04 Dec EcoBits Dec. 4th – Dec. 11th: Mayoral Debate, New Solar Goals, Eat Drink Local Week
If you would like to watch the debate in-person, there are still a few tickets left! RSVP quickly because the seats are filling up fast! Tickets are free with a suggested $10 donation to the Election Navigator ($25 includes your District sticker).
And after tonight, there will be even more opportunities to watch:
- We will post a video recording of the debate on our website and YouTube channel
- channelAustin will rebroadcast the debate seven more times before Election Day on Dec. 16th. A full listing of those dates and times are available here>>
[Food] Starting this Saturday, it's Eat Drink Local Week with Edible Austin. From Dec. 6th to Dec. 13th, Edible Austin challenges you to support locally sourcing restaurants and cook meals made entirely with local ingredients. Here's a rundown of the week's great events:
- Farmers Market Community Picnic –Saturday, Dec. 6th at 10am at the SFC Farmers Market Downtown. Build yourself a locally-foraged brunch spread with goodies from local food artisans. More info>>
- An Evening with Dan Barber – Monday, Dec. 8th at 7pm at the Paramount Theatre. Join author Dan Barber as he talks about his new book, "The Third Plate," which lays out an entirely new way of eating. Buy tickets here>>
- Harvest Dinner – Tuesday, Dec. 9th at 6:30pm at the Palm Door on Sabine. Enjoy a winter harvest bounty by Bread & Circus Supper Club, featuring a seasonal, local feast served family style. Purchase tickets here>>
[Austin EcoNetwork] This is the LAST week for you to submit information to AEN for our 2014 Green Year in Review. Please send us your submissions including major accomplishments and milestones from your organization/ business/ department by DECEMBER 8th. Make sure we know about recognition and awards you earned as well as awards you gave out.
Note, our holiday publishing schedule:
- Regular EcoNews Thursday – December 11th
- Post-election recap and holiday edition –December 18th
- Then we will take a break for a week, publish a special New Year's Day 2014 Year in Review – Thursday, January 1st.
- We will resume normal newsletters on Thursday January 8th
Most of you know we hit our first fundraising target
Luckily, just in time for our next round of fundraising is a BRAND new crowd-funding platform called Crowdera that charges NO FEES!That means every dollar you contribute goes directly toward our voter education project.
On top of that we got a generous $5000 matching gift challenge from Kirk Mitchell.
So PLEASE, donate today to our $15,000 Crowdera campaign!
[Elections] Remember, early voting is officially in session! You have from 7am-7pm every day until Dec. 12th to cast your early vote and Election Day is onDec. 16th. For more information about how and where to vote, check out our Special Election Editionof the EcoNews.
If you need help deciding who to vote for, be sure to check out the Election Navigator. Summaries comparing the candidates running in several of the districts are now up on the site. They are the perfect thing to read before heading out to the polls.
Be sure to check out the District 6 summary, which covers a race that is pitting a climate change denierwith a penchant for inflammatory environmental statements against a moderate Democrat running in a conservative district. Read the summary here>>
- Decker natural gas plant will be retired in 2018
- The Fayette coal-fired power plant will beretired by 2022
- Renewable energy goals will increase from 35 percent by 2020 to 55 percent by 2025
- Overall solar goals will increase from 200 MW to 950 MW by 2025
- Energy efficiency goals will increase from800 MW to 900 MW
- A new local storage goal of 30 MW will be established
A few things to note:
- The plan does authorize 500 MW of new natural gas power
- The plan has not been approved by city council. Council will discuss the plan at its next meeting on Dec. 11th. So if you have opinions about this new plan, share them with council now.
[Climate Change] Texas is the country's largest climate polluter, and yet, its leaders say things like, "It is freezing. I mean, it is really cold. I have to admit, I was surprised. Al Gore told us this wouldn't happen." (That was Texas Senator Ted Cruz, by the way).
In this fascinating radio story, produced by The Texas Tribune and The World, reporter Neena Satija reveals how Texas got this way, and brings us all back to a time when George W. Bush said things like this – "We can begin now to address the human factors that contribute to climate change. Wise action now is an insurance policy against future risks." Listen to the full story here>>
[Water] After years of exhaustive work, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has completed its draft Habitat Conservation Plan, designed to manage groundwater resources and protect the endangered salamanders that live in the district. The plan will now go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for final approval. Learn more about how the plan was developed with this story from the Austin Monitoror explore the finer details of the plan here>>
[Water] The 35th Annual Save Barton Creek Association Holiday Partywas held last week. Icons of Austin's environmental movement were recognized with lifetime achievement awards. These heroes included 98-year-old Shudde Fath and 94-year-old Dorothy Richter, who reminded everyone that it is never too late to get involved.
Other luminaries included elected officials such as Congressman Lloyd Doggett, State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Mayor Frank Cooksey, and Mayor Gus Garcia.
SBCA also honored its early and enduring leaders – Joe Riddell, Pam Thompson, and George Cofer. And last but not least, AEN Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer Brandi Clark Burton was also honored for the Austin EcoNetwork's Election Navigator project.
Congratulations to all of the award winners!
[Holiday Parties] Last night's holiday party at Barr Mansion was a blast! Thanks to everyone who came. There are a few more holiday parties still to come:
- Sierra Club Holiday Party – Tuesday, Dec. 9th from 6:45pm to 10pm at Barr Mansion. Note: Only those who have RSVP'd can attend. More info>>
- The SOS Holiday Party will be held Friday, December 12th from 6pm to midnight at aNEW LOCATION – Scholz Garten! Come for the annual fest with the reliably lively live music, AMAZING silent auction, and the unveiling of SOS's new logo/branding and a brand new Barton Creek Greenbelt Application. More details coming soon.
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