulus package I've seen so far!  

    A truly "green" stimulus or economic package must be about more than investments renewable energy, efficiency measures, smart grid technology, high-efficiency vehicles, and other electricity and fuel investments.  It needs to be about "green" transportation - mass transit and smart growth (mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable) development.  

    More roads will move both the economy and environment in the wrong direction.  More roads mean more driving, which means more carbon.  Not only will more roads move the carbon needle in the wrong direction, but they will ultimately move the economic needle in the wrong direction.  Energy experts and economist are predicting that oil is headed back over $100/brl in the near future.  By leaving Americans no other choice besides their cars, we are locking them in to paying whatever price is set by rising global demand, ExxonMobil, and OPEC.

    Investing in mass transit and smart growth will boost the economy.  Building and operating transit can create millions of jobs - more than building new roads and bridges.  Homes in walkable, mixed-use areas near transit have held their value, as most home prices have plummeted.  Many real estate experts see smart growth development as the future of real estate and a significant business opportunity.

    The Dems would do well not to fall into the trap of the old New Deal ways by plowing cash into asphalt.On Obama, Pelosi, wonks, and enviros call for green economic stimulus posted 1 year ago 7 Responses

  • What about Transportation Secretary?!?

    Why does everyone leave out this potentially critical position when talking about key environmental appointments?  The U.S. transportation sector is more than 1/3 of our greenhouse gas problem.  Efficient cars and alternative fuels are not going to be enough to solve the problem.  

    We need a new mission at US Dept. of Transportation to quit building ever more highway lanes and interchanges and begin building out a national system of efficient public transportation and passenger rail, along with an expansion of freight rail.  Paired with smarter metropolitan land development, there is the potential for huge GHG reductions.

    Some thoughts for DOT Secretary:
    Congressman Earl Blumenauer, OR
    Doug Foy, Serrafix Principle and former MA Director of Commonwealth Development
    Former Governor Parris Glendening, MD On Meet the people who might fill top environmental jobs in an Obama administration posted 1 year ago 8 Responses

  • Colin Peppard

    Jon -

    Friends of the Earth, along with many of the organizations listed on the letter linked in this post, actually accomplished something like what you suggest this winter and spring.  We were able to include a fund in the Lieberman-Warner climate bill (as well as similar funds in Ed Markey's iCAP legislation and Lloyd Doggett's Climate MATTERS Act) that would invest in smarter land use and housing development, as well as public transportation, to help reduce GHGs from the residential and transportation sectors.  

    Most of these policies unfortunately don't specifically single out location efficient mortgages, though hopefully future climate policy will.  Investing revenue from a climate bill in this sort of policy not only helps reduce GHGs, but also helps folks cope with rising energy prices.  Not a bad win-win!

    Thanks!On Bipartisan group of House members rolls out bill for gas-price relief posted 1 year, 4 months ago 3 Responses

  • Bill - 1; Bobby - 0

    There was a previous thread on the Gristmill where many seemed to agree with RFK Jr. in opposition to Cape Wind.  As someone who worked to support the Cape Cod wind farm for almost 2 years, I was really dejected that my fellow Gristies didn't seem to get it.  There were a million things I wanted to say, from corrections of RFK's facts to emotional appeals about the priority of clean energy.  McKibben did a great job of saying them for me, and probably with a lot more tact!  Thanks, Bill!On Climate change is pushing this easygoing enviro over the edge posted 3 years, 10 months ago 57 Responses

  • Bill - 1; Bobby - 0

    There was a previous thread on the Gristmill where many seemed to agree with RFK Jr. in opposition to Cape Wind.  As someone who worked to support the Cape Cod wind farm for almost 2 years, I was really dejected that my fellow Gristies didn't seem to get it.  There were a million things I wanted to say, from corrections of RFK's facts to emotional appeals about the priority of clean energy.  McKibben did a great job of saying them for me, and probably with a lot more tact!  Thanks, Bill!On RFK Jr. and other prominent enviros face off over Cape Cod wind farm posted 3 years, 10 months ago 57 Responses

  • Let's not forget Chaffee!

    While I am certainly ecstatic that Obama held onto the progressive image that has been bestowed upon him, we must not forget that Lincoln Chaffe of RI was the other swing that, well, refused to.  As a moderate Republican from the deep blue Rhode Island, Senator Chaffee faced some of the most intense party pressure that can be mustered.  Let's just say that I do not envy him!  However, as a champion of the environment and an honest legislator that knows good policy from bad policy, Mr. Chaffee refused to cave and held strong to his reputation for integrity.
    So if you live in Little Rhodie, give old Lincoln a call and let him know that even if his party doesn't appreciate him, his constituents do!

    See what Friends of the Earth is up to! CLICK HERE!

    On Clear Skies takes a fat whack posted 4 years, 8 months ago 4 Responses

  • A few good tests are on the way

       We get a great test drive on Johnson in the next few months.  Clear (Dirty) Skies is stalled in committee and the chair of Environment and Public Works (Inhofe - you know, the Senator who thinks global warming is the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."  Read his speech defending that statement HERE ) has been unable to get the votes needed to pass the bill to the House floor.  Bush and Inhofe are going to need Johnson to help push it through.  Will he?  And if they fail, Bush will need Johnson to help defend his administrative version, the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR - isn't that sweet) from litigation that several enviro groups have promised.  Oh, the drama!  
       However, the real-deal test of will for the new EPA chief will be the upcoming mercury rule.  The science is clear as day that power plant Hg pollution can be reduced by 90 percent or more by as early as 2008-2009.  Yet the Leavitt EPA refused to study this alternative and pushed the disastrously irresponsible Bush option of 70 percent by 2018.  If Johnson even looks at the better alternative, it will show some scientific integrity that, as a real scientist, he ought to have!
    Wait and see...

    See what Friends of the Earth is up to! CLICK HERE!

    On Wait, THE Steve Johnson? posted 4 years, 9 months ago 1 Response

  • Easy there, big guy!

         If what you want to do is fight for the overthrow the entire power structure than be my guest - I support you 100%.  And good luck!  However, if you want to make the US a cleaner, healthier, and greener nation, there are rules that you need to play by (as Walter would say, "This isn't 'Nam, dude).  Daring to repeat the words of another poster, maybe its unpalatable, but if it gets the job done than it is worth it.
         Second, I think it is a big jump to go from dressing up for meetings with our elected officials, the media, etc. to the whitening, tanning, and Big Macs.  The point of the article was not that every activist should start to primp like that Keaton boy every day.  But when you represent your passions to the rest of the world (press events, meetings with officials, etc.) in an effort to change the way they live their lives, you have to meet them halfway.  That can be accomplished without compromising your politics/policies if you present yourself in their image of a respectable and contibuting member of society.  Which is exactly what you are!
         The bottom line is that it isn't selling out or compromising to use effective messaging strategies.  You simply cannot make environmental ideals the mainstream if you spend all your time attacking the mainstream.On Yes, clothes really do make the activist posted 4 years, 9 months ago 24 Responses

  • Lookin' good on the cheap

    I am certainly an advocate of learning how to sew and recycling old clothes.  Retro is in, right?  But sometimes, ya just gotta buy a new shirt!  I am always amazed at the $50-$75 designer shirts that you can get for $10-$20 at places like Marshalls or TJ Maxx.  $50 ties - Nautica, Polo, etc - for 12 bones!  One time I got a sharp DKNY shirt - original price $55 - for 3 dollars!  And for suits, I go to Joseph Banks, who is always having a sale.  You can get an altered suit for 200 bucks.  Not cheap, but also not the $500 to $750 that you would pay elsewhere.  Any other good tips?On Yes, clothes really do make the activist posted 4 years, 9 months ago 24 Responses

  • Sad but true...

    I couldn't agree more!  Environmentalists are all too often written off as tree-hugging, duck-squeezing, dirt-eating hippies.  These labels make us less relevant, and yet we encourage them!  We work so hard for legitimacy and then it is all thrown out the window with one bad suit or dead-trout-shaped tie.  As a professional environmental advocate in DC, I am faced with the task of rising above the hundreds of other interests that are fighting for attention.  And while to me there is nothing more important than the environment (all issues are environmental, some would say) our legislators do not agree that ours is the ONLY issue.  So when I end up in a hard-won meeting with an ally that refuses to wear a tie and insists on wearing toxic green clogs, I wince because I know we are already putting ourselves at a disadvantage.  I am not saying that we should all wear tailored suits or bust our budgets with Armani...  But I try to look like a serious lobbyist doing serious business - because I AM!  And I'll tell you what - nothing feels better than coming home and hanging up my "battle armor" only to sink into my trusty ripped jeans, t-shirt (Clean Energy NOW!), and hemp hoodie.On Yes, clothes really do make the activist posted 4 years, 9 months ago 24 Responses