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Bronx Clean Car Fair, April 22

Non-polluting and low emission vehicles are to be placed on display at the “Bronx Clean Car Fair” to be hosted by the Bronx Community College Center for Sustainable Energy on Friday, April 22. The event is in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Earth Day.

“We are assembling a collection of alternatives to conventional vehicles,” said Jim Quigley, Director of the Center, “so that we can demonstrate some of the ways by which we can reduce our dependency on imported oil, while also making the important connection between public health and air quality.”

An assortment of “alternative fuel vehicles” will be on display, including those powered by CNG (compressed natural gas), electricity (from batteries), hydrogen, and biodiesel, a fuel derived from agricultural products. The display will also include “hybrids,” vehicles which run on gasoline but use it more efficiently by generating electricity to power the wheels.

“These are the vehicles of the future,” Quigley asserted. “The cost of oil has just hit an all time high. For the environment, for our health, and for the sake of our economy, we must develop smarter, cleaner, more efficient ways of getting around,” he said.

Participants in the event will include: the New York Power Authority (which will display a Ford Escape and Toyota Prius); Bronx Community College (which will display GEM electric vehicles, a hybrid and a CNG car); Azure Dynamics, a manufacturer of hybrid trucks, will display one of their class 7 vehicles; News 12 The Bronx recently acquired a fleet of hybrid cars and will bring one for display; Vogelbilt Company will display an electric motorcycle and a diesel truck powered with biofuel; SUNY Farmingdale will feature a hydrogen-powered go-kart; Manhattan Beer will bring a CNG-powered delivery truck; and the MTA will bring an alt fuel bus; Electric Transportation Solutions will feature an electric scooter; the NYC Dept. of Sanitation will display several of its alt fuel vehicles; and American Honda will display its Civic GX powered by CNG and invites licensed drivers to take it for a test ride.

The NOAA CREST Program, Bronx Initiative for Energy and the Environment, the American Lung Association and the New York State Energy Research Development Authority have also agreed to participate as sponsors.

The audience for the Fair includes fleet managers from the public and private sectors, the BCC college population, local schools and the public at large. The Center, established in 2003 with a government appropriation sponsored by Congressman Jose Serrano, will have educational materials about the vehicles to distribute to the public and will provide refreshments and music. Students will be challenged by an exercise of calculating vehicle fuel economy and emissions avoidance.

The event will be held on a lot directly across the street from the BCC campus at Loring Place and Hall of Fame Terrace on the grounds of the former Patterson Army Reserve Center. The Patterson Center was recently acquired by the College and will undergo renovations for future Center and College use. The Fair is scheduled between 10 AM and 2 PM on Friday, April 22, rain or shine. For additional details, contact 718-289-5334.

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Photovoltaic (sunlight to electricity) Installation Training, April 22-24

A three-day, 21-hour, training workshop on photovoltaic installation sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Energy will be held at Bronx Community College, April 22, 23 and 24 (this was originally scheduled for April 8-10). Jonathan Lane of Quad State Solar <http://www.quad-state-solar.com>, certified as an installer by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners <http://www.nabcep.org/> will be the instructor. This workshop is part of a continuing series of solar technology training programs offered by the Center. For registration and fee information, contact BCC's Office of Continuing and Professional studies at 718-289-5170. The course outline can be viewed at:

http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/Annoucements/Course_Outline.pdf

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NYC Apollo Urges Preservation of NYSERDA Funding Base

On behalf of NYC Apollo, Ed Ott of the New York City Central Labor Council sent a letter to state elected officials urging protection of “the effectiveness and success of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) energy efficiency and renewable energy programs” through preservation of the “Systems Benefits Charge.” According to the letter, “A resubmitted Budget bill should delete language that requires that dedicated efficiency and renewable energy funds collected through utility bills, be placed into general funds and go through the annual appropriation process. Since 1998, these funds have been collected by New York State electric power companies and deposited directly with NYSERDA.”

“NYC Apollo is a coalition of labor, environmental justice, environmental, business, and community groups that have joined together to make certain that New York maintains its competitive edge by ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply. In our view, this means promoting renewable and distributive sources of energy. NYC Apollo also seeks to ensure that energy planning and economic development are conducted in New York in an equitable manner so that lower-income communities of color do not bear an overwhelming burden. Coalition members are committed to reducing our dependency on imported petroleum products and on diversifying our energy sources by promoting existing technologies in solar, biomass, micro-hydro, geothermal and wind energy and by setting ambitious but achievable goals for increasing renewable power generation. We are committed to the research and development of new technologies for distributed renewable generation and we are certain that the State’s new Renewable Portfolio Standard will help to bring highly skilled construction jobs to New York. In all these ways NYC Apollo will help to link clean energy and good jobs.”

For more information on NYC Apollo, please see http://www.nycapollo.org/ or contact Jeremy Reiss at jeremy_reiss@qc.edu

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New York City Chapter of NESEA Sets Sail

GreenHome NYC has been selected as the host for the newly established chapter of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association in New York City. The Center for Sustainable Energy played a pivotal role in this effort by organizing and hosting early meetings to initiate discussions with likely NESEA chapter members. NESEA (www.nesea.org), a regional membership organization for all those interested in responsible energy use, hosts conferences and produces publications, and networking directories that focus on sustainable building, transportation, and education. A full press release is available from GreenHome NYC. Contact NESEA Chapter Coordinator, Steven Lenard steven_lenard@greenhomenyc.org

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"Environmentalism Hasn’t Died"

CSE Director Jim Quigley’s ENN (Environmental News Network http://www.enn.com) opinion commentary on the controversy stirred by the iconoclastic paper distributed by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, "The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics in a Post-Environmental World." http://www.enn.com/comment.html?id=376

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OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST:

Wednesday, April 13, 7 PM, New York, NY
NYC Peak Oil Awareness Meetup, at the Wai Cafe on 6th Ave. between 16th and 17th Streets. RSVP Dan Miner dan.miner@licbdc.org or visit http://oilawareness.meetup.com/36/about/

Friday, April 29, 8 AM - 5 PM, Farmingdale, NY
SOLAR LONG ISLAND 2005: Conference on Building Energy Security Through Renewable Energy and Conservation sponsored by Farmingdale State University of New York. Contact Prof. Y. Dathatri (631) 420 -2450 or see: http://info.lu.farmingdale.edu/depts/met/solar/solarlongisland2005.html

Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9, New York, NY
"Global Warming Solutions 2005, What’s on the Climate Horizon- Risks and Benefits for Businesses, Investors and Financial Institutions." Clean Air-Cool Planet’s second regional conference. See: http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/conference_GWS05/index.php

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The Center for Sustainable Energy, established in 2003 at Bronx Community College, City University of New York, was funded with a Congressional appropriation sponsored by Representative Jose E. Serrano, and administered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tax deductible contributions to the Center may be sent to the address below. Checks should be made payable to “Bronx Community College Foundation/Center for Sustainable Energy.”

Center for Sustainable Energy
Bronx Community College, CUNY
Hall of Fame Terrace
Bronx, NY10453

Call the Center at: 718-289-5332
Email the Center at: mail@csebcc.org
Visit the Center website at: http://www.csebcc.org
Check out the Center photo gallery at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/photo_gallery.cfm
For links to the latest news, check out the Center’s news page at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/News_Publications.cfm
Have a news item or event announcement for this newsletter? Send to: mail@csebcc.org

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West 181st. Street & University Ave., GML-104 Bronx, New York 10453