Next Great City: Philadelphia - Volume III, Issue XIII

PARKS & REC COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCED

Mayor Nutter officially announced his appointees for the newly combined Commission on Parks and Recreation.  The commission is comprised of nine Mayoral appointees and six individuals from relevant city agencies.  Competition for these volunteer positions was fierce, with over 200 applications submitted. Sarah Clark Stuart of the Schuylkill River Park Alliance and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and Pete Hoskins, board President of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance - all Next Great City coalition organizations - are among the appointees.  Congratulations to Pete and Sarah!

To find out more about the newly merged Department of Parks and Recreation, check out this month's Urban Sustainability Forum- Parkland Use & Protection: Striking the Right Balance at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Thursday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. 
 

MORE BIG BELLYS ON CITY STREETS 

Not that type of big belly-  Philly stopped being the fattest city in America long ago!  We're not even in the top ten these days.  Now we're looking to claim a more enviable number one spot: the greenest city in America. 

As part of this effort the city will be taking a big step to reduce litter and improve recycling in the city by installing the last of the 500 new Big Belly solar-powered trash compactors and over 200 pedestrian recycling containers.
 

PECO ENERGY SAVINGS PLAN RELEASED

Last week PECO released its much anticipated plan describing how it will meet the energy savings targets prescribed in last year's landmark legislation HB 2200, now known as Act 129.  PECO and other state utilities are required to reduce the demand for electricity by 1 percent by 2011, by 3 percent by 2013 and reduce peak demand by 4.5 percent by 2013.  Energy efficiency is a vital to decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing carbon emissions, and easing the strain on family budgets in the immediate future.  PECO's plans include providing discounts to residential customers for compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats. 
 

CLIMATE BILL PASSES US HOUSE, ON TO SENATE

The House of Representative took a major first step in limiting carbon emissions by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).  The bill aims to reduce global warming pollution, support energy independence, and help America transition to a clean energy economy.  While not as strong a bill as many would have desired, the bill likely did all that was politically feasible, in the end passing by an incredibly thin margin. 

Next up, the Senate will consider their version of the bill, and the fight is expected to be just as tough if not tougher.  We will keep you posted as updates emerge and let you know how you can help.  
 

ENERGY LOAN PROGRAMS IN JEOPARDY

Two statewide energy saving programs, the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) and the Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant program, are in danger of falling victim to budget cuts.  These programs help homeowners and small business save money and reduce their energy needs.  At the same time these loans build the local economy with the jobs and purchases needed for the upgrades. Without these programs Pennsylvanians lack the financial tools to participate in saving energy. 

Contact your State legislators today and urge them to save these critical programs. There's no time to wait, take action today! 
 

NEWS

• Local non-profit trains teen in green jobs in the landscaping business
• Project H.O.M.E shows that green building isn't just for the affluent with new environmentally friendly housing for the homeless
• Does Philly have something to learn from Boston about dealing with a riverfront highway?
• The PECO Building lights up more efficiently using LED lighting
• Alan Greenberger, Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, is named Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
• SEPTA gets Googled
• Maybe it's time to stop talking urban flight and start talking urban retention
• Parks and Recreation Commissioners announced
• Grassroots organizers tackle recycling in public housing projects
• Addressing green infrastructure at the local and national level
• Cities get shafted when it comes to federal transportation stimulus money
• Urban gardening goes old school in Bustleton

EVENTS

• Monday, July 13 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. -  Science on Tap- Cold Hard Science at National Mechanics Bar & Restaurant at 22 S. Third St.
• Tuesday, July 14 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Business Outlook for Diesel Engine Users: What to Expect in 2010 at Community College of Philadelphia, Winnet Building Room S23 at 1700 Spring Garden St 
• Wednesday, July 15 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Green Building Basics: Introduction to Green Buildings, Site and Water at the Center for Business and Industry at 1751 Callowhill St, Room C3-5
• Thursday, July 16 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Urban Sustainability Forum- Parkland Use & Protection: Striking the Right Balance at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Saturday, July 18 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers (DVARP) Meeting at the Medical Arts Building at 1601 Walnut St.
• Sunday, July 19 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Philadelphia Orchard Project Fundraiser at Liberty Lands Park at 3rd & Wildey St.
• Tuesday, July 21 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Health Care, Food Safety and Antibiotics at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway