Selling scrap metal? Now there’s an app for that, too

New Jerseyan Tom Buechel, 26, owner of Rockaway Recycling, was looking for ways to
get the word out about his business. So he created one–The iScrapApp for the iPhone, Android and other platforms.

Simply touching
the application’s icon can help consumers find the nearest scrap yard,
learn pricing, and allows them to send photographs of their goods to the
yard to see if there’s interest, and vice versa.

The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is even considering the iScrap app
for recognition as part of its “Apps for the Environment” contest.

Read more about Tom’s app here in today’s Asbury Park Press 

To read more than a dozen other interesting environmental, energy and political news stories every business day, try a complimentary, 30-day subscription to EnviroPolitics.

Selling scrap metal? Now there’s an app for that, too Read More »

A peek at environmental events coming up in November

Here are just a few of the coming weeks’ environmental events.
See dozens of other great educational, social and networking opportunities on our Enviro-Events Calendar. While you’re there,
be sure to sign up for free email updates.



November 1, 2011


New Jersey Technology Council  Webinar
Pro’s and Con’s of Solar and Energy Efficiency
Opportunities in NJ
Noon to 1 p.m.
Company Presentation:  Green Waste Technologies, Inc. along with
Research & Development updates, news from NJTC member companies and much
more. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing
information about joining the Webinar. Space is limited. Reserve your
Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/227798688





November 1, 2011 

Planning
for a Sustainable Water Supply in Lakewood and Beyond



2 p.m.
The Little Theater, Georgian
Court College
Lakewood, NJ


Water supply and water conservation issues are of vital importance
in New Jersey right now. As population increases and townships plan for
increasingly dense developments, the problems of providing a safe, clean water
supply for citizens-while retaining adequate water supplies in rivers, streams,
and aquifers for healthy ecosystems-become more acute. River and stream levels
are already falling precipitously low in dry summers, and the water supply and
its safety for humans and wildlife alike are an increasing concern within the
Barnegat Bay Watershed.
Join us for this informative and engaging panel that will showcase the need for
a water supply plan in this region and be a catalyst for developing the
necessary process to create that plan.

Moderator:
Lisa Auermuller, Watershed Coordinator at Jacques Cousteau Reserve, Rutgers
University

Panelists:
Senator Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean); Justin Flancbaum, Executive Director,
Lakewood Municipal Utilities Authority; Robert Nicolson, Supervisory
Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey; Peg Sturmfels, Program Organizer, New
Jersey Environmental Federation; Richard Bizub, Director of Water Programs,
Pinelands Preservation Alliance.  Admission to this event is free.
Guest registration is requested to ensure that there is sufficient seating for
all guests. To register, and to learn more about the week-long program on
building sustainable communities, please contact Trish Passuth, director of
service learning, at 732.987.2713 or passutht@georgian.edu.


 



November 2, 2011

How has Newark’s industrial legacy shaped its contemporary landscape?


6:30-9:00 pm


The Newark Museum


49 Washington Street


Newark, NJ 07102


How
has Newark’s industrial legacy shaped its contemporary landscape? What
does this history mean for today’s residents? Join our panel of
scholars, activists, and residents as they explore how history has
complicated this postindustrial environment. Free. Refreshments


To RSVP: Email njch@njch.org


or call 1-888-394-6524


(Reservations are
strongly recommended)

November 2, 2011

NJ Business and Industry Association  Seminar:
How to Manage Your Energy Costs

8:30 – Noon. (with continental breakfast)
Pines Manor
Edison, NJ (Route 27)

This program will provide employers with the best strategies to manage
energy costs. Learn about the latest state, federal and private
programs that can help you with energy efficiency projects. You will
also hear the latest on energy policy and regulations. $129 per person for NJBIA members and $169 for
nonmembers.
For more information, contact Katie Wittkamp at 609-393-7707, ext. 239. To become a sponsor, contact Sherry Esteves at ext. 219. Download event brochure




November 2, 2011
Commercial Building & Construction
6-9 pm, (Nov. 2nd 6-8 pm) 3 Wednesdays
Bucks County Community College – Green Jobs Academy
310 George Patterson Blvd, Suite 108, Bristol PA 19007
Participants will gain an overall understanding of the Green Building
Design and Construction process. This program is for both the
contractor and design professional. The program presents in a step by
step/connect the LEED® dots fashion, the LEED®
specific construction concepts applied throughout the building
process.  The goal of the training is to provide an understanding of
the core concepts and the construction principles behind
sustainable buildings, show how to integrate green practices and
strategies into the processes and, to become knowledgeable about the
LEED® rating system, as it applies to construction.  This workshop qualifies for 7.5 LEED®
specific credentialing hours for both BD&C and ID&C
disciplines, 8 CES credits for AIA, and 8 PDH units for registered
professional engineers.Instructor: Lisa Grayson Zygmunt  Course No. WTMCO 3553 JA1/Cost $325 per person.
For more information, contact the Green Jobs Academy (215) 788-3594 or visit www.bucks.edu/green
 

November 3-4, 2011
International Sites
& Spills Expo
Toronto, ON
TEEX Workshop Nov 2
Information and Registration

November 3, 2011

What’s fracking and should we be worried?                             

6:45 p.m.Lesbian Gay Bisexual &Transgender Center


208 West
13th Street, Room 301, Manhattan
Screening
and discussion with invited guests:
NY Assembly Members Danny O’Donnell, Deborah Glick, Linda Rosenthal,
Richard Gottfried, Civil rights attorney Yetta Kurland, David Braun,
Co-founder United for Action Free
Admission  The LGBT Center will screen PBS “Now” host David Brancaccio’s
interview of Josh Fox about his film GASLAND- winner of the 2010 Sundance
Festival Special Jury Prize, 2011 Academy Award nomination and 2011 Emmy
winner. The environmental and health impacts from fracking in other states are
shocking and well documented, with a significant number of spills, blowouts,
accidents and gas and contaminant releases. Now the gas industry wants to drill
in New York, which could ruin our water supply.
Discussion and Q&A with invited guests will follow the screening. Sponsored
by:
Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, United for Action, and NYH2O For more
information, go to http://unitedforaction.org/     


November 3, 2011


Introduction to Wetland Identification 
8:30am – 4:30pm
$285
Virtually all activities conducted in and around wetlands are regulated –
from excavating underground storage tanks to soil
compaction for paving a driveway or patio to pruning of
overgrown vegetation – and violators are subject to hefty
penalties and fines from the NJ-DEP. Knowing if a wetland is
on your property or a site on which you work is incredibly
important! But how do you determine if a wetland is
present?  Why not educate yourself? Take our class to get the
basic tools you need to identify a wetland’s presence. Once
you make a determination, you will know if you need to go
further and hire an environmental professional to evaluate
the site and assist you with the permit process. In this
one-day combination classroom and field course, a nationally
recognized wetlands expert will review the skills you need
to identify freshwater wetlands and their boundaries and
introduce you to wetland plant identification and soil
recognition. You will learn: Why wetlands are important, How
they differ, What indicators are used for wetland
identification and about the current regulations in New Jersey.



November 3-12, 2011
Advanced P V Systems Design & Installation
Thursdays 6-9 pm, Fridays & Saturdays 8 am-5 pm
Bucks County Community College – Green Jobs Academy

310 George Patterson Blvd, Suite 108, Bristol PA 19007

The
six (6) day, 40-hour course is designed to prepare individuals for the
NABCEP PV Installer Certification exam.  The course will include
hands-on lab work and design exercises including in-depth review of NEC
Article 690, calculating requirements for rooftop conduit runs,
determination of the proper distance between PV arrays using sun angles
and module dimensions, string sizing, PV racking methods and final
commissioning processes and troubleshooting.   The content follows the
NABCEP Installer Certification Job Task Analysis for preparation for the
certification exam. Instructor: Jeff Gilbert, NABCEP PV Solar & Thermal Prerequisites:
Previous PV training, such as NABCEP Entry Level and/or experience
installing solar PV systems. Course No. WTMCO 0344 JA1/ Cost: $1,460 per
person early bird; $1,560 per person after October 6th 2011; 10% discount prior to October 6th, 2011 for IEC Members
To register, contact Continuing Education (215) 968-8409, and select
option 2. For more information, contact the Green Jobs Academy (215)
788-3594 or visit www.bucks.edu/green 

November 4, 2011
Green Marketing
Jacquie Ottman, Presenter
9 a.m.-3  p.m.
Bally’s Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Ms. Ottman, nationally recognized expert in Green Marketing will be
discussing the New Rules of Green Marketing from her latest
book.For more information contact Dharmesh Dave ddave@atlantic.edu or visit Atlantic Cape Community College Website 


A peek at environmental events coming up in November Read More »

New Jersey mayor welcomes solar farm over housing

A 100-acre site in Tinton Falls, NJ that likely would have resulted in the construction of a new school and costly municipal services like fire and police protection will instead be generating enough new electricity to power some 3,000 households within a year.

At a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Mayor Michael Skudera hailed the $80 million solar farm project that will see the installation of  85,000 solar panels and generate between 200 and 300 construction jobs.

The alternative energy project is being built by Tinton Falls Solar Farm, a
subsidiary of the China-based Zongyi Solar America Co.

“We probably would have had to build a new school” had the housing
development been approved, Skudera said. “That would have been a huge
strain on the taxpayers of Tinton Falls.”

In other energy and environmental news last week, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and Rider University cut the ribbon on a new .74-megawatt (MW) solar farm at the
Lawrenceville, NJ school. PSE&G owns the solar system and provides Rider
University with a lease payment for the parcel of land it occupies.

Related:
Ground broken for solar panel farm in Tinton Falls
Work to Begin on 100-Acre Solar Farm in Tinton Falls  

New Jersey mayor welcomes solar farm over housing Read More »

Former New Jersey PIRG activist Rob Stuart dies at 49

 

We are sad to learn today that environmental activist Rob Stuart, who got his start in New Jersey with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and later moved on to causes in the city of Philadelphia, suffered a heart attack and died Wednesday at the age of 49.

Rob is pictured, left, at a 1990 ceremony to mark the signing of the
N.J. Clean Water Enforcement Act. Then NJ Gov. Jim Florio, who signed the legislation into law, is seated at right.

In an obituary written for the Philadelphia Inquire, Miriam Hill writes that, from 2006 to 2009,  as president of the Logan Square
Neighborhood Association, Rob was a constant presence in City Hall as he
lobbied for progressive causes, from opposing drilling in the Marcellus
Shale to bringing bicycle cabs to Philadelphia.

“He was like the 18th member of City Council,” said Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., who eulogized Mr. Stuart Thursday.

Phil Goldsmith, a former city managing director, worked with Mr.
Stuart at CeasefirePA, which aims to reduce trafficking in illegal guns.
He praised Mr. Stuart’s foresight and passion.

“He was a tireless and optimistic social entrepreneur,” Goldsmith
said. “I didn’t always understand his ideas, but I always knew it was
something to make the city a better place to live.”

Rob did technology and political consulting for various companies before
founding his communications firm, Evolve Strategies, in 2006.

You’ll learn more about by reading the Inquirer obituary and this Daily News piece.

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Saul Ewing ‘Corporate Environmental Update’ Nov 29



NOVEMBER 29, 2011 Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM BREAKFAST SEMINAR “2011 Corporate Environmental Update” Presented by the Environment and Natural Resources Practice Group of Saul Ewing LLP


This seminar will focus on two evolving areas of the
law:
  • Corporate
    officer personal liability under an array of federal and state
    environmental statutes. What should you be doing?
  • Environmental
    Justice and its impact on siting or upgrading a facility.
In-house counsel are invited to attend this free breakfast seminar
that will answer these and other important questions as we near 2012.
Presenters for the seminar are Christopher
R. Hall and David C. Apy, attorneys with Saul Ewing LLP. Chris is chair
of the White Collar and Government Enforcement Practice Group and
David is special counsel in the Litigation Department where he concentrates his practice on
environmental civil litigation.
Location: The Westin Philadelphia, Georgian Room, 99 South 17th
Street, Philadelphia, PA
Saul Ewing
To
register, please click here.
For
more information, please contact Shamus McCarty at smccarty@saul.com or 215.972.8582.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Interested in events like the one above?
Visit our Enviro-Events Calendar

While you’re there, sign up for free email updates.  



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Saul Ewing ‘Corporate Environmental Update’ Nov 29 Read More »

Fuel cell factory, 30 MW installation coming to Delaware

The state of Delaware is betting taxpayer money on a California fuel cell company that plans to open a factory on the site of  the old Chrysler assembly plant in Newark, create 900 jobs and pump new electricity into the power grid.

Delaware Approves Bloom Energy Factory, 30MW Project

Delaware utility regulators on October 18 approved a plan to bill customers of utility
Delmarva Power to build a factory for Silicon Valley fuel cell startup Bloom Energy.

The company says its natural gas-powered Bloom Box fuel
cells will generate 30 megawatts of electricity in the state.

Greentechmedia said the decision was a “coup” for Bloom since Delmarva will be raising more than
$100 million over 20 years to help finance the project. That equates to
a $1.34-per-month surcharge on customer bills. Delaware is also
providing $18 million in state incentives, and the project is seeking a
federal cash grant for renewable power projects.

The project reportedly could grow to as much as 50 megawatt–an order of magnitude larger than Bloom’s biggest projects so far,
with California customers such as Google, eBay, Adobe and AT&T.

Some critics, however, question how well the tetchnology will compete with the natural gas-fired power plants that presently serve the grid.

Delaware legislators helped Bloom’s chances this past summer by re-defining natural-gas fuel cells as a renewable energy source. The change will allow Delmarva to claim the project in meeting its state renewable
energy mandates and will help Bloom market the electricity as green power.

Greentechmedia reports:

Bloom hasn’t put a price tag on the project yet, but it has touted the
potential economic benefits for Delaware — up to 900 jobs at its
factory and an estimated $300 million in annual economic activity.
That’s boosted project backers against critics who worry that Bloom’s
projects won’t come off in time or on budget. One conservative critic
has testified that the cost to Delmarva ratepayers could reach as high
as $3 to $4 a month if Bloom and the utility can’t maximize the value of
their “Bloom Electrons” in markets for renewable power. For its part,
Bloom has agreed to pay Delaware a fine as high as $41 million if it fails to build the factory.

Governor Jack Markell was ebullient in announcing Bloom’s plans back in June.

Wilmington News-Journal editorial gave last week’s funding decision this cautious support:

In a perfect world, Bloom Energy would have plopped its factory down
on the old Chrysler site, hired its workforce and started manufacturing
electricity-producing boxes out of sheer love for Delaware.

But
in a perfect world, the Chrysler plant would still be operating and
employing thousands of Delawareans in good-paying manufacturing jobs.

Knowing
what happened to Chrysler and the overall state of employment in
America today, we all recognize the world’s not perfect.

So
some hard steps have to be taken. And every step to overcome a deficit,
such as the loss of those Chrysler jobs, involves risk.

The
Bloom deal with the state and Delmarva Power and its customers does
involve risk. But it also offers Delaware an opportunity.





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