On this edition of the Access Hour, Forward Radio brings you highlights from the July 2nd Louisville Sustainability Forum: Renewing Hope for Renewables in Louisville, held at the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center, 1924 Newburg Road.
Join the Louisville Sustainability Forum each month for interesting
and informative presentations, dialogue, and networking about
sustainability issues. At each meeting there is one featured presentation and two shorter presentations plus discussion, announcements, and opportunity for community-building.
The shorter presentations on 7/2/19 featured:
1. Water Quality: How You Can Help!
Lilias Pettit-Scott, Urban Agriculture Conservationist, Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District
2 .LEED for Cities program, US Green Building Council
David Abell, Manager
LEED for Cities and Communities provides a globally consistent way to measure and communicate sustainability performance and is one of several programs run by the US Green Building Council.
The main presentation on 7/2/19 featured Barry Zalph, a volunteer, with the Louisville Climate Action Network. Efforts to accelerate our region's adoption of 100% clean, renewable energy have prompted responses from LG&E and others with a stake in slowing that transition. In a December 2018 report presented to the Louisville Sustainability Forum back in May, LG&E examined how to meet a local neighborhood's electricity needs using solar panels plus battery storage. LG&E concluded that doing so would cost 2-5 times more over 30 years than using current and planned LG&E generating sources, and cause noxious land use impacts in the neighborhood.
Barry Zalph outlines how, with a systems approach and intelligent project phasing, Louisville neighborhoods could make the transition to clean and renewable electricity without burdensome costs. This approach calls for a new, climate-friendly role for the power utility and, most likely, a new regulatory framework in Kentucky.
Barry Zalph, a retired engineer, worked in sustainable transportation, energy and resource conservation, and education for 30 years. At Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, he developed projects and policies to conserve energy and reduce pollution emissions. He co-founded the advocacy and education group Bicycling for Louisville, and served as its executive director for 5 years. He has practiced principles of sustainability in his personal transportation, diet, household, and advocacy since the 1970s. He holds BSE and MS degrees in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke University, and a PhD in wood engineering and timber mechanics from Virginia Tech.
The Louisville Sustainability Forum convenes on the first Tuesday of each month 12:00-1:45 PM, at the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center (behind St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1920 Newburg Road). More at https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleSustainabilityForum/
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The Access Hour airs on FORward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Wednesday at 2pm and repeats Thursdays at 11am and Fridays at 1pm. Find us at http://forwardradio.org
