Rep. Phillip Johnson, House District 78

Rep. Phillip Johnson co-sponsored sixteen House Joint Resolutions, including HJR00014: a Sports Memorial recognizing the Ooltewah Lady Owls; HJR0015: Recognition Memorial recognizing Ron Campbell, both signed by the governor on February 19th.

HJR0023: Death Memorial honoring Staff Sgt Timothy H. Walker, and HJR0043: Recognition Memorial for The Leaf Chronicle, both signed by the governor on February 20th.

HJR0063: Recognition Memorial recognizing Rep. Barbara Copper for serving as Chair of the TN Black Caucus for the 105th General Assembly. HJR0089: Professional Achievement Memorial recognizing Pat Head Summit for 1000th victory. HJR0136: Recognition Memorial for Oak Ridge’s Open Sesame 60th Anniversary . HJR0142: Sports Memorial honoring the Soddy-Daisy High School cheerleaders as NCA champions, and HJR0150: Government Officials Memorial – urging the governor to refuse certain funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Rep. Curtis Johnson, House District 68

Rep. Curtis Johnson has sponsored four bills. HB0843: Insurance, Life – As introduced, authorizes a charitable organization to pay a commission to a person as a result of charitable gift annuity transaction under specified circumstances.

HB1909: Taxes, Excise – As introduced, creates exemption from excise and franchise tax for certain entities owned by a branch of the U.S. armed forces that derive more than half of gross income from operation of facilities on federally owned or leased property for armed forces members.

HB1910: School Transportation – As introduced, permits Montgomery County upon adoption of a resolution by two thirds of the county commission to use Type D transit buses for 15 years or for up to 17 years, if the number of miles traveled does not exceed 225,000.

HB1911: Education – As introduced, enacts the “Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.”

He has also co-sponsored several of the same bills as Rep. Phil Johnson and additionally the following bills.

HB0575:  School Transportation – As introduced, removes requirement that commercial advertising on school buses be composed of black lettering on white background by requiring it be composed of lettering on background color.

HB0576: Special License Plates – As introduced, authorizes issuance of a new specialty earmarked license plate for United Way; and allocates revenue from sale of such plates to the United Way of Tennessee.

HB0716: Handgun Permits – As introduced, allows any resident who has a valid handgun carry permit to possess a handgun while within the boundaries of any state park.

HB0921: Education – As introduced, removes restriction on commercial advertising on school buses that requires such advertising to be composed of black lettering on a white background.

HB0962: Firearms and Ammunition – As introduced, allows person with handgun carry permit to carry in restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages as long as such person is not consuming alcoholic beverages and such restaurant is not an age-restricted venue.

HB1505: Highways, Roads and Bridges – As introduced, deletes the authority of the commissioner of finance and administration to transfer department of transportation funds and programs in the highway fund to the state general fund.

HB1698: Telecommunications – As introduced, enacts the “Market Regulation Act of 2009.”

He has co-sponsored several House Joint Resolutions along with Rep. Phil Johnson and additionally the following: HJR0150- Memorials, Government Officials – Urges governor to refuse certain funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

HJR0177: Naming and Designating – “Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Day on the Hill,” March 11, 2009.

HJR0178: Memorials, Professional Achievement – Ulf Nilsson, International Rock-a-Billy Hall of Fame.

Rep. Joe Pitts has also co-sponsored several House Joint Resolutions. HJR0061: Constitutional Amendments – Adds new provision to Article I to provide that nothing in Constitution of Tennessee secures or protects right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion except in cases involving rape, incest, or health of the mother.; HJR0170: Naming and Designating – “World Kidney Day,” March 12, 2009; HJR90177: Naming and Designating – “Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Day on the Hill,” March 11, 2009 and HJR0001: General Assembly – Creates the position of “Speaker Emeritus of the House of Representatives” and selects Jimmy Naifeh for the position.

Co-Sponsored Bills include: HB1898: Transportation, Dept. of – As introduced, requires TDOT to ensure share of federal stimulus funds for transportation are allocated directly to rural planning organizations in proportion to population.

HB1274: Transportation, Dept. of – As introduced, requires TDOT to ensure share of federal stimulus funds for transportation are allocated directly to rural planning organizations in proportion to population.

HB0959: Handgun Permits – As introduced, makes information contained in handgun carry permit applications and renewals, information provided to agencies to investigate applicant, and records maintained relative to the permit application confidential and creates Class A fine only misdemeanor of unauthorized publication of permit information or records.

HB0940: Tort Liability and Reform – As introduced, adds community action agencies to definition of governmental entity for purposes of governmental tort liability.

HB0421: Bond Issues - As introduced, authorizes the state to issue bonds to fund grants for certain projects.

Sponsored Bills: HB0406: Sentencing – As introduced, requires any child sexual predator, child rapist, or any person convicted of aggravated rape of a child who has a prior conviction for certain sexual offenses to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

HB0408: Education, Higher – As introduced, allows a course in American government to be substituted for one of the two courses in American history required for a baccalaureate degree from a public institution of higher education.

HB0409: Criminal Procedure – As introduced, requires judicial commissioners to complete twelve hours of continuing education each year.

HB0410: Hospitals and Health Care Facilities – As introduced, revises credentialing requirement for reimbursement at federally qualified health centers and encourages outreach efforts of eligible persons at community health centers under the Coverkids program.

HB0411: Firearms and Ammunition – As introduced, creates Class A misdemeanor offense of attempting to buy firearm when prohibited by law from possessing firearm and attempting or selling firearm to person known to be prohibited by law from possessing firearm.

HB0412: Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration – As introduced, requires owner who sells or transfers motor vehicle to another to notify department of revenue within five days of sale; and provides immunity for such owner for violations of motor vehicle laws or torts committed by another’s use of the vehicle after such notification.

HB0708: Sexual Offenses – As introduced, increases the age of a child for purposes of certain sexual offenses committed against children from age 13 to age 16; requires any child sexual predator, child rapist, or any person convicted of a violation of § 39-13-531 who has a prior conviction for certain sexual offenses to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole; requires that a defendant’s bail be at least $30,000 if the defendant is charged with a violation of a sexual offense and the victim is less than 16 years of age.

HB0709: Sexual Offenses – As introduced, requires any child sexual predator, child rapist, or any person convicted of aggravated rape of a child who has a prior conviction for certain sexual offenses to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

HB0710: Tax Return Preparers – As introduced, requires that tax refund anticipation loans be made by check.

HB1162: Taxes, Sales – As introduced, exempts certain items of tangible personal property from taxation.

HB1163: Lottery, Scholarships and Programs – As introduced, creates a supplemental bridge scholarship program for the 2009-2010 academic year for Tennessee HOPE scholarship students; funds bridge grant program using unobligated and unexpended funds from the energy efficient schools initiative.

HB1197: Taxes, Sales – As introduced, abolishes sales and use taxes.

HB1198: Energy – As introduced, encourages the use of certain energy efficient technologies and products by the various departments and agencies of state government.

HB1199: Child Abuse – As introduced, increases the age the victim of child abuse or child neglect must be from six to eight years old for a defendant to receive an enhanced punishment for such an offense.

HB1200: Child Abuse – As introduced, removes jurisdiction over criminal proceedings involving the prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases and the prosecution of the failure to report such cases from juvenile court to a court of general sessions or circuit or criminal court.

HB1201: Child Abuse – As introduced, redefines the offense of child endangerment to be when a parent or custodian of a child eight years of age or less knowingly exposes such child to or knowingly fails to protect such child from abuse or neglect resulting in physical injury to the child.

HB1429: Criminal Offenses – As introduced, redefines “serious bodily injury” to include a broken bone of a child who is eight years of age or younger.

HB1900: Sexual Offenders – As introduced, removes exemptions that allow sexual offender to be temporarily on school grounds, during school hours, to attend an academic conference or school event; to drop off or pick up a child; or to make a mail, food, or other such delivery.

HB1901: Travel Regulations – As introduced, requires state mileage rate to be set by department of finance and administration in amount at least 90 percent of the standard mileage rate allowed by IRS as deduction for taxpayer’s use of automobile for business expense purpose.

HB2209: Civil Procedure – As introduced, creates a defense for actions filed to collect the balance due on certain consumer loans that the loan originator did not take into consideration the credit worthiness of the debtor when issuing such loan.

HB2210: Taxes, Real Property – As introduced, increases value of elderly and disabled residence on which tax relief is available from $25,000 to $30,000 on January 1, 2010.

HB2212: Banks and Financial Institutions – As introduced, requires any person who makes a title pledge loan without a license and who does not return collateral and any money paid by borrower to pay interest to borrower at 10 percent per annum of amount owed.

In her periodic newsletter and update, Goddard College Professor Catherine Lowther circulates items of interest on environmental issues. With her permission, we pass these items to our readers.

Gland, Switzerland: The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world’s natural capital reach nearly a third more than earth can sustain.

That is the stark warning contained in the latest edition of WWF’s Living Planet Report, the leading statement of the planet’s health. In addition global natural wealth and diversity continues to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.

“The world is currently struggling with the consequences of over-valuing its financial assets,” said WWF International Director-General James Leape, “but a more fundamental crisis looms ahead — an ecological credit crunch caused by under-valuing the environmental assets that are the basis of all life and prosperity.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

The report, produced with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network (GFN), shows more than three quarters of the world’s people now living in nations that are ecological debtors, where national consumption has outstripped their country’s biological capacity.

“Most of us are propping up our current lifestyles, and our economic growth, by drawing – and increasingly overdrawing – on the ecological capital of other parts of the world,” Mr Leape said.  “If our demands on the planet continue to increase at the same rate, by the mid-2030s we would need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles.”

For more information,check out Panda.org , The Living Planet Index, which reflects the health of the planet’s ecosystems; and The Ecological Footprint, which shows the extent of human demand on these ecosystems.

Depressed about Global Warming? Using amusing and inspiring stories Kilowatt Ours teaches how you can personally make this a greener world.  This 2008 updated version of Kilowatt Ours will be broadcast on Nashville Public Television, NPT Channel 8, on Friday, October 24 at 7:00 pm.

Kilowatt Ours provides simple, practical, affordable solutions to America’s energy crisis and shows how we can save electricity, save money and make a difference for ourselves and the planet. It is unique in that it is a solutions-oriented look at one of America’s most pressing environmental challenges. Yes, this film has solutions for us; it is not “this is too depressing” and it is not “this problem is too big”. 

Filmmaker Jeff Barrie offers hope as he turns the camera on himself and asks, “How can I make a difference?”

In his journey Barrie explores the source of our electricity and the problems caused by energy production including mountain top removal, childhood asthma and global warming. Along the way he encounters individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities who are leading the way, using energy conservation, efficiency and renewable, green power all while saving money and the environment. For more information, visit kilowattours.org

On Thursday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m., the hidden destruction of the Appalachian Mountains will be revealed via the Mountaintop Removal Road Show. This program features a beautiful and thought-provoking multimedia show with traditional Appalachian music and culture.  The “roadshow” takes place at the APSU Sundquist Science Building Room E106B and is free and open to the public. It is presented by S.O.A.R.E., Students Organized to Advance Renewable Energy.

Mountaintop removal. Photo by Viv Stockman @ www.ohvec.org.

Lexington, Kentucky environmental activist Dave Cooper will explain what it is like to live near a mountaintop removal mine, and answer questions.

In Virginia, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, coal companies blast as much as 600 feet off the top of the mountains, then dump the rock and debris into mountain streams.  Over 300,000 acres of the most beautiful and productive hardwood forests in America have been turned into barren grasslands.  Mountaintop removal mining increases flooding, contaminates drinking water supplies, cracks foundations of nearby homes, and showers towns with dust and noise from blasting.

Dr. Sergei Markov, assistant professor of biology, has developed a prototype bioreactor that uses the purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus to produce enough hydrogen to power a small motor. He recently presented a paper, titled “Hydrogen production by purple nonsulfur bacterium in a bioreactor,” at the 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston.

As a result, his work, initially supported by grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, has appeared in a dozen of publications on the Internet, including Science Daily, and on several foreign news Web sites.

“Certain purple bacteria, which usually grow in the mud of various ponds and lakes have the ability to convert water and carbon monoxide into hydrogen gas,” Markov said in the June 5, 2008, edition of Science Daily. “The problem was how to effectively supply each bacterial cell in a liquid bacterial soup with gaseous carbon monoxide.”

Another dilemma issue is that carbon monoxide is not readily available, but Markov said it could be produced easily from biomass using a specific thermochemical process. Also, other bacteria produce carbon monoxide, he said.

Markov came to APSU in 2006 from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where he was an assistant professor. He also has taught at Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va., King’s College London in England and Moscow State University in Russia, where he received his Ph.D. in microbiology and master’s degree in biochemistry and physiology.

The stark reality is that three billion people on the planet earth live on less than $2 a day, and a good portion of that money goes specifically to the purchase of basic food grains to survive. As a result of the skyrocketing price of oil, the price of food grains has risen due to commercial production costs and transportation to as much as $800 a ton for rice which has led to food riots in the developing world.

The reasons for high oil prices are complex, and due to many factors, but we can take steps now to deal with the global oil crisis and help people in the developing world avoid a worsening food crisis. One of the principal factors in the current oil crisis is directly related to the US invasion of Iraq. The war in Iraq, which administration officials believed would lead to democracy and stability has instead resulted in civil war and prolonged military expenditures. The financial uncertainty in the marketplace regarding the instability in the middle east has driven oil prices even higher and the worsening Federal debt, greatly impacted by the hundreds of billions of unpaid dollars committed to the war effort has made the dollar less attractive to global investors, driving down the value of the dollar in relation to global currencies and discouraging investment.

With President Bush refusing to reduce troop commitments below 140,000 and Congress seemingly unable to limit the power of the executive branch to spend money we do not have on a war we do not need, the global markets are losing faith in the security of the dollar and the American economy generally. This situation has been further complicated by the credit crisis which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of foreclosures and displaced as many Americans who are having to scramble for someplace to live. The credit crisis, which was permitted to go on for far too long due to the lack of oversight and failure to enact basic regulatory responsibilities, is another factor contributing to the weakening American dollar globally and lack of faith in the American economy generally.

Then there is the lack of any long-term vision or reasonable central planning in regard to domestic infrastructure and planning for the utilization of limited resources. This is a long-term problem, which is fundamentally an aspect of free trade policies and decades of deregulation and faith in a free market policy to solve all problems. In order to get a grip on the reality of an entire domestic economy that has been oriented toward free market economics imagine the situation of a western gold mining town in the nineteenth century. Many of these boom and bust economies were based on the immediate availability of a limited resource which brought immediate corporate investment, short term economic gain and left long term environmental disasters. In addition, when the gold ran out, almost every gold mining town became a ghost town.

This is the reality of the current oil economy. Regardless of how you look at it is that we are investing in a short-term resource which took millions of years to develop and which we are now burning through in less than a century. If we would like to avoid looking like a global ghost town we must begin to take realistic steps now. The federal government is the only collective entity, which has the infrastructure and collective wisdom to deal with this looming crisis for which we have not to this date made any effective steps toward resolving.

I support investment in the alternative energy infrastructure. We have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in a war we cannot win and in the meantime oil corporations are making record profits at the expense of the working people in this country. I say let’s take away their profits by investing in something they cannot profit from. The sun is an unlimited source of energy and the wind is always blowing. Why are we letting the oil companies and their investors get rich while at the same time we are warming the earth with devastating consequences? It is because we have continued to let the powers that be make decisions in Washington which are always in the interest of free market profits without consequences. What we need is to reign in the free market ideology which has driven us to this precipice and begin to use the long term wisdom of a federal government that is looking out for the basic needs of working class people, the environment and the health and well being of everyone on this planet.

When we begin to treat the oil crisis like the problem that it really is and begin to take realistic steps to find ways to power our automobiles, heat our homes, produce our food and generate our electricity the people of the developing world will thank us. We have had one of the strongest economies in the world and we are resourceful and ingenious nation, always up for the challenges that face us. I have faith that we can make the right decisions, but we must take the right steps. We must move away from a free market ideology with respect to energy and specifically oil and look toward government investment in the alternative energy infrastructure. We need to end the war in Iraq and stop acting like there are no consequences for spending hundreds of billions of dollars that we don’t actually have. We need to balance the federal budget and restore faith in the economy for the global investment class. We need to address the housing crisis in this country with stronger regulation and no corporate bailouts for Wall Street investment firms that have profited at the expense of the poor. We need to take a second look at how we do our cities and ask if unlimited sprawl is really the best idea for urban development. But most of all, we need to elect representatives to Washington DC and to all levels of government who are going to have a long-term vision and will vote for policies that are in the best interest of our country.

Ask not what your Earth can do for you.

Ask what you can do for your Earth.

I know alot of wonderful people that are working hard to make this a healthier planet. I’m sure we have many, many people in the Clarksville area that are living with the environment in mind. As a Earth Day activity, I invite you to comment to this post and let others know at least one of the actions you take to Reduce-Recycle-Reuse.

Here is a list of some of the things I do:

1. Bought a Prius (even though no rebates or tax incentives remain)
2. Buy Green Power
3. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, tin, aluminum
4. Compost
5. Write my local, state and other government representatives to support environmental measures
6. Eat less meat
7. Use my programmable thermostat
8. Buy energy efficient appliances & HVAC system
9. Active in local environmental groups
10. Buy only CFL’s

What is one thing I haven’t done but commit to do? Calculate my CO2 footprint. I’ll post it below once I’ve figured it out.

Thanks for all you do to save energy and prevent pollution.

For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children’s futures, and we are all mortal. – John F. Kennedy

In 2007, 115 US plants produced 7 billion gallons of Corn Ethanol – the energy equivalent of 132 million barrels of oil using about 15% of corn production. While this sounds large, it is tiny in the context of the US economy. This is equal to only 1.6% of the energy from from oil in 2007 used in the US. But the situation is worse than this because it takes 1 unit of fossil fuel to produce 1.3 units of corn ethanol. The net energy produced was only 0.5% of the energy from from oil – while consuming 15% of the US corn crop!

Vast sums of taxpayer and consumer dollars are funding an ineffective solution to the real problems of global warming and energy independence. While the country does not sufficiently fund what can be real solutions.

The Federal corn ethanol policy is extremely costly to working people in the US and the world’s poor (through higher food prices). The ethanol equivalent of a gallon of gasoline costs far more than a gallon of gasoline. Fueling your car with corn ethanol makes the world grain shortage worse and increases food prices to the world’s poor. 15 gallons of ethanol in your gas tank uses enough corn to feed one person for a year. Higher grain prices, from corn ethanol subsidies, have a big impact on grain feed beef, chicken, milk, and egg prices for hard working Americans.

US politicians love heavily subsidizing corn ethanol because it makes great politics because of the many subsidized winners from this policy – farmers, farm states, companies and workers that make fertilizer, seed, agriculture equipment; banks and venture capital; towns wanting new factories and jobs, construction workers and mis-informed green voters. By supporting Corn Ethanol, politicians can present themselves as Green and pro-energy independence.

There is a major economic boom in US grain farming from the massive government subsidies to corn ethanol from direct payments, credits and mandates for ethanol use – while the rest of the economy is likely in a recession. Oil companies benefit from Corn Ethanol, as it does little to reduce demand for oil and therefore keeps prices up. Big agriculture is more powerful than big oil, as big agriculture is powerful in most states while big oil is concentrated in a few states and many more people work in agriculture and supporting industries than the oil industry.

Another big interest group in the way are politicians who advocated corn ethanol, who now may be better informed that this was a bad policy – but are afraid to change for fear of “flip flopping” charges. Maybe as part the new politics, Democrats can have the courage to say as John Maynard Keynes said, “When the facts change, I change my mind ? what do you do, sir?” Then again there will be others who will do the same as Hillary Clinton did to preserve her reputation by – holding fast to the Iraq war – when it was recognized as bad policy.

It will take political courage to oppose Corn Ethanol’s powerful interests – while the rest of the public are not interested in “policy details.”

About the author

Nextstep, the author is a diarist with the Daily Kos web site.

“Right to hunt” constitutional amendment passes 105th General Assembly

House Joint Resolution 108 passed on the House floor this week with overwhelming aproval. The constitutional amendment would add provisions to the state constitution establishing the right to hunt, fish, and harvest game subject to “reasonable rules and regulations.” An excerpt from the resolution reads:

Hunting and fishing are honored traditions in the state; citizens have enjoyed the bounty of Tennessee’s natural resources from the time prior to statehood, including hunting and fishing for subsistence and recreation; therefore, hunting and fishing is a vital part of the state’s heritage and economy and should be preserved and protected.

Having already passed the Senate this year, the amendment must now win the approval of the 106^th General Assembly next year by a two-thirds vote. The measure could be on the ballot for referendum as early as 2010.

“Pass the bottle” clears committee

The “Pass the Bottle” legislation, which would ban open containers in vehicles, and one of several DUI bills rolled out as a comprehensive effort to combat drunk driving, passed subcommittee this week and will next be heard in the State and Local Government Committee. The bill has met resistance for the last several weeks, however, members who previously seemed to oppose the bill wrangled over amendments, one of which lessened the charge for having an open container in a vehicle to a misdemeanor and a $50 fine.

If the bill is signed into law, federal funds to the tune of over $13 million could be returned to the road building account, and used in much-needed areas of maintenance such as road paving. Currently, the state receives the federal funds, but is restricted in how the money is spent. Due to these restrictions, much of it is now used for public safety campaigns.

Legislators participate in “Ag Day on the Hill”

Legislators participated in “Ag Day on the Hill,” an event sponsored by the House Agriculture Committee to raise awareness regarding the many things Tennessee farmers contribute to our economy and identity. Representatives from the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and produce, dairy and beef producers were all on hand to meet with legislators and discuss their initiatives and products. Below are some highlights:

Tennessee Farmers Cooperative: Despite a difficult year in which farmers were plagued with drought conditions, the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative reported a successful year due to the hard work and determination of their farmers. All of the state’s feed manufacturing facilities were designated Safe Feed/Safe Food Certified Facilities by the American Feed Industry Association, a rigorous process ensuring safe food.

U.S.D.A.: Although the number of farms in the U.S. decreased slightly, cash receipts from farm marketings increased by 11 percent. The top commodity in the state of Tennessee proved to be cattle.

Produce and Dairy: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has rolled out a new website, http://www.picktnproducts.org/, that features great gifts, seasonal recipes, games, and where to find fresh produce, and hardy plants.

Dairy farmers reported that Americans are consuming more dairy than ever before. Per capita consumption of total milk has climbed to 605 pounds today from 552 in 1983. Tennessee is part of the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, which also recently rolled out a new website, http://www.southeastdairy.org/.

For more information, please visit www.tennessee.gov/agriculture.

In brief…

• Schools: The House voted unanimously this week to pass legislation that requires school principals to grant students excused absences for up to 10 days for the purpose of visiting a parent who is stationed outside of the country. Currently, if a student’s parent, custodian, or other person with legal custody or control is a member of the United States armed forces or National Guard, a public school principal must give the student an excused absence for one day when the member is deployed and another day when the service member returns from deployment. Having already passed the Senate, the bill will now be sent to the Governor for his approval.
• Public Records: House Bill 2750 passed the Local Government Subcommittee this week, and will now be heard in full committee. The measure will allow elected bodies to set up websites where they can “instant message” one another, making the “conversations” available for the public and the media’s viewing. The bill was filed in response to the problems associated with the state’s Sunshine Law.
• Energy: The House voted this week to support House Joint Resolution 838, a measure that encourages the governor to establish a goal of reducing fuel consumption by at least 15 percent in the state’s vehicle fleet by June 30, 2010. The resolution was embraced by House members on both sides of the aisle. The sponsor said he believed that 2010 was a realistic goal to reduce the fuel consumption.
• Education: A bold education initiative called “Education Pays” was passed out of the House Education Committee, winning bi-partisan approval. The bill’s sponsor said he was extremely pleased that the Education Committee is thinking outside the box. The Education Pays Act creates a pilot program to give cash rewards to encourage academic achievement among at-risk students.

The week ahead…

• House Bill 3519 exempts home-based kitchens where non-potentially hazardous foods are made and the sale of such foods at farmers’ markets from department regulation. (Agriculture)
• House Bill 3715 requires meat or milk from cloned animals and all food for human consumption that has been genetically altered or modified to be labeled as such and that notice be appropriately given to the public. (Agriculture)
• House Bill 3865 requires all birthing hospitals to provide educational materials for parents of premature newborns. (Health and Human Resources)
• House Bill 3059 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense of consuming alcoholic beverage while driving motor vehicle on public highway and Class C misdemeanor offense of possessing open container of alcoholic beverage within passenger area of motor vehicle on public highway. (State & Local Government)
• House Bill 4023 prohibits the diminution in value of gift cards and gift certificates. (Consumer & Employee Affairs)
• House Bill 3991 creates new Class E and D felony offenses of assault on law enforcement officer; and Class B felony offense of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer. (Judiciary)
• House Bill 4042 authorizes human resource agencies to apply for grants and implement statewide an intervention program called “Moral Kombat.” (Education)
• House Bill 0009 creates K-12 lottery capital outlay special account; establishes grant program for capital outlay projects for K-12 educational facilities administered by comptroller of the treasury. (Education)
• House Bill 4185 adds a new classification of limited resource waters to the Water Quality Control Act of 1977. (Conservation & Environment)

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (aceee.org) ranks TN as 43rd of 50 states based on their energy policy.   Energy efficiency is our easiest, cleanest, and cheapest energy resource and it will be a great economic stimulus far surpassing our recent tax rebates or other temporary fixes. Many Tennesseans are aware that over 60% of our energy comes from an extreme pollution-producing source – Coal. Although it is a good marketing scheme, there is no ‘Clean Coal’ – only less dirty forms.

State energy policies are very important since the U.S. has not enacted national policies nor supported international treaties. It is critical that our plan include concrete targets for energy efficiency, implementation of renewable energy sources, economic incentives and penalties, and consumer education. Let our governor and other representative know that this is an important issue to you and that we want progressive targets.

Email: Governor Phil Bredesen  & Ryan Gooch, State Energy Policy Director

Clarksville Online began checking downtown, where prices hovered below that psychological punch of $3.00 a gallon, but once a driver moved from College Street toward St. Bethlehem, the price inched upwards to $3.03, $3.05 and finally topped out at $3.07 just north of I-24. Wal-Mart always discounted gas rested at $2.99, pennies shy of their competition.

We’ve been watching the price of oil and gas for months, noting that the price (for regular) always seemed to stop shy of $3.00 a gallon. Tonight our city joins others around the country in a collective gasp of sticker shock even as executives at places like Exxon are jumping for joy over record setting profits, an announcement that dovetailed neatly with the rising cost per barrel of oil.

If you are driving a Ford Explorer SUV, it will now cost you $69.07 to fill that tank (@$3.07/ gallon). Something to think about.

The bill raises fuel efficiency standards, requiring that cars average 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. Although this is quite modest compared to other countries standards, it represents the first US increase in efficiency standards in over 30 years.

The bill also mandates that some of the electricity produced by utilities come from renewable sources. Contact your legislators to support this minimal change to US energy policy. Support H.R. 6

First, let’s start in the pantry. Are you one of those people who must have name-brand items stocked in your cupboards? If so consider switching to generic brands for items like cereal, spaghetti noodles, and baking supplies. You can even store these in plastic or glass jars so that nobody will ever see the packaging and know the difference. To quote Julia Child, “Remember, you’re alone in the kitchen.”

We all know that that those kitchen sponges can harbor major germs that can cause you to get sick, but you can actually disinfect those very easily and replace them much less frequently. Just get your sponge sopping wet, put it onto a plate and microwave for 1-2 minutes to kill the germs and bacteria that live inside of the sponge. Use a potholder to remove the plate and let the sponge cool before touching it as it will be scalding hot, but sanitary. And also, the moisture from the sponge can loosen some of the baked on splatters and spills inside of the microwave and make it much easier to clean. Just wipe down with a damp paper towel and see how much easier the food comes off of the top and sides of the microwave.

You can also use natural ingredients you may already have in your cabinets to clean around the house. They’re cost effective and much gentler on the environment. Vinegar is a wonderful cleaner for many items in your home. You can clean your refrigerator with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. It can also help with odor control as vinegar is a natural odor eliminator. Use vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drains periodically and rinse with hot water to avoid costly calls to a plumber. Make your windows shine by using full strength vinegar in a spray bottle and wiping it off with old newspaper. Freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray and put the cubes down the garbage disposal to clean and deodorize the disposal.

Citrus peels are also fantastic for cleaning garbage disposals and giving them a fresh scent. Of course, there’s always the standard open box of baking soda in the fridge to help with odor control.

Next, let’s focus on your bills.

If you have service with Charter Communications, they often run promotions that allow you to change your services and get discounts for a certain timeframe (usually 3-12 months). Contact them at 1-888-438-2427 for details.

With those holidays approaching rapidly, who has time to sit down and watch movies? Consider placing your NetFlix subscription on a hold. Login to your account at www.NetFlix.com to set that up at any time. This can be done for up to 90 days at a time, and your movie queue is saved for you (You can even still add movies to your queue!). You just pick the date you want your service to start back, and they’ll ship your movies out on whatever day you choose.

Clarksville Department of Electricity offers a budget billing program that will average your past year’s usage at the same address and make that amount your monthly bill for 11 months. On the 12^th month, they’ll add the difference in what you used and what you were billed. If there’s a credit remainder, they’ll cut you a check or if there is a balance, it’ll be billed to you. This is great for those of us whose bills fluctuate based on the seasons. Call CDE at 931-645-2118 for details.

It’s also a great time to review your cell phone bill. Review the last three months and see how many minutes you’re actually using versus how many you’re paying for. Consider changing if you think it’s worth it, but be cautious as overages on your minutes can cause major headaches and high bills if you don’t monitor your usage. Most major providers offer a way to monitor your minute usage. AT&T Mobility allows you to dial *MIN# then press send on your phone to receive a free text message with your minutes used so far in your current billing cycle. Check with your provider to see if they can review all of your services with you to see if there are features you don’t need anymore that could save you some money. Always ask about any penalties or restrictions for changing your features as some providers may extend your contract or impose other restrictions on you for changing features or plans.

Finally, let’s check out our energy consumption. CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs can save money by using about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also last much longer. I’ve had one in a living room lamp that’s used everyday for several hours and it’s been running for over a year already. They’re somewhat more expensive than the standard incandescent bulbs initially, but consider that you’ll replace them far less often. These are also available now in the Wal-Mart Great Value brand so the price gets even lower. You can also save energy by keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees during cold months. If nothing else, keeping the air in your home slightly cooler gives you an excuse to snuggle up with your special someone. Of course, you should also turn off lights and appliances when not in use for additional savings. Buy nightlights with light sensors to keep lighting to a minimum when you’re snuggling in bed with that special someone. Don’t forget to power down your computers at night or put them into a sleep or hibernate mode to save some more energy.

Now that we’ve covered areas in which to save money, relax and enjoy your extra savings. You’ve earned it. Go and see a movie with family and friends. As a matter of fact, make it a matinee and stop by the Carmike Theater in Governor’s Square Mall on a Tuesday and fill your own bucket from home with hot and delicious popcorn for only 50 cents. Or you could just take the money you’ve saved and splurge on some holiday treats for yourself. Either way, you’ll be on your way to a thriftier holiday season. I’d love to hear your ways of saving money, feel free to e-mail me and let me know. Until next time!

Best Regards,

It will include 25 green power speakers, an alternative vehicle and fuel exposition, two music stages powered by solar energy, a tour of alternative homes, an energy play shop for kids, an eco-film fest, the debut of Middle Tennessee’s Green Living Journal and much more!! The festival opens June 1 with an Ecovillage Experience Weekend at the Ecovillage Training Center on the Farm Community in Summertown, TN and a Cumberland Greens Bioregional Council Gathering.

GREEN POWER DAY SPEAKER PROGRAM

Location of Venue: High Forest Room, Memorial Park, Court St. in Downtown, Hohenwald

10:10

Welcoming Address, Mayors of Lewis County and the City of Hohenwald

10:20

Green Power: Solutions for a Wealthier Future
Jennifer D. English, Chairperson Green Power Committee

11:00

Climate Change: Why Now is the Time to Act
Representative from the Climate Project

11:40

Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity
Representatives from Swan Trust, Earth Advocates Research Farm

1:00

The Energy Crisis: What We Can Do
Representatives from MLEC, TVA, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

2:20

Current Fuel Technology
Representatives from Clean Cities of Middle and West TN and Middle TN Biofuels Project

3:40

Generating Home Power
Representatives from Big Frog Mountain

4:20

Cycling Energy in the Home System
Representatives from the Ecovillage Training Center and Ecoville Architechs

Other Events

There will be Green Power Speakers at 2 other venues near Memorial Park 11-5pm

More than 15 other speakers will talk on Solar, Biofuels, Natural Building, Energy Conservation, Energy and Food, Peak Oil, Geothermal, Permaculture, Green Design and much more!

Alternative Vehicle and Fuel Exposition from 10-5 pm – see biofuels, hybrids and waste vegetable oil vehicles and fuel processing.

Bring your car for display. Contact biofuels@… for details!

A Green Power Film Fest will be held in the War Memorial building/Career Center on Smith Street

• 12:00 Kilowatt Ours
• 12:45 Who Killed the Electric Car
• 2:20 The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
• 3:30 An Inconvenient Truth

Kids Energy Play Shop 12-3

For more information

Contact Jennifer D. English ecovillage@… for further
details!

It’s not too late to be a vendor/exhibitor at the festival, we still
have a few spaces open. Please enquire with Jennifer.

Jennifer Dauksha-English
President Center for a Holistic Ecology * Development Director
Global Village Institute * Co-Director Ecovillage Training Center
Ecovillage Training Center * POB 90 * Summertown, TN 38483 * Cell
931-306-9355 * Work 931-964-4474

A peaceful mind is your most precious capital – Swami Sivananda