Preparation for the Ninth Annual Austin Green Holiday Party

n preparation for the Ninth Annual Austin Green Holiday Party, we had representatives from several of the hosting organizations discuss their achievements for 2016 and what they are planning for 2017.

Shades of Green Celebrates 10 Years on the Air at KOOP

Shades of Green has been on the air for over ten years. Our first broadcast was November 8, 2006. We celebrated the event with our past and present hosts and friends in the KOOP studio. Original founding Producer Ken McKenzie Grant and Co-producer John Hoffner with original Co-host Jenny Nazak on the phone from Florida. We reminisced about the fun and interesting shows we have had over the last 10 years starting with the first broadcast from the KMFA studio on Lamar Blvd. We also had former Co-host Christine Giordano (year 2010) in the studio and Debrah Dubay, Co-host from October 2010 - March 2011. EcoCalendar contributor over the 10-years, Howie Richey also joined us to reminisce. We played some of the original pieces that were played over the 10-year period by Howie, Ken, Christine, Amy, John, Stacy, Brandi and Debrah. And, of course our present-day Producer, John Hoffner and Co-hosts Reed Sternberg, Stacy Savage and Amy Stansbury joined in the conversation and memories. Our previous EcoCalendar contributor, Brandi Clark Burton called in all the way from Mexico City where she was attending the C40 Mayors Summit 2016 Conference to help advance urban solutions to climate change . Our 2007 Apprentice Deese Eckstein was busy working for Travis County. We all had fun and hope you enjoy the Podcast.

A One-year Update after the UN Climate Change Conference, COP21

After 21 years of meeting, the Conference of Parties, or COP21 reached a climate change agreement. The agreement was culminated at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, December 2015. Janis Bookout, the Outreach Manager for Earth Day Austin, gave us an update on COP21, what it means and what happens now and in the future. Janis Bookout began her environmental work in 2012 when she began consulting for EcoNetwork (Austin's curator of all things environmental) and then became project coordinator of an EPA-funded city-wide project on food waste prevention and recovery. She also is co-founding a global citizen's climate initiative called 2020 or Bust.

The organizers of the Texas Renewable Energy Industry Alliance annual GridNext Conference were in the KOOP studio to discuss the exciting event. We had Raina Hornaday, General Manager for Caprock Renewables and Leslie Libby of Libby Solar present the exciting Austin conference of professionals and renewable energy leaders. The conference was held in Georgetown Nov 9 - 11.

Mexico City hosted the sixth biennial C40 Mayors Summit, November 30 – December 2, 2016. The Summit brought together C40 mayors from all over the world and hundreds of urban and sustainability leaders to advance urban solutions to climate change and highlight the leadership role of cities in addressing climate change. The City of Austin was a big participant in the conference with Council Members, the Mayor and staff attending and showcasing the important environmental initiatives dear to Austin.

We had in the KOOP studio Zach Baumer, Climate Program Manager for the City of Austin and Khalil Shalabi, Vice President of Energy Market Operations and Resource Planning for Austin Energy, our local electric utility. Both attended the C40 Conference and shared their insights on the landmark conference.

The Shades of Green team covered many important environmental and political topics during 2016. Listen to several of the episodes dealing with our Austin transportation issues, the City Council Elections, and KOOP 'Goes Solar' with its 6 kilowatt solar power installation. We are now "Solar for People, not for Profit". And, finally, Shades of Green turned 10 years old in 2016. We have been on the air since November 8, 2006. We celebrated that important milestone.

Shades of Green featured James Hoffner, a long time advocate for cooperatives including KOOP radio, Seven Bridges Cooperative, Black Star, and others. James discussed organic coffee, home brewing products, and his latest initiative – a craft beer start-up in Santa Cruz, California call Corralitos Brewing Co.

This year on the Hoffner Family Holiday show we featured the Hill Elementary School Green Team with guests Kate Hoffner and Katie Holguin. They are both talented elementary school teachers that are implementing innovative green initiatives to make their school the greenest in the City.

Shades of Green,

City of Austin Council Candidate Forum on the Environment, District 6

In our third and final part of our series of City of Austin Council candidate forums on the environment we focused on the candidates for District 6.

District 6 Candidates –

Jimmy Flannigan - He is a small business owner and community leader that has lived in the Northwest part of Austin for over 16 years.

Don Zimmerman - Is the incumbent City Council Member and is a fifth generation Texan and a mechanical engineer. He was unable to attend our forum.

Shades of Green

City of Austin Candidate Forum on the Environment

In our third and final part of our series of City of Austin Council candidate forums on the environment we focused on the candidates for District 10.

District 10 Candidates –

Alison Alter - She is a mom, an entrepreneur, a community advocate, and an educator.

Sheri Gallo - Incumbent Council Member, and is an owner of a small, independent Austin business for 30 years.

Nicholas Virden - He is a lifelong Austenite, University of Texas and was not able to attend our forum.

Robert Walker - He was managing director of his own accounting firm. He was not able to attend our forum.