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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190827T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190827T200000
DTSTAMP:20190821T161459Z
CREATED:20190821T161459Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Community Workshop: Solar for Low And Moderate Income Customers
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Solar Austin –\nWe’re doing something a bit different this month. Instead of our regular happy hour\, Solar Austin is hosting a community workshop to gather input on the topic of expanding access to solar. \nIn September\, a team that will include Austin Energy staff\, a couple members of the Solar Austin board and other solar policy experts will participate in a workshop hosted by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). This team of seven will focus on identifying ways to expand access to solar in Austin. We know that many of the people of color\, as well as renters and lower-income residents haven’t been able to. \nThe goal of the Solar Austin workshop will be to gather community input to help guide the team at the RMI workshop in September. We want to help develop solutions that address the needs\, concerns and aspirations of the community. \nHuston–Tillotson University has graciously offered to host this event and Solar Austin will provide food and drink. \nWHAT: Solar Austin Community Workshop on Expanding Access to Solar \nWHEN: Tues.\, Aug. 27\, 5:30 dinner and networking\, 6:00 presentation and discussion groups \nWHERE: Dickey-Lawless Science Building at Huston–Tillotson University (#1 on the map) \nRSPV is appreciated\, so we know how much food to buy. \nIn addition to a short presentation to share the basics about solar and some sample programs\, we’ll have facilitated group discussions to try to determine: \n\n\nlevel of awareness about solar among lower-income residents \n\n\nthe main barriers that keep lower-income residents from accessing solar \n\n\nany barriers specific to people of color \n\n\naspects of solar energy that excite people most \n\n\nthe most important features of a new solar program \n\n\n  \nAnyone who wants to contribute to this work is welcome\, but we especially hope to get people of color\, renters and lower-income residents involved in this conversation because those are the groups that have been underserved by the current solar programs. \nEnsuring equity in access to solar energy and other climate solutions is an important aspect of climate justice. Solar Austin is committed to making the benefits of solar energy accessible to everyone in the Austin community. \nWe hope you’ll join us and bring a friend\, family member or neighbor who falls into one of the underserved customer groups. \nSolar Austin Board of Directors \n——————————————- \nGetting there: Huston–Tillotson University can be accessed by several bus lines. If you drive\, there is free street parking on Chalmers Ave and Chicon St\, and in the Huston-Tillotson parking lot off Chalmers St between 8th St and 9½ St. \n\nFor regular updates on our Happy Hours and other work and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-community-workshop-solar-for-low-and-moderate-income-customers/
LOCATION:Dickey-Lawless Science Building at Huston-Tillotson University\, 900 Chicon St.\, Austin\, TX\, 78702\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190723T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190723T200000
DTSTAMP:20190718T024852Z
CREATED:20190718T024852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190718T024852Z
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SUMMARY:July Solar Austin Happy Hour: ERCOT Electric Grid System Planning
DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Solar Austin –\nGetting more large-scale solar and wind energy built in Texas requires a well-functioning electric grid. For our July happy hour\, Warren Lasher will explore emerging grid challenges and opportunities associated with balancing power generation and consumption within the Texas Interconnection\, one of four frequency-independent power grids in North America.\nThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is unique among these interconnections in so far as the balancing authority\, the interconnection and the regional transmission organization are all the same entity and physical system. In a recent feature on KUT\, Lasher likened ERCOT’s role as a reliability coordinator and balancing authority to John Bohnham’s role in Led Leppelin. Just as a drummer might need to maintain a tempo of 60 beats per minute\, ERCOT needs to maintain the heartbeat of the grid at 60 cycles per second.\nAbout Warren Lasher:\nAs Senior Director of System Planning for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas\, Inc. (ERCOT)\, Warren Lasher is responsible for transmission planning\, load forecasting and resource adequacy analyses for the ERCOT interconnection. Lasher has been at ERCOT for over fourteen years; before this he was employed by the Southern Company in Birmingham\, Alabama\, where he worked in the Engineering and the Planning organizations. Lasher has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics\, and graduate degrees in Environmental Management and Computer Science.\nYou can RSVP here.\n___________________________________________________\nGetting to the event:\nPlease consider taking the bus to the happy hour. There are many buses within easy walking distance of Scholz Garten.​ Plan your trip here.​ If you drive\, State Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind\, and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances.\nFor regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/july-solar-austin-happy-hour-ercot-electric-grid-system-planning/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190621T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190621T210000
DTSTAMP:20190605T223632Z
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SUMMARY:2019 Solar Austin Summer Solstice Celebration
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nWe are excited to invite you to Solar Austin’s second annual Summer Solstice Celebration! Please join us to celebrate our precious solar resources and community advocacy for renewable energy on the longest day of the year. \nWe’re passionate about solar policy and technology\, but we also like to have fun. Join us at Sauce Odyssey to celebrate and unwind! We will live music and free beer (courtesy of Texas Beer Company)\, and solar car racing for the kids (and fun-loving adults). Sauce Odyssey has delicious food – including vegan options – and an inviting shady location with plenty of seating\, hammocks and games.. \nCome have fun\, eat\, and drink\, while getting to know other members of our community of advocates right here in Austin. \nWe look forward to celebrating the solstice—and community—with you on June 21st! You can get your ticket here. \nP.S. We won’t have our regular happy hour event in June. \n\nSolar Austin’s mission is to accelerate the transition to clean\, renewable energy in Central Texas and expand access to the benefits of solar to everyone to build a healthy community and strong local economy. If you would like to make a donation to support our work\, you can do so by clicking the donate button on our website www.solaraustin.org. For regular updates on our events and policy happenings in Central Texas\, follow us on Twitter @solar_austin and on Facebook at @SolarAustin.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/2019-solar-austin-summer-solstice-celebration/
LOCATION:Sauce Odyssey\, 1403 E 7th St\, Austin\, TX\, 78702\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190528T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190528T200000
DTSTAMP:20190508T131958Z
CREATED:20190508T131958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190508T131958Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Clean Energy Credit Union
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nFor our May happy hour\, Amanda Bybee will share the story of the Clean Energy Credit Union (CECU)\, a first-of-its-kind financial institution dedicated to providing affordable financing for clean energy products or services\, such as EV purchases or home energy efficiency projects or solar retrofits. In addition to serving as a volunteer on the Supervisory Committee of the credit union\, Amanda worked to obtain the CECU’s federal charter as a not-for-profit\, tax-exempt cooperative that is democratically owned and controlled by its members on a one-vote-per-member basis. While the CECU is unique\, it is not Amanda’s first foray into deeply democratic co-operative business structures. \nAbout Amanda Bybee:  \nIn 2016\, Amanda helped to earn a SunShot Initiative award from the US Department of Energy to found the Amicus O&M Cooperative\, where she serves as CEO. This operations and maintenance cooperative brings together a network of service providers across the country to offer coordinated services for geographically distributed portfolios of solar assets. Its sister organization\, Amicus Solar\, is a member’s-owned buyers cooperative for solar installation companies. Both of these cooperatives are cultural and business offshoots of Colorado-based Namasté Solar\, an employee-owned and B Corp-certified solar EPC. Prior to joining Namasté Solar in 2006\, where she held numerous roles over an 11-year span\, Amanda worked as a “Jill-of-all-trades” at Austin-based Meridian Solar. Amanda started her solar career in 2003\, promoting renewable energy as the coordinator of Public Citizen’s Solar Austin Campaign.” \n  \nWhat are my parking options for the event? State Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \n\n  \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, solaraustin.org\, to donate and avoid fees. \nFor regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org. \n 
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-clean-energy-credit-union/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190423T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190423T200000
DTSTAMP:20190416T132931Z
CREATED:20190416T132931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190416T132931Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Austin Energy’s SHINES Program
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nEnergy in a Smart City – What is going on in Austin? \nFor our April happy hour\, Karl Popham will share Austin Energy’s innovative efforts in the utility’s alignment with the city’s goals of Mobility\, Affordability\, and Health/Environment. This will include an update on the opportunities and challenges with the award-winning Austin SHINES deployment that integrated residential\, commercial\, and grid battery storage systems (to include vehicle to grid) with PV Solar under one “virtual power plant” dispatch system. Karl will also do a deep dive into Austin’s transportation electrification programs to included CapMetro’s Bus Fleet plans\, eScooters (love them/hate them?)\, grid integration\, low-income solutions\, new training opportunities\, autonomous driving rollout plans (Austin’s Smart Moblity Roadmap)\, and more. \nMore about Karl Popham:  \n A nationally recognized speaker\, research contributor\, and book co-author of “Smart Cities: Applications\, Technologies\, Standards & Driving Factors”\, Karl has lived in Austin since his teen years and is a longhorn graduate. Currently\, he is the Manager of Electric Vehicles & Emerging Technologies at Austin Energy and is the Principal Investigator on several U.S. Department of Energy funded and award-winning projects advancing transportation electrification\, renewables\, energy storage\, and “virtual power plant” technologies. He is the electrification lead for Austin’s Smart Mobility Roadmap that includes autonomous transportation and was a core member of the Mayor’s Smart City Challenge team. Previously he served as Austin Energy’s interim Chief Information Officer\, a Managing Director at Hewlett-Packard Services\, Director at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young\, and a Captain in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. \n  \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin.  Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area.  You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, solaraustin.org\, to donate and avoid fees. \nFor regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org. \nFAQs \nWhat are my parking options for the event? \nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-austin-energys-shines-program/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190326T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190326T200000
DTSTAMP:20190312T210515Z
CREATED:20190312T210515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190312T210515Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: UT Austin Sustainability Master Plan
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nFor our March happy hour\, Jim Walker will give an overview of the UT Austin Sustainability Master Plan and specific initiatives related to energy and renewables.  He will share his perspective on how university efforts fit into the broader context of City of Austin and Austin Energy efforts\, as well as higher education in general.  The UT Austin Sustainability Master plan was adopted in 2016 and updated in 2018 and sets a goals for the university out to 2030.\nRSVP Here \nMore about Jim Walker:  \nJim Walker was appointed Director of Sustainability for the University of Texas at Austin in April\, 2009. He works closely with the President’s Sustainability Steering Committee on the UT Austin Sustainability Master Plan and is the university’s USGBC Liaison related to LEED and SITES on new capital projects. Jim has a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.  Jim currently serves on the boards of the Mueller Foundation\, the USGBC Texas Chapter\, and Earth Day Austin\, and recently served on the City of Austin Joint Sustainability Committee. Jim is originally from Oregon and accidentally moved to Austin in 1992. He was introduced to sustainability by Pliny Fisk and Gail Vittori at the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems\, and soon after by Lars Stanley\, FAIA\, LEED AP and Girard Kinney\, AIA. \nWhat are my parking options for the event? \nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances.  \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin.  Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area.  You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, solaraustin.org\, to donate and avoid fees. \nFor regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-ut-austin-sustainability-master-plan/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190226T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190226T200000
DTSTAMP:20190206T034309Z
CREATED:20190206T034222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190206T034309Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin February Happy Hour: Tour of Austin Central Library Green Features
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nWe’re switching things up a bit for our February happy hour.  We won’t be at Scholz Garten this month\, so don’t go there\, or you’ll be lonely. \nInstead\, we hope you’ll join us for an expert-guided look at the green features – including the on-site solar energy system – of the Austin Central Library. This LEED Platinum-certified building opened late October 2017 has the distinction of being the first new building with a solar array on the downtown sector of the electric grid\, which comes with added complications. \nBecause we want to do the tour before it gets dark\, we’ll be starting our program a bit earlier than usual. The presentation will start at 5:45\, but please join us even if you’ll be a bit late. \nThe lead architect Jonathan Smith\, of Lake Flato Architects\, and solar designer Bungane Mehlomakulu\, of Integral Group\, will be leading the tour and discussion. \nJonathan Smith\, AIA\, LEED AP BD+C\, is an Associate Partner at Lake Flato Architects. Jonathan’s designs foster meaningful and lasting relationships between building occupants and the natural environment\, demonstrating excellence in the art of building\, the science of sustainability and love for the natural landscape. Jonathan has a strong passion for transformative projects that have an impact beyond their property lines through environmental sustainability\, performance-based design and response to climate. Jonathan was Project Architect on the LEED Platinum 180\,000 square foot new Central Library in his hometown of Austin\, Texas. In 2018 the Austin Central Library was named one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places. Jonathan is currently working on projects in Texas\, California and Hawaii. \n Bungane Mehlomakulu\, PE\, LEED AP BD+C\, is a Managing Principal at Integral Group in Austin. Bungane is a design principal working at the boundary between architecture\, engineering\, and sustainability to deliver a balanced\, efficient\, and meaningful services to customers and clients. His passion for sustainable building design and operation made him an expert in passive strategies including natural ventilation\, daylight harvesting\, plug load reductions\, and solar control and the application of energy efficient technologies\, including radiant floors\, displacement ventilation\, and chilled beams. \nWe hope to see you at the library! \nSolar Austin Board of Directors
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-february-happy-hour-tour-of-austin-central-library-green-features/
LOCATION:Austin Central Library\, 710 W. César Chávez St.\, Austin\, TX\, 78701\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20190122T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20190122T200000
DTSTAMP:20190116T195926Z
CREATED:20190116T195926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190116T195926Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: The Future Is Bright
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month we will be joined by Rich Clark\, Director of Development and Engineering at 7X Energy\, who will discuss utility-scale solar development with a focus on the Texas market and how new technology is helping lead the solar industry into a bright future. \nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, solaraustin.org\, to donate and avoid fees. For regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-the-future-is-bright/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20181127T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20181127T200000
DTSTAMP:20181114T234552Z
CREATED:20181114T234552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181114T234552Z
UID:38174-1543339800-1543348800@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Equity and Inclusion In The Solar Industry
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month we are partnering with the Solar Business Festival for a panel on how to make the solar industry more inclusive\, equitable\, and diverse for our November 2018 Happy Hour. \nThe panel will examine barriers to systematically make businesses\, nonprofits\, and the industry more welcoming\, inclusive and accountable spaces for underrepresented people. The speakers will examine why people of color\, women\, LBGTQ+ people\, and others often remain excluded from businesses’ recruitment strategies and leadership development\, and offer some best practices understanding and overcoming the root causes of employment inequity. \nWe are honored to hear from:\n– Rubén Cantú\, Director of Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin;\n– Jenn Goodwillie\, Counsel at Counsel at EDP Renewables North America (EDPR)\, representing WRISE (Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy);\n– Stephanie Hawley\, an Equity and Inclusion consultant and the Associate Vice President of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at Austin Community College; and\n– Karen Magid\, Director of Sustainability and STEM at Huston-Tillotson University. \nPlease join us for this important and engaging conversation.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-solar-industry/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20181023T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20181023T200000
DTSTAMP:20181018T184141Z
CREATED:20181018T184141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181018T184141Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Michael Osborne On Electric Transport
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThe recent dire report on climate change from the IPCC\, which affirmed we only have until 2030 to solve the climate crisis\, is a powerful reminder of how urgently we need to transform our society to no longer use fossil fuels. Improving transportation and reducing emissions from this sector have remained largely intractable in Austin—something of great concern since transportation produces a third of our city’s emissions. \nThe City of Austin has expanded its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years\, and Austin Energy recently received a grant to install more EV charging stations around the city. However\, we still have a long way to go to transition our transportation sector away from fossil fuels. \nWe are excited to welcome Michael Osborne\, former special assistant to the General Manager at Austin Energy and co-founder of Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance (TREIA)\, to discuss how transportation transformation is the next building block in the fight for our climate and a zero-carbon world. Michael will also introduce the Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance (TxETRA)\, which he co-founded\, and talk about what the organization has accomplished so far. \nWe hope you will join us for this conversation with a standout clean energy industry thought-leader about what the trail-blazers in electric vehicle policy are doing.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-michael-osborne-on-electric-transport/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/16160507/Solar-Austin-Happy-Hour-Electric-Transport.jpg
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin TX United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Blvd.:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20181016T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20181016T210000
DTSTAMP:20181011T023735Z
CREATED:20181011T023735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181011T023735Z
UID:37912-1539714600-1539723600@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Districts 1 and 3 Climate and Energy Candidate Forum
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin\, 350 Austin\, Shades of Green Environmental Talk Radio Show\, and Earth Day ATX –\nClimate change is happening now and local governments must play a significant role in reducing emissions and helping people cope with the impacts. Austin has existing climate commitments and has made progress in expanding its use of renewable energy\, but many challenges remain. Solar Austin\, 350 Austin\, Earth Day Austin\, and Shades of Green are hosting a forum for mayoral candidates to speak to Austinites about their climate change and energy priorities. \nPlease join us to hear from Natasha Harper-Madison\, Mariana Salazar\, Lewis Conway Jr.\, Reedy Spigner III\, and Mitrah Avini from district 1 and Council Member Pio Rentería\, Justin Jacobson\, Susana Almanza\, and Amit Motwani from district 3. We will have prepared questions and will accept questions from the audience. \nCandidates are required to respond to a written questionnaire in order to participate and those responses will be posted here when we get them. \nSnacks and drinks will be provided. \nThe event is FREE\, but we do appreciate your RSVP. \nThe event will be held in the Dickey-Lawless Auditorium on the campus of Huston-Tillotson University. \nPlease park in the Huston-Tillotson lot on Chalmers Ave (#25 on the map)\, directly across from the west entrance to campus. The auditorium is in building #1 on the map\, just a short walk across campus from the west entrance. The parking is free and open\, no permit required. Visitor parking on campus is very limited and must be arranged ahead of time as needed. Map: http://htu.edu/about
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/districts-1-and-3-climate-and-energy-candidate-forum/
LOCATION:Huston-Tillotson University\, 900 Chicon Street\, Austin\, TX\, 78702\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/16160555/District-1-and-3-Candidate-Forum.jpg
GEO:30.264681;-97.722331
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon Street Austin TX 78702 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=900 Chicon Street:geo:-97.722331,30.264681
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20181009T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20181009T210000
DTSTAMP:20181004T201224Z
CREATED:20181004T201224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20181004T201224Z
UID:37855-1539109800-1539118800@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Districts 8 and 9 Climate and Energy Candidate Forum
DESCRIPTION:From 350 Austin\, Earth Day Austin\, Shades of Green Radio Show\, and Solar Austin –\nClimate change is happening now and local governments must play a significant role in reducing emissions and helping people cope with the impacts. Austin has existing climate commitments and has made progress in expanding its use of renewable energy\, but many challenges remain. Solar Austin\, 350 Austin\, Earth Day Austin\, Shades of Green\, and the Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church are hosting a forum for district 8 and 9 candidates to speak to Austinites about their climate change and energy priorities. \nPlease join us to hear from Bobby Levinski\, Rich DePalma\, and Frank Ward from district 8 and Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Danielle Skidmore from district 9. We will have prepared questions and will accept questions from the audience. \nCandidates are required to respond to a written questionnaire in order to participate and those responses will be posted here when we get them.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/districts-8-and-9-climate-and-energy-candidate-forum/
LOCATION:Wildflower Church\, 1314 E Oltorf St\, Austin\, TX\, 78704\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/16160632/District-8-and-9-climate-forum.jpg
GEO:30.2347375;-97.7427736
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Wildflower Church 1314 E Oltorf St Austin TX 78704 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1314 E Oltorf St:geo:-97.7427736,30.2347375
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20181002T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20181002T210000
DTSTAMP:20180927T200537Z
CREATED:20180927T200537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180927T200537Z
UID:37839-1538505000-1538514000@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Mayoral Climate and Energy Candidate Forum
DESCRIPTION:From 350 Austin\, Solar Austin\, Shades of Green radio show\, and Earth Day Austin –\nClimate change is happening now and local governments must play a significant role in reducing emissions and helping people cope with the impacts. Austin has existing climate commitments and has made progress in expanding its use of renewable energy\, but many challenges remain. Solar Austin\, 350 Austin\, Earth Day Austin\, Shades of Green\, and the Green Sanctuary Ministry of the First Unitarian Universalist Church are hosting a forum for mayoral candidates to speak to Austinites about their climate change and energy priorities. \nPlease join us to hear from Mayor Steve Adler\, Laura Morrison\, Travis Duncan\, and Alex Strenger. We will have prepared questions and will accept questions from the audience. \nCandidates are required to respond to a written questionnaire in order to participate and those responses will be posted here when we get them.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/mayoral-climate-and-energy-candidate-forum/
LOCATION:First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin\, 4700 Grover Avenue\, Austin\, TX\, 78759\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/16160645/Climate-Candidate-Forum.jpg
GEO:30.3175905;-97.738192
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin 4700 Grover Avenue Austin TX 78759 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=4700 Grover Avenue:geo:-97.738192,30.3175905
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180925T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180925T200000
DTSTAMP:20180920T223209Z
CREATED:20180920T223209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180920T223209Z
UID:37772-1537896600-1537905600@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Valuing Solar And Distributed Energy
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\n\nThe explosive growth of renewable energy throughout the US\, including here in Austin\, continues thanks to technological and policy innovations such as the value of solar tariff incentive used here in Austin. Nevertheless\, funding and implementing wide-scale storage of renewable energy remains a challenge\, particularly for distributed energy resources (DER)\, such as rooftop solar. \nWe are excited to announce that Karl Rábago\, Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center (PECC)\, will discuss these and related renewable energy innovations as our September Happy Hour speaker. He will be joining us via Skype\, but don’t worry – the rest of your Solar Austin friends will be there in person. Mr. Rábago will delve into the development of value of solar tariffs in different markets as well as its potential role in the adoption of DER storage. As the former Vice President of Distributed Energy Services at Austin Energy who led the way in creating the first value of solar tariff\, Mr. Rábago will be a particularly insightful speaker on this topic. \nMr. Rábago is the Executive Director of the PECC\, at the Pace Law School in White Plains\, New York. The PECC mission is to protect the earth’s environment through solutions that transform the ways that society supplies and consumes energy. Mr. Rábago has some 25 years experience in energy and climate policy markets. He serves as Chair of the Board of the Center for Resource Solutions\, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organization that works to advance voluntary clean energy markets. He also sits on the Board of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Mr. Rábago also is co-director and principal investigator for the Northeast Solar Energy Market Coalition\, a US DOE SunShot Initiative Solar Market Pathways project. \nWe hope you will join us for this discussion on cutting edge innovations in solar and energy storage policy with a true industry thought-leader.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-valuing-solar-and-distributed-energy/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/16160734/Solar-Austin-Happy-Hour-September.jpg
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin TX United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Blvd.:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180828T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180828T200000
DTSTAMP:20180822T201136Z
CREATED:20180822T201136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180822T201136Z
UID:37528-1535477400-1535486400@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Solar Manufacturing In Texas
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month\, Sam Martens\, Director of Commercial Operations at Mission Solar will share the story of how the company ended up in San Antonio and will discuss related industry dynamics. \nAs one of only a few solar manufacturers in Central Texas\, Mission Solar began with providing modules to San Antonio’s municipal electric utility\, CPS Energy. Mr. Martens will walk us through Mission’s expansion into commercial and residential markets\, future growth possibilities\, and how the solar manufacturing industry continues to evolve\, including industry challenges and strengths. \nSam Martens has been with Mission Solar since 2013. He serves as Mission Solar Energy’s Commercial Operations Director. He previously worked as an equity analyst at Macquarie Group\, the Royal Bank of Scotland and most recently CIMB Band\, Malaysia\, responsible for the Asian semiconductor and solar sectors. Earlier in his career\, he worked in information technology (IT) policy research at a Korean government think tank. He has his bachelor’s in arts degree in international studies\, focusing on economics and international studies\, from Korea University. He is fluent in English and Korean. \nWe hope you will join us on the fourth Tuesday of August for this interesting discussion on solar manufacturing in Central Texas.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-solar-manufacturing-in-texas/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Street \, Austin\, Texas \, Select a Country:
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/16160931/Solar-Manufacturing.jpg
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Street  Austin Texas  Select a Country:;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Street:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180724T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180724T200000
DTSTAMP:20180711T193055Z
CREATED:20180711T192826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180711T193055Z
UID:37189-1532453400-1532462400@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Solar Financing
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nWe are excited to announce our July Happy Hour speaker: Paul Watson\, Director of Dividend Finance. Mr. Watson will guide us through the ins and outs of solar financing and answer your questions. \nAlthough solar panel costs have come down dramatically\, the upfront costs of the technology sometimes necessitate financing for homeowners and businesses. Mr. Watson will walk us through the market outlook for solar loans and lending. \nIt is important to understand the context of financing from the role the Fed\, capital markets\, solar loans\, and green bonds play\, to where financial technology (fintech) platforms come in for solar growth. The differences between various lenders and the practices they use can meet some person’s or company’s needs but not others’. Lastly\, Mr. Watson will tie all of this together and explain the implications for solar financing in Central Texas. \nMr. Watson was born with a passion for the environment and nature\, and since he was a kid\, he wanted to be a Game Warden. However\, life happened and he has spent most of the past 15 years in corporate finance\, business development and private equity with a primary focus on technology commercialization and growth management. In addition to his role at Dividend Finance\, he spent seven years working in M&A\, due diligence\, market research and operational strategy in countries including China\, India and Mexico. Mr. Watson is also a Partner at Climate Impact Capital\, a Director of Hermes Investment Group\, a Kiva Zip trustee\, and a SURE Program advisory board member. He holds a BBA in Finance\, minor in Spanish\, speaks Mandarin Chinese\, and is a native Texan. \nWe hope you will join us for this interesting opportunity to gain more insight into how to actually pay for solar panels to power your home or business! \n\n\nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \n\n\nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, solaraustin.org\, to donate and avoid fees. For regular updates on our Happy Hours and more information about Solar Austin\, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook\, and sign up for our email list via solaraustin.org.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-solar-financing/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/16170554/Solar-Austin-logo.png
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin TX United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Blvd.:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180621T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180621T200000
DTSTAMP:20180614T044237Z
CREATED:20180614T044237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180614T044237Z
UID:37012-1529602200-1529611200@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin's Summer Solstice Celebration
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nWe’re excited to invite you to Solar Austin’s first annual Summer Solstice Celebration! Please join us to celebrate our precious solar resources and community advocacy for renewable energy on the longest day of the year. \nWe’re passionate about solar policy and technology\, but we also like to have fun. Join us at the Zilker Park picnic tables near the disc golf course to celebrate and unwind! We will have delicious homemade BBQ (including vegan options)\, watermelon\, a keg of donated beer from the Texas Beer Company\, non-alcoholic drinks\, an open mic\, and solar car racing for the kids (and fun-loving adults). \nCome have fun\, eat\, and drink\, while getting to know other members of our community of advocates right here in Austin. \nWe look forward to celebrating the solstice—and community—with you on June 21st! You can RSVP here. \nP.S. We won’t have our regular happy hour event in June.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austins-summer-solstice-celebration/
LOCATION:Zilker Park\, 2100 Barton Springs Rd\, Austin\, TX\, 78704\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/16161309/Solar-Austin-Summer-Solstice-Celebration-.jpg
GEO:30.2660703;-97.7691348
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Zilker Park 2100 Barton Springs Rd Austin TX 78704 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=2100 Barton Springs Rd:geo:-97.7691348,30.2660703
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180327T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180327T200000
DTSTAMP:20180322T163752Z
CREATED:20180322T163752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180322T163752Z
UID:36160-1522171800-1522180800@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Austin Local Solar Update
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month we have a special solar-powered sponsor: Texas Beer Company! The first 33 ticketed happy hour attendees will get a free Texas Beer Company Pecos Amber beer. \nWhat is Austin Energy doing locally when it comes to solar? Our city-owned utility has existing goals to reach 110 MW of local solar by 2020 and 200 MW by 2025. Austin Energy has several programs to meet these goals. Recently\, Austin Energy made exciting announcements\, including the completion of the new 2.5 MW La Loma community solar project\, a new low-income solar program powered by La Loma\, and the pilot for solar available to multifamily dwellings and affordable housing\, called Shared Solar. Significant changes are also being made to the residential solar incentive program. \nWith the completion of La Loma\, Austin Energy has expanded its community solar program to 400 more residential customers. Although there is only room left on the waitlist at the regular rate\, the half set aside for the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) participants (low-income customers) is still open. CAP customers can now reduce their bill by signing up for the community solar program. (Sign up here:https://austinenergy.com/ae/green-power/solar-solutions/for-your-home/community-solar) Shared Solar will allow residents in a multifamily dwelling to receive a prorated portion of the value of solar credit from a single installation. \nSolar Austin is excited to announce Danielle Murray\, Austin Energy’s Solar Program Manager\, as our March Happy Hour speaker! She will provide an update on all things local solar at Austin Energy: on the La Loma Community Solar project\, the low-income solar program\, Shared Solar\, the upcoming changes to the residential solar incentive program\, and progress toward Austin’s local solar and other renewable energy goals. \nDanielle Murray is Austin Energy’s Manager of Solar Energy Services\, overseeing the utility’s renewable energy offerings and local solar programs. These include the wind-based GreenChoice program\, Community Solar program\, residential and commercial solar incentive programs\, solar inspections\, and the Value of Solar rates. Previously\, Danielle was the Renewable Program Manager for the City and County of San Francisco\, where she led efforts to develop the local solar market\, reduce soft costs\, and implement innovative financing mechanisms; coordinated wind\, wave\, and district energy research and development; and served as chair of the Mayor’s Renewable Energy Task Force. Prior to that\, she worked for the City of Toronto’s Energy Office\, where she designed and implemented the Toronto Neighborhoods Initiative which provided grants and low-interest loans to homeowners to install solar water heating systems and other energy efficiency improvements. \nWe hope you will join us Tuesday\, March 27th for this update on Austin Energy’s solar programs. There’s lots of change happening right now\, and this will be a great chance to ask your questions.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-austin-local-solar-update/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/16161915/Austin-Local-Solar-Update.jpg
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin TX United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Blvd.:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20180227T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20180227T200000
DTSTAMP:20180220T055009Z
CREATED:20180220T055009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180220T055009Z
UID:35928-1519752600-1519761600@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Community Solar at PEC
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThe Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) is going big with community solar. By the end of 2018\, the co-op expects to have 15 MW online at five sites throughout its service territory. These local solar installations will be used to provide power to participating co-op members (customers) at a set rate. This is great news for customers who don’t have access to on-site solar—whether it’s because they can’t afford it\, don’t own their own homes\, or don’t have roof or are on land that isn’t suited for solar. And since participating co-op members will reduce their electric bills compared to the regular PEC rates\, it’s no wonder that over 1\,000 members signed up in the first day that the program opened for subscriptions in December. If you’re a PEC member\, you can sign up here <https://www.pec.coop/your-service/solar-options/cooperative-solar-rate/>. \nPEC is investing in low cost solar to reduce more expensive power purchases from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)\, which relies heavily on the coal-fired Fayette power plant. Once again\, solar is benefiting the environment and reducing costs. \nSolar Austin is excited to announce that Jim Spaulding\, Director of Project Development Energy Services at PEC\, will discuss the co-op’s new community solar installations at our February happy hour. \nAt PEC\, Jim Spaulding is responsible for developing and implementing new value-driven energy products and services that will advance and improve the cooperative’s performance in meeting its energy demands and developing strategic goals. He is an experienced professional in the utility\, energy solutions\, and water markets\, as well as wastewater facility enhancement\, with a proven track record in team building\, specialized sales recruiting\, and driving growth. \nWe hope you will join us Tuesday\, February 27th for this exciting discussion about PEC’s community solar initiative!
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-community-solar-pec/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/16162116/Community-Solar-at-PEC.jpg
GEO:30.2776765;-97.7363215
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin TX United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1607 San Jacinto Blvd.:geo:-97.7363215,30.2776765
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20171215T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20171215T220000
DTSTAMP:20171215T002816Z
CREATED:20171215T002816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171215T002816Z
UID:35073-1513364400-1513375200@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:3rd Annual Solar Austin Holiday Party
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nRSVP for Solar Austin’s Third Annual Holiday Party! \nThis year\, our Annual Solar Achievement Award goes to H-E-B Grocery Company\, LP. We chose to honor H-E-B for both the company’s stand out Hurricane Harvey relief work and its extensive support for and adoption of solar energy. \nWe hope you will join us for a fun night supporting clean energy and good local jobs while honoring H-E-B’s support for solar power and victims of Hurricane Harvey! \nAbout H-E-B \nH-E-B immediately donated $100\,000 for Harvey relief\, subsequently providing other monetary and volunteer support\, the company’s mobile kitchens\, and more that 1\,000 truckloads of water in the first 72 hours of the crisis to support victims of Hurricane Harvey—support estimated to be worth a total of $3 million. On top of H-E-B’s generous disaster relief support\, the company has spent over $10 million implementing solar power systems in 20 of its Austin-area stores and 2 distribution centers\, which will be able to produce 4.9 millions kWh of energy per year and brings the retailer’s overall solar energy production to 12.1 million kilowatt-hours per year. Additionally\, H-E-B donated $1 million to the San Antonio River Foundation to help fund Confluence Park\, a project which will serve as a learning destination to teach visitors about sustainability and conservation practices like solar power and rainwater harvesting. \nPlease join us to celebrate! You can purchase your tickets here.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/3rd-annual-solar-austin-holiday-party/
LOCATION:Friends and Allies Brewing Company\, 979 Springdale Road #124\, Austin\, TX\, 78702\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/16162658/Solar-Austin-holiday-party.jpg
GEO:30.2634656;-97.6959036
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Friends and Allies Brewing Company 979 Springdale Road #124 Austin TX 78702 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=979 Springdale Road #124:geo:-97.6959036,30.2634656
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20171206T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20171206T220000
DTSTAMP:20171107T165328Z
CREATED:20171107T165328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171107T165328Z
UID:34330-1512583200-1512597600@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:10th Annual Green Holiday Party
DESCRIPTION:Barr Mansion & The Shades of Green Radio Show Present\nThe 10th Annual Austin Green Holiday Party \nWednesday\, December 6th\, 2017 6-10pm\nHosted and Sponsored by Barr Mansion\n10463 Sprinkle Rd.\, Austin\, TX 78754 (www.barrmansion.com) \nAdvance Tickets $25.00\, ($30.00 at door). Tickets can be purchased here.\n(Tickets include snacks\, dinner\, all drinks and live music) \nCo-Hosted by:\n• Earth Day ATX and EarthX\n• Austin EcoNetwork\n• Shades of Green Radio Show\n• Public Citizen Texas\n• Texas Solar Energy Society\n• Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance\n• Environment Texas\n• Austin Zero Waste Alliance\n• Citizens Climate Lobby\n• Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems\n• Design Build Live\n• Clean Water Action\n• U.S.G.B.C. Texas\n• Texas Campaign for the Environment\n• Sustainable Food Center\n• 350 Austin\n• Solar Austin \nJoin us for the Austin green mixer of the year\, our 10th\, can you believe it? Hosted this year by 18 great organizations\, this event is a fun place for area environmentalists to come together\, celebrate\, scheme and prepare for the new year. \nMagical music by Seu Jacinto\, a group introducing and developing traditional Northeastern Brazilian culture to Central Texas. Seu Jacinto pays homage to the masters of the Brazilian folk musical traditions of forró\, coco\, cavalo marinho\, and many other Northeast Brazilian rhythms. \nExperience how our hosts and sponsors Barr Mansion are at the nexus of a merging of the environmental and food movements while enjoying a buffet featuring a variety of their seasonal\, all-organic favorites. \nIt’s been a crazy year so let’s “regroup”\, have some fun and get ourselves ready for the good fight in 2018. We look forward to seeing you there!
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/10th-annual-green-holiday-party/
LOCATION:Barr Mansion\, 10463 Sprinkle Road\, Austin\, TX\, 78754\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/16162821/10th-Annual-Green-Holiday-Party.jpg
GEO:30.3518023;-97.647313
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Barr Mansion 10463 Sprinkle Road Austin TX 78754 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=10463 Sprinkle Road:geo:-97.647313,30.3518023
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20171024T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20171024T200000
DTSTAMP:20171018T193902Z
CREATED:20171018T193902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20171018T193902Z
UID:34112-1508866200-1508875200@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: The Solar In Your Community Challenge
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month\, Solar Austin will focus on efforts across Central Texas to make #solar more accessible to low- and moderate- income families. Low- and moderate- income families represent 40 percent of America’s population\, but less than 5 percent of all solar customers. These households\, non-profits\, and government organizations face several barriers to going solar\, including limited financing options\, low or no credit history\, and lack of access to the 30 percent Federal Investment Tax Credit. \nThe Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative aims to make solar energy a low-cost electricity source for all Americans through efforts in collaboration with public and private partners. SunShot has given rise to many programs\, including the “Solar in Your Community Challenge.” \nTeams are competing for a $500\,000 grand prize\, and the Department of Energy has committed up to $5 million in cash prizes and technical assistance through this competition to support innovative and replicable community-based solar business models and programs that will bring solar to underserved communities. Solar Austin is excited to present representatives from three Central Texas “Solar in Your Community Challenge” teams: \n• Eric Coffman\, founder and Director of Trailhead Energy\, from the Waco Community Solar Farm team;\n• Scott Nguyen\, PhD\, founder and CEO of Braket Technologies and 1PlanetSol\, and team lead for 1PlanetSol; and\n• Ramsey Cripe\, an ERCOT market and regulatory analyst\, from the Kerrville Area Solar Partners team. \nRSVP here. \nThe Waco Community Solar Farm will significantly reduce energy costs for 87 low and moderate income families living in affordable housing by partnering with Green Mountain Energy to take advantage of a “virtual net-metering” solution. 1PlanetSol is developing the 1AustinSol Community\, leveraging consumer interest and buying power to support the installation of solar on the homes of low-income families in Austin—the 1AustinSol Community will soon reach 1000 members and 100 businesses to support 100 kW of solar to benefit low-income households. Kerrville Area Solar Partners will work with a solar developer\, local non-profits and property owners to install a 999 kW solar project with 100% output dedicated to support a new\, lower cost rate class for qualified low- to moderate-income families and non-profit customers. \nWe hope you’ll join us on October 24th for this exciting conversation!
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-the-solar-in-your-community-challenge/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/media.theaustincommon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/16162929/Solar-In-Your-Community-Challenge.jpg
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170926T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170926T200000
DTSTAMP:20170913T204732Z
CREATED:20170913T204732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170913T204732Z
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SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Solar PV In Africa
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThis month\, Solar Austin is going to step outside of our Austin bubble and hear about solar development in Africa. While industrialized countries face the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy\, many developing countries – particularly those in Africa – don’t even have widespread access to electricity. While 80% of the global population has some access to electricity\, only 30 percent of people in Africa do. About 600 million Africans live without electricity\, mostly in rural communities. \nSolar is helping communities in Africa leapfrog past polluting fossil fuels to expand access to this essential service. With access to electricity comes improvement in educational opportunities\, health services\, and access to clean water and information. Instead of relying on massive transmission line investments\, the electrification of Africa is utilizing on-site solar and micro-grids\, which allow development to proceed much quicker. \nThis month\, we will hear from Bako Ambianda\, the Founder\, Chairman\, and CEO of Labacorp Group\, and an international development specialist\, business strategist\, and global African entrepreneur. Mr. Ambianda will discuss his experiences facilitating off grid and large-scale solar projects in Africa including his involvement with Akon Lighting Africa. In 2012\, he developed a game plan and “blue print” for tapping into Africa’s opportunities in key sectors\, facilitating international solar\, biomass\, hydro\, and hotel construction projects in 16 African countries\, with clients from China\, India\, US\, Turkey\, France\, and Germany. He will talk about the challenges\, opportunities\, and trends in developing solar in Africa. \nSolar Austin is excited to present Mr. Ambianda\, as our September Happy Hour speaker\, and we hope you’ll join us for this exciting conversation. \n\n\n\nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances.\n\nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, www.SolarAustin.org\, to donate. You will avoid fees by going to our website.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-solar-pv-in-africa/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170822T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170822T200000
DTSTAMP:20170817T171904Z
CREATED:20170817T171904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170817T171904Z
UID:32815-1503423000-1503432000@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Mayor Adler on Cities and Climate Change
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nWith every passing day\, society’s reliance on fossil fuels further exacerbates the climate change crisis. The reality of climate change impacts on central Texas is sobering—unless we move past fossil fuels\, even more severe storms\, droughts\, and extreme heat will become the new normal. \nKnowing these facts while watching Trump pull the US from the Paris climate Change agreement was horrifying. Fortunately\, Trump’s decision has served to galvanize many local leaders to redouble their action—Austin Mayor Steve Adler is one of those local climate leaders reaffirming commitment to the Paris Accord. Solar Austin is excited to present Mayor Adler as our August Happy Hour speaker. \nRSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solar-austin-happy-hour-mayor-adler-on-cities-and-climate-change-tickets-36974969128 \nMayor Adler will share his views on the decision to pull out of the Paris agreement and how Austin fits in among a coalition of cities both taking action right now and planning future efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and general environmental impact. \nAustin’s Community Climate Plan provides a roadmap for the Austin community to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2050 through efforts to reduce and hopefully eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production\, natural gas\, transportation\, solid waste management and industrial processes. Action items include investing in renewable energy\, investment in energy storage\, mass transit\, expanding composting\, and promulgation of electric vehicles and smart grid technologies. \nJoin us to hear from Mayor Adler about Austin’s efforts to reduce the community’s impact on the climate and what you can do to make a difference. \n————————–————————–————-\nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\,www.SolarAustin.org\, to donate. You will avoid fees by going to our website.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-mayor-adler-on-cities-and-climate-change/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170725T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170725T200000
DTSTAMP:20170719T202556Z
CREATED:20170719T202556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170719T202556Z
UID:32285-1501003800-1501012800@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Technology For A Smarter Grid
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nAs solar and other renewable energy technologies spread further throughout society\, effectively connecting these distributed means of generation to current transmission infrastructure and expanding and modernizing the grid become ever more pressing issues. Solar Austin is excited to present our July Happy Hour speaker\, the co-cofounder of Enphase\, Raghu Belur\, who will tell us more about the exciting advancements in smart inverter\, smart grid\, and distributed energy resources technology\, particularly as related to the residential market. Enphase has also generously provided for food and drinks at month’s happy hour. \nRaghu is currently the company’s Vice President of Products and Strategic Initiatives and Enphase is a worldwide leader in microinverters\, AC home battery storage\, smart solar monitoring technologies\, and now integrated AC Modules from top PV manufacturers. Raghu has more than 20 years of experience in the clean energy and high technology industries. Prior to Enphase\, he developed high-speed optical communication technology for Cerent\, which was later acquired by Cisco Systems for $7 billion. Before Cerent\, Raghu was an engineer at the Indian Institute of Science\, where he played a key role in the development of an alternative energy gasification system. He co-founded Enphase Energy with Martin Fornage in 2006. Raghu has a MSEE from Texas A&M University and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. \nAll electric generating sources must be closely monitored in order to ensure reliability of the electric grid and efficient delivery of electricity. Solar energy systems require an additional layer of complexity because they only produce direct current electricity and because solar is an intermittent energy source. These systems are connected to inverters\, which convert the electricity produced to an alternating current\, so that it can be fed into a specific building’s electric system or onto the grid. “Smart” inverters and other new technologies can allow grid operators to control and automate specific electrical systems and extremely fine resolution of the grid to make the system more resilient. \nSmarter inverters and other new transmission infrastructure can help renewable resources to further penetrate into the market and promulgate throughout the grid—an essential foundation for expanding renewable energy generation to fight air pollution and climate change\, mushroom the number of local clean energy jobs\, and provide solar to even more people. \nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \n\n\n\nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, www.SolarAustin.org\, to donate. You will avoid fees by going to our website.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-technology-for-a-smarter-grid/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170425T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170425T200000
DTSTAMP:20170419T141504Z
CREATED:20170419T141504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170419T141504Z
UID:30674-1493141400-1493150400@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Austin Solar Policy Update
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nAustin Energy has been a leader on renewable energy adoption\, including distributed solar for many years. That’s both because of leadership at the utility and the Austin City Council and because of public demand for progressive energy policies. \nThat’s the beauty of having a democratically controlled electric utility – it’s responsive to the public. That benefit comes with the responsibility to stay engaged. And that’s a role we play at Solar Austin – helping people learn about the benefits of solar and then getting involved to continue improving local policies and programs to keep solar growing in the Austin area. \nSolar Austin was involved in getting the solar rebate program started at Austin Energy and we’ve worked to ensure a steady budget for the solar programs over the years. \nThere are several potential changes to Austin solar policies and programs in the works. Join us to learn what we’re working on and how you can get involved.\n \nWHEN: Tuesday\, April 25 (5:30 – 8:00 p.m.) \nWHERE: Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd\, Austin \nRSVP: Get more details and RSVP \nWhether you work in the solar industry\, have solar on your home or just think we need to use more solar to reduce our impact on the environment and create local jobs – we want you to get involved. \nCheers! \nSolar Austin Board of Directors \n\nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin. Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area. You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, www.SolarAustin.org\, to donate. You will avoid fees by going to our website.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-austin-solar-policy-update/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170328T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170328T200000
DTSTAMP:20170322T173809Z
CREATED:20170322T173809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170322T173809Z
UID:29984-1490722200-1490731200@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Solar For Low-Income Customers
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nThere was a time when solar energy was only accessible to those with cash on hand to buy a system outright. Then financing for solar became common place and middle income people with decent credit scores could go solar without paying up front. Now\, there is finally a focus on making solar accessible for low-income residents as well. San Antonio’s electric utility – CPS – has launched an innovative new program called Solar Host that allows customers to benefit from solar without making any investment. \nAt the same time\, CPS has rolled out its first community solar program. The program – called Roofless Solar – is ideal for customers who want go solar\, but don’t have a suitable roof or other space on their own property. With community solar\, a shaded roof or a roof in need of repair is no longer a barrier to going solar. \nSPEAKERS: \nCPS is working with a private developer to implement the Solar Host program\, so both Rick Luna from CPS and Tuan Pham from PowerFin Partners will speak at our happy hour. \nRick Luna is Sr. Manager\, Product Development for CPS Energy. Rick oversees a program portfolio that includes a variety of solar\, demand response and energy efficiency offerings for residential and commercial customers. Rick’s team is instrumental in achieving the Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) goal of reducing demand by 771 MW by 2020. Rick’s work has included account management\, rate design and economic development. He holds a B.A. in economics from Columbia University. \nTuan Pham is the head of PowerFin\, a solar development\, financing\, and operating company\, with offices in Austin and San Antonio. Throughout his career\, Tuan has focused on areas where energy and finance converge. Prior to his role in business development at HelioVolt\, a thin-film solar company\, Tuan covered energy and chemical companies at Morgan Stanley and Banc of America Securities in New York. Tuan’s experience also includes time at the Austin Clean Energy Incubator and Strategic Value Partners\, a $5 billion hedge fund\, where he served as a Director overseeing energy and industrial investments. Tuan also served on the Austin Local Solar Advisory Committee\, a City Council-appointed committee to devise a plan for citywide solar development.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-solar-for-low-income-customers/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170228T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170228T200000
DTSTAMP:20170222T231904Z
CREATED:20170222T231904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170222T231904Z
UID:29439-1488303000-1488312000@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour - Bruce Melton on Climate Change
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nJoin us for a visually stimulating discussion of the challenge of our age –  climate change. The topics that may be covered are enumerated below and with some audience input a select few will be explored. \nBruce Melton is a science author and filmmaker\, outreach specialist\, professional engineer with primary research in stormwater treatment\, and CEO of the Climate Change Now Initiative (nonprofit 501c3). Founded in 2005\, the Initiative has created over 400 reviews of academic climate science literature\, 50 popular press articles\, two experimental documentaries (rockumentaries)\, a book\, and 36 songs. ClimateDiscovery.org \nBruce holds a unique perspective built on personal observations collected from around North America and Greenland\, dedicated review of scientific publication\, and a clear understanding of the profound risks with which we are encumbering ourselves. Yet he combines this understanding with a deep optimism regarding what can be done to confront such risk. \nThe Climate Change Now Initiative\, the oldest independent climate science education organization in the world\, presents scientific and policy interpretation of the most critical new scientific publishing and global developments of 2016. The program’s backdrop is the Initiative’s field work in reporting major climate impacts happening now across North America and Greenland. What Climate Change Now considers critical to the discussion includes: \n\nEcoregime change( forest die-off) in high latitude forests of Western North America\nApparent drought where an increased warm season can create drought conditions even with above normal precipitation\nIncreasing extreme weather\nAbrupt sea level rise and beach disintegration ongoing on barrier island beaches in Texas\nDramatic increase in Greenland ice discharge\nOngoing shutdown of the Gulf Stream\nCollapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet:\nNew modeling of timelines and dramatically increased rate of collapse\nFeedback from warming induced increase in sea ice\nPrevention of complete collapse initiation through ocean heat content reduction\nThe history of current climate reform strategies and their efficacy considering successful implementation\nDefinition of Dangerous Climate Change and new developments reducing the dangerous limit\nGlobal Warming Psychology: a description of the disconnection between climate science\, the public\, policy makers\, and environmental advocates\,  and the role of global warming psychology in increasing climate science awareness\nThe psychology of a healthy climate\, what this is and how we can achieve it\nThe need for strong negative emissions\nWell-developed industrial scale atmospheric CO2 capture technology\, the controversy over economic feasibility and a “license to pollute” given the opportunity to remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere\nThe demise of fossil fuels and the ongoing disconnection of CO2 emissions from future scenario projections\, the role of fracking and dramatically reduced costs of alternative energy\, and implications of future cost reductions of solar PV and fugitive emissions from methane.\n\nState Parking Garages can be found next to\, behind and across from Scholz Garten. San Jacinto Blvd.\, 15th\, 16th\, 17th\, 18th\, and Trinity have parking garage entrances. \nAlthough our happy hours are free and open to all\, we hope you’ll consider donating to Solar Austin.  Help us keep solar energy growing in the Austin area.  You can purchase a ticket to the happy hour or go to our website\, www.SolarAustin.org\, to donate.  You will avoid fees by going to our website.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-bruce-melton-on-climate-change/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170124T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170124T200000
DTSTAMP:20170117T173550Z
CREATED:20170117T173550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20170117T173550Z
UID:29055-1485279000-1485288000@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Happy Hour: Electric Vehicle Charging
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nElectric vehicles are poised to transform transportation. Effective charging solutions are critical to that transformation. \nEstablished in 2007\, Smart Charge Residential was born right here in Austin\, TX as one of the first companies in America to focus exclusively on electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) installation and has been delivering that promise across Texas ever since. For the past few years Smart Charge Residential has worked closely with industry leading companies like as Tesla Motors providing home charging station installation services for their customer base\, in addition to other electric vehicle EV OEM’s\, e.g. Nissan\, BMW\, Ford\, Chevrolet\, etc. Smart Charge Residential has also establishedworking contracts with local utility companies like Austin Energy in an effort to both grow and maintain the City’s valued public EV charging station infrastructure. As one of ChargePoint’s leading distribution partners\, Smart Charge Residential is “plugging-in” the gap between EV drivers and their much needed ease of access to power. \nJoin us for a happy hour presentation and discussion with Smart Charge Residential CEO Joseph Barletta on January 24. \nJoseph Barletta\, CEO Smart Charge Residential”Imagine a company intellectually immersed inside the EV market with master certified electricians installing today’s most advanced EV charging systems\, laid out strategically across Texas. An entity whose single focus is to provide a complete turnkey solution for their Residential\, Commercial and Industrial customers with the highest quality standards in customer service and craftsmanship. Pioneers continuing to provide all EV drivers with the most attractive\, affordable and reliable means of EV charging available. Now imagine that company inside every major metropolitan city across America and what such deployment can do to accelerate the advent of EV’s in a worldwide effort to reverse the damaging affects of CO2 emissions on our planet. “That’s the driving force behind Smart Charge Residential” says CEO\, Joseph Barletta. “The sheer presence of a Smart Charge Residential inside the marketplace will encourage a general sense of security\, piece of mind\, reliability\, service expertise and understanding for EV’s from today’s mainstream consumers. Such focus is critical to accelerating EV adoption as we move forward with restoring our planet to an environment our children’s children can enjoy. This is the single most important factor that drives our intensity and lays the foundation for our company’s mission.” Barletta is now working on Smart Charge America\, SCR’s parent company\, in an effort to continue scalability across the US.
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-happy-hour-electric-vehicle-charging/
LOCATION:Scholz Garten\, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.\, Austin\, TX\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20161213T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20161213T220000
DTSTAMP:20161116T042938Z
CREATED:20161116T042938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20161116T042938Z
UID:28606-1481655600-1481666400@theaustincommon.com
SUMMARY:Solar Austin Holiday Party
DESCRIPTION:From Solar Austin –\nOur holiday party was so much fun last year\, that we’re making it an annual event.  This year\, we will honor Tom “Smitty” Smith\, who has served as the director of Public Citizen’s Texas office for 31 years and Karen Hadden\, who is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Coalition.  Smitty and Karen were central to the creation of SolarAustin and have been champions for solar energy in Austin and across Texas for many years.  Smitty is retiring from Public Citizen and Karen recently stepped down from the Solar Austin board after many years of service.  We hope you will help us honor their contributions to solar in Austin. \n\nWe’ll have live music by Ben Blamer and his band\, appetizers and a free drink with each ticket purchase. \n\nPlease join us to celebrate and support our work!
URL:https://theaustincommon.com/event/solar-austin-holiday-party/
LOCATION:Brick Oven Restaurant\, 1209 Red River St\, Austin\, TX\, 78701\, United States
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END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR