• Green Roofs: Working on a proposal to plant vegetation on the top of a building - possibly at a local school
• Buffalo Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup: Assisting the riverkeepers on April 21. The group will be volunteering at Gallagher Beach.
• Step It Up 2007 Rally: April 14. Volunteering at the rally to promote global warming awareness
• Kidwind: The Coalition will be presenting a seminar for teachers on wind power, so that they may bring information back to their students. Andy Leuth, from Benjamin Franklin middle school would lead the seminar. The group is currently looking for a site and participants - we will be contacting department chairs
• 1-Degree Project: Working on a proposal to approach local commercial districts (Hertel, Elmwood) and suggest that stores lower their heating by 1 degree.
• Cool Cities: Ensuring Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown signs on with the "Cool Cities" program

The Environment and Energy Working Group meets to discuss issues related to protecting our environment. At a past meeting the working group decided to make "green" energy a top priority. Unfortunately not everyone in the US has the option of green energy but if you are a customer of NYSEG, National Grid or RG&E (as 95% of WNYers are) you do! You can choose RIGHT NOW to purchase wind energy (100% if you wish)! To do that, all you need to do is sign up for it! By clicking here you can facilitate that process. There are some decisions to be made on an individual basis - some offers let you choose the mix (and in some cases your commitment level) of "green" energy that you'll be purchasing while others simply allow you to purchase wind only. You decide!

PAST EVENTS

The members of the WNY Coalition for Progress' Energy & Environment Working Group are working on a number of projects, including the following:

KidWind - educating teachers on wind energy

Convince big box stores to decrease the temperature by 1 degree

Green Roofs - bring program of planting vegetation on roofs of commercial and municipal buildings

To read the minutes of the January 8, 2007 meeting please click HERE

To read the minutes of the November 20, 2006 meeting please click HERE



On Monday, September 18, 2006, the the Energy & Environment Group Working Group of the WNY Coalition for Progress met. The following members were present: Nelson Starr, Steve Rao, Rachel Brancato, Christa Vidaver, Alan Bedenko, Curt Bischoff, David Berman, Jenny Gnanendran, Jan Barton, Brenda Young, Ruth Starr.

The group discussed the successful cleanup held on Saturday the 16th as part of the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers Fall cleanup day. The following potential group projects were then discussed:

• Green Electricity - Press release to businesses and schools and tax incentive advocacy
• KidWind - educating teachers on wind energy - Possible partnership with Revitalize Buffalo
• Awards for Green Companies
• Advocate the use of Platinum Plus diesel additive
• Daeman College Environmental Summit - September 30 - the working group will have a table - more information to come
• Convince stores to decrease the temperature by 1 degree
• Tree planting in urban areas - DEC Program
• Zoar Valley petition
• Green Roofs - article, press release, panel discussion

Next Working Group Meeting: Monday October 16 7:30 PM @ JP Bullfeathers



On Monday, August 21, 2006, the Energy & Environment Group Working Group of the WNY Coalition for Progress met. The following members were present: Nelson Starr, Steve Rao, Rachel Brancato, Mark Poloncarz, Christa Vidaver, David Berman, Chris Weinert, Jan Barton, Jeff Brennan, Larissa Shamatonov, Ashok Subramanian and Jim Purcell. A number of potential projects were discussed including:

• Creating a local program to educate area teachers on wind energy. Steve Rao to chair sub-committee and to compile information on similar programs in the country. Steve will report back at the next meeting


• Letter writing campaign to area representatives on climate change issues. Rachel Brancato to chair and to draft an initial "form" letter.


• Manning a table at the Elmwood Arts Festival the weekend of August 25 and 26 to inform the public about the various "green" energy suppliers and assist someone in changing over to such a supplier. Jeff Brennan to organize event by preparing documentation and contact other environmental groups to see if we can join their tables.


• Volunteering at the Buffalo Riverkeepers Beach Sweep on Saturday September 16. The members present unanimously agreed to join in on the Buffalo Riverkeepers's Beach sweep. Rachel Brancato & Steve Rao to chair sub-committee and get more information for the general membership.

The meeting was adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday September 18 at 7:30 PM at JP Bullfeathers.



On Friday June 16th, members of the Coalition attended the Buffalo Premiere of Al Gore's Film "An Inconvenient Truth" and held a free-form discussion on the topic afterwards.

Approximately 40 people were present to discuss how they can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their daily lives, as well as inform the public about this important issue. WNYmedia.net put together a great video montage of the meeting which you can view HERE.

If you haven't yet see the film, you SHOULD go see it and make sure you bring a friend or two. It will be playing at the Amherst Theatre in Buffalo for approximately a month. Here are some of its details:

• What to See: Go See "An Inconvenient Truth"


• When: Through July, 2006


• Where: Dipson's Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main Street, Buffalo
• What to do Afterwards: Here are some Tips to help make a Difference in your Daily Life

To find out more about this group please contact the working group Chairpersons Rachel Brancato and Steven Rao by e-mailing them HERE.