Public Policy

The U.S. Green Building Council-Texas Gulf Coast Chapter is partnering with an array of non-profit leaders to produce high quality energy-efficiency education to the commercial industry. The Houston Chapter of Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and Houston Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) are among those that are inspired to bring a premiere educational summit to Houston, one that will promote discussion and knowledge about energy and green issues along the Texas Gulf Coast.
On August 23, 2011 the USGBC Energy Summit will be honored to host the following distinguished speakers and panels at The Houstonian Hotel in Houston:

The Breakfast Keynote Speaker will be Lisa Zembrodt of Summit Energy. She will discuss the Dynamics and Fundamentals of the Texas Energy Markets, Production, Capacities and Consumption. An expert in the energy market, Zembrodt provides pertinent information, helping decision-makers understand the current and future state of energy supply and demand.

Dallas Sierra Club September General Meeting:

TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL project is designed to carry unrefined tar sands oil 1700 miles from Alberta, Canada southward through several states including Texas to be refined and shipped from Port Arthur.  Tar sand crude threatens landowners and waterways throughout the US as it is highly corrosive and acidic compared to Texas crude.  Tar sands represent an unstable blend of bitumen (which looks like asphalt) which needs to be liquified with natural gas and other chemicals, which is then highly pressurized to travel through a single wall pipeline.

Currently, the US has NO guidelines for tar sands pipelines posing serious threats and damage to their communities and drinking water.  In Texas alone, the pipeline crosses rivers and streams more than 32 times. The U.S. State Department is now under tremendous pressure to grant the pipeline's permit. Learn more about how this pipeline puts US taxpayers at risk while allowing Canada and foreign buyers of oil all the reward.

We are your warm, friendly and inclusive catalysts for the Dallas eco-community. Let us help you plug into the local social network of eco-conscious folks. Everything is Bigger in Texas - our hospitality included.

Watch the 30-second video of our recent gathering. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a video is worth a million!!! Our 2010 Holiday Party.

AT OUR FUN AND FRIENDLY MONTHLY GATHERINGS, YOU WILL:

Show support for the hard working volunteers and our trees. Contact info@dhtc.org for more information.

1919 Hemphill, a wonderful activist space, has agreed to help host a public screening of Gulf Restoration Network's "Defend the Gulf" in Fort Worth, Texas!

The Event: We will have a short talk about the aftermath of the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, then a screening of GRN's series of shorts, followed by a Q&A session, a chance to sign a petition, and a raffle drawing to win a trip to New Orleans!

Cost: A small fee (about $5) will be asked by the space to defray the cost.

Refreshments: 1919 Hemphill will generously provide vegan popcorn, soda, and water.

More about the movie: "Defend the Gulf" features "a beautiful piece from Cornell's Ornithology Lab, the hilarious 'BP Spills Coffee', excerpts from GRN's issue-focused Gulf Tides series, and more."

Please spread the news about this important series of short films and come and support the Gulf Restoration Network!

This is 1 of 2 public hearings on the formulation of the new gas drilling ordinance/or
considerations for it.  This is an open forum where you can ask questions,
bring up concerns (ie. water, emissions, pipeline placement, setback of
wells, property owner considerations, etc.).

The important thing is to show up so Chairwoman Lois Finkelman and others
understand that people in Dallas care about how/where/when gas drilling is
done.  In other words, bring your sincere questions and comments. Ask the
committee about how all this is to be monitored, executed, etc. whatever
comes to mind as something you think homeowners and residents need to know.

Join us for the 2011 Texas Conservation Alliance
Annual Meeting Saturday, September 24, at the
Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas.  

David Marquis will perform an excerpt from his acclaimed play, The Land.  We'll also celebrate the Conservation Hero of the Year and discuss cool new conservation initiatives.

Before the annual meeting, Bobette Brasfield,
coordinator of Smarter Water for North Texas,
will teach a session in how to give the Smarter
Water program to interested groups.

Annual Meeting Schedule:

11:30 - 1:45  Training Session Smarter Water
      Sandwich Lunch Provided
      Bobette Brasfield
 
 2:00 - 4:00 Annual Meeting
     Featured Speaker TBD
     Election of Board Members
     Other Big Fun 

“DFW Greenweavers is a power group of local, sustainable businesses that have been operating in the Metroplex as experts in their given Green fields.”

We will be following our synergizing format that we did last time. When people arrive you will be broken into three groups:

1) Home and Buildings 

2) Food and Gardening

3) Health and Lifestyle 

The first part of the meeting will be spent socializing with the people in your industry. There has been a great response from people spending time with others that are in their given fields.

After that you will draw a business card from the hat. You will then have a 5 minute 1-1 with that person and you will be giving their 30 second commercial! This was a HUGE success last time. Lots of FUN!

Each meeting will be sponsored by a different business every month. The sponsor will have 10 minutes to talk to the group about what they do. There will be several other perks that go along with sponsorship. The sponsor is paying the $75 room fee so that we can have our own private room that's quiet. Finally!

Clean Air Action Day
July 7, 2011 | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
CentrePort/DFW Airport Station
TRE East/West Fare Zone Divider
14470 Statler Blvd., Fort Worth 76155
(southeast of Trinity Blvd. and Hwy. 360)

BBQ Lunch and Alternative Fuels Expo
•Alternative fuel vehicles on display
•Ride and drive available to attendees
Panel Discussion
Including representatives from:
•National Biodiesel Board
•Propane Education Research Council
•Public Utility Commission of Texas
•Renewable Fuels Association

Limited Seating. RSVP required.
cleanairactionday2011.eventbrite.com
For more information contact:
Pamela Burns
pburns@nctcog.org
Jenna Cohen
jennifer@workingforcleanair.org