Important Announcements

CURRENT INFORMATION: go to our Facebook group "Waco Friends of the Climate." 1) Beginning Jan. 2025, our focus has been on resistance to Donald Trump, since his policies are our greatest threat to the climate. Thus, we are not having monthly meetings at this time. We hope to hold monthly meetings in the future. Visit our Facebook group for current activities, Waco Friends of the Climate. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 2) Our role in the resistance includes a weekly protest at the pedestrian bridge in Waco, Valley Mills Dr. & Bagby Avenue, each Sunday, 1:00pm-2:30pm. We began the protest in March 2025 and it has been carried on weekly for over one year. We provide huge, highly visible banners. Please join us. RESISTING FASCISM, ONE SUNDAY AT A TIME. 3) Because of the sad passing of our webmaster, Harrison Ward, we have not been able to keep the website up to date. For the most current information, please visit our Facebook group, Waco Friends of the Climate : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 4) To join our email list and be informed of actions, activities, and campaigns, email our Director Alan Northcutt at anorthc@aol.com 5)Free "climate crisis is here" yard signs may be obtained by emailing anorthc@aol.com. Delivery of signs is available. Help raise awareness of the climate crisis, deeply needed in Waco. 6) Winners of the "Sixth Annual Climate Crisis Art Exhibit" may be found in the Archives, April 2023. Some incredible climate art may be viewed.

Response to “Informal Report: Energy Guidance Plan” at City Council July 16, 2019





















From Alan Northcutt:

 Deepest sincere thanks to our 16+ members who attended in support of our presentation.

 I rebutted as much of the City energy plan as I could in 10 minutes and provided a handout covering the entire report.  Their report was written with climate denier Bryan Shaw, who has no understanding of the urgency of decarbonization.  Many errors were found.

 Our basic points:

  • City rooftop solar installation should begin immediately.  All new city construction should have rooftop solar.  The report’s objections to solar are largely spurious.
  • New City energy contracts in 2021 must be 100% renewables.
  • Waco lags seriously behind in number of solar installations.
  • Switch City heating/cooling to electricity from natural gas by 2050.
  • Natural gas is not a bridge fuel.  Emissions are equal to or greater than coal, health impacts are serious, and fracking induces earthquakes.
  • Waco has only two EV charging facilities.  The City should install these at the two malls and downtown.  Apply for TCEQ grants.
  • The City should begin transition to EVs immediately.  Long range affordable EVs are available.
  • Contrary to the report, long range electric garbage trucks are available.
  • Develop incentives for residential/business rooftop solar and EVs, as Austin and San Antonio have done.
  • Complete efficiency audits of all city buildings.
  • The Shaw report does not mention that we must be carbon net zero by 2050.
  • Our formal final decarbonization report will coincide with the City’s Shaw report in September.

Complimentary dinner at Clay Pot followed the meeting.
To subscribe to FOP/Climate email list: anorthc@aol.com  

Comments

Post a Comment