The Cse focus - Center for Sustainable Energy

The Cse focus
Greetings from Dr. Michael Seliger
Associate Dean of Planning and Program Development
Bronx Community College’s Academic Affairs Division
As The Center for Sustainable Energy
enters its sixth year, we face a significantly
changed environment than what we saw six years
ago. The level of awareness about alternate energy,
energy conservation, green jobs, a green economy,
has grown to the point that most people have
some familiarity with terms like solar roof, carbon
footprint, or plug-in hybrids.
With the rapid developments in
technology, economic trends that point towards a
greener future in spite of current challenges, and
an increased interest in this entire field, CSE is
committing to increased efforts to keep our
communities informed.
This newsletter, along with our website
(www.cse.bcc.org), conferences, presentations at
community forums, and various training
programs, will contribute towards that objective.
This newsletter will seek to keep readers
abreast of new developments and opportunities in
sustainable energy and related matters. We‘d like
to answer many questions before they are asked—
but we‘ll be glad to respond if you have questions
we haven‘t addressed yet.
Let us know what you think of the
newsletter, so it can grow more useful to you,
issue after issue!
2155 University Avenue, GML-102 Bronx, New York 10453
Telephone: 718-289-5332/Fax: 718-289-6443
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.csebcc.org
Volume One, Issue One
Governor’s climate action plan
Upon exiting his office, Governor David
A. Patterson left behind an environmental plan to
his successor, Governor-elect Andrew M. Cuomo,
to reduce New York‘s greenhouse gas emissions
by 80%, according to a New York Times article.
The Governor‘s Climate Action Plan was
signed by Patterson in August 2009. Governor
Cuomo has repeatedly committed to continuing
this effort and can use this sort of step by step
handbook in his future alternative energy policies.
In addition to reducing gas emissions, the plan
calls for increasing New York‘s sources of
renewable energy, twofold, by 2030. This would
establish tougher efficiency standards for all
buildings, moving and convincing private
transportation towards electric vehicles, and
advocate towards the creation of green jobs.
Patterson was quoted as saying, ―Transitioning to
clean energy means more than driving a zeroemission car, it also means manufacturing that car
right here in New York, employing New York
workers, driving the New York economy and
building New York‘s tax base.‖ Robert Moore,
executive director of Environmental Advocates of
New York suggested in the article that the
Governor-elect could very well ―borrow‖ from
the plan in his ―green‖ directives almost
immediately, and he appears to be doing so. The
new governor, in his ―Cleaner, Greener New York
Agenda,‖ has emphasized alternate fuel vehicles,
including electrics, and a network of charging
stations, and recently announced that all post-2013
vehicle purchases by the State must be electric or
hybrids.
- Y. Rodriguez, MPA
1
cse’s role in a Green economy
Sustainability maximizes efficiency,
minimizes waste of resources and promotes
environmental quality. It assures availability of
vital resources for succeeding generations. A
sustainable or ―green‖ economy provides
equitable economic opportunity while reducing
health and environmental hazards.
Sustainability advocates have pointed to ―green
jobs‖ - jobs that preserve or enhance
environmental quality as well as family-sustaining
wages with opportunities for career advancementas a primary goal in workforce development.
However, defining a ―green job‖ and tracking
creation of green jobs is not as simple as originally
thought, and use of this term can lead to the
problem of raised expectations. It may be more
useful to recognize that economic and social
activities that serve a green economy help create
desirable, quality jobs.
The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
is playing an important role in promoting a local
and regional green economy.
Although some brand new businesses and
jobs will be created as a result of green technology
developments, the bulk of jobs required to
transition into a green economy involve layering
new skills that expand capacity of workers to
participate in new ways; such as transforming and
upgrading existing infrastructure, improving
existing buildings‘ energy efficiency, replanting an
urban park, or cleaning up contaminated property
that simply cannot be done elsewhere. Jobs tied to
a green economy can be found in the areas of
energy, transportation, urban forestry,
environmental monitoring and remediation, and
green product development. Quality jobs can
include building retrofits, green manufacturing,
cool/green/solar roof installation, park
maintenance, building construction and
maintenance, brown field remediation, recycling,
hybrid vehicle maintenance, energy management,
and others.
Creating Opportunities, Building
Relationships
As a participant in the Urban Agenda
Green Jobs Roundtable, CSE has contributed
toward advocacy for a city-wide green job agenda.
As a member of the Bronx Green Jobs
Roundtable, CSE actively advocates for greening
of the Bronx local economy. As an entity in
sustainability efforts at CUNY, CSE is a
stakeholder in efforts to implement PlaNYC, New
York City‘s blueprint for achieving major
advances in sustainability. CSE has also
supported partners in the green economy
movement, such as Green Workers Cooperatives.
Training the Workforce for a Green Economy
By coordinating Green Energy Training
in urban communities, CSE has connected
students with employers, provided industryapproved training curricula, guided students
toward industry certifications and leveraged
existing workforce development resources. Many
of its instructors are leaders in their fields as well
as employers themselves. In addition, by assisting
with the creation of the Energy Services and
Technology degree at BCC, CSE has contributed
toward providing a credit side career enhancing
credential.
Education and Outreach
CSE training and education activities also
contribute to the green economy transition. By
offering such seminars as ―The Business of Solar‖
individuals with entrepreneurial or sales interests
can learn about green technology industries. Such
seminars can be used by those who may not have
the aptitude for the particular technology, but
can gain the necessary understanding to sell
and promote it. In addition, Center personnel
regularly provides presentations that inform
community residents, business leaders and
government officials about green technologies.
The dissemination of this kind of information
increases awareness and use of green products and
services, which can contribute toward the growth
of a green economy.
-Luis Torres, Esq.
_____________________________________________________
2
The Windmills Blow in Italy or
lessons to be learned from an
ancient town
In Tocco Da Casauria, Italy, a poor
mountainous area, 2,700 Toccocians were faced with
Europe‘s highest electricity rates, nearly three
times the cost in the United States, while the cost
of renewable energy had fallen.
As reported in a recent New York Times
articles, it was a ―no-brainer‖ for the town‘s
mayor, Riziero Zaccagnini, and his constituents,
attracted by a European governmental ―carrot‖
that offered appealing prices to any company, city,
or home that produces renewable energy, thereby
stimulating the use of alternative energy, to ―go
green.‖
The potential revenue and profits, as well
as a reliable and inexpensive source of electricity,
from going green, were simply an offer that the
Toccocians could not refuse!
In addition, in Europe, energy from fossil
fuels is quite costly (because of a carbon tax).
Thus renewable energy quickly started to ―blowup‖ especially in small towns like Tocco.
The four wind turbines are owned and
operated under a contract with a private energy
company. The company then sells the electricity to
the national grid. Tocco makes money from this
because the company leases the land where the
turbines stand, and gives Tocco a cut from the
profits that it makes from selling the windblown
energy.
In addition to the turbines, solar panels
have been installed in Tocco‘s historic cemetery as
well as in its sport arena, and an increasing
amount of private homes.
Tocco has been internationally recognized
and honored by environmental groups for its
renewable energy efforts and achievements. Now,
if only the rest of us can catch up!
- Y. Rodriguez, MPA
3
ALUMNI CORNER
One of CSE‘s graduates shared this article on work she is doing in Haiti since last year‘s devastating
earthquake. The forward-looking focus of this work is exemplified by the fact that her article never mentions
that earthquake, but only looks forward towards a brighter day for Haiti‘s people:
Haiti Green Project
Haiti Green Project is a not for profit
organization which has been leading in the
reforestation in Haiti and the use of renewable
energy. Co-founded by former CSE student,
Marie Carmel Gabriel, Haiti Green Projects‘ focal
point is to bring forth and introduce solar panels
and wind turbines to schools, factories, hospitals
and churches. Teaching Haiti‘s finest young men
and women the basic skills on how to install and
maintain solar panels and wind turbines is central
to the organization‘s mission. HGP also trains
these young women and men the techniques of
green roofing, vertical agriculture, and
composting. HGP hopes that, in the long run,
these skills will make Haiti more competitive in
the global market (Haiti does not produce any oil.
With natural energy in abundance, renewable
energy is what is needed to be used, according the
HGP).
HGP received a grant from Husky
Injection Molding Systems to offset their carbon
footprint. HGP was able to start a pilot program
to install electricity with community participation
into two rural schools in Haiti. The initial project
was to install four PV arrays in four rural schools
and donate a room in one of the schools for a
library. HGP did not take into consideration that
most of these schools had no prior electricity.
Therefore, HGP had to do all of the electrical
wirings which delayed the project. With the help
of Jim McDonald, CSE‘s Advanced Off-Grid PV
instructor, HGP designed a standard system for
those schools. The number of panels and batteries
needed, like in the case of a school in Bony, which
is a bigger school, can always be increased if need
be. In addition, HGP has trained young
electricians to become solar installers in order to
be employed for this project. HGP, with the help
of Husky Injection Molding Systems, not only
brought solar electricity in those rural schools but
also gave a new trade to the young men in the
communities. To assure itself of the viability of
those installations, HGP, with the help of the
community, has formed committees to operate
and maintain the equipment.
Presently, HGP is in the process of
building a new school in the fisherman village of
Recif. Here, two small shacks serve as the village‘s
school. When it rains students cannot attend
school. HGP is seeking donations of laptops to
build a computer room to give the children better
access to learning material through the internet.
HGP is helping the community of Recif to put
together a committee to supervise the new
school‘s construction. Community participation is
the key to the success of any project!
Marie Carmel Gabriel. Co-Founder, and Executive Director, Haiti Green
For more information please contact Marie
Carmel Gabriel at: Haiti Green Project:
http://haitigreenproject.org, Email:
[email protected], 124 rue Panamericaine,
Petionville, Haiti, 646-399-1441 (USA), 509-3437-5718
(HAITI).
Project.
4
CSE Editorial Page
The effects of the nuclear disaster in
large dollar investment in alternate energy
Japan, set off by a tsunami and earthquake, have
strategies including wind, solar, geothermal and
been devastating. We mourn for our fellow
energy conservation measures.
humans who have been affected by this tragedy,
We cannot control the whims and
and for the planet itself. The disaster brings urgent
uncertainties
of Mother Nature, nor can we
focus to our nation‘s policy on nuclear energy and
predict future terrorist attacks on our soil; events
re-addressing the need to promote sustainable
that might trigger a crisis like the one in Japan, but
forms of energy.
we can surely demand that our officials keep all of
We, at CSE, feel strongly that the path to
us free from all radiological harm that might be
our energy future should look to sustainable
tempered with pre-determined sound regulatory
options, rather than ones that jeopardize the
policies, safety, and evacuation procedures.
health and well-being of our citizenry. In the short
run officials from the Nuclear Regulatory
In addition, on March 22, 2011, The New
Commission must make immediate regulatory
York Times reported that ―traces of radiation‖
changes to make all nuclear plants as safe as
from the Japanese nuclear site have been found
possible. Their inspectors must also ensure that all
over the East Coast of the United States with the
safety and emergency evacuation measures, in the
event of a nuclear accident, are ones that are
freshest radioactivity found recently in
coherent, effective, and capable of quickly
Charlottesville, Virginia. And the crisis continues
evacuating hundreds of thousands of people.
to grow to this day.
In the long run, we believe a nuclear free
world, powered by alternative energy, is not only
possible but necessary. Researchers from Stanford
and University of California-Davis recently
concluded that this goal is fully attainable in 20 to
40 years.
The Indian Point nuclear power plant‘s
emergency response system is, according to a
safety and evacuation report commissioned by
Governor Pataki in 2003, ―…not adequate to
overcome their combined weight and protect the
people from an unacceptable dose of radiation in
the event of a release from Indian Point.‖
These concerns would remain even if
Indian Point reactors, which are located 35 from
midtown Manhattan, were not located on a fault
line. Risks, even if slight, of catastrophic
consequences, combined with the costly challenge
of safe storage of spent fuel, raise serious
questions about whether investment in nuclear
energy offers realistic advantages over comparable
Clearly, in light of the ever growing death
rate and devastation in Japan, the time is ripe to
shut down the Indian Point plant as well as to
promote alternative forms of sustainable energies
that will not only reduce the carbon foot print, but
will also save lives.
–The Editors
We will all be safer when Indian Point
is decommissioned. Until that happens, here are some
actions that need to be taken immediately:







Harden the spent fuel pool buildings which are now
ordinary commercial construction.
Construct containment over the 1,000 tons of spent
fuel that has been racked tightly in the pool.
Add independent electricity and cooling back up for
the spent fuel pools.
Arrange for independent inspection of the inflatable
gasket around the cavity in the spent fuel pool.
Move spent fuel rods to dry cask storage as rapidly as
possible.
Address the flaws in the current 10 mile evacuation
zone, as outlined in the official 2003 Review of
Emergency Preparedness at Indian Point by former
Director of FEMA and evacuation expert James Lee
Witt.
Extend the evacuation zone to 50 miles as was
recommended by the US government for Americans
in Japan.
–source: [email protected]
5
CSE and BCC CelebrateD Earth Day on April 14, 2011!
Over 300 students participated in events exploring healthy food, planting trees and an organic garden,
watched and discussed films, and participated in a poster contest.
CSE receives IREC accreditation
The Center for Sustainable Energy is proud to announce that it has received Continuing Education Provider
Accreditation for our Solar Thermal Design and Installation Class, 36-Hour Math/Electricity Basics for
Photovoltaics, 40-Hour Introductory Photovoltaics Design and Installation, Advanced Photovoltaics-Grid
Tied, and Advanced Photovoltaics: Dispatchable Off-Grid and Micro-Grid Systems with International
Emphasis by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).
CSE has met all requirements for its 3-Day Solar Thermal Design and Installation Class, 36-Hour
Math/Electricity Basics for Photovoltaics, 40-Hour Introductory Photovoltaics Design and Installation,
Advanced Photovoltaics-Grid Tied, and Advanced Photovoltaics: Dispatchable Off-Grid and Micro-Grid
Systems with International Emphasis that designates them to be recognized by the Institute for Sustainable
Power (ISPQ) Global Accreditation and Certification.
6
CSE Partners:
CSE has entered into partnerships with community based organizations, unions, secondary schools, and other
educational institutions. Featured below are brief articles by two of our partners. CSE is working with the
New York City Transit Workers Unions to prepare at least 150 workers to install, maintain, and repair solar at
MTA facilities. CSE is also working with ―BuildOn‖-an educational advocacy organization to engage students
from Banana Kelly High School in the Southeast Bronx in Service Learning Projects related to Sustainability
and Energy Conservation.
The Transit Workers Union takes
the “Green line”
Awarded a Green Jobs Grant by the
Federal Department of Labor, The New York
City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and The Transit
Workers Union (TWU Local100) have decided to
move forward towards the use and maintenance
of ―green‖ energy. Realizing that Solar
Photovoltaics are the future for energy solutions,
the TWU registered 150 of its NYCT Lighting
Maintainers into CSE‘s 40-Hour Photovoltaics
course to become skilled maintainers of the Solar
PV equipment that is already in operation at four
NYCT facilities throughout New York City.
Tapping into a long relationship with the Center
for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community was a
natural fit for the TWU. TWU familiarized itself
with CSE‘ s Solar Photovoltaic Program, and later
met with Dr. Michael Seliger, Yolanda Rodriguez,
and trainers, Kim Curran and Hugo Pedernera, to
tailor the course specifically to the needs of
NYCTA/TWU Local 100. The result is a 40-Hour
course that will empower TWU members with the
very skills to move forward with their sustainable
and renewable projects (CSE/BCC was listed as
eligible providers in the NY State Department of
Labor (DOL) Workforce Investment Act which
allowed the discussion, establishment, and
execution of the solar PV training process to be
done).
Together the transit system, and its employees,
can evolve into ―green energy.‖ It‘s a ―Win-Win‖
for CSE, NYCT/TWU Local 100, and for all New
Yorkers! –Dylan Valle, Project Coordinator, TWU
GUNS FOR TREES
On Wednesday, March 16th, Banana
Kelly‘s entire 9th grade class along with a group of
teachers rode the 25 minute subway ride to the
Center for Sustainable Energy at the Bronx
Community College. Banana Kelly High School,
CSE, and BuildOn, a partner organization,
collaboratively planned this service learning trip to
introduce students both to the experience of
college education and to the elasticity of the
sustainability concept. Jameelah Muhammad, the
Community Program Coordinator at CSE,
provided an introduction to college life and higher
education before launching into a crash course in
sustainable practice. The 9th graders broke up into
three groups and collaborated on posters,
improvisational role-playing sketches, and activism
action plans that explored sustainable ideas they
could implement in their communities. (con‘t on pg 8)
7
(con‘t from pg. 7)
Two other students developed an activism strategy
called ―Guns for Trees,‖ a program that would
allow individuals to trade their firearms for an
earth-ready sapling. The future of the Bronx lies in
the hands of students such as these who recognize
that bullets are no match for birch! –Stephanie Gilman,
Program Manager, BuildOn @ Banana Kelly High School
Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference
Four CSE staff and faculty, Dr. Michael Seliger, Jameelah Muhammad, Kim Curran, and Yolanda Rodriguez,
participated in IREC‘s (Interstate Renewable Energy Council) Clean Energy Workforce and Education
Conference at Saratoga Springs, NY from March 8 through March 10th, as primarily sponsored by NYSERDA
(New York State Energy Research And Development Authority).
The event was attended by 400 educators, trainers, administrators, and solar businesses from across
the country and some from around the world. They took part in day-long seminars that included such topics
as: “Learning Green Sector Skills-A Union Perspective,” “Providing New Opportunities for Disadvantaged Workers,” and
“Balancing Classroom and Field Experiences.” Powerful keynote presentations encouraged participants to press
forward with adaptation of new technologies while assuring that quality and economic well-being of workers
is always maintained. For anyone interested in looking at the PowerPoints of the 80 sessions from the
conference please go to: www.irecusa.org. CSE looks forward to attending the next IREC Conference in the
Winter of 2012.
8
Book Review: Replenishing the
Earth by Wangari Maathai
On a cold, rainy December evening at St.
John the Divine on 110th St. in NYC, I had the
chance to meet one of the world‘s most well
known environmentalist heroines, Wangari
Maathai. The event was an opportunity for us to
hear Maathai reiterate some of her recommended
ideas and practices from her most recent book,
Replenishing the Earth, Spiritual Values for Healing
Ourselves and the World.
Maathai‘s simple opening premise in
Replenishing the Earth is that when Earth is
wounded so is humanity. When we live in an
environment that is wounded through
deforestation, water and air pollution,
desertification, loss of topsoil, diminishing
biodiversity, food contaminated with pesticides,
heavy metals and plastic residues etc. the result is
that we too are hurt, physically, psychologically,
and spiritually.
Maathai believes that in order for the
healing process to take place basic spiritual values
must be present. She describes how those
involved in the Green Belt Movement (GBM)
discovered, through trial and tribulation, that to
maintain momentum in their efforts to repopulate
Kenya‘s forests by planting trees, they needed to
be guided by a set of core values:
1) Love for the environment 2) Gratitude and
respect for the Earth‘s resources. 3) Selfempowerment and self- betterment. 4) Work in
the spirit of service and volunteerism.
Without commitment to these core values
GBM found that their work lost staying power
and began to falter. Thus, they developed
seminars in ‗civic and environmental education‘
where the embodiment of these core values was
emphasized. In addition, Maathai acknowledged
that real debates often took place within GBM
especially as some people argued against doing
anything without being paid.
Participants in the seminars also discussed
why their environment was degraded, what role
they played in that degradation, and the actions
that needed to be taken, short and long term, to
solve these environmental problems. Everyone
was encouraged to take action on an individual,
household and community level. Last, each
member reported back on the action that they
took, such as how many trees they had planted;
these were daily examples of how they had
practiced mottainai (Japanese for ‗don‘t waste‘)
comparable to our 3 R‘s – reduce, reuse, and
recycle.
I appreciated Wangari‘s forthrightness
about the ‗monumental discipline‘ it takes to
persist in work like that of the GBM (or any
environmental work) which can be so
overwhelming and discouraging due to the sheer
amount of work that needs to be done, the power
of the forces who oppose actions that stand in the
way of financial gain, and the ignorance exposed
in the daily behavior and habits of the populace at
large.
Maathai says we need to encourage each
other and not bow to feelings of being
insignificant, apathetic, or incapable. Violence is
also a major cause of feeling dispirited as many
environmentalists worldwide have been killed in
their fight to save the planet. Despite this each of
us needs to find a way to participate in healing
Earth‘s degradation and as we do so we‘ll be
healing our own degradations.
Central to Maathai‘s thought is the link
between social injustice and ecological injustice
(and vice versa). The healing solution for
Earth/humanity requires alternative economic
models for our existence other than the current
economic globalization model.
Most of us are aware of the huge
environmental expense in deforestation, resource
exploitation, resource wars (especially for oil, gas,
minerals, and soon water), and climate change.
According to Maathai now is the time to move
away from thinking that seeks to monetize every
single aspect of our lives.
9
With the emphasis on spirituality, Maathai
quotes passages and parables from sacred texts of
the world‘s major religions (Buddhist, Christian,
Hindi, Islam, and Judaism) as well as drawing
from the spiritual worldview of indigenous
peoples worldwide (whose belief systems remain
closest to understanding our interdependence with
Earth).
Maathai urges religious leaders and
congregations to revisit the teachings promoting
humanity‘s sacred duty as stewards of the earth
responsible for ecological justice* (see note). She
condemns the collusion between leaders of major
religions who have sided against the powerless,
claiming it is common knowledge that those
making the major decisions on environmental
issues are in corporations who, with the
permission of governments, ruin ecosystems in
the unlimited quest for profit.
Throughout Replenish the Earth Maathai
cites examples of how ecological damage is
unfairly and purposely borne by regions of the
planet such as Africa, thus creating and
maintaining levels of poverty in order to fuel
ongoing overconsumption in the industrialized
regions such as here in the US. As one example
take the simple act of being able to drink clean,
filtered, treated, even bottled water compared to
having to drink filthy, unhygienic water, having to
travel to get water or even of running out of
water!
The major challenge, according to
Maathai, that we face is to understand how social
and ecological devastation are directly connected
to our seemingly insatiable cravings resulting in
our overconsumption. Craving indicates
psychological desperation, dissatisfaction, and
spiritual weakness which she considers a direct
result of the lack of core values. And so it is truly
our inner ecology that Maathai is working through
with us on these pages.
―To say ―no more, enough is enough,‖
says Maathai, ―won‘t occur unless it‘s linked to the
raising of consciousness that is essential to healing
the earth. People with this higher consciousness
see the world with the right perspective. They
value balance and harmony and are able to draw a
line below or beyond that which they wouldn‘t go
to fulfill their cravings: these are among the
people whose achievements we admire and whose
actions inspire us.‖
Wangari Maathai has achieved so much in
her 70 years including winning the Nobel Peace
Prize in 2004 for her work with the Green Belt
Movement ( since 1977 the grassroots Green Belt
Movement has planted over 45 million trees;
elected to the Kenya Parliament in 2003, and
appointed a Deputy Minister for Environment
and Natural Resources).
Maathai was appointed by UN Secretary
Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of
Peace in 2009. Her other publications include: The
Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the
Experience, Unbowed: A Memoir, and The Challenge for
Africa.
-Kim Curran, CSE PV Instructor
Note: *On the political front, in 2008 Ecuador
became the first nation –and so far only - to pass a
constitution recognizing that nature “has the right
to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital
cycles, structure, functions, and its processes in
evolution.”
10
CSE is seeking to work closely with community partners, including Clearwater. Below is a guest editorial from
Manna Jo Greene, Clearwater’s Director for Environmental Education:
Indian Point should be closed and decommissioned -- not relicensed.
By Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Director, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Clearwater would like to offer our deepest
In addition to ignoring scientific evidence that
sympathy to the people of Japan as the tragedy of
Indian Point, an aging, leaking nuclear power
Fukushima Dai-ichi unfolds. We sincerely hope
plant located 35 miles from NYC, was built
that the world will learn from this unthinkable
adjacent to the Ramapo fault; the NRC has also
disaster.
ignored, rejected, or ruled ―out of scope‖ the
We must never again allow nuclear power plants
following issues:
to be built on or near seismic fault lines, in
 Health impacts of planned and unplanned
releases and discharges and leaks of
earthquake zones, or in tsunami or hurricaneradioactive isotopes
prone areas anywhere on the globe. Yet the US

Alternative energy sources
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rejected
 Population growth
NY State‘s Contention-14, which raised concern
 Impossibility of evacuation the 20 million
that the relicensing application for Indian Point
people that live within 50 miles of Indian
was ―incomplete and insufficiently analyzed‖ the
Point
type, frequency, and severity of potential
 Potential for terrorism
earthquakes, and failed to address alternatives for
mitigation of severe accidents.1
Excessive Granting of Waivers and
In 2008 Columbia University Lamont-Doherty
Exemptions: The NRC staff has also been
Earth Observatory published a report that stated
increasingly granting exemptions from the
that a ―magnitude 6 or 7 earthquake … destined
licensing design basis, a practice that is not
to originate from the Ramapo Fault Zone‖ was
authorized by either the Atomic Energy Act or
statistically overdue and, if it occurred, could cause
Congress. Some of the recent exemptions granted
hundreds, or even thousands of fatalities and
for Indian Point include:
billions of dollars in damage.2 Located at the
 Reduction of fire safety requirements due
convergence of two fault lines, a recent NRC
to failure of existing fire insulation from
report revealed that, in fact, Indian Point reactor 3
one hour to 24 minutes.
has the highest risk of earthquake damage of any
 Permanent exemption of design basis
of the 104 active US nuclear plants. 3
inspection of a reactor dome in which
rust has already been identified.
Unfortunately, when it comes to nuclear power in
 Corrosion of buried pipes and related
the Hudson Valley, and around the world, the
underground systems, structures, or
deck has been stacked by regulations that have
components
been systematically narrowed over time to favor
 Exemption from inspecting 40% of the
the nuclear industry at the expense of public
spent fuel pool known to be leaking
health and safety and environmental protection.
radioactive effluent into the ground water
and the Hudson River.
1http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_
pdf/noiindianpoint.pdf
2
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2235
3
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42103936/ns/world_newsasiapacific/
Legal Actions and Grassroots Organizing
Efforts: For the past few years Clearwater,
Riverkeeper and New York State have been
parties in the legal process surrounding Entergy‘s
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application to relicense Indian Point – a facility
that is reaching the end of its intended 40-year
lifespan – for another 20 years. With a track
record of leaks, transformer explosions, clogged
cooling water intakes, and other serious problems,
we believe that relicensing Indian Point is
definitely a case of playing Russian roulette with
the future of people in the greater NY
metropolitan area and beyond. We need to
convince Congress to tighten the loopholes in the
relicensing process, prohibit the relicensing of
plants located near active geological faults and to
place a moratorium on building new ones. The
global experiment of using nuclear fuel to boil
water to create steam to turn turbines has now
proven disastrous. There are much cleaner, safer,
readily-available sources of energy. Our mandate
must be to aggressively call for the long-overdue
transition to a green energy economy by installing
sufficient infrastructure to generate clean, safe
power and from renewable resources and energy
efficiency measures.
Please support the work of Clearwater and others
to close Indian Point and to urge Congress to
strengthen the relicensing process for aging power
plants to fully ensure public health, safety and
environmental protection. For more information,
please see www.clearwater.org/environmentalaction/power-plants-energy/indian-pointcampaign/
_______________________________________
Related Links:
David Lochbaum, Union of Concerned Scientists: http://allthingsnuclear.org/post/3859682324/reactorcore-cooling Overview of reactor cooling.
Left of the Hudson: Lamont-Doherty scientist says the region is overdue for a big quake:
http://www.lefthudson.com/2011/02/lamont-doherty-scientist-says-region-is.html Weds., Feb.16, 2011
Karl Grossman: EnviroVideo presents Enviro Close-UP with Karl Grossman On Shaky Ground... allowing
nuclear power plants to be built on or near seismic faults, in earthquake zones and in tsunami or hurricaneprone areas is insane -- yet NRC rejected NYS contention regarding IP on Ramapo fault, despite Columbia
University Lamont-Doherty report that a quake along the Ramapo fault was/is overdue.
http://web001.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/12-3 Sat., March 12, 2011 CommonDreams.org
Behind the Hydrogen Explosion at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant by Karl Grossman -- about Zirconium
alloy, Zircaloy, a highly volatile material that fuel rods are clad in. A
speck of was used to create flash bulbs for photographic flashes. Let's see, can we think of a more explosive
material to use in a setting where hydrogen is likely to be generated during times of system failure?
MOX fuel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dirty nuclear fuel used in Japanese reactors, not that uranium is
clean, but the mixture is more dangerous.
A Nuclear Hail Mary – Seawater or Disaster « Energy Matters: Roger Witherspoon interviews David
Lochbaum, nuclear safety engineer of the Union of Concerned Scientists and a consultant to both industry
and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
America‘s Quake-Proof Nukes « Energy Matters: Roger Witherspoon points out that the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission does not require a modern analysis of the ability of its 104 power plants to withstand
earthquakes, which were designed using the technology of the 1950s and early 60s.
Info on dangers of fuel pools. http://www.counterpunch.com/alvarez03142011.html.And finally, an
interesting synopsis of relevant events in -- of all places -- the Daily
News:http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Indian+Point+Nuclear+Power+Plant
Also of interest :http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/The-spent-fuel-crisis-Region-s-nuclearplants-1309964.php
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Green Energy Training at CUNY is delivered under CSE’s coordination at many of CUNY’s
campuses. These include:
NY Designs/LaGuardia Community College
45-50 30th Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 482-7200
City College
160 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
Phone: (212) 650-7000
Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Avenue
NY 11225-2017
(718) 270-5085
Borough of Manhattan Community College
25 Broadway
New York, NY (212) 348-8420
Bronx Community College
2155 University Avenue
Bronx, NY 10453
(718) 289-5100
New York City
College of Technology
300 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 260-5000
For course information and registration please go to:
www.csebcc.org or call (718) 289-5332
CSE Staff
Dr. Michael Seliger, Associate Dean of Planning
and Program Development
Bronx Community College‘s Academic Affairs
Dr. Reid Strieby
Glenda Self, MA
CSE Training Faculty:
Kim Curran
Hugo Pedernera
Jim MacDonald
Scott Sousa
Rob Ashmore
Alan Fishman
David Ortiz
Carmen Ortiz
Jameelah Muhammad
Ruben Rodriguez
Yolanda Rodriguez, MPA
Anthony Alexander
Thomas Gately
Tyrone Ijeh
Rolzes Diaz
Andrew McNamara
Jeff Perlman
Peter Skinner
Betsy Hague Wyman
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DO YOU USE DIESEL GENERATORS?
WANT TO HAVE CLEANER AIR AND
CUT COSTS AT THE SAME TIME?
Then attend the BioGenset Workshop on June 9th and learn all about it!
The free BioGenset workshop will be held on June 9th from 9:00 to 12:00 at
the Bronx Community College at the Playhouse Auditorium.
go to www.biogenset.com and register today!
Diesel generators are an important part of New York’s power infrastructure. They help provide much needed
flexibility and support to a complex system that can be overworked and unstable in emergencies. Unfortunately,
New York’s diesel generator systems can also be a significant source of pollution as well, releasing over 2.2 million
tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the air every year.
The BioGenset program is here to help! Hear presentations from industry experts, State agency experts, biodiesel
users, and Original Engine Manufacturers to learn how you can begin using low level biodiesel blends to help clean
our air and cut your costs at the same time. Have your questions answered directly and immediately. Gain
positive publicity for your organization.
Hosted By:
NYCLHVCC
Sponsored By:
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Upcoming Events:
June 9, 2011: BioGenset Workshop
June 16, 2011: Solar Summit Conference, CUNY Graduate Center
June 18-19, 2011: Clearwater Festival-Croton, NY
Fall 2011: 7th Annual Alternative Vehicle Technology Conference and Expo
If you wish to send us your announcements for
conferences or events, comments, editorials, photos,
book reviews, investigative or feature articles for
publication in our Fall 2011 issue, please email all
submissions to: [email protected].
Please email [email protected] if you‘d
like to join our mailing list. Thank you!
2155 University Avenue, GML-102 Bronx, New York 10453 Telephone: 718-289-5332/Fax: 718-289-6443
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.csebcc.org
Editors: Dr. Michael Seliger, Yolanda Rodriguez, MPA
Contributors: Kim Curran, PV Instructor, Luis Torres, Esq., Marie Carmel Gabriel, Manna Jo Greene, and Yolanda Rodriguez, MPA
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