Our guest is Jill Gonzalez. She is the Executive Director for the Women’s Storybook Project of Texas. It is a non-profit organization where volunteers go into Texas women’s prisons, meet with mothers and have them read a book that is recorded and then brought back to their children. A heartwarming program. An incredible statistic: 80 % of incarcerated women in Texas are mothers. Visits for many families are often difficult or impossible because of cost and distance. Listen in on the interview and more information is available at https://storybookproject.org/

In this episode of the Austin Common Radio Hour we continue our focus on the February 2021 storm Uri and its effect on the Texas Electric grid system – why it failed. The University of Texas at Austin recently published a white paper called “The Timeline and Events of the February 2021 Texas Electric Grid Blackouts. It is available online at “energy.utexas.edu/ercot-blackout-2021”. We had the special opportunity to speak with Professor Joshua Rhodes, one of the co-authors on the study. Professor Rhodes shares insights into what caused the catastrophic failure of the Texas electric utility grid based on their study.

Patricia Bauer-Slate is the founder and former owner of the iconic Swedish Hill Bakery in Austin Texas. For over 30 years Patricia fed the hearts of the people of Austin with her love for well baked goods and specialty coffees She shares her exciting journey and the interesting characters she met along the way on this episode of KOOP's Podcast for People. Patricia will soon be publishing her second book and runs a new initiative called Patricia's Lunchbox, a school lunch service for kids.

In Part 2 we prepare for the CleanTX annual GridNext conference scheduled to be online April 20 and 21, 2021. CleanTX Board member Ken Donohoo, and Executive Director Brandon Cosinteno discuss the conference and some of the new clean energy technologies and energy policies that will be presented during the on-line sessions.

Our guests on Shades of Green discuss the new energy future, the 2021 electric grid failure in February, and what is in store for our energy future. Our guest for Part 1 is Renewable and Clean Energy Technology expert Peter Kelly-Detwiler. In Part 2 we prepare for the CleanTX annual GridNext conference scheduled to be online April 20 and 21, 2021. CleanTX Board member Ken Donohoo, and Executive Director Brandon Cosinteno discuss the conference and some of the new clean energy technologies and energy policies that will be presented during the on-line sessions.

This week on Shades of Green we discuss the environmental stresses on our oceans throughout the world. What can we do to help relieve the stress. Our guests are George Cummings, Ocean Activist and Mad Ocean Scientist, and Prasad Jaladi, Founder and Chief Facilitator for Suraksha.

What does in mean now that the United States is back in the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015? The day after his inauguration, President Biden re-entered our country into the agreement. Our guest on Shades of Green discuss how this will affect the United States and the rest of the world. Adrian Shelly is the Texas Director for Texas Public Citizen, Stephanie Thomas is a Ph.D., Community Organizer and Researcher for the Houston Public Citizen, and Rebekah Hinojosa is a Gulf Coast Campaigner with the Sierra Club.

Roger Duncan, Former General Manager at Austin Energy and Michael Webber a professor at the University of Texas at Austin co-authored a new book. It is called “The Future of Buildings, Transportation and Power.” Roger joined us on Shades of Green to share his many years of experience in local Austin advocacy, energy issues, and politics. He is a long-time friend to Austin’s environment, energy efficiency and renewable energy. He discussed the highlights of his book that he co-authored with Professor Webber.

Local Austin film makers Karen Kocher and Monica Flores produce a new documentary on the history of our Barton Springs jewel. It is called: “Origins of a Green Identity” and it has featured on PBS and is available streaming on the Web. Karen and Monica are also known for “Living Springs: An Interactive Documentary About Barton Springs.” They are our special guests on this episode of Shades of Green.

The award-winning curbside composting program for residences has expanded by 54,000 households in Austin, Texas. The program now covers all residences in the Austin service area. Our guest on Shades of Green is Ken Snipes, the Director of Austin Resource Recovery. He shares details about the composting program, how to participate, and what is next for the zero waste goals for the City.