Stimulus Package:  Improving Renewable Energy

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  $16.8 billion of the total $787 billion economic stimulus package is set aside for the Energy Department’s Renewable Energy Fund.  This fund will aid state programs to improve energy efficiency and conservation.  Tax credits are also being provided for clean energy systems such as solar energy, geothermal heat, wind turbines, and fuel cell systems. To learn more about the recovery package and to see how the money is being spent, visit Recovery.gov.  More...

Pennsylvania’s Energy Independence: Protecting Consumers, Growing the Economy, Strengthening National Security

Pennsylvania has set aside $665.9 million for the development of alternative and renewable energy.  The funds will also aid residents and businesses in conserving energy and utilizing it efficiently.

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/energindependent/site/default.asp

Governor Rendell Announces More Than $21.5 Million Investment in 144 Growing Greener Projects to Improve Water Quality

The $21.5 million will be spent on 144 Growing Greener projects to decrease pollution from stormwater runoff, decrease flooding and improve water quality for Pennsylvania streams.  For a list of Growing Greener Projects, visit www.growinggreener2.com.

http://www.ahs2.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=5433&varQueryType=Detail#

Avian Evidence: Global warming driving birds northward

The Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has shown that some bird species that spend winter in the United States have ventured further north, some by hundreds of miles.  They speculate that climate change and loss of habitat could be contributing factors. 

http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/09-02-26/head3-avian.html

Antarctic Melting Occurring Faster

Satellite data and automated weather stations are showing that glaciers in Antarctica are melting faster than what was previously thought.  Research shows that the melting could cause sea levels to increase by 3 to 5 feet.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20090226_26_glacier_melting_nw_ART.html

Upcoming Events:

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Webcasts

The 2009 schedule of webcasts on Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure is at: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/outreach_files/webcast_flyer_green_infrastructure.pdf Webcasts are free. The flyer provides information on how to register.

March 8, 2009 – Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

The Banff Film Festival will be held at Parkland High School in Lehigh County.  All proceeds go to the Wildlands Conservancy.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a night viewing unique films focused on our environment and to support an excellent local organization.  We hope to see you there!

http://wildlandspa.org/news/banff.html

April 18, 2009 – Tree Seedling Sale

The Lehigh County Conservation District will be holding their annual tree seedling sale.  Orders should be placed by March 25 but will be filled on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t wait too long.  They offer trees, shrubs and herbaceous seed mixes.  Proceeds will benefit environmental programs in Lehigh County.

http://lehighconservation.org/uploads/PDF/tree_form.pdf

April 25, 2009 – Native Plant Sale

The Brodhead Watershed Association will be holding a native plant sale.  The Monroe County Conservation District will also be offering four kinds of evergreen seedlings.  The plant sale will be held at the Monroe County Conservation District.

http://www.mcconservation.org/

May 8 through 17, 2009 – Spring Native Plant Sale

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve will be holding a native plant sale.  The sale starts May 8 for members only.  May 9^th through May 17^th is open to the public.  They also have a Native Plant Seed Catalog which offers 53 species.

http://www.bhwp.org/seed_catalog/plantsale.htm

Policy Update

Grant Programs 
(Click on a grant for more information)

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Electronic Grants System
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides eGrants, an electronic grants system that contains all DCNR grants.  Applications can be submitted online.
https://www.grants.dcnr.state.pa.us/index.aspx

Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program
This grant program provides a reimbursement grant of 25%, up to $25,000 for small businesses in Pennsylvania to become more energy efficient.  Small businesses (with 100 employees or less) can be reimbursed for improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, energy efficient HVAC, lighting, building insulation, etc. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2009.

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/energindependent/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=543714&enintechNav=|37014|

Small Business Low-Interest Rate Loans

The Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan Program provides low-interest rate loans for small business projects that reduce waste, pollution or energy use.  The 2% fixed interest loans can fund 75 percent of the project cost to a maximum of $100,000.  For more information, www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: PPAA. “ http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/energindependent/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=543714&enintechNav=|37014|

Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program

This grant is available to nonprofits and local governments for preserving, restoring, and/or rehabilitating historic resources.  It is a competitive matching grant with a maximum award of $100,000.

http://www.artsnet.org/phmc/grants.htm#clg

2009 Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program (C2P2)

These grants are available to nonprofits, local governments and county governments for recreation and conservation needs.  Grants are organized into three subjects: planning, acquisition and development. Applications are due April 22, 2009.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/

Conservation Easement Assistance Program

Provided by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, this program assists with transaction costs for conservation easements, for a total of $5,000 per easement transaction.  The program assists with completing conservation and trail easements, amending and restating older easements, establishing or updating baseline documentation and installing signs on eased properties.

www.conserveland.org/ceap

PennVEST Infrastructure Loans/Grants The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority published revised cutoff dates for submitting applications for water, wastewater, stormwater and other project funding:

• May 18 for the summer board meeting (TBD)

http://www.pennvest.state.pa.us/pennvest/cwp/browse.asp?A=4 

Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Grants
The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds is now accepting applications for grants to protect healthy, natural streams, clean up pollution, and restore degraded wildlife habitat. The next round of applications are due August 21. The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds awards grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit citizen groups. The primary service area is from the Ohio boarder to the mainstem of the Susquehanna River. http://www.pennsylvaniawatersheds.org/?page_id=20 

NJ Brownfield Redevelopment Area Funding
New Jersey municipalities that have been designated as Brownfield Development Areas are eligible for grants of up to $5 million each year from the DEP's Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for site investigation and remediation. The NJDEP also assigns a case manager to assist the communities in overseeing remediation, obtaining financial assistance, and coordinating revitalization efforts with other state agencies. Communities must bring together various stakeholders to develop applications for designation as a Brownfield Development Area. Municipalities interested in being considered in the 2009 round of Brownfield Development Area designations may submit applications until March 31.
http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/

EPA CARE Grants
The 2009 U.S. EPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Cooperative Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available. The application deadline is March 16. Around $3 million will be available in 2009 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the CARE program. EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities, and become self-sustaining. EPA will conduct three conference calls in February for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process, as well as three information sessions via Webcasts in January and February. |
http://www.epa.gov/CARE

PAEP Karl Mason Award
The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals is accepting nominations for the annual Karl Mason Award. The Award is given to a Pennsylvania person, organization, or project that has made a significant contribution to the betterment of Pennsylvania's environment, exemplifying Karl Mason's vision. Each year, at the PAEP Annual Meeting and Conference the Karl Mason Award is presented in two general categories:

• An Individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the field of environmental management.
• An organization, project or program that has made a significant contribution toward maintenance or restoration of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality

Nominations will be accepted until March 31.
http://www.paep.org/karl_mason_award.htm 

PA WREN Community Watershed Education Grants
The Water Resources Education Network (WREN) has funding available up to $5,000 to help launch community projects that educate citizens about ways to protect community water resources from polluted runoff. Eligible projects include watershed education projects that build awareness and educate Pennsylvania citizens about their role as environmental stewards. WREN gives priority to projects that incorporate social marketing concepts and encourage individual or public policy action that will protect and improve local water resources. Applications are due by April 3.
http://wren.palwv.org/grants/local.html 

PA DCNR Community Conservation Partnership Grants
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will award Community Conservation Partnership Grants to municipalities for recreation, park and conservation projects. These include the rehabilitation and development of parks and recreation facilities; acquisition of land for park and conservation purposes; and technical assistance for feasibility studies, trails studies, and site development planning. The deadline for grant applications is April 22. The PADCNR, in partnership with the PA Recreation and Park Society, has scheduled a series of eight grant workshops for the Community Conservation Partnership Grant Program.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative
Under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI), eligible landowners can use available technical and financial assistance to address soil erosion, sedimentation, and excess nutrients in streams and waterways, as well as other related natural resource concerns such as air quality, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and forestry. Applications for CBWI will be accepted continuously and evaluated on a monthly basis, beginning with applications received by March 1. To apply, farmers must fill out an application form and contact their local NRCS office. Pennsylvania agricultural producers located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed may be eligible to apply. http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cbwi/index.html

Link Of The Month

Stormwater Runoff Calculator

A new website has been set up for a storm water runoff calculator, which can be used as an awareness tool for consideration and design of alternative approaches to storm water management. This calculator can give estimates on how to keep post-development stormwater runoff equal to or less than pre-development stormwater runoff.  The "StormUlator's" web site can be found at http:// www.stormulator.com. 
 

"Green" Management of Stormwater Runoff Key for Long-Term Water Quality

As communities become environmentally conscious and involved, they modify and reach beyond old development-impact reduction methods to more interlinked, efficient and cost-effective strategies at site, neighborhood and regional levels, writes EPA Development, Community, and Environment Division (DCED) Acting Director Lynn Richards in her "Managing Stormwater Runoff: A Green Infrastructure Approach" paper in the Planning Commissioners Journal (Winter 2009), calling decisions "about where and how our towns, cities and regions grow" the first and perhaps the most important for long-term water quality. Resource: http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=6969&state=52

Picturing Smart Growth

Cities and towns across the country are embracing smart growth as a better solution to meet the needs of their growing populations. Picturing Smart Growth, a feature on the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) website, offers images of how 70 U.S. communities could apply smart growth principles that accommodate growth and development while saving open space, revitalizing neighborhoods and helping cool the planet. These images take locales from throughout the U.S. and overlay smart growth solutions, providing a visual example of how smart growth principles can enhance and help create communities. Cities and towns nationwide are looking for ways to reinvent themselves. Smart growth is a solution that emphasizes neighborhood revitalization over suburban sprawl. See how utilizing smart growth principles could transform these sample communities into vital, thriving places. Read more at the resource link below.
Resource: http://www.nrdc.org/smartGrowth/visions/ 

Low Impact Development (LID) Urban Design Tools Website

This website is a great tool for learning about and implementing low impact best management practices for your home or business. It was created through a Cooperative Assistance Agreement under the US EPA Office of Water 104b(3) Program. 

http://www.lid-stormwater.net/

Watershed Forestry Resource Guide Website

The Center for Watershed Protection has launched the Watershed Forestry Resource Guide Website.  It provides resources, tools and links related to forests and watersheds.

http://www.forestsforwatersheds.org/

The Kosmer Solar House Project

This website provides information on building a passive solar house.

http://www.solarhouseproject.com/

Simple Energy Saving Solutions

This guide provided by Mother Earth News gives tips on how to cut energy consumption, lower utility bills, and to utilize renewable energy.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedFiles/Marketing/ae_HOMEENERGY(3).pdf

The following tools will help you calculate your energy use and provide information on how to utilize renewable energy and cut down on your energy bills. 

Home Energy Saver

This tool was the first Internet-based tool for measuring home energy use and estimating potential savings.

http://hes.lbl.gov/

Carbon Footprint Calculators

This website provides multiple carbon footprint calculators.  Pick the one that provides information specific to your needs. 

http://hes.lbl.gov/hes/carbon-calculators.html

Energy Saver Tools

This website offers multiple tools and resources for improving energy efficiency in your home or business.

http://www.touchstoneenergysavers.com/savertools.php