The capital future begins now
Take action
Purchasing local heating fuel helps Transition: by encouraging fuels that reduce carbon emissions, supports local farmers preserving farm land and discouraging sprawl, and avoids imported heating fuels (natural gas, oil, electricity). So....
It's come to my attention (via John Ackerly from Alliance for Green Heat, www.ForGreenHeat.org) that DC is considering a financial incentive for pellet/corn stoves. The proposal could rebate up to 50% of the cost of stove and installation! This is pretty time sensitive since a vote could come in next week or two.
It'd be really great if you could send the letter below (or with your own edits about corn stoves and/or VERY clean burning wood stoves) to DC council members, especially if you're a resident or do business in DC. (And please send along to others you know in DC).
I'll send one in on behalf of the Save Our Sky and Preserve Our Planet corn cooperatives.
From my perspective the carbon emissions and money saved via these biomass heaters is a faster, bigger and more equitable way to make protecting the environment more accessible to more people, compared to more expensive solar technologies.
Thanks,
Sat Jiwan
president, Save Our Sky Home-heating Cooperative
ps. the corn coop now has two locations Takoma and Mt Rainier, and is expanding membership, in addition to seeking out a bulk purchase of corn stoves to save another several hundred dollars. Contact me if you're interested in the bulk purchase. More on corn stoves: www.SaveOurSky.com
if you need to contact John, use: jackerly@forgreenheat.org (thanks, John, for getting this going...)
Here is the link to the name and email address of your Council member: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/findmycouncilmember
also, please CC Emil King, at the DE Office of Sustainability: emil.king@dc.gov
****SAMPLE LETTER*****
October ____, 2009
Dear Council member _____________,
I am writing to urge you to do whatever you can to include wood pellet stoves in the renewable energy rebate program. The rebates for solar panels in the District go primarily to very wealthy families who can afford the high up front cost. Pellet stoves, which only cost about $2,000, are renewable energy systems accessible and affordable for low and middle-income families.
A pellet stove can reduce a family’s carbon footprint by 2 – 3 tons per year, which is about what many solar PV systems accomplish. But pellet stoves will cost the taxpayer, in renewable energy rebates, about a quarter the cost. Renewable energy rebates come from all of our taxes – the poor, the average and the rich. Why should only wealthier families get renewable energy rebates?
Pellet and corn stoves emit very few particulates and are vented like a dryer through the wall. If the District is concerned about emissions from wood smoke, a rebate for pellet stoves will help steer people away from wood stoves, which are far more polluting than pellet stoves.
Moreover, the district should first address the most polluting wood burning – fireplaces and wood stoves – not the least, pellet stoves. It is relatively easy to ban the installation of new, high polluting wood stoves. We suggest the District starts there, and preserves a valuable renewable energy system that is accessible to low and middle-income families.
Sincerely,
____________________________
CC:
Emil King, Office of Policy and Sustainability,
District Department of the Environment
It's come to my attention (via John Ackerly from Alliance for Green Heat, www.ForGreenHeat.org) that DC is considering a financial incentive for pellet/corn stoves. The proposal could rebate up to 50% of the cost of stove and installation! This is pretty time sensitive since a vote could come in next week or two.
It'd be really great if you could send the letter below (or with your own edits about corn stoves and/or VERY clean burning wood stoves) to DC council members, especially if you're a resident or do business in DC. (And please send along to others you know in DC).
I'll send one in on behalf of the Save Our Sky and Preserve Our Planet corn cooperatives.
From my perspective the carbon emissions and money saved via these biomass heaters is a faster, bigger and more equitable way to make protecting the environment more accessible to more people, compared to more expensive solar technologies.
Thanks,
Sat Jiwan
president, Save Our Sky Home-heating Cooperative
ps. the corn coop now has two locations Takoma and Mt Rainier, and is expanding membership, in addition to seeking out a bulk purchase of corn stoves to save another several hundred dollars. Contact me if you're interested in the bulk purchase. More on corn stoves: www.SaveOurSky.com
if you need to contact John, use: jackerly@forgreenheat.org (thanks, John, for getting this going...)
Here is the link to the name and email address of your Council member: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/findmycouncilmember
also, please CC Emil King, at the DE Office of Sustainability: emil.king@dc.gov
****SAMPLE LETTER*****
October ____, 2009
Dear Council member _____________,
I am writing to urge you to do whatever you can to include wood pellet stoves in the renewable energy rebate program. The rebates for solar panels in the District go primarily to very wealthy families who can afford the high up front cost. Pellet stoves, which only cost about $2,000, are renewable energy systems accessible and affordable for low and middle-income families.
A pellet stove can reduce a family’s carbon footprint by 2 – 3 tons per year, which is about what many solar PV systems accomplish. But pellet stoves will cost the taxpayer, in renewable energy rebates, about a quarter the cost. Renewable energy rebates come from all of our taxes – the poor, the average and the rich. Why should only wealthier families get renewable energy rebates?
Pellet and corn stoves emit very few particulates and are vented like a dryer through the wall. If the District is concerned about emissions from wood smoke, a rebate for pellet stoves will help steer people away from wood stoves, which are far more polluting than pellet stoves.
Moreover, the district should first address the most polluting wood burning – fireplaces and wood stoves – not the least, pellet stoves. It is relatively easy to ban the installation of new, high polluting wood stoves. We suggest the District starts there, and preserves a valuable renewable energy system that is accessible to low and middle-income families.
Sincerely,
____________________________
CC:
Emil King, Office of Policy and Sustainability,
District Department of the Environment
Tags: carbon_reduction, corn_stoves, energy, pellet_stoves, renewable_
About
Badge
Support our effort
Thanks to all who made our participation in Green Festival possible by your contributions.
We have minimal but recurrent expenses that we must cover. Your donation of $2 month, less than the cost of a latte, would keep us afloat. Consider the easy option of annual donation of $25 today.
Please note: EcolocityDC is not yet incorporated so cannot have a bank account. We use Larry's Wisdom for the Soul account to negotiate Paypal transactions. Donations to EcolocityDC are not tax-deductible at this time.
Purchase books and DVDs below
Click on header to enter store
© 2009 Created by Ecolocitizen on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
