Dallas – A “Bike Friendly” Town?

Over the last year I’ve become aware of a handful of local, neighborhood-driven bike advocacy groups around our city.  These organizations mobilize grassroots support in making the Dallas area more bike-friendly by establishing discounts with local merchants, working with city council-folk to create cycle tracks on major thoroughfares (a first in Dallas), and hosting event-themed, recreational rides around town.

These groups must be having an effect – Dallas is creating a Bicycle Transportation Advisory Committee and is currently seeking applications.  The committee is going to be a 15-person board and will help in developing Dallas’ future comprehensive bicycle plan (meeting monthly).  Please email your applications to Max Kalhammer (Sr. Planner – Bicycle Coordinator), by Feb 15th, with the subject line “BAC Application.”

So dust off that ‘ol Schwinn Stingray and get out to support these important local groups!  If one doesn’t exist in your neighborhood, contact any of the below “friendly” organizers to learn what steps you can take to start one around your community.  Happy Riding!

Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
Bike Friendly Knox-Henderson
Bike Friendly Richardson
Bike Denton
Biking In Dallas
PEDALLAS

EPA Public Hearing on Clean Air (2/2/10)!

The EPA is having a public hearing on clean air tomorrow in Houston (one of three being held around the country).  Ground-level ozone is the main component of smog and is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution.  Smog doesn’t just ruin your view; it poses serious health risks, especially to children and senior citizens.

The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set primary and secondary standards for common air pollutants, including ground-level ozone, and now the EPA is proposing a new rule to do just that.  Join the broad coalition of concerned citizens, public health advocates, and conservation groups in the Clean Air Texas coalition at a public hearing as they stand up to industry pressure and show that Americans want a strong rule that will protect our health and environment.  It should be noted that, there are TWELVE NEW coal plants proposed in Texas, and we already have 17 coal plants up and running (some of which are the dirtiest in the country *).  TCEQ and Governor Perry have already threatened to sue the EPA over this proposed ruling on ozone standards.  Giddy Up!

What can I do? Written comments may be heard until March 22nd, 2010.  Voice your opinion by sending comments directly to the EPA, referring to “Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2005–0172″.  Submit by mail, fax (202–566–9744) or email (a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov).  Helpful talking points about the issue can be found here.

Still want to get involved, but don’t know how?  Contact Eva Hernandez.

* Texas’ Dirty Business Extra Credit (2008 DOE EIA & 2005 EPA TRI data):

• Five (!!) TX coal plants rank in US Top 13 in Mercury emissions; Nine in US Top 35!
• TX Ranked #1 in CO2 production (252,055,209 metric tons, 10.2% of US Total)
• TX Ranked #5 in SO2 production (456,631 metric tons, 5.8% of US Total)
• TX Ranked #2 in NOx production (214,990 metric tons, 6.5% of US Total)
• Evidence of additional toxicity related to coal plant waste and emissions can be found in TX water, land, animals and people.

Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Initiative

Have you been trying to keep up with PACE in the North Texas area?  In case you’re not familiar, the Property-Assessed Clean Energy initiative (HB 1937) was approved by the legislature last session.  The program allows municipalities to create “energy districts” that provide low interest loans to homeowners and businesses for renewable power and energy efficiency.  What’s unique about these loans is that they are attached to the property, not the owner.  Examples of the program currently exist in Berkeley (CA), Boulder (CO), and Babylon (NY).

An informational meeting about PACE was held on January 21st at the Trinity River Audubon Center.  Those in attendance (over 65!) included, 21 North Texas cities, several state representatives’ offices, and other organizations, like NTCOG, TX Association of Builders, ONCOR, and the EPA.  Speakers included, Asst. City Manager Jill Jordan, Rep. Raphael Anchia, city officials from San Antonio, and PACE program representatives from Colorado and California.

To help bring a version of this energy efficiency and renewable energy financing program to your community, contact your city council members and mayor to let them know you’re interested in PACE for your city.

For more information about PACE in Texas, see the Clean Energy for Texas website.  For information about the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program, see the Department of Energy (“PACE” webcasts available) website.

Happy Hour / Dinner – India West – Addison (1/7/10)

Please join us for our first Happy Hour/Dinner of 2010 at India West in Addison on Thursday, Jan 7th!

Arrive anytime after 6:00 pm for happy hour; dinner at 7:00 pm. Happy hour specials (until 7pm) include $1 off beer, $2 off wells, and $6/glass on all wine.

Please RSVP by noon on 1/7 to the Pingg invitation or the youngsierrans@dallassierraclub.org email address so we have a rough estimate for seating.

All 20s/30s welcome; you don’t have to be a Young Sierran or Sierra Club member to attend.  See you there!

5290 Beltline Rd| Addison TX  75254  |  972.503.5000

Happy Hour / Dinner – Farnatchi – Dallas (12/22/09)

Please join us for our last Happy Hour/Dinner of the year at Farnatchi in Dallas on Tuesday, Dec 22th.

This event is BYOB so please bring your favorite beverage to accompany your meal.  There is a nearby wine shop at Knox & Cole called Crush if you need to grab something on your way.  As for the restaurant, there are plenty of veggie friendly options.  Their sauces, dough, and cheeses are made fresh daily.

Arrive anytime after 6:00 pm for happy hour; dinner at 7:00 pm.

Please RSVP by noon on 12/22 to the Pingg invitation or the youngsierrans@dallassierraclub.org email address so we have a rough estimate for seating.

All 20s/30s welcome; you don’t have to be a Young Sierran or Sierra Club member to attend.  See you there!

3001 Knox Street |  Dallas TX  75205  |  214-219-7200

Environmental Working Group Water Quality Report

Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released the results of a three-year study on tap water quality across the U.S., the Drinking Water Quality Analysis & Tap Water Database, and determined that there’s “good reason to worry about the safety of the drinking water.”

EWG assembled an unprecedented database of 20 million drinking water quality tests performed by water utilities since 2004. It reveals a total of 316 contaminants in water supplied to 256 million Americans in 48,000 communities in 45 states. Among the contaminants were 202 chemicals that are not subject to any government regulation or safety standards for drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set enforceable drinking water safety standards for only 114 of the 316 substances detected (EPA 2009b).

Study data sources & methodology and water pollution contaminant & source information are available and can assist in understanding the specific water quality reports of your water utility (findable by zip code or utility).

The Top 100 Big City (greater than 250,000 people) Best Water rankings include Texas cities: Arlington (#1), Fort Worth (#3), Austin (#7), Dallas (#12), San Antonio (#29), Corpus Christi (#44), Plano (#50), and Houston (#95).  The City of Plano Utility Operations Dept. is mentioned as a large utility with findings of the highest average levels of cancer-causing water disinfection byproducts.

EWG policy recommendations include, expanding requirements for testing unregulated contaminants, increased health protective standards for unregulated chemicals found in our water, and expanding programs to protect source water protection.  The mistaken belief to buy bottled water, of which many popular brands are often bottled tap water, tainted with the same pollutants, is not a suggested solution.

12/16/09 – New York Times series, Toxic Waters, story, That Tap Water Is Legal But It May Be Unhealthy.