Climate Change Subcommittee Meeting May 19th

Dear UEL members and participants of UEL’s Clean and Efficient Energy Discussion,

Jane Gilbert, Chair of Miami Dade County’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Energy and Buildings Subcommittee of the Climate Change Advisory Task Force, would like to invite you to attend their next meeting on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 10am-12noon to be held at Overtown Transit Village North- 701 NW 1st Court, 2nd Floor Training Room.

There will be a presentation by Oscar Gans on the FPL Demand Side Management Program. Chair Jane Gilbert suggests to review FPL’s filings to date on their proposed demand side management and the filings of parties that plan to comment on the proposed plan using this link.

Please attend this meeting at the date, time, and location noted above. Please RSVP to Ms. Helen Wong by either replying to this email with a copy to me or calling (305) 372-6658. Map and directions to DERM on the DERM website.

You will need to provide photo identification to the security guard in the lobby in order to enter the building. Please advise him/her that you are attending a meeting in the 2nd Floor Training Room.

Recap on our Energy Revolution Panel Discussion. By Fran Bohnsack

The UEL program on the Energy Revolution was surprisingly delightful last night! I say that because the subject matter for me is often dry and -- dare I say -- boring, but that was certainly not the case this time.

The speakers were all quite informed and interesting (especially our own John Van Leer and Albert Harem-Alvarez) and the rep from FPL, David Bates, was pretty good natured about the polite grilling he got. John Scott of Cushman and Wakefield was up to the task of moderation, and Jane Gilbert and George Cavros rounded out the program. The room was filled with all sorts of interesting young people who were new to UEL and who take the subject of the energy revolution quite seriously. Quite honestly, it gave me hope for the direction of our future. And a bonus -- I got to meet Paul Farren, the owner of the Energy Store in Hollywood, and I got some really good composting tips from Prof. Jack Parker, our local energy guru. The program also attracted a candidate running for the State House, Lisa Lesperance, who happens to be running in my district -- another good sign If you missed it, we did tape it for future posting on our website.

For the success of this program UEL has to credit two of our newest Board Members, Sarah Ridley and Sonia Succar. I am looking forward to more of this kind of programming and participation.

P.S. When the sun set Sarah suggested we open the curtains lining a second wall, and the guests were treated to a 180 degree sunset view of Biscayne Bay and downtown. It was breathtaking. We had thought the view on just one side was spectacular, little did we know.

April 21 Energy Forum - UEL Dinner

On April 21, 2010, the Urban Environment League will be hosting another one of their informative monthly dinner programs. During the environmentally conscious month of April, the organization will be focusing on Energy, and what it means to be ‘sustainable’ in South Florida.

‘Energy Revolution’ will consist of a dynamic panel of energy experts and industry leaders that will look specifically at South Florida to assess the current energy mix, propose ideal and reachable goals for the future, and offer a road map on how Floridians can best reach the goals proposed.

Panelists will discuss how the modernization of the nation’s electrical grid will help Americans be more energy efficient and assist in the transition from a reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The Energy Smart Miami initiative will serve as a local example of a tool that is being used to help lead the nation towards a sustainable energy future.