High-tech charging stations are set to keep electric cars rolling
Eleven stations have opened in Burbank and are free of cost until July 1.  Burbank Leader: 3.27.2012 by Mark Kellam

Eleven charging stations for electric cars now are up and running in downtown Burbank. City officials hope they will spark interest among drivers of the high-tech cars to patronize the business district. Drivers can even be sent a text message when the cars are fully charged.

Use of the stations is free until July 1. After that, the cost will be $2 an hour, but the texts will remain a free perk.

.       .       .       .       .

On average, five cars are charged a day, with each session lasting about two hours, said, Bruce Hamer, smart grid program manager for Burbank Water and Power, which installed the stations.

The first two stations were unveiled in December, Hamer said, adding that the last two stations went online on Valentine’s Day.

Two stations are operating at each of the following locations: 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., 327 N. Pass Ave. and 120, 133 and 240 E. Orange Grove Ave.

One station is in the parking lot of the city’s Community Services Building, 150 N. Third St.

The utility installed the stations with help from a portion of a $20-million, four-year smart grid grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Hamer said. READ MORE !

Burbank Green Spotlight Award: January 2012

Burbank Sustainable Commission
Green Spotlight Award

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS
Public Works Newsletter: February 2012
At their December meeting, the Sustainable Burbank Commission established the Burbank Green Spotlight Award. Each month the Commission will present the award to a resident or business for sustainable efforts.

February Newsletter: On January 23rd, the Commission presented the Burbank Green Spotlight Award to Jodie Venturelli [the 1st Award]. Ms. Venturelli and her family planted an edible organic garden in the front yard of their Burbank residence that dramatically reduces water usage, increases their physical activity, reduces produce costs, and increases community building. Ms. Venturelli said that she was inspired to plant an edible organic garden after listening to a radio show and reading ―Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community, by Heather Flores.

-published in the Public Works Newsletter -

SUSTAINABLE BURBANKCOMMISSION

December 19, 2011 MINUTES
VII. PROPOSED GREEN GRATITUDE/GREEN THUMBS UP PROGRAM:
Mr. de Wolff made two suggestions for a “green” reward that could be given to recipients as a form of recognition that would encourage residents and businesses to pursue sustainable activities: 1) a reduction in the recipient’s BWP bill or 2) a gift certificate donated by Lowes. Ms. Riley suggested that Commission members take turns choosing a Burbank business or resident as an award recipient each month. The recipient would be invited to the Commission meeting during which their sustainable activity or project would be discussed as part of the meeting’s agenda. Commission members could also take photos of the recipient’s project or activity (Ms. Riley will provide photo release forms). Mr. Lewis suggested having the City Council recognize all twelve award recipients during the final Council meeting of each year. The Commission engaged in discussion and asked questions of staff.

Mr. Lewis moved and Mr. de Wolff seconded, to have the Commission recognize a business or resident with a certificate for sustainable practice once every month. Each month a Commission member will volunteer to select a winner. At the end of each year the Commission will request Council to recognize the past year’s winners. The motion was approved by all present.

Mr. de Wolff volunteered to choose the January 2012 recipient and will provide Ms. Teaford with his/her name one week prior to the January 23, 2012, Commission meeting.

Mr. Lewis moved and Mr. Aboulsaad seconded, to name the monthly award received by a business or resident for sustainable practice the Burbank Green Spotlight Award. The motion was approved seven to one. Mr. de Wolff opposed and Mr. Carlson abstained.

Green Day Planner: March 2012

Burbank Library Green Pages
March 2012 Calendar

March 22: World Water Day
March 31: Earth Hour @ 8:30 pm

Calendar of Green Events in Burbank and Greater LA. Check out State and National events on the Green Day Planner.

Burbank and the Valley
Mar 6: SFV Critical Mass Bike Ride 7pm
Mar 19: COB Sustainable Task Force 4:30pm
Mar 21: Green Living Workshops – S Oaks 7pm

Southern California
Mar 1+: Green Living Workshops – LMU 7pm
Mar 5+: Green Living Workshops – LA 7pm
Mar 6: Plastic Ocean-How Bad Is It – Long Beach 7pm
Mar 7+: Green Living Workshops – Venice 7pm
Mar 7+: Green Living Workshops – Brentwood 7pm
Mar 13: Seeing Climate, Seeing Change – Long Beach 7pm
Mar 15+: Good Jobs Green Jobs – LA
Mar 17: WRD Groundwater Fest – Lakewood 10am
Mar 27+: Ocean Frontiers Ocean Stewardship - Long Beach 7pm
Mar 28: Smart Grid Forum – UCLA

California
Mar 7+: GridCom Forum West – S Diego
Mar 7+: Arbor Week
Mar 8+: California Water Policy Conf – LA

National and International
Mar 5+: Green Truck Summit - Indiana
Mar 7+: GLOBALCON – Atlantic City
Mar 14+: VERGE 2012 - Virginia
Mar 14+: Globe 2012 – Vancouver BC
Mar 16: Environmental Film Fest – Wash DC
Mar 19+: EnergyBiz Forum – Wash DC
Mar 27+: AridLID Conf – AZ

California Watch: Wind Power

Wind energy milestone: California now gets about 5 percent of its electricity from wind power
Mercury News: 1.31.201 by Dana Hull

California now gets about 5 percent of its electricity from wind power, according to data released Tuesday by the California Wind Energy Association.

The majority of California's electricity -- 42 percent -- comes from natural gas, followed by nuclear power and hydropower. According to 2010 figures from the California Energy Commission, wind made up 4.7 percent of the state's electricity mix and solar was 0.3 percent.

But in 2011, wind projects that generate 921 megawatts -- enough electricity for more than 400,000 homes -- were installed across the state, which the wind association says should put it above the long-sought-after 5 percent threshold. California has set an ambitious goal of getting 33 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020, and utilities are increasingly signing contracts for renewable projects.

"2011 was a banner year for wind generation in California," said Nancy Rader, executive director of CalWEA, based in Berkeley. "Wind has come a long way and is helping to drive California closer to reaching its goal of 33 percent renewable energy."

In California, the vast majority of wind turbines are clustered in three regions: the Altamont Pass between Livermore and Tracy, Tehachapi near Bakersfield and the San Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs. While solar panels are visible on homes across the state, massive wind farms tucked away in windy mountain passes that many Californians never see produce much more energy. READ MORE !

Green Day Planner: February 2012

Burbank Library Green Pages
February 2012 Calendar

Calendar of Green Events in Burbank and Greater LA. Check out State and National events on the Green Day Planner.

Burbank and Local
BUR: Feb 20 - Sustainable Task Force 4:30pm
Feb 7: Critical Mass Bike Ride 7pm - SFV @ Victory & Woodley

Greater Los Angeles
Feb 1+: Green Living Workshops 7pm - Santa Monica & Venice
Feb 6+: Green Living Workshops 7pm - LA
Feb 12+: Watershed Moment in Making - LA
Feb 14+: Renewable Energy World Conf - Long Beach
Feb 17: LAVA Green - Century City
Feb 24: Green Leadership Award DEADLINE - LA County
Feb 24: Green Jobs Fair 11am - UCLA

Southern California
Feb 1+: Clean-Tech Investor Summit - Palm Springs
Feb 2+: New Partners Smart Growth - San Diego

National
Feb 14+: Renewable Energy World Conf - Long Beach
Feb 23: Good Jobs Green Jobs Conf - Atlanta
Feb 27+: ARPA-E Innovation Summit - Wash DC

BWP - Eco Campus

Burbank unveils a $40M-overhaul of a 'greener' utility campus
Burbank Leader: 1.30.2012 by Maria Hsin

Burbank Water and Power unveiled its $40-million “eco campus” to the public this past weekend, showing off the culmination of a 13-year transformation of an aging utility site into a showcase of sustainability.

At the open house event on Saturday, visitors toured energy-frugal water fountains and drought-tolerant landscaping. Rooftop gardens that help filter storm water and help cool the building, reducing the use of air conditioning, were also on display.

Three buildings on the campus in the 100 block of West Magnolia Boulevard are certified platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council — a top designation that takes construction materials, energy use, landscaping and other factors in determining just how “green” a building is.

Centennial Park, a new green area in the center of the Burbank Water and Power campus where one old electric substation still stands, also acts as a water filtration system, and is among the many energy-efficient aspects of the site, General Manager Ron Davis said. READ MORE !

BurbankH2OPower
Did you miss #Burbank's #EcoCampus Event?
Experience #EcoCampus with this short video http://t.co/aafdCPWJ

BWP - EcoCampus Dedication: January 28

Burbank Water & Power
EcoCampus Dedication
January 28
164 W Magnolia
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

EcoCampus: Powered by Innovation

A Community Fair and Dedication Ceremony to Celebrate California’s First Sustainable Utility Campus

Special Guests Senator Carol Liu, Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes and representatives of the US Department of Energy. The day’s program will be hosted by Discovery Planet Green’s Planet 100 Host, and green media maven, Sarah Backhouse.

Join us for exhibits, tours, music, food trucks, children’s activities and much more! Burbank residents attending the event will receive a highest-efficiency LED bulb, so bring your Drivers License showing your Burbank address.

Free Parking at Metro Parking Lot on Olive Street. Shuttles will be provided. For more info, please call BWP at 818-238-3730.