Ojai Valley Green Coalition

The California Cash for Appliances rebates program is adding more choices for Californians to save - high energy efficient dishwashers, freezers, water heaters, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems will soon all be included in California Cash for Appliances PLUS.

Consumers have up to 120 days from the purchase date (beginning July 29, 2010) to submit their rebate application by mail. Read details by clicking the link below!

On May 11, 2010, at the Ojai City Council meeting, during Unscheduled Items, Ojai resident Martin Potter spoke eloquently for three minutes on light pollution. He gave a history of how he has been trying to get the City to enforce their own ordinance for five years! Here is what he said:

My name is Martin Potter and I live at 108 East Eucalyptus Street. I’m here tonight to speak about enforcement of the City of Ojai Zoning Regulation which deals with light pollution.

Light pollution is the nighttime spill of light upward and outside the boundaries of the property which the light is installed. Light pollution tends to light an otherwise dark sky and interferes with our ability to see the stars, and it is a global problem.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) just released the results of its annual statewide survey on environmental issues in California. Despite difficult economic times, climate change is still important to Californians with 54% stating that the effects of global warming are already being felt, and 21% stating that these effects will be felt in the very near future.

The PPIC survey also polled Californians on the state's landmark clean energy and climate legislation AB 32 and the possibility that the law could be suspended via Proposition 23. Over two-thirds of Californians favor AB 32 and about 50% believe that not enough is being done by state and federal governments to combat climate change. Less than one in four Californians are buying the claims of Prop 23 proponents that clean energy and pollution reduction laws hurt jobs. In fact, when asked how the state's climate policy would affect employment, 45% of Californians stated it would create more jobs.

In 2009 Ojai Valley Green Coalition representatives attended City Council meetings and proposed a new Ojai light ordinance. It’s been a year now and it’s time, we feel, to get a move on!

“Please add your support by calling or writing to our city representatives with a request for Ojai to be more light responsible . . . for the skies, for the plants and animals, for money and energy savings, and for a smaller carbon footprint.” stated Energy Committee member Gail Topping

Just over 40 years since the disastrous local oil spill occurred along our coast, we are now in the midst of what could surmount to be one of the greatest ecological disasters in the history of mankind. My heart goes out to all that remain to be impacted by this great tragedy, and my heart is renewed to work even harder to remove fossil fuels from our energy landscape.

It is in the midst of such disasters that large change agents take place such as the modern environmental movement and renewed political support for clean energy such as Schwarzenegger’s withdrawal of support for offshore drilling here in Santa Barbara. I am thankful that we may not be subject to such risks in the near future, but also have been noticing for the last few weeks that drilling capacity has increased dramatically at the mouth of the Ventura River Watershed. What are the environmental hazards and risks associated with this drilling?

Last month the OVGC Energy Committee was reinvigorated with ideas and support, and I invite everyone that has a stake in the local energy future for the Ojai valley to please attend the upcoming meeting on May 12th to further develop our strategic path toward a fossil free Ojai Valley.

With the support of everyone in the Ojai valley, we can achieve results that will become legendary. Our great-grandchildren will tell stories and read in their history books about the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the incredible task that was at hand, and how so many people across the globe took interest in making a major change toward a sustainable future.

Respectfully,

Shawn Jacobson
Chair, Ojai Valley Green Coalition Energy Committee

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will be on the Ojai City Council Agenda, Tuesday, April 13, 2010. (See article below or click here) http://www.ojaipost.com/2010/04/bicycle_pedestrian_master_plan.shtml

John van Houten, M.D., sent the following cover Letter concerning the City's Bike/Ped Plan to Ojai City staff and Council in September, 2009.

To the Ojai City Council members and the City Manager,

Attached please find a copy of a letter that I submitted to the Ojai Valley News that was published last week (September 18, 2009).

My motivation for writing this letter lay in the fact that my children are unable to safely ride their bikes to school despite living within a mile from both schools. Riding down any main street in Ojai is an exercise in weaving around parked cars, avoiding being “mirrored” by passing cars on the left and “doored” by the parked cars on the right.

Alternative Transportation is on the Ojai City Council Agenda, Tuesday April 13, 2010. The meeting starts at 7:30 pm. It's hard to predict when the council will discuss the items below, as it depends in part on how many people speak at the beginning of the meeting on "Unscheduled Items." My guess is around 8:15 pm.
Item 4 - Grand Avenue Bicycle Lanes
Item 5 - Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan
Item 6 - Transit System Service Reduction Options
Click here to read the full agenda and staff reports: http://www.ci.ojai.ca.us/

The Grand Avenue Bicycle Lanes were on the Ojai City Council agenda way back in 1997. Teachers, parents and students wrote numerous letters and testified at City Council meetings on why Safe Routes to School are needed.

Bike Month 2010

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2010 from May 17-21 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 21. With the help of the League's step by step guide the Ojai Valley Green Coalition Transportation Committee is looking forward to promoting Ojai Valley events. Help us count cyclists in the Ojai Valley this May, and every month!

Click here to see the fabulous official website for National Bike Month:
http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/
Check the events section often to see what bike month and bike to work week events are going on in Ojai and the rest of Ventura and Santa Barbara County. Suza will submit Ojai event information to be posted on the Natonal site. She is posting this here as a reminder to email Ojai event news to communication@bikeleague.org. Write, "Bike Month Event" in the subject line of the email.

This presentation is designed for Ojai Valley residents to learn about solar electric systems. Members of the Energy Committee will show a comprehensive slide show about the solar electric industry, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with solar specialist on the committee. Attendees will learn about utility power, solar power, costs and financing, and how to determine if you’re a good candidate for solar power. Download the event flyer Here.

The OVGC Energy Committee has created an informational flier that takes a lot of the guesswork out of saving money, reducing energy consumption, and preventing greenhouse gas emissions.

Check in for regular updates from all of our Action and Organizational committees.