It's official, Ohio blows...

It was inevitable...I poke a little fun at the diminutive scale of Ohio's brownfield (re)development, thus eluding to our slackeresque approach to renewable energies, and somebody sends me this:

Ohio development chief predicts area can be solar-energy capital

Ohio's top business booster predicted yesterday that northwest Ohio could one day be known as the solar-energy capital of the Midwest.

At the end of a year that saw more gloomy economic news locally, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who directs the Ohio Department of Development, offered a relatively rosy forecast for the region. "I'm very optimistic about the future of the northwest Ohio economy," he said.

Citing the presence of firms involved in development and production of more cost-efficient solar panels in metro Toledo, plans for a commercial wind farm south of Bowling Green, and construction of ethanol plants elsewhere in the region, Mr. Fisher said northwest Ohio leads the state in alternative energy ventures." More HERE.
Wow. Who knew that Cleveland was worth more than rock-and-roll and horrible football (I was born and raised a Bengal's fan, so feel free to insert your joke here)? I know that most don't think green when they think of Ohio, but it looks like the sun/wind tides are turning.

Seriously though, I couldn't be happier. If anybody/anywhere is in need of revitalization, it's the Great Lake region. Since 2001 --the end of the most recent recession-- there's been a significant (5%) increase in employment nationwide. While that might be great for the US, the Midwest has seen little (if not damaging) change. It's evident that the 5% productivity is not consistent for each state:

"...Michigan and Ohio have continued to lose jobs. The problem, not surprisingly, is in manufacturing. Michigan and Ohio have lost 159,000 and 136,000 manufacturing jobs, respectively, since November 2001 (see table below). Ohio's losses add up to just under 15% of the state's manufacturing jobs, while Michigan has lost about 20%—or one in five—of such jobs. Only California, a much bigger state, has lost a greater number of manufacturing jobs."

Additionally...

"Michigan and Ohio rank No. 1 and 2 on mortgage finance company Fannie Mae's list of states with the largest credit losses through Sept. 30. Fannie Mae listed losses --loans written off as having no chance of being recovered-- of $185 million for Michigan and $101M for Ohio."

But...

"Michigan...ranked No. 4 in a 2004 U.S. Department of Energy report on new job potential in the wind energy sector. The top spot on the list belonged to California; Ohio was second."

Like I said, who knew? They might be in bad shape, but it looks like they're only going up.

With Congress authorizing $125 million for green job training in the US and the struggling Midwest looking green with potential energy, I can only hope and pray that we jump into the forefront of the sustainable energy movement. Given the fact that green collar jobs transcend the traditional blue and white, consequently affecting all income classes in the public sector, this would be a HUGE boost for our struggling neighbors up north. Companies, manufacturers, individuals and communities could all profit greatly! The sky is (literally) the limit.

That place is a dump...

As Columbus continues to grow and expand, companies like Time Warner Mid Ohio and others continue to reap the benefits of over-crowding by utilizing brownfield conversions. In addition to their local brownfield development in Central Ohio, I will also present to you some of the top brownfield developments on the web today.

Brownfield redevelopment gives communal piece of mind by reducing the constant strain placed on undeveloped land by refurbishing toxic acres of soil tainted by modern (and not so modern) industry. Unfortunately, if a portion of land is certified by the EPA as brownfield it is often left neglected, courted only by those preparing to degrade the land even further (i.e. waste management services and junkyards.

For almost 35 years the Time Warner Columbus location sat unused, a victim of landfill waste. The site is now safely clayed and capped, and Time Warner is enjoying their new digs.

In addition to helping the community, Time Warner's tenancy and redevelopment efforts --a joint venture of TW, the Daimler Group and Pandey Environmental, LLC-- this redevelopment has numerous benefits for both TW and the city of Columbus, as well as the surrounding neighbors. On the TW side, they'll receive absurd tax breaks for using the land: a whopping 75 percent property-tax abatement and a 65 percent job-creation tax credit. These figures are expected to save Time Warner Mid Ohio $4.9 million over 10 years.

As for the surrounding area, the city of Columbus chipped in $4.2 million for infrastructure work, concentrating on roadways and bike paths. Almost $800k went to the site, alone.

The clean-up has sparked widespread interest in the area, leading to the development and design of a AAA baseball stadium, as well as various other projects. And although the TW did not attempt LEED Certification, there is always the possibility of LEED EB down the road (considering it's pretty obvious their SS Credit 3 is nailed down). They did, however, cover some green basics by using recycled steel, utilize natural lighting, provide a workout center/quiet rooms/catered cafeteria, as well as a "smart" energy management system to control lighting and HVAC - all steps in the right direction.

While I do have a small amount of biased pride in my community --given their history of blah developments, including but not limited to the one-mall-per-year-projects-- I will happily bow down to those that are continuing to influence and inspire. Our brownfield development pales in comparison to following ten projects, and I can only hope that more people decide to develop instead of demolish:

The Heifer International headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas - a four phase master plan on a brownfield site. The location weaves wetlands with the people, expanding environmental stewardship into the public sphere while exemplifying their work in the international community.
The Olympic Sculpture Park - a nine-acre industrial site transformed into an open and vibrant green space for art. Seattle residents and visitors are given the opportunity to experience a variety of sculpture in an outdoor setting, while enjoying the incredible views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. See the Flickr pool HERE.

Not a Cornfield - a 32 acre living sculpture in Los Angeles on what used to be a railroad depot. 1,500 truck loads of earth were introduced to the existing rocky ground in order to create a fertile base in which to plant flora. The exhibit was sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation. Initially, a cycle of corn was grown in the space but the area has now been turned over to the California Dept of Parks and Recreation where it continues to sprout marigolds, daffodils, sage, and sunflowers, as well as other native plants. Check out the Flickr pool here.

The City of Edinburgh Council headquarters in Scotland - a 200 000 square foot administrative headquarters on the site of a former car park. Housing up to 1800 Council staff, the landmark building demonstrates environmental excellence with locally sustainable stone and timber, grass roofs, waterless toilets, an open plan office design and an innovative ventilation system which stabilizes the building's internal temperature by venting the structure at night, thus allowing the exposed beams to cool.

The Solway Settling Basins - a once thriving inland salt marsh of over 1,000 acres that were compromised with industrial waste, mostly the mineral calcium chloride, a byproduct of soda-ash production by earlier industrial operations. Instead of fencing off the area, capping it with clay and plastic, and keeping out the general public, a partnership of engineers, scientists, and new corporate owners restored the ecosystem and turned the site into something beneficial.

Gallions Park - London's first zero carbon development. On this three-acre brownfield site, residential units will be built with electricity generated on site by a heat and power plant that will use bio-mass, such as wood, for its fuel so that the site will produce zero net carbon emissions over the course of a year.

Erie Street Plaza - Milwaukee's new garden park. With runoff and sewer overflow acting as major challenges for the Great Lakes city, this brownfield site will keep stormwater on-site. Native plantings and illuminated fiberglass benches are scattered among a grove of bamboo trees, using moisture generated by underground concrete steam pits that will help keep the bamboo green in Milwaukee’s climate.

Ever Vail - a $1 billion 38 acre LEED ND-certified (largest in the US) multi-use resort development project located on a brownfield site at the base of Vail Mountain . There's quite a bit going on in the one million square feet of mixed-use space: residences, a hotel, offices, retail shops and restaurants, mountain operations facilities, public parking garage, a new gondola and related skier portal AND a public park.

SeQuential Biofuels, Eugene Oregon -a sustainable (believe it or not) gas station. The station itself is covered in 244 solar panels, employs a 4800 plant green roof, uses natural cooling, filters contaminants from stormwater before rerelease into the environment uses limited building materials exclusive to the Pacific Northwest and, yes, sits on a former EPA brownfield. The convenience store inside even offers a different faire with all natural chips and snacks, locally brewed beer, organic milk, compostable cups and even recycled/able bathroom toiletries. Oh, and it also offers gas...it has more blends than a scotch distillery.

The Brokton, Massachusets Brightfield - Just south of Boston, this small city went online two months ago with the largest solar installation in all of New England. Brockton grew up as an industrial town and as a result, the few remaining acres of land they left undeveloped were designated EPA brownfield sites. Instead of taking the traditional route and further degrading the sites, Brockton decided to clean up their reputation as an industrial wasteland. Even the solar paneling was produced locally.

I ain't signin' nuttin....

Ouch.

Bravo, but definitely, definitely an ouch...

We seek your leadership. But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.

-Kevin Conrad, a Papua New Guinea delegate addressing the Unites States
delegation at the end of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali.

Well it ain't Kyoto, but it's a start. The United States has grudgingly accepted a compromise to agree to negotiate over the next two years (when worded like that, it doesn't sound like much of a start, now does it?).

In U-turn, U.S. agrees to global warming deal

BALI, Indonesia (CNN) -- In a dramatic reversal Saturday, the United States rejected and then accepted a compromise to set the stage for intense negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

The White House, however, said in a statement that it still has "serious concerns" about the agreement.

"The negotiations must proceed on the view that the problem of climate change cannot be adequately addressed through commitments for emissions cuts by developed countries alone. Major developing economies must likewise act," the White House said.

Under the global warming pact, negotiating rounds would end in 2009.

The head of the U.S. delegation, Paula Dobriansky, undersecretary of state for democracy and global affairs, announced the United States was rejecting the plan. Her comments were met by booing from other delegations.

The White House said the negotiations must "clearly differentiate" and link responsibility with the level of emissions, size of the economy and energy use among developing countries.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

When will the US jump to the front of the parade? Well, just so you have an idea how ridiculously extreme our non-participatory attitude can be, here's an interesting infographic that shows Kyoto ratification. Sing it with me, "One of these things is not like the other."

Green means Signed and Ratified
Gold means Signed, Ratification Pending
Red means Signed, Ratification Denied
Silver means No Position

Some fun facts:

The United States was, as of 2005, the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed by a 95–0 vote the Byrd-Hagel Resolution (S. Res. 98), which stated the sense of the Senate was that the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol that did not include binding targets and timetables for developing as well as industrialized nations or "would result in serious harm to the economy of the United States."

Although Bush won't sign it because he's unsure of the reality of climate change, Clinton is just as guilty for never submitting the protocol to the Senate for ratification. At least our idiocy is non-partisan.

The United States has, however, signed the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate; a similar (but non-enforceable) pact. The pact vows to reduce the US carbon intensity by 18% before 2012. Ironically, 18% is actually an increase in carbon intensity.

As of this year, the following states actively participate in state-level cap and trade emissions programs similar to the Kyoto Protocol: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Rhode Island actively observe the protocol, and California has signed their own Global Warming Solutions Act. That means 26% of the US is already observing the treaty (just 2% points shy of Bush's October approval rating).

Even individual cities are participating: Albany, New York; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Alexandria, Virginia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Arlington, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Berkeley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Des Moines, Iowa; Fairfield, Connecticut; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Hartford, Connecticut; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jersey City, New Jersey; Lansing, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada; Lawrence, Kansas; Lexington, Kentucky; Lincoln, Nebraska; Little Rock, Arkansas; Los Angeles, California; Louisville, Kentucky; Madison, Wisconsin; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Oakland, California; Omaha, Nebraska; Pasadena, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; Richmond, Virginia; Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco, California; San Jose, California; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Seattle, Washington; Sioux City, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Tacoma, Washington; Tallahassee, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Topeka, Kansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Vancouver, Washington; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; West Palm Beach, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina.

Here's another infographic to get you going...


Note the asterisk. That's WITH 673 smaller cities unlisted.

So why haven't we ratified?

Strangled in Suburbia.

As I continue to pop pills and down liquids, here's an interesting article I found in the Washington Post, profiling the down-sizing of Virginian suburbanites.

Breaking Free of Suburbia's Stranglehold.

As a Central Ohioan, I've never quite understood the "suburban dream." Downtown Columbus is currently surrounded with endless sprawl, rows and rows of long-commute suburbs that clog our highway arteries each morning and afternoon. It seems to me that living out there would be more trouble than it is perceived.

Fortunately, downtown Columbus is experiencing a major revival. Talk of light rail and building rehabilitation have developers foaming at the pocketbook. We even have a mayor with a solid understanding of sustainable enterprise. It looks like we're making moves in all the right directions...

...but (you knew it was coming) the truth of the matter is this: families will come if and when the general stigma surrounding Columbus Public Schools is eliminated, even though that fear is unfounded, given schools like Columbus Alternative High School see 98% of their graduating seniors advance onward to college.