On Wednesday, February 20ieth, Mayor Vincent Gray released the Sustainable DC Plan. This plan has been developed over the last 18 months through a participatory process that has involved citizens, businesses and local leaders across DC. The plan puts forth sustainable actions for the environment, energy, food, nature, transportation, waste, and water to ensure that the District becomes the healthiest, greenest, most livable city in the nation over the next 20 years.
Local residents and activists took advantage of this event to voice their opposition to coal burning at the Capitol Power Plant. As noted in this blog, the Architect of the Capitol is seeking permission to increase coal burning at the plant. Increasing coal burning at the plant would decrease DC air quality, and fly in the face of the Mayor's much touted Sustainability Plan. DC's Department of the Environment will make a decision on the AOC's proposal in the coming weeks. In the meantime, local citizens are continuing to voice opposition to coal burning at the plant. If you would like a yardsign to post in your yard or window to mark your opposition to coal burning at the Capitol Power Plant, contact the DCRecycler.
The DC Department of Environment (DDOE) has extended the deadline for comments on the Architect of the Capitol's application that would allow for increased coal emissions from the Capitol Power Plant (CPP). According to DDOE , comments must be received by 5pm Monday, February 18, 2013 and should be either (1) mailed or hand-delivered to DDOE, Air
Quality Division, 1200 First Street, N.E., 5th Floor, Washington, DC
20002, Attention: Stephen S. Ours - Chief, Permitting, or (2) e-mailed
to aoc.airpermits@dc.gov. According to the DDOE website comments "must include the person’s name, telephone number, affiliation, if any,
mailing address and a statement outlining the air quality issues in
dispute and any facts underscoring those air quality issues".
You can find a draft letter here: https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=10325&autologin=true&s_src=313Z6300A1&JServSessionIdr004=d9j75yf112.app225a
Several articles on this topic have recently appeared in The Washington Post, Capitol Hill Corner, and WAMU, and his issue has gathered steam over the last couple of weeks with Eleanor Holmes Norton and Tommy Wells chiming in. When coal is burned at the CPP residue falls out into Capitol Hill, but emissions from the plant reduce air quality across the entire DC metro region. Please send in your comments today! You can also find more information on this topic at: http://www.dc.sierraclub.org/news/detail.asp?ID=325.
Wondering
what to do with all those great books you have now that you’re reading off of
your Kindle? The DC Books to Prisons
Project may be your answer! The program provides free books to
150 prisons across the country and develops and supports local prison
libraries. Most prisons do not accept hardback books, so paperbacks are
preferred. Most needed non-fiction include dictionaries (English,
Spanish-English), Spanish Textbooks, atlases and almanacs, drawing or art,
science and alternative energy (including science magazines like Discover or
Scientific American), how-to (especially woodworking, plumbing, car
mechanics, small motor repair), GED preparation, farming and agriculture,
personal finance or starting a business, American Indians, Mayans, or Aztecs
and African American, Latin American, or classical (Roman,Greek) history.
Popular fiction requests include westerns and urban or street lit.
Books can be dropped off
on Wednesday evenings (6-9 PM) at Foundry United Methodist Church located at 1500
16th St NW, Washington DC, 20036. A core volunteer is
usually there during and can arrange to have people carry the books for you
while you stay with your car. If Wednesday evening is not possible, you can
call the church at 202.332.4010.
