Issues

Town hall with Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas (Sunset Advisory Committee) and Rep. Jim Keffer of Eastland (Energy Resources Committee) where you can voice opinions on the PUC and the Railroad Commission, regarding tar sands, fracking, etc. On Dec.19, testimony will be heard at the Capitol on Sunset* of above-mentioned agencies. This event is sponsored by the Dallas and Fort Worth Sierra Clubs, Public Citizen and others.

*Sunset of an agency deals with all aspects of an agency, how it does business with the public and private sector--even whether the entity as we know it should continue. This process only happens once every seven years.

Held Mondays Jan. 28-March 4. Learn practical best green living practices. Hear from experts in the field, view award-winning films, and meet local environmentalists. Volunteer to share Plano’s message of sustainable lifestyles. All shades of green are welcome. Free.

Former mayor of Austin, Will Wynn, will speak at the first of a four-part series. Contact: Brandy O'Quinn at 817-905-5200 or b.oquinn@urbanstrategiestx.com.

Green Corps hosts this workshop that aims to teach skills needed to promote social and environmental change. Contact: Lisa Trope at 301-318-3892 or Lisa@greencorps.org.

Gathering for anyone interested in renewable energy, hosted by the Sierra Club, Blue Green Apollo Alliance and the Clean Energy Works for Texas coalition. Learn about the next steps on the Sierra Club's Clean Energy Works for Texas campaign as well as future campaigns that the Sierra Club will be running in the area. Speakers: Dave Cortez, coordinator from the Blue Green Apollo Alliance, and Stephanie Cole, organizing rep from the Sierra Club. Note: Everyone is responsible for own food and drink purchase but there may be the option of ordering pizzas as a group to keep costs down. RSVP Lisa Trope at Lisa@greencorps.org.

Event hosted by the North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia, House District 103, an advocate of energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative technologies, will speak energy issues.

Speakers to discuss the state of Texas' energy. Speakers include: Mark Armentrout, Former ERCOT chairman, CEO of Texas Technology Partners; Maria Richards, SMU Geothermal Lab Coordinator; Al Armendariz, PhD, Former Region 6 EPA Administrator, Sierra Club Texas Campaign Director; James Smith, PhD, Maguire Chair, Oil & Gas Management; and Jim Duncan, Solar Design Specialist, North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation, SMU and the Sierra Club.

Learn about professional home energy audits, energy retrofits and renewable energy. Tour the Environmental Ed. Center, Plano's only LEED platinum-certified building. Free.

Get answers to questions about renewable energy -- from solar panels to wind turbines to geothermal heating. Free.

Learn what happens during a home energy audit from auditors. Hear what homeowners say about their energy audits. Learn about rebates for energy efficient retrofits. Free.