Last week, WakeUP Wake County (an affiliate of the NC Conservation Network) hosted a public forum on transit titled, Transit: Is Wake County Ready for It? The event was a huge success: 300 folks in attendance including many elected officials and top-level Raleigh city planners and tons of media coverage, both before and after the event.

The overall tone of the event was clear - Wake County is ready for transit. To see for yourself, click here to watch the entire event. But, there are some hang ups - specifically funding a large-scale transit project and getting the project up and running in a timely fashion (on average, it could take seven years from start to finish).

Charlotte passed a 1/2 cent sales tax in the late 1990's to begin its light-rail project (thanks to special authority granted to the city by the state legislature). Now that it's up and running, the only complaints Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials are hearing are that individuals want more trains and more rail lines.

Meanwhile, Raleigh is waiting its turn for the state legislature to grant it special authority to pass a 1/2 cent sales tax for public transportation projects. However, the bill is on shaky ground and may not pass in the 2008 short session.

My concern is this: at the rate at which it is taking us to approve a comprehensive transit plan coupled with how fast the Triangle is expected to grow (an additional 1,000,000 people in the next 20-30 years) we could end up doing too little, too late.

So, what do you think? Is Wake County ready for transit? And, if so, how do we go about funding the project?

Our friends over at Environment North Carolina have put together a great little video postcard to send to decision-makers regarding global climate change. The clips came from interviews at this spring's Take Action Tour and feature activists from around the state expressing their concerns regarding this "hot" topic.

During my lunch break today, I headed over to my local precinct to do my civic duty (you know, vote). The street as I walked up was deserted, the fire station void of any life except for the fabulous poll workers (thank you!)

Out of curiosity, I asked the gentleman in charge of the ballots how many folks had voted already. (Now keep in mind the polls had been open for over 6 hours by the time I showed up.) He said, "Ma'am, you're our afternoon rush. You're the eleventh person to vote here today."

Hearing about this low turn-out, I started thinking about the voting process. Do people not know about these smaller elections (I had almost forgotten myself)? Or do they not care? What makes people vote or not vote? What are the best ways to get voters out to the polls at lower-profile elections? Would more people vote if the voting system was set-up differently?

And please, if you haven't voted, you don't get to complain about decision-makers. The next time a non-voter starts griping about a certain person in charge, I'm going to hand them this fine sticker:

Why do I have this weird feeling I've been here before...

It's no surprise that President Bush's proclamation "Our nation must produce more oil, and we must start now" has sparked a heated debate between and among party leaders across the state of North Carolina and the country itself.

While offshore drilling has been a long-debated issue, the recent surge in gas prices has, shall I say, fueled the federal government to reconsider the ban on offshore drilling.

Here's the rub, though. Offshore drilling would have many cumbersome side effects, with limited positive outcomes. Firstly, you have the oil companies making more and more money, instead of investing money in renewable and sustainable energy sources. You also have severe environmental impacts on an already vulnerable coast, and although some offshore-drilling supporters envision using profit-sharing from the drilling to renourish beaches, what about all of the other environmental impacts at risk? From the Charlotte Observer:

"Fueled by $4-a-gallon gas, the growing clamor for new energy sources still faces opponents who envision oil spills, blighted ocean views and shorelines industrialized by pipelines and refineries."

I was also surprised to hear this little tidbit from Grist:

"...oil companies already have millions of acres allocated to them upon which they have not gotten around to exploring let alone drilling. When asked the delicate question, as some have been recently, why they have not explored these millions of acres to which the federal government has granted them rights, oil companies typically respond that the public should understand that oil exploration takes time."

Let's face it folks: offshore drilling would do nothing to help us in the next 7 to 10 years. We'll still be sitting here at square one--in dire straights, using the crutch of the mere potential success of offshore drilling to subsidize our energy-hungry lifestyles, which, if it came to fruition, would only provide us with borrowed time anyway.

What happens when 12 Dartmouth students take a 37-foot veggie oil powered bus road tripping across the US?

Well, education for one! If you're in the Chapel Hill area tomorrow,

"The Big Green Bus and its crew will roll into Morehead’s parking lot at 9:30 a.m., June 18. From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the crew will give public tours of the bus, explain how its engine works and provide information comparing the energy use of an SUV versus a hybrid vehicle."

From UNC's website, here are more details about The Big Green Bus:

"The mission of the Big Green Bus is to promote education and discussion about environmental responsibility, global energy issues and to show that alternative fuels are available for use right now."

They are also scheduled to stop in Raleigh this Thursday, but I've yet to find details on when and where. Be sure to post a comment below if you know.

Also, check out all the tour stops, meet the crew, and find out how it all works!

From our good friends at 1Sky:

"On Friday June 6, moments after a major policy debate on climate change, 1Sky volunteers delivered more than 100 murals calling for bold action to Congressional offices on Capitol Hill. The murals were created over Mother’s Day weekend by families and communities in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico."

Check out this short video capturing the big day:

With the completion of I-540 westward, NC will likely get its first toll road, in large part due to the lobbying force of the NC Turnpike Authority – a division of the NC Department of Transportation (NC DOT). It seems that the “good roads state” continues to be committed to building new roads, even in the face of skyrocketing construction (see #4 here) and fuel costs (over $4/gallon).

To get our first toll road, it will take an act of the NC Legislature (because toll roads, contrary to what you might assume, don’t pay for themselves). And, last week the NC House gave the green light for funding of the construction of a new six-lane toll road: the Triangle Expressway. In the face of a budget crunch, you might ask yourself ‘where are they going to get this money?’ In short, the House has proposed transferring $25 million from the General Fund to the NC Turnpike Authority, so it can quickly build the Triangle Expressway. In recent years, this $25 million has funded education, crime prevention, human services, and more. In the face of rising transportation and fuel costs, this appropriated money will still not cover the costs of building this toll road. Compile this fact with the new knowledge that data used to base cost estimates for the Triangle Expressway are out-of-date, and you inevitably create a black (pot) hole for taxpayer dollars.

While many have been frustrated by how I-540 dead-ends (including those of us who vow to stay inside the beltline), one has to wonder if it makes sense for the completion of this loop to be made into a toll road. And, does it make sense for NC to continue funneling money into new road projects, rather then maintaining the current infrastructure we have? Especially in light of the recurring problems and criticism the DOT has faced.

For all of the problems toll roads (and new roads in general) bring, it seems like a good idea for North Carolina leaders to take some time to think about how we can continue to travel sustainably, without wasting tax payer money and killing our small towns. 

This weekend I was literally able to touch my work, and as I stood looking at our beautiful Outer Banks it touched me deep in my soul. I found myself in Manteo this past weekend for the fifth stop of the Take Action Tour on Climate Change. I've been traveling around the state for the past several months talking to lots of concerned North Carolinians in Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and this coming weekend in Raleigh.

But this trip was different. As I drove East towards Manteo I thought about how this area of the state could one day be ground zero for the impacts of climate change. North Carolina has a lot of low-lying areas that could easily be impacted by the slightest rise in sea level or a major storm surge that brings water inland.

The first day I did get go stick my toes in the ocean for a bit and I was thrilled to see that the Coquina Beach bathhouse was being powered by the wind! The plaque in front of the windmill talked about how in the past wind was the only source of power in that area. It reads: "Harnesssing the power of wind is not new to this area. In the 18th century, coastal communities did not have running water or electricity, so they used the only source readily available to them to grind grain and to pump water: wind."

As I stood looking at the windmill from the beach, I was overcome with emotion as I thought how that tiny windmill generating about 6,000 kilowatt-hours is helping to save the very beach it overlooks.

After our presentation on Saturday the group of us went to eat at Sen. Basnight's restaurant, which was close by. We were all delighted when he came by our table to say hello and stay to chat with us for a bit. We were able to talk with him about the work we all are doing and we got to hear about all the eco-friendly things he is employing at his restaurant. Everything from recycling, to composting, to several large cisterns capturing water, to the beautiful osprey nest, to a portion of the parking area that's pervious to giving leftover veggie oil to the local biofuel folks. I was also pleased to hear that the food is all local and fresh with Sen. Basnight himself picking up veggies from the farm on his way back from Raleigh.

My last day I decided that since I was so close I would venture down to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. I felt compelled to do this because of a comment one of our speakers Bill Holman had said the day before about how the moving of the lighthouse was proof that we can and will adapt to a changing environment. As I set out south along through the Outer Banks it struck me how narrow some of these islands are.

In places there really isn't much more than a big sand dune with grass and beautiful flowers. Once I arrived at the lighthouse, I climbed to the top to get a good look a things. I chatted with the rangers who showed me where the lighthouse use to stand. They said that the distance we were from its original position is the same distance the ocean used to be from it when it was first built. They then told me that the island is actually growing towards the southwest.

Inside the museum there was an exhibit dedicated to how the shoreline has changed. I stood there, again overwhelmed with emotion and frustration because it seems so many people don't understand this...and there it is on the museum exhibit...these islands shift and change. Yet there are people wanting to fight it and build concrete barriers to protect their homes. Legislation before the NC General Assembly would allow them to protect their own interests while causing more erosion further down the islands. (You can take action to stop this by clicking here.)

The display read: "The coast of the Outer Banks moves. The shore erodes, but builds up elsewhere. The foundation of the first lighthouse is now underwater; armor rock has been placed to protect the current one. Man tries to slow the movement, but finally is forced to adapt."

Very powerful words right there in the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse museum.

While I did enjoy sticking my toes in the ocean I did have some profound moments of connection with the places I visited. What will happen to this beautiful place if we don't reduce our global warming pollution?

Since mid-April I have been touring around the state talking to hundreds of concerned North Carolinians about how climate change is impacting and will impact our state as well as ways individuals can help through making personal choices, being an advocate, and/or lobbying decision-makers. This Saturday we wrap-up the tour in Raleigh at the Museum of Natural Sciences from 2pm - 4pm.  If you are in the Triangle please plan to join us for this exciting line up of speakers:

• Climate Change: Importance To North Carolina - Professor Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences North Carolina State University
• Adapting to Climate Change - Dr. Stanley R. Riggs, Distinguished Research Professor at East Carolina University
• Establishing a Clean Cars Program in NC - Elizabeth Ouzts, State Director of Environment NC
• Ways You Can Make A Difference - Veronica Butcher, 1Sky NC Organizer for NC Conservation Network
  

By now you may have heard that the long-awaited Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act did not pass in the U.S. Senate last week. Now for some good news: A new bill introduced on Wednesday by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) looks like a promising alternative. Rep. Markey's Investing in Climate Action Policy Act (iCAP bill) would cut carbon emissions 85% below 1990 levels by 2050, auction 100% of pollution permits by 2020, and invest in green workforce training, among other things.

But as we just witnessed, no bill will have a chance of becoming law unless we continue to demand bold action from our leaders in Washington, D.C. Click here to find your members of congress and ask them for their support of iCap!

So what's at stake for you when it comes to climate change? Share your story with us and help paint a national picture of the climate movement by putting a local, personal face on the climate challenge. Let us know why you are concerned and/or what changes you have made in your life. By putting a face on climate change that our political leaders will understand, you'll help them see: America is ready for bold climate solutions. Share your thoughts below or click here to get on the map!

Well, times are a-changing. I must be turning into the old-timer who always talks about "when she was a kid" how much less expensive things were. You know, postage, gas, gum. The essentials. I remember very vividly in highschool when my friend finally got her license, we would drive over the county line into Union County (we were living in Charlotte, NC), and fill up her tank for 89 cents a gallon.

89 CENTS A GALLON! Ok, adjust for inflation and all that, but STILL. This was only 13 years ago, after all.

If you're still looking for ways to use less gas, check out this article: 101 Ways to Use Less Gas by EcoTrekker. They've broken down the tips into categories to make them easy to sift through and pick the options that work best for you.

Also, if you haven't already, take action to support clean car legislation in North Carolina. Cleaner cars means fewer emissions, and saving money at the pump!

Some of you may be familiar with the Sundance Channel—a cable network featuring independent films and documentaries. On Tuesdays at 9pm EST the Sundance Channel features a weekly documentary series called "Big Ideas for a Small Planet." From their website:

"BIG IDEAS FOR A SMALL PLANET is a documentary series presenting the forward-thinking designers, products and processes that are on the leading edge of a new green world. Each episode revolves around a different green theme as it spotlights a specific innovator or innovation that has the potential to transform our everyday lives."

You can visit their website to view the episode guide, watch clips of shows, or get a link to download the episodes on iTunes (if you don't have cable).

In addition, now through June 24 you can vote on your favorite new green idea through their "What's the Big Idea? Contest". Again from the website, the object of this contest is to

"...provide an opportunity for consumers to share, in an original video or photo/essay format, their innovative "Big Idea" to help people live a greener life."

You have to register to vote, but you can do so here: http://www.sundancechannel.com/members/Login. I particularly like the "Ornj is Grn" nominee—these folks make bags out of used construction fencing!"

I gotta know. If you have an SUV, do you LUV it? Or are you just stuck with it, unable to sell it? Or do you feel you "need" it? CNN wants to know, too. They had readers send in comments on why they have SUV's. Lots of the folks said they can't sell it, lots said they needed the space, but there of course were some really off-the-wall responses as well. Anyway, I thought we could do our own little poll...so tell us: what's the deal with your SUV LUV?