Turns out, many of us in the Mountain State agree with the folks who wrote that article in the Harvard Business Review titled Why Sustainability is Now the Key Driver for Innovation. We think sustainability-driven innovation is an exciting framework to operate within, offering a variety of opportunties to West Virginians to control their own destiny by retraining, retooling and innovating while improving quality of life for themselves and others.

The GreenWorks mission is to equip as many West Virginians with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship they need to prosper in the new and green economies.  We’ll work to inform, train and assist everyone interested in the growth of triple-bottom-line endeavors, sustainability-driven innovation, and green job and business development.

Give us a shout if you know of a great event, business or training that supports green economy growth.

By Leslee McCarty
WVEC Lobbyist

Last year, we worked hard in concert with the Governor’s office to make sure West Virginia was in good position to receive federal stimulus dollars targeted to energy conservation programs. In order to receive these monies, the governor had to assure the federal government that we were going to implement the most recent International building Efficiency Codes, and a new building codes statute for the state was passed.

Great, right?

As far as last year, fine. As far as rules are concerned. not so great.

TheWest Virginia Homebuilders Association entered this session with a plan to change the law by changing the rules, so they got the Rule Making Review Committee to amend the building code rule and all of a sudden, we were back to the 2003 code that is now in effect.

So we had to go to House Judiciary last week on short notice and we lost the vote. Even with the “help” of the testimony of West Virginia Division of Energy chief Jeff Herholdt, Delegates Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha), Kelly Sobonya (R-Cabell) and others managed to defeat an attempt by Delegates Barbara Fleischauer (D-Monongalia) and Bill Wooton (D-Raleigh) to put the code back to the most recent version.

Now the Governor’s office is working to remedy this problem in Senate Judiciary, but it is not clear what the outcome will be.

What is clear is that West Virginia will probably lose future federal energy efficiency grants because we let the Homebuilders rewrite the rules for laws the Legislature passed last year!!

And it is also clear to us that many of our legislators do not understand what “green buildings” are and that they save taxpayers and homeowners money and help reduce our carbon emissions by lowering heating and cooling costs.

This is “penny wise and pound foolish”government at its best, and very sad to see.

MARTINSBURG – There was plenty to celebrate Friday, when students, staff and supporters of the Mid-Atlantic Weatherization and Green Jobs Training Center gathered locally for a graduation luncheon.

Although the event focused on the first eight graduates’ success, it also was a time to celebrate news that the program’s been approved for an apprenticeship program.

Rick Smith, executive director of Eastern West Virginia Community Action Agency, which oversees the program, agreed there are many reasons to celebrate it and the first graduates’ futures.

He said the three-week training is designed to teach participants “everything they need to know to go into an apprenticeship program for weatherization.”

In the end, participants will be better prepared for employment, Smith said.

“As of now, they have learned the physics of hot and cold and how it affects a house, as well as how air exchange affects the heating and cooling of a house. They have also learned basic carpentry concepts, such as how a wall is constructed and what happens when you build a wall in certain ways. They’ve also learned about insulation and how spots that are lacking insulation can cause problems and airflow issues,” he said.

Participants also learned the “theory of weatherization,” Smith said.

“That was all covered in the first two weeks. So from there, in the third week, they’ve actually gone from the theory to the job site to do hands-on work, to see if it is actually what they thought it would be,” he said.

Larry Searcy, director of the Martinsburg One-Stop Career Center, where the training center is housed, said word was “just received Wednesday from the federal Department of Labor that we’ve been approved now as an official apprenticeship program for weatherization technician.”

That means the individuals who’ve gone through this weatherization program can “now enter into an apprenticeship program which will run 2,002 hours, or roughly a year, and get paid. So they’ll be paid to learn as they do, out in the field,” Searcy said.

After completing the apprenticeship, they will have earned a DOL-approved apprenticeship certificate, he said.

Searcy said this represents a “big step forward” for the program and its participants.

“We now have eight people, who have finished pre-apprenticeship training, and we anticipate seven or eight of those people going on to the apprenticeship, which is a nearly 100 percent placement rate and that is unheard of,” he said.

Participants should have an easier time getting jobs, thanks to this apprenticeship program, Searcy said.

“When they go to a weatherization program, either here in the area or around the state, they can produce documentation that’s recognized all over the country as being absolutely trained and prepared to do that job,” he said.

Smith agreed this will be good for the participants’ future career paths.

“First of all, during the apprenticeship, they will actually be paid for working, which is good. And they will also be building a skill set and resume, while they’re in a paid program,” Smith said.

Instructor Mike Sites couldn’t have been happier with the caliber of students chosen to participate in the program’s inaugural class.

“This whole group really exceeded my expectations. I mean with them, we really hit the jackpot. All the people who were in the class were able to go through the material, understand it and do a good job of making a diagnosis in the field – which is something that seasoned crew members can’t always do that,” Sites said.

Martinsburg resident Augusta Fleming, who was one of the graduates, is no stranger to this type of activity since she previously participated in another program for women who wish to enter the field of construction, she said.

“Really, I’ve always been interested in this type of work, especially since I first started doing welding with my dad when I was just 16 years old. What I really liked about this program is that it’s so different because of the focus on green technology and energy savings,” Fleming said.

Another participant, Sue Shamburg of Martinsburg, said she’d eventually like to use her newly acquired skills and expertise to become an auditor/estimator.

“That’s the professional who goes into a home or building before the weatherization team,” Shamburg said. “They go in and see what needs to be done. For example, how efficiently the furnace is running and if any insulation is needed, then fill out a report so they will know what should be done,” she said.

Berkeley County Commissioner Tony Petrucci, who spoke to the graduates, said he was impressed with the program and what it offers participants.

It is an example of what can be accomplished when governmental agencies work together for the collective good, he said.

“This really does show what can happen when everyone works together, from the students to the folks from Workforce West Virginia, Community Action and Telamon. They all worked to get this program rolling, and it is just a great opportunity so that these young people will be able to use their knowledge out in the community,” Petrucci said.

These types of training programs are especially valuable during times of high unemployment, he said.

“With the unemployment rate being so bad throughout the Eastern Panhandle, this type of training program and Workforce center actually provides a hands-on opportunity so that if an employer wants these people, they are ready to go to work,” Petrucci said.

Jenni Vincent   Source

The Davis & Elkins College “GreenWorks!” student organization and The Center for Sustainability Studies (CSS) have launched a dormitory recycling program on campus. The two organizations recently hosted a bin assembly party so that new, colorful and functional bins can be placed in every suite, hall and floor.

According to CSS Director Russ McClain, adviser to Greenworks!, this effort is being organized in cooperation with Randolph County’s new recycling program, which will now accept plastics.

“We have been working closely with Mr. Tim Hornick of the Randolph County Solid Waste Authority (RCSWA), Mr. Joe Gumm of the Randolph County Recycle Center and Tygarts Valley Sanitation (TVS) to explore ways to recycle plastics in Randolph County,” McClain said. “The enthusiasm and willingness of the campus to recycle plastic was instrumental in creating the mechanism to do so in the county; with the partnership of the RCSWA and TVS to thank for ultimately making it possible.”

Every plastic container has a number on the bottom, and those marked No. 1 and No. 2 are acceptable for recycling. Lids must be removed for safety in the compaction process. Although Randolph County cannot accept glass containers at this time, it will recycle aluminum, steel, tin, magazines, office paper, newspaper and notepaper.

The new Davis & Elkins initiative will collect items from all five of the college’s residence halls. With help from D&E’s housekeeping and maintenance staff, items will be moved from the bins to the public recycling trailer on campus every week. The bins were purchased with assistance from D&E’s Student Assembly as well as the CSS. Additional outdoor and building lobby containers are expected to be in place by April.

The Center for Sustainability Studies has also partnered with Steve Kerns of the RCSWA and the Tygart Valley Outdoor Youth Club, to initiate a volunteer-run curbside recycling program in the city of Elkins. Currently, volunteers are picking up materials the first Saturday of the month in the Wees Historic District, which is next to the college. McClain says this initiative has been successful enough to allow the group to expand curbside recycling to other areas in the city, starting with the Bridgewater and Riverview neighborhoods on the second Saturday of March.

The Center for Sustainability Studies was founded at Davis & Elkins this fall, thanks to a grant from the Naylor Family Trust. The three-year grant is funding development of an academic major and a minor in Sustainability Studies and center for community and regional education, research and outreach. It is currently housed on the fourth floor of Eshleman Science Center. For more information, call 304-637-1309 or email css@davisandelkins.edu.

Source

DEP Seeks Input on Narrative Criteria Protocol

In a recent press release, WV Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Randy Huffman announced that the agency is in the process of establishing a protocol for implementing and enforcing the state’s narrative water quality criteria, as required under the federal Clean Water Act.

As part of that process for establishing a state protocol, the DEP is researching what other states are doing as well as seeking input from interested parties within the state. “The protocol we establish will be our own, but we want to give those who want to propose a solution the opportunity to have their ideas considered,” Huffman said.

Those who would like to submit ideas or scientific theories for how the agency should implement and enforce the narrative water quality standard are invited to do so by March 26. All submissions will be placed on the agency’s website for public review.

“Water quality has become the main topic of conversation across all types of industry, and there is a great deal of debate about what is or should be considered impairment,” Huffman said. “Our goal is to take into consideration the ideas of others as we develop our plan for implementing and enforcing the narrative standard.”

“What I am looking for are well-thought-out ideas on how we can measure aquatic life impacts and tie those impacts back to the problem where we can then fix it, using the tools of the Clean Water Act,” Huffman added.

The press release went out on this on March 3, so the March 26 deadline is very short turnaround time, making it unclear just how “official” this comment period is. But submissions can be emailed to DEP.comments@wv.gov or mailed to: The Department of Environmental Protection, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

PSC Comment Period on Net Metering Ends April 4th

Here is another comment period with a quick turnaround time.

The WV Public Service Commission has proposed new Net Metering Rules, which  include eligibility, technical, interconnection, metering, tariff filing and reporting requirements relating to net metering.

The proposed rules are contained in PSC General Order No. 258, and can be found on the Internet here.

Any interested person or corporation may file specific written comments on the proposed amended rules by April 4, 2010, by 4:OO p.m., to Sandra Squire, Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Post Office Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323. Replies to comments may be filed no later than May 5, 2010 by 4:OO pm.

Any party seeking a hearing on the proposed rules shall make a specific written request by March 30,2010 and explicitly state the grounds upon which the request for a hearing is made.

DEP Emergency Water Quality Rule for Weirton Steel

The WV DEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management has scheduled a public hearing and comment period on emergency rule changes to 47CSR2, “Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards.” The DEP proposes an emergency rule to make a site-specific exception to the half-mile rule so that it shall not apply to the Ohio River main channel (between Brown’s Island and the left descending bank) between river mile points 61.0 and 63.5.  The site-specific exemption currently in the rule expires September 1, 2010, and involves the Category A water quality standards for iron at the former Weirton Steel facility.

The public hearing will take place April 1 at 6 p.m. at the DEP’s headquarters, located at 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV  25304 in the Coopers Rock Training Room.  In addition to oral comments provided at the hearing, the agency will accept written comments at any time up to April 5, 2010.  No comments will be accepted after that date.  Written comments may be submitted to Kathy Cosco, Public Information Office, at the above address.  Comments may also be e-mailed to Linda.B.Keller@wv.gov

Comments will be made part of the record.  Copies of the emergency rule and other rule documents are available from the Secretary of State’s office or from the agency at http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Pages/WQSpublicmeetings.aspx.  You may also obtain hardcopies of this information by calling Gloria Shaffer at (304)926-0499, ext. 1033.

DEP Accepting Public Comment on Impaired Streams List

The WV DEP has developed a draft list of West Virginia’s impaired streams and lakes (commonly known as the 303[d] list). DEP is required by the federal EPA to update its list of impaired waters every two years. The list is compiled from readily available information and serves as an inventory of waters for which clean up plans must be developed.

An “impaired water” is a water body, which, due to a pollutant or combination of pollutants, fails to meet state water quality standards.  By violating applicable water quality standards, impaired waters fail to support one or more of their designated uses such as, public drinking water supply, aquatic life propagation, or contact recreation.

In order to allow public participation in the listing process, a public comment period began March 15. The comment period ends April 19, 2010.

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov or via U.S. mail to:
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Water and Waste Management
2010 303(d) List – Attn: Stephen A. Young
601 57th Street, S.E.
Charleston, WV 25304

The draft West Virginia 2010 Section 303(d) List may be viewed on DEP’s Web site,
http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/WATERSHED/IR/Pages/default.aspx

For more information about the impaired stream list, please contact Steve Young at (304) 926-0495.

EPA Launches Web Forum on How to Best Protect America’s Waters

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on how the agency can better protect and improve the health of our waters.

For a two- week period, EPA is holding a Web discussion forum on how the nation can better manage some of the most significant water pollution problems facing our nation. The feedback received on the online forum will help shape the discussion at EPA’s upcoming conference in April, “Coming Together for Clean Water,” where EPA will engage approximately 100 executive and local level water leaders on the agency’s clean water agenda.

EPA wants to receive input from water professionals, advocates, and anyone interested in water quality issues about best solution – from planning, scientific tools, low impact development, to green infrastructure and beyond – in controlling water pollution and how resources can be better focused to improve these efforts.

To join the discussion: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

Source

From Chris Shepherd of the JOBS Project, Mingo County:  An open letter to West Virginians with interest in energy and responsible economic development in WV

Please see below to take part in passing a resolution on renewable energy that is making its way through the capitol.  As always, try to make your letter and email (if you’re able to swing it) personal and relevant to your profession/economic sector (letterhead would be great!).  Read on, pass on, and thanks!

I am writing to ask that you help to encourage development of renewable energy by contacting the state representatives charged with approving legislation that will improve the prospects of renewable energy in West Virginia.

To give you a bit of background, the WV House and Senate both recently passed resolutions expressing a will to study what investment in renewable energy would look like in West Virginia, particularly by examining the Energy Expansion Funds that 20 other states have adopted, funds that specifically stimulate renewable energy and energy efficiency development at the state level (see attached for more details on these very smart and very effective funds).

Though the House and Senate have both passed these resolutions (HCR 107 and SCR 73, respectively), the resolutions still need to clear the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, which are chaired by the Senate President Tomblin and Speaker of the House Thompson, who both need to hear from YOU to ensure that the resolutions are passed out of their committee.

So please, email and (even better) write a hard letter to President Earl Ray Tomblin and to Speaker Richard Thompson urging approval of these resolutions.  Simply put, this is currently the best bet for West Virginia to take renewable energy development seriously.

I have attached a fact sheet for you to refer to when contacting these leaders, and I have included a sample message below.  Please tailor it to be personal!

Senate President Tomblin’s email is senate.president@wvsenate.gov, and Speaker Thompson’s email is speaker.thompson@verizon.net.  Letters should be sent to each at this address:

President Tomblin (or Speaker Thompson)
Joint Committee on Government and Finance
Building 1
Capitol Complex/ Charleston, WV  25305

They will decide whether or not to approve the resolutions in April, so please send your correspondence soon!

Thanks,
Chris Shepherd

SAMPLE:

Dear Speaker/President:

I am writing to urge you to approve SCR 73 and HCR 107 as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

Being that West Virginia is a leading energy state, it needs to clearly examine how it can maintain that economic strength through an Energy Expansion Fund, as are utilized in 20 other states.  West Virginia has a wealth of renewable energy opportunities that are currently going unused, opportunities that could create high-paying energy jobs and local economic development across the state.  So again, please approve these studies that would examine how to bolster energy production in West Virginia through an Energy Expansion Fund.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Renewable energy construction projects can create jobs, even in the heart of coal country.

That’s the message Mike McKechnie and Eric Mathis hope to share in Mingo County. McKechnie is bringing knowledge, experience and equipment from his Berkeley Springs-based Mountain View Solar & Winds. His destination is the historic Mountaineer Hotel, a Williamson landmark since 1925 that also serves as the headquarters for the JOBS (Just Open Businesses that are Sustainable), led by Mathis.

McKechnie was scheduled to speak April 1 to a group of southern West Virginia officials, contractors and electricians on the financial benefits of renewable energy construction.

“We’re talking about creating jobs in Williamson,” Mathis said. “We’re getting a lot of interest from local businesses, and we’re hoping this will be a demonstrative project for this area.”

There’s no reason that can’t happen, according to McKechnie, who said his Eastern Panhandle business has grown steadily since he expanded into solar panel and wind-related projects.

“We want to spread the word to all parts of West Virginia,” McKechnie said. “Building contractors have been hit so hard by this recession. It’s been a terrible thing for a lot of us, but building contractors can be busy. I know that because we are busy. We’ve hired six employees in the last few months, and we’re going to be hiring more this summer. If we can do it, others can, too.”

The workshop, he said, is geared for everyone from government officials and contractors to material supply companies.

“We want this to be model, a good example of what can happen,” he added of the grant-funded Smart Office project.

While in Williamson, McKechnie will demonstrate a solar site analysis and estimate. Considerations will include the available space, priorities, budget and site potential for solar electric generation gain.

“We’re going to serve as a consultant, but we want to use local contractors to do the work,” he added. “We want them to see this as something they can do. It’s more affordable now because the cost of the materials is coming down and the government subsidies.”

Source

From the folks at Canaan Valley Institute:

As one of the first conference facilities in West Virginia to be registered with LEED with a certification goal of Silver, you can breathe easier when you plan your conference or meeting at Canaan Valley Institute’s Research and Education Center, literally. Our facility has been designed using sustainable building design technologies, including materials that substantially improve indoor air quality. From locally sourced and recycled materials, to water conservation and treatment, the Research and Education Center will provide a spectacular and environmentally conscious venue for your event or gathering. For more information about CVI’s Research and Education Center, or to reserve the facility for your event, please visit http://www.canaanvi.org/canaanvi_web/conference_services.aspx.

By David Sokol

In mid-January, the Council of Economic Advisors released its second quarterly report monitoring the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As of the close of December 2009, approximately $413 billion of $787 billion had been passed along to residents and businesses in the form of tax reductions and project commitments. And of that figure, $31 billion had been obligated to clean energy provisions, with the council estimating that another $60 billion or so will be destined for sustainability efforts.

By John R. E. Bliese, Ph.D.