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Events

The Summer’s Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Securities Act

Thursday, July 30
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
New Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Square E., North Side Pittsburgh
Free
For more information and/or to register for this free event, visit the C4S web site.

The American Clean Energy and Securities Act commands attention of all industries as it sets a new course for energy and climate policy. The stakes are high as the nation grapples with the transition to a new energy economy. This event is intended to help businesses in our region assess the opportunities and challenges emerging from the debate over energy and climate policy.

This event commences with a viewing of a taped debate on energy issues (from The Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series) featuring:

- Karen Harbert, President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- John Podesta, President, Center for American Progress; former White House Chief of Staff
- Christine Todd Whitman, Co-chair of CASEnergy Coalition; former EPA Administrator; former Governor of New Jersey
- James Woolsey, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; former Director of Central Intelligence

After the screening, a local panel of business and community leaders will share thoughts on issues described in the video and will discuss what actions businesses can take immediately in order to reduce their energy costs as well their emissions.

Agenda below

Resources

The Summer’s Hot Business Topic: A Discussion of Energy Policy and The American Clean Energy and Securities Act

Thursday, July 30
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
New Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Square E., North Side Pittsburgh
Free
For more information and/or to register for this free event, visit the C4S web site.

The American Clean Energy and Securities Act commands attention of all industries as it sets a new course for energy and climate policy. The stakes are high as the nation grapples with the transition to a new energy economy. This event is intended to help businesses in our region assess the opportunities and challenges emerging from the debate over energy and climate policy.

This event commences with a viewing of a taped debate on energy issues (from The Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series) featuring:

- Karen Harbert, President and CEO, Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- John Podesta, President, Center for American Progress; former White House Chief of Staff
- Christine Todd Whitman, Co-chair of CASEnergy Coalition; former EPA Administrator; former Governor of New Jersey
- James Woolsey, Venture Partner, VantagePoint Venture Partners; former Director of Central Intelligence

After the screening, a local panel of business and community leaders will share thoughts on issues described in the video and will discuss what actions businesses can take immediately in order to reduce their energy costs as well their emissions.

Agenda:
6:00 Reception, informal networking, and light snacks
6:30 Film feature: "Miller Center of Public Affairs National Discussion and Debate Series: Energy"
7:30 Panel reactions and high stakes for Pittsburgh businesses
8:00 Q&A and discussion of opportunities for our region's businesses and entrepreneurs
8:30 Adjourn

Presented by: Champions for Sustainability (C4S) and the Business Climate Coalition

For more information contact: Matthew Mehalik, Sustainable Pittsburgh, at mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org or 412-258-6644.

Information session on funds available to engage youth in environmental projects

Thursday, July 9
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sarah Heinz House, North Side

The participants in The Heinz Endowments summer youth philanthropy internship program released their requests for proposals on July 1, and are seeking to award funds to local non-profit organizations that connect young people with environmental issues. The requests for proposals is available at the Endowments’ Web site, www.heinz.org.

An information session is scheduled for July 9th for organizations interested in applying for funds. This year, the program features seven teams, with each team awarding $25,000 in grants. Teams are assigned to the Endowments’ offices, the United Way of Allegheny County, Sustainable Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Sarah Heinz House. Three groups of interns are based at the Endowments.
- One team at the Endowments will fund programs that highlight the importance of conserving green spaces in Allegheny County by restoring distressed ecosystems while involving the local youth.
- The second Endowments team will fund programs that use the visual, performing or literary arts to educate youth ages 5-18 about an environmental issue.
- The third group at the Endowments seeks to fund active environmental education programs for youth ages 5-12 that stress experiential learning and advocacy efforts, including the advantages of green operations.
- The United Way interns aim to improve urban gardens throughout the area. They envision projects that encourage students to make their communities more environmentally friendly while learning green concepts.
- Sustainable Pittsburgh will review programs that improve the environmental operations at the YMCA, which is currently developing a plan to green its operations.
- Interns at The Pittsburgh Foundation will be looking to fund environmental advocacy groups that focus on youth media.
- Sarah Heinz House interns are looking to improve the health of the region’s rivers.

For those seeking additional information concerning the youth philanthropy project, contact Wayne Jones at the Endowments, 412-338-2637 or wjones@heinz.org.

Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Stewardship Symposium

Saturday, July 11
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Environmental Charter School at Frick Park
Fee: $10 for EcoStewards, Tree Tenders, Master Gardeners, and Allegheny Land Trust members; $15 for non-stewards
Pre-Registration is Required!
For registration information, visit www.ninemilerun.org/programs/stewardship or call Jeffrey Bergman at 412-371-8779 ext. 14.

Amazing! Over the last two years there were over 20,000 hours of labor to improve the ecology and health of the Pittsburgh region. Many many stewards have planted trees, removed invasive and non-native plant species, maintained trails and cleaned up illegal dumps. Join in celebrating this effort and learn something new!

Steven Handel, a professor of ecology from Rutgers University will talk to us about urban stewardship. Dr. Handel is a researcher and practitioner whose work examines the potential to restore native communities. His projects include the restoration of Fresh Kills landfill and the Brooklyn Bridge Park in NYC, the landscape for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and public parks in Dublin, Ireland and in Orange County, California. We will also explore Frick Park, delving into our urban environment specifically looking at street trees, watershed restoration, native landscaping, wild edibles and invasive plant and insect species.

Port Authority’s Transit Development Plan Workshop

Monday, July 13
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Cost: $5 (includes lunch)
Fetteroff Room, Regional Enterprise Tower, Downtown Pittsburgh
Call 412-392-0610 to register.

Hosted by the African American Chamber of Commerce, this event is an opportunity for attendees to provide input on the Port Authority's plans to make service more efficient. Stephen Bland, CEO, Port Authority of Allegheny County is the featured guest.

Public Health Advocacy Workshop

Wednesday, July 15
9:00 am - 3:30 pm (Sign-in from 8:30 am - 9 am)
Four Points Sheraton, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars
Registration is free and includes lunch. Space is limited. Register early to reserve your seat.
For more information please contact Rachael Bieltz at bieltzr@edc.pitt.edu or 412-383-2884.
Register online

This workshop will give you the skills and tools to:
- Understand your role as an advocate
- Set advocacy goals
- Utilize public opinion data
- Develop effective messaging
- Develop relationships with local policy makers and media

Trainer: Karen A. Goraleski, VP, Public Health Partnerships, Research!America

Applications have been made for general continuing education units and continuing education credits for medical doctors, health education specialists, and social workers. Credits will be available pending approval.

Buy Fresh Buy Local Farm Tour

Saturday, July 18
10:00 am until 4:00 pm
Fee: $10 per carload (Proceeds benefit PASA’s work building vibrant, regional food systems.)

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) is pleased to host its 3rd annual Buy Fresh Buy Local® Farm Tour in Western Pennsylvania. The Farm Tour presents the opportunity to forge personal connections with local farmers and is suitable for all ages. Tour goers can learn about the origins of healthy foods raised using sustainable practices and how critical local production is to preserving rural and urban landscapes.

This year’s tour includes over 20 farms across Western Pennsylvania, featuring spinning & sheep shearing at Wild Rose Farm, sustainable living at Quiet Creek Herb Farm, goat cheeses & milk at Paradise Farms and Gardens, in-depth tours of Pounds Turkey Farm, pick your own organics and grain milling on antique farm equipment at Morris Farm, pick your own raspberries and blueberries at Soergels and biodynamic growing at Three Sisters Farm. Farms will offer tours, kid-friendly activities, fresh samples, hands-on demonstrations, and some discounts on homegrown products.

An interactive map of participating farms, along with further information, is available online at BuyLocalPa.org and tinyurl.com/farmtour09. On the day of the tour, detailed print maps will be available at each participating farm and in advance at the East End Food Coop or by mail request. Tour goers simply select a route and pay $10 for a day pass at their first farm. The pass gains you access to all the farms on the tour.

Last Chance to Register! Home Ownership Finance

Register Now for the Second Course in PCRG’s 4-Part Community Development Finance Training Series
July 20-22, 2009
Location TBD
Regular Tuition: $595/person
501(c)3 Staff: $395/person ($200 discount per person)
PCRG Members: $195/person ($400 discount per person)
REGISTER BY JULY 9TH
For questions and to RSVP, contact sstutts@pcrg.org or 412-391-6732 x210.

The Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) has partnered with the National Development Council (NDC) to bring the three-day course “Home Ownership Finance” to Pittsburgh! A part of the Housing Development Certification, this course closely examines the skills required to successfully develop single-family housing that is affordable for low- and moderate-income families. This course will focus on financing affordable single family homes. Topics to be covered include an overview of home ownership development, a look at the development process, financing and deal structuring, qualifying home buyers, income and credit barriers to qualifying, and permanent mortgage programs. This course is intended to be introductory, with no prior knowledge of home ownership deals required.

This course is made possible by funding and support from Citizen’s Bank, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Their support has allowed PCRG to assist neighborhood groups and other non-profit organizations by providing scholarships to attend this valuable program. Scholarships are reflected in the discounted registration fees. You may save an additional 10% when registering two or more people for this training program.

Race, Hunger, and Food Insecurity

Tuesday, July 21
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
School of Social Work's Conference Center, 20th floor, Cathedral of Learning, Oakland
Free to attend
Registration required
For more information and to register, visit http://www.crsp.pitt.edu/Institutes.html. As part of its Summer Institutes 2009 series, the Center on Race and Social Problems in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh will host “Race, Hunger, and Food Insecurity." The Summer Institutes series examines the nature, extent, and patterns of racial and ethnic disparities in hunger and food insecurity-related problems. The sessions feature presentations, Q&A, break-out groups, and panel discussions with national and local experts. It is intended for researchers, educators, administrators, community leaders, policy makers, and practitioners. All sessions qualify for six (6.0) hours of CEUs: LSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, NBCC, and Psychology. (Primary and secondary school personnel should contact their district or intermediate unit regarding eligibility for Act 48 credit.)

The Compelling Case for Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV)

Wednesday, August 5
8:30 am – 4:15 pm
Westin Convention Center Hotel, Downtown Pittsburgh
More information
Cost: $50/person (covers materials and meals)

The Compelling Case for Natural Gas Vehicles in Public and Private Fleets - Seminar led by expert Stephe Yborra is coming August 5th to the Westin Convention Center Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA. This comprehensive low-cost one-day educational workshop about vehicles powered by America’s abundant, clean natural gas is designed with your time and budget constraints in mind. The day is packed with informative practical sessions covering technical, economic, and operational topics for public and private fleet operators looking for options in alternative fuel transportation technologies such as natural gas vehicles (NGV).

Breakfast Briefing: Westinghouse and Nuclear Energy - The Reality of the Renaissance

Wednesday, August 5
7:00 am - 9:30 am
One Oxford Center, Downtown Pittsburgh
Cost: $40 Pittsburgh Technology Council Member; $175 Non-Member
Register
More information

Westinghouse President and CEO Aris S. Candris will discuss the nuclear energy renaissance in the context of global environmental and energy policies. Dr. Candris will trace the development of commercial nuclear energy from its roots here in western Pennsylvania to its current status as the nation's largest source of carbon-free electricity. He will also address the need for and benefits of ongoing investment in technology development and process improvement, and how those investments over the last two decades have positioned Westinghouse to lead the ongoing nuclear renaissance.

Third Annual Rachel Carson Legacy Conference
When Chemicals Disrupt: Managing Our Risks

Friday, September 25
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Bidwell Training Center, 1815 Metropollitan Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
Tickets: $90
Pre-registration and pre-payment is required.
More information

Featuring leaders of national and state government, academic institutions, environmental and social justice advocy organizations and medical science, the conference will address the dichotomy between critical protection of the environment (and our bodies and those of the next generations) from endocrine disrupting contaminants and the unbridled economic interest of those who produce substances which directly or indirectly act as endocrine or developmental disruptors.

Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other such synthetic compounds known as endocrine disruptors are chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. They are used widely in agriculture, industry and consumer products. They fool the body into over-production or under-production of natural hormones. They have been linked to feminization of fish, hermophrodization in frogs, and there is a growing body of scientific evidence that links endocrine disruptors to obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes in humans. Other research has shown that male sperm count is dropping and that genital abnormalities in newborn boys are increasing.

This Rachel Carson Legacy Conference will look at the serious and urgent topic of endocrine disruptors in three parts: Policy, Science and Remedies.

Resources

Provide input to Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheets

Toward cultivating greater capacity for sustainable practice around Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Sustainable Community Development Network of Sustainable Pittsburgh partnered with leading organizations to produce a new series of Sustainable Community Essentials Resource Sheets and a Rapid Assessment for communities. Released at the 9th annual Smart Growth Conference on May 21, 2009, these resource sheets identify 14 essentials of a sustainable community - from Air Quality to Food Security to Governance - and provide an explanation of each topic and case studies – a perfect tool for community leaders to use as they work to improve their neighborhoods.

A Green Eye on Western PA: Juried Photography Exhibit to Benefit GASP

The Group Against Smog and Pollution invites all photographers to make their own statement on the western PA environment with an entry to its photography exhibit. Deadline for Entries: July 24, 2009. Exhibition Opening: September 11, 2009

Researchers Begin to Unravel Mystery Fungus Killing Bats

A mysterious plague is wiping out cave-dwelling bats in Pennsylvania and much of the eastern US. They include endangered Indiana bats just when it seemed their numbers were rebounding. As the epidemic white nose syndrome spreads, scientists are working frantically to find the cause. The Allegheny Front's Deborah Weisberg traveled deep underground for the story, the first in our series, Protecting Pennsylvania's Wildlife.

More

Funding for energy efficiency

PA Conservation Works! is a competitive, one time only grant program for motivated local governments and non-profit entities. A total of up to $22.2 million is available to be awarded from this program. The program is administered by The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will begin accepting new applications for this program on July 17, 2009.

Port Authority now on Twitter

The Port Authority now is posting information on Twitter. At the “PGHtransit” site, the agency is providing details about major detours and other service changes on a daily basis. They also are offering updates on major issues, such as fares, routes, etc.

Ravenstahl seeking proposals for a comprehensive city plan

"When you don't have a comprehensive plan that ties all of the players in together, everyone goes off and does their different things," said city Planning Director Noor Ismail. A unified plan, she said, could try to answer the central question of post-industrial Pittsburgh: "We're not going to grow as big as we were, but how do we deal with the current situation?" That situation has pluses and minuses, and the existence of hundreds of vacant properties and a relatively large amount of open space is both, she said. That's why the first chapter of the plan would deal with open space, parks and recreation.

PA Preservation Bill expected to create jobs, more livable downtowns

"House Bill 42 is going to be a real cornerstone for the revitalization of our older towns and cities, anywhere from DuBois to Altoona to Wellsboro to Philadelphia, this can create jobs in towns and make those towns more livable," says Ed Boito, campaign director for Pennsylvania Works!, a coalition of environmental, conservation, preservation, housing and research groups that work to create public policy that stimulates economic development throughout the state.

PA Resources Council Launches Zero Waste Pittsburgh

Zero Waste Pittsburgh – a project of PRC in partnership with the Allegheny County Health Department and the Department of Environmental Protection – serves as a one-stop shop offering recycling/waste minimization solutions that are both fiscally sound and environmentally sustainable.

Top Ten Urban Kayaking Cities - Plus Fireworks Paddles

What better place to kayak than a town built around rivers? Known as the City of Bridges, Pittsburgh is constructed around the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, where the Ohio River forms.

Earn a Professional Certificate in Sustainability

With the sustainability industry still in its infancy and professionals moving into the field from a wide range of sectors, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) now offers a Certificate Program in Sustainability. Meant for practitioners who need to fill in “gaps” in their education or for displaced professionals looking for a new career, the online workshops are taught by luminaries and thought leaders from around the world who have spent years working to change the systems of the world to a sustainable model. Core class instructors include Bob Willard, Alan AtKisson, Gwen Hallsmith, Marsha Willard and Dorothy Atwood.

The Pittsburgh Region: Powering Prosperity

The Pittsburgh region is the world’s energy problem solver, and it’s time that we marshal our assets to work to engineer the energy economy of the future.

Region sees beginning of widespread energy boom

Western Pennsylvania is at the start of what could be a longer, more widespread energy boom and period of influence than the frenzied time 150 years ago this August when America's oil industry was founded in the Titusville area. This time, a half-dozen industries are taking part as the region tries to retake a key role in filling the nation's energy needs.

First "Green" McDonald's to Offer ChargePoint EV Charging Stations

But until McDonald's focuses its energy on incorporating more local foods into its menu--a monumental task considering the scale of the chain--any other improvements are just lip service to the sustainability movement.

White House recognizes two Pittsburgh companies as national models

"This is a special time to be in a place like Pittsburgh, not just because it has a culture of entrepreneurism, but it's on the forefront of old industrial cities that have the potential to be the future," adds Butcher. "We've survived the downturn in the economy and Obama recognizes that."

New Study Shows Smart Growth and Improved Transportation Choices Will Reduce GHG Emissions and Save Americans Money

“We cannot address climate change without addressing transportation emissions. Our analysis indicates that we can achieve transportation emissions reductions with significant economic benefits, yielding net cost savings per ton CO2, when factoring in avoided infrastructure costs, consumer fuel and insurance cost savings and projected tax revenue growth from high value economic development,” said Steve Winkelman, director of transportation and adaptation programs at CCAP. “These positive economic findings hold at local, regional, state and national levels.”

For information on becoming a Member of Sustainable Pittsburgh, please visit our website.

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Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh Region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh benefits from support in 2009 from:

Bayer Corporation
Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Dollar Bank
Falk Foundation
FedEx Ground
The Giant Eagle Foundation
The Heinz Endowments
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Elsie H. Hillman Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC


Special thanks to the SP Members

Sustainable Pittsburgh
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1335
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 258-6642
fax (412) 258-6645
E-mail SP