More Sustainability Center News is coming soon…                         

Maybe you’ve heard about the soon-to-be APPLE Sustainability Center, scheduled to open this summer in downtown Nevada City? We plan to post more details soon – but, to help get the ball rolling, please help us out right now by taking this quick (just 5 questions) online survey:Click Here to take survey

Stay tuned for more – and sign up for our announcements emails!

In 1994, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to celebrate through our actions a man who lived his life in service to others. As a tribute to that legacy and the needs of our nation, Sierra Business Council supports the request of the President-elect and Vice President-elect to help organize community members to join in this effort and to engage Americans in service to local organizations that need assistance now more than ever.

This national day of service will fall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 and, unlike past calls to service, Sierra Business Council is asking members of the Sierra Nevada to join in this day, and to consider a longer commitment of service.  Find an organization or a cause that speaks to you in your town or neighborhood and make an ongoing commitment to support this organization by donating your time, energy, and ideas to make the Sierra Nevada a better place for all of us to live.

Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face. Local non-profits and community groups are a unique and much needed thread in the fabric of our communities. Supporting these groups keeps our communities strong and healthy. Please sign up to volunteer today.

Some interesting organizational ideas being planned in California include: Recreational Trail improvements, community clean-ups, helping the elderly at a retirement home, volunteering at an animal shelter, blood drives, food drives & soup kitchen volunteering, Americorps events, “share your garden” – fresh produce donations to homeless centers, ride share coordinating, etc.

Salmon Nation Voices

October 2008

Remembering Paul Newman: We are saddened by the passing of Paul Newman, a great human being of our modern age. Paul was one of those rare persons who left this world better than he found it. We are honored to have known him and will miss him dearly. We remember Paul and his family by sharing a short piece he recorded for us several years ago, around the time we launched Salmon Nation — the idea that where salmon thrive, so do communities, economies and nature. To his wife Joanne and his daughters Susan, Stephanie, Elinor, Melissa and Clea, we send our deepest sympathy. Spencer Beebe
Founder and President
Ecotrust
Portland, Oregon

Go to web page and listen
Thank you for declaring your commitment to “live like you mean it” here in Salmon Nation.

Released on: September 16, 2008, 9:20 am

Press Release Author: Velocity7

Industry: Environment

Press Release Summary: Fuels for Schools and Beyond is a recognized national leader in community biomass projects, moving into providing biomass energy for schools and private enterprise while maintaining healthy forests.

The Fuels for Schools and Beyond program is a partnership between the USDA Forest Service’s State & Private Forestry Division, the State Foresters of Montana, North Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, and the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area, Inc., to promote and facilitate the use of forest biomass waste for heating, cooling and power in public and private buildings.

These organizations are advancing local and national policies in biomass utilization, and ensuring the viability of the nation’s forests and communities.

There are currently 14 biomass boilers operating throughout North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Nevada with two more in the design or construction phase. While continuing to provide support to existing projects, the program is now actively advancing “wood to energy” for private enterprise.

Dave Atkins, Fuels for Schools and Beyond Program Manager, from Missoula Montana, is one of the presenters at Sierra Solutions conference in Mammoth Lakes, California October 3-4, 2008.

Press Release Body: After the wildfires in the summer of 2000, which burned over 350,000 acres and 70 structures in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, a resident of Darby, Montana began to research ways in which to tie fire hazard reduction work with economic development in the valley. Discovering that waste wood was being used to heat a number of schools in the northeastern U.S., this individual approached community leaders with the idea of using slash (tree limbs, tops and branches) from hazardous fuels reduction projects for heat in Darby’s schools. With the aid of a grant from the Economic Action Program and assistance from the Bitter Root RC&D, USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory and the Biomass Energy Resource Center, a biomass boiler system was planned, designed and installed at Darby and began heating three schools in the fall of 2003.

Today, Fuels for Schools and Beyond is a recognized national leader in community biomass projects, moving into providing biomass energy for schools and private enterprise while maintaining healthy forests.

The Fuels for Schools and Beyond program is a partnership between the USDA Forest Service’s State & Private Forestry Division, the State Foresters of Montana, North Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, and the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area, Inc., to promote and facilitate the use of forest biomass waste for heating, cooling and power in public and private buildings.

These organizations are advancing local and national policies in biomass utilization, and ensuring the viability of the nation’s forests and communities.

There are currently 14 biomass boilers operating throughout North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Nevada with two more in the design or construction phase. While continuing to provide support to existing projects, the program is now actively advancing “wood to energy” for private enterprise.

Dave Atkins, Fuels for Schools and Beyond Program Manager, from Missoula Montana, is one of the presenters at Sierra Solutions conference in Mammoth Lakes, California October 3-4, 2008.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE: SIERRA SOLUTIONS—Tools for Sustainable Communities, Economies and the Environment October 3-4, 2008 Mammoth Resort Conference Center Mammoth Lakes, CA

Hosted by The Sierra Business Council and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, SIERRA SOLUTIONS highlights leading sustainability speakers, who believe

“The Sierra Nevada is a place that serves as a model for the rest of the nation – it is a place where we pursue a green economy, support valuable ecosystems, and design sustainable communities.” Steve Frisch, Sierra Business Council

Solution-based tools, processes and opportunities for ensuring sustainable and vibrant Sierra communities, landscapes and local economies are the focus of this 2-day event in scenic Mammoth, California.

Conference details—Nikki Streegan 530.582.4800

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Web Site: http://www.sbcouncil.org/Events/Schedule

Contact Details: Conference details—Nikki Streegan 530.582.4800
nstreegan@sbcouncil.org

PR Details—Pamela Biery 530.470.9292
pamela@velocity7.com

According to Caitlin Sparks of The Gold Standard, a carbon credit rating company, in America, a non-standardized carbon offset credit market has led to some Wild West scenarios, as reported on the Newshour with Jim Leher.

“It’s a big experiment at this point. But do I think that generating credits from renewable projects that build a renewable infrastructure is a fantastic idea and a powerful tool? Absolutely.” Caitlin Sparks, The Gold Standard

PG&E is now the first utility company offering a low-cost carbon credit reinvestment program. ClimateSmart™ is touted as a way to offset credits for less than $5 per month on your utility bill.

Meanwhile, Silicon Valley firm Yahoo spent $2 million in 2007 to buy offsets and became carbon-neutral by canceling out its CO-2 emissions through offsets. Politicians, like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, step ahead by purchasing credits to offset extensive air travel with Pacific Forest Trust

“We can actually start reducing emissions on an industrial scale today if we can build the fiscal support to make those projects possible. You still have a carbon footprint, but it’s something you can do today to take responsibility for that footprint.”
JASON SMITH, Founder, Live Neutral

Velocity7 has joined 1% For The Planet (FTP), a growing global movement of more than 750 companies that donate 1% of their sales to environmental organizations.

1% FTP’s mission is to “Use market forces to drive positive environmental change by inspiring companies to give.” Close to 30 million dollars has been donated to approved environmental non-profits since 2002.Check it out.

This step is part of Velocity7’s goal to align all business operations to a sustainable model. Last year, Velocity7 became certified as a Sustainable Business through the Sacramento Business Program and participated as a sponsor of the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival.

“We find ourselves increasing involved with environmental issues through our clients and see using our skills as communicators as a powerful way of making a difference. Joining 1% FTP is just one way we can ‘walk our talk’ as a green-minded company.” states Robert Trent, Velocity7 CEO.