This week I’m bringing you a very special episode because it is, Lou Zeller, our Executive Director at Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League last week with us as he retires. This month is also marking his 35-year career with BREDL including nine years as executive director. BREDL’s founding principles of earth stewardship, environmental democracy, social justice and community empowerment is the embodiment and legacy that Lou has and will still carry on.  Lou, the communities, people, organization, and the environment are forever grateful for your time and contributions you’ve made, you will be greatly missed! In the episode we celebrate and reminisce about his time at the organization and talk about his plans for the future and retirement.

We also discuss:

Contact and connect with Lou: [email protected]

Contribute to Lou’s Kudos board: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/jnD54X3S

Keep up to date with BREDL: https://www.bredl.org/index.htm

Margot Franchini is a high school senior from Chapel Hill in North Carolina, Margot is apart of Earth Uprising, a youth led organization who describe themselves as “team of young people who want to save the planet.” They have strong values and principles, some of which are to “listen, believe and act on science and scientific facts,” use “ non-violent” words and actions, and be inclusive of all ethnicities, genders, cultures, and backgrounds. Margot’s organization, Earth Uprising knows that they are the generation that will have to deal with the consequences of our neglect of climate change so they are rising up to take action. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Contact and connect with Margot: [email protected]

Earth Uprising:  [email protected]

Last week, we wrapped up our Road to Renewables season and wow what amazing variety of people we got to speak with. We are now following the season up with our new topic, Youth in the Climate Movement. We will be talking to all sorts of experts and people on the ground about the action being made amongst the young millennial and generation Z. We are kicking off the season by chatting with Amelia Covington from Climate Action. Amelia’s organization uses activism in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte, to advocate for sound environmental policies both locally and within the wider nation. Amelia will discuss their overarching goal to progress North Carolina towards a clean energy future, and how she got involved in the climate movement and activism herself. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy!

Contact and connect with Amelia: [email protected]

Climate Action NC: https://www.facebook.com/climateactionnc/, https://twitter.com/climateactionnc?lang=en

Hi everyone, it’s your host, Jenn Galler, and I am back for a new season and it’s all about Youth in the Climate Movement. We will be investigating what millennials and generation Z are doing to contribute to and really lead the climate movement forward. Within the season, we hear from an array of youth who are refusing to sit passively by and are stepping up to take action to protect the future of our planet. Young people’s unprecedented initiative around the world shows the massive power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable and make climate change an urgent priority. Whether through education, community organizing, science, or technology, young people are scaling up their efforts and using their skills to accelerate climate action. I’m excited to dive into this topic with you all so let’s get started!

In this episode, Perrin will discuss the UNC coal plant and why we should be more alarmed about the lack of action being taken to remove it or at least reduce the emissions. Coal plants are not just an issue contributing to the climate crisis but also to public health and endangered species. And Perrin works as an attorney on these matters in North Carolina.  Coal contains trace amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements. This means some coal plants emit more radiation than a nuclear power plant and can cause acid rain, affecting our plants and wildlife. Perrin also goes into depth about the personal health complications he had from growing up near a coal power plant. With its abundance and inexpensive tendencies, coal has been one of the United States' leading energy resources. However, the air pollution and water pollution alone have counteracted these benefits, not to mention the inhabitants, waste, mining destruction, and significant contribution to greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. It's up to us to put pressure on these coal plants, legislators, and energy companies to put a stop to coal power.

Contact and connect with Perrin: [email protected]

Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/

Follow BREDL’s Instagram: BREDL_HQ

Today we are speaking with Dr Tim Johnson. A common argument against renewable energy is the perceived unreliable nature of it, the sun isn’t always shining and the wind isn’t always blowing. Luckily, we have those issues being solved by people like Dr Johnson. He works in the more logistical side of renewables, conducting research on systems planning and management on resources. He also spends his time as a professor at Duke University, teaching in the Nicholas graduate school about energy system planning and management. We unpack the intersection between energy system design’s environmental quality and human health, the economic influences on our journey to renewables, and the present and future plans for energy storage. His notable publications include investigations on solar power, the economics within sustainability bio energy and its relationship with agriculture, and the assessment of the environmental effects from gasoline and ethanol production.

Contact and connect with Dr. Johnson: https://nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/johnson-0

Contact BREDL on Instagram: BREDL_HQ

This week, we are bringing back one of our previous podcast that follows the theme of our season, Road to Renewables. We chatted with Brianna Kinsley who has a degree in sustainable development and works for Appalachian Voices assisting the people of East Tennessee to address the energy efficiency needs. This podcast looks further into how Appalachian Voices is assisting in energy democracy, the local people having control of how their electricity is produced and distributed to ensure everyone has access to affordable and clean power. With the help of solar, wind and hydro power, Appalachian Voices is helping citizens decrease their carbon footprint by allowing them to choose clean, renewable energy. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode!

Contact and connect with Briana: [email protected]   

Appalachian Voices: https://appvoices.org/energydemocracy/tennessee/

Micheal Walton, Executive Director and Gabrielle Chevalier, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach with Green | Spaces. Green | Spaces a nonprofit working toward regional sustainability by progressing the way we live, work, and build in Chattanooga and the surrounding region. They have a focus on making awareness and application of sustainable practice accessible to the wider community.

In recent years, “sustainability” has been a focus for Chattanooga's economy. The city has received three national awards for outstanding livability and 9 Gunther Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in housing and consolidated planning.

Contact and connect with Micheal and Gabrielle: [email protected]

[email protected]

Green Spaces: http://www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/

Integrated Community Sustainability Plan: http://www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/integrated-community-sustainability-plan

Sandy Kurtz is co -president of BREDL’s board of directors and she works with numerous other environmental organizations. We will be discussing how renewable energy has changed and advanced within her lifetime and all the work she has been doing along the way. And from the beginning BREDL has supported communities and organizations, big and small, in making internal changes to achieve their renewable energy goals. Sandy will speak some about that and ways you personally can reduce energy consumption.

Contact and connect with Sandy: [email protected]

Follow BREDL’s Instagram: BREDL_HQ

Jovita Lee is with the Center for Biological Diversity. By applying law, science and creative media, the Center for Biological Diversity believes that to fight the climate emergency and extinction crisis, we must revolutionize our world to be entirely powered by clean, renewable, wildlife-friendly and democratic energy. They wage innovative legal and grassroots campaigns to drive this urgent transition for energy justice. Recently in North Carolina, a permit was approved for livestock liquid waste to be transformed into natural gas and Jovita will begin by covering what the new bio gas permit in North Carolina means for halting the Road to Renewables and other projects she’s working on.

Thank you so much to Jovita for speaking with me about your passion and expertise. BREDL along with the Center for Biological Diversity does not approve of biogas for CFAOS as a renewable energy source and you can read why in our Smoke and Mirrors report in the show notes below. And tune in next Friday where I talk with Sandy Kurtz and how renewable energy has changed in her lifetime.

Contact and connect with Jovita: [email protected]

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/

Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/energy-justice/