Historic cod fishing cuts threaten centuries-old industry in New England

Good report from CNN on threats to New England fishing.

We've been watching this story for sometime, and it was mentioned it one of our recent shows on the effects of local climate change.  Clearly, this is the essence, our sweet spot, of the business side of green:  Trying to balance ecology with a strong economy and jobs.  Sometimes the environment, and its long-term protection, will win; other times we'll take some risk and push harder on commerce and jobs.

In this case cutting back on Cod limits, to protect their long-term survival along the Eastern Coast of New England and up into Canada, was necessary and maybe past due:

(CNN) -- An old wooden carving known as "the Sacred Cod" hangs in the Massachusetts State House.

That figurine has stared down at lawmakers for more than two centuries as a reminder of how important cod fishing has been to New England, where generations have made a living by casting their nets out at sea.

"It's the only job I've ever had," said Al Cattone, a Gloucester fisherman, who -- like his father and grandfather before him -- spent more than 30 years braving the Atlantic's rough waters and cold winds in search of fish.

"It's not so much a job as it is an identity."

But Gloucester, like many coastal towns, now faces the largest cuts ever to the region's commercial fishing industry. An advisory council voted Wednesday to slash cod catch rates by 77% in the Gulf of Maine, a region roughly the size of Indiana that extends from Cape Cod up through Nova Scotia.

Sunrise aboard a fishing trawler in the Gulf of Maine.

That move, analysts predict, is expected to decimate fishing communities across the region and have a domino effect on seafood processors, wholesalers, distributors and retailers who all make a living off the water.

"The impact will be severe," said John Bullard, the regional administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who voted in favor of the cuts.

"It wasn't easy, but it was necessary."

A response to low cod stocks, the proposed cuts have left thousands wondering what they will do for work at the start of the fishing season in May.

Scores of fishermen gathered Wednesday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to hear the vote of the New England Fishery Management Council, which has since submitted its recommendations to the federal government.

"We're doomed, as they say," said fisherman Dennis Robillard, whose voice wavered as he acknowledged that his boat, the Julie Ann II, is now up for sale.

"I'm getting out. It just doesn't make any sense to me anymore."

The council also voted to cut 55% of cod catch rates in Georges Bank, an expansive area near Cape Cod, which was named by a 17th century British explorer after discovering an abundance of the ground fish.

If approved by the Commerce Department, fishermen catch rates will drop to about 3,550 metric tons of cod in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

A decade ago, they could net around 20,000..."

You will find the rest of the story at: 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/us/northeast-cod-fishing-cuts/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

More reasons to invest in EV's

Last week we filmed five terrific TV shows on energy, its current use, delivery systems, generation/productions levels, and looked at what a state and national energy policies could, and should, look like in 10 years.

Here is a great example of how technology will allow us to get much smarter, more efficient and, perhaps most importantly, save use and money.  We believe homes, with the help of products like Ford's My Energi Lifestyle described below, will turn our homes into mini-power plants, while giving us control over the production, use and storage of power.  That includes, of course, adding renewable sources, like solar, to our homes.

Send your comments if you have used any of the products listed below.

"We've sure come a long way since Henry Ford.

Ford has unveiled a partnership with Eaton, SunPower, Whirlpool, and the thermostat company Nest Labs that aims to launch a collaborative tool for consumers called MyEnergi Lifestyle, linking EV technology with on-site solar and home appliances, something that can revolutionize the experience of powering our homes and cars.

The idea is made possible by a cloud-based mobile app that deciphers the time of day utility rates are lowest and takes advantage of them, thus decreasing EV charging costs for the driver and easing stress on the electrical grid for utilities. Ford's database holds information on utility "time-of-use" rates that EV owners will be able to access to get the most out of their charge.s new partners so that appliances, such as a smart refrigerator for example, can enjoy the same type of efficiency that the plug-in car gets while it charges overnight. A Georgia Institute of Technology computer model found that this system could reduce energy costs by 60 percent. How huge is that? Imagine: if every home in the U.S. did this, it would be like taking all the homes in California, New York and Texas off the power grid.

Meanwhile, as shown in this video, SunPower's solar-powered EV charging unit offers people the opportunity to charge their vehicles, like Ford's plug-in Focus, using sunlight, making it truly a zero emissions vehicle.

"We know that a great many people are interested in making both their homes and vehicles more efficient," said Sierra Club's Director of Green Fleets & Electric Vehicles Gina Coplon-Newfield. "These kind of smart appliance and vehicle innovations can’t roll out fast enough and are going to transform the opportunities people have to live lower carbon lifestyles."

Technology that connects phone, house, and car is still maturing, but the tea leaves are exciting. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month, the "connected car theme loomed large," reported this GigaOm reviewer who drives a Chevy Volt. "We're in the early stages of the connected car market, but all the pieces are there for big growth and adoption: wireless technology, voice or touch interaction and smartphone apps to make our cars smarter."

What are other ways smart technologies are already allowing you to live a less carbon-intensive lifestyle?"

-- Brian Foley

Rhode Island 2013 Compost Conference & Trade Show, February 8

The 2013 Rhode Island Compost Conference and Trade Show will be held on Friday February 8, 2013 at the Johnson and Wales u'niversity Harborside Campus Recreation Center in Providence.  Conference begins at 9 AM. ReNewable Now will be there live to cover the event and to conduct interviews, we wish good luck to Greg Gerritt and his team.

Upcoming rally in support of a cleaner environment

President Obama promised to “respond to the threat of climate change.” We need to make sure that he does -- because the climate crisis is real, and we need your help to tell the President to reduce the carbon pollution that causes it.

Join us in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, February 17 for the biggest climate rally in history. On President’s Day weekend, we’re calling on President Obama and all our leaders to take bold and decisive action on climate change.

We’ll be joining groups like the Sierra Club, the Hip Hop Caucus, 350.org, and tens of thousands of people like you. And we’ll tell President Obama that it’s time to move forward on climate.

RSVP today and join the largest rally on climate in history on February 17. Join us and use your voice!

Thanks for all you do,

Victoria Simarano
Director, Strategic Partnerships and Grassroots
The Climate Reality Project

Taking Sustainability Seriously in Washington, D.C

A second very good piece from the Green Building Council as they drive efficiency in buildings and construction:

In April 2012, Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray made a statement that caught many people’s attention: he wants the District to be “fossil-free” by 2030.

Does it sound a little crazy? Maybe. But when it comes to U.S. cities that take sustainability seriously and are putting the infrastructure in place to make such a vision a reality, you really can’t beat Washington.

This week, the U.S. Green Building Council released its annual list of the top 10 states for new LEED certifications in 2012, and once again, the District topped the list, with 36.97 square feet of LEED space certified per person last year.

Admittedly, the District isn’t a state, and the large number of buildings in a small area does affect the number. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Washington’s lead in LEED is due to the government’s incredible leadership in sustainability in the built environment. Nationwide, the federal government occupies approximately 500,000 buildings, and in 2010 the U.S. General Services Administration mandated LEED Gold certification for all new federal building construction and major renovations.

At the local level, the District’s success can be partly attributed to the D.C. Green Building Act of 2006 (GBA), which required, among other things, that after Jan. 1, 2012, all new non-residential construction projects of more than 50,000 square feet be LEED certified.

And in 2013, the District will also begin rolling out adoption of the 2012 International Green Construction Code...."

Enjoy the show and tour/2013

Yesterday's Radio Show

Is now available 24/7 here:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2013/01/30/green-building

Here's a brief description:   "On this episode of Renewable Now , we will be learning about the greener side of the construction and building business as Peter Arpin and Jim Murphy will be visited by  John Sinnott  from Gilbane construction.We will also be speaking with Mark Hanchar of Gilbane as well.

Renewable Now can be heard live Wednesdays at 12noon on both 1320warl,com and blogtalkradio.com.

Renewable Now is educating you on the business side of Green."