Glass City Jungle

The below came in via e-mail as a media advisory, it may be of interest to some of you on the blog since it may create additional media coverage tomorrow.
ADVISORY: Speaker Budish to Visit Toledo Area, Promote Green Jobs
Budish, Szollosi, Barlos Tour W&K Solar, Meet with Local Business Leaders
TOLEDO – Ohio House Speaker [...]

When I sat down last Wednesday to decide what I was going to focus on the “Shredding the Curtain” column I write for the Toledo Free Press each week, I had few different topics I could have focused on. The Maywood Project caught my attention since it’s been something I’d been following when [...]

This in via e-mail from the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), unfortunately none of the farms on the tour are in Lucas or surrounding counties, the two closest are Richland and Wayne counties, but this may be of interest to some of you:
OEFFA Announces Free, Public Tour Series Featuring Ohio’s Organic and Sustainable [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
April Showers Bring May Flowers For Toledo Neighborhoods
City Offers Garden Partners Program to Continue Beautification Efforts
The City of Toledo will once again offer the Garden Partners program in an effort to maintain urban beautification projects in neighborhoods throughout the city despite the recent budget [...]

Two releases on upcoming press conferences that involve wind energy projects and solar energy projects in NEO and NWO Ohio:
Governor, Senator Brown to Outline Plans to Advance Offshore Wind Energy Projects Monday in Cleveland
Leaders from Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. to Give Update on Wind Turbines in Lake and Make Announcement
Columbus, OH – Ohio [...]

In via e-mail from ACEEE:
Washington, D.C. (March 9, 2010): Proposed federal energy efficiency jobs provisions would create about 333,000 jobs in 2010 and then 184,000 jobs in 2011 as funding begins to ramp down, according to a new analysis released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).The proposed programs include residential [...]

The title of the first of a three part series by the Joe Vardon, who’s returned to the Blade after being the executive assistant of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, is State of Ohio fails to build on northwest Ohio solar success. The article contains some interesting observations and facts, especially in relation to [...]

Councilman Joe McNamara is going to offer a resolution before Toledo City Council to seek their support in saving the former United Way Building. City Council’s Neighborhoods Committee has scheduled a committee meeting on Thursday March 11 at 10:00 a.m. on this resolution. McNamara expressed his concern about the “tear down mentality” as [...]

This in via e-mail from the Krompak for Lucas County Commissioner campaign:
Krompak Proposes Regional “Green Corridor” Partnership To Promote Clean Energy Jobs
Democratic candidate for Lucas County Commissioner inspired by regional economic development model pioneered by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu
Toledo, OH – Lucas County Commissioner candidate Ben Krompak wants to make our area a [...]

This in via e-mail earlier today from Columbia Gas of Ohio:
Go Direct e-Bill and Go Green
Columbia Gas of Ohio, The Nature Conservancy Team to Promote Paperless Billing
Columbia Gas customers have a new opportunity to think globally and act locally through a joint effort with The Nature Conservancy.
Columbia [...]

Thanks to a note on Facebook by Senator Teresa Fedor, I learned about one of the releases of funding by the Ohio Controlling Board. When I went to the actual website, I discovered more: $1,000,000.00 to Glasstech, Inc and Poggemeyer Design Group of NWO will receive $218,416.00 for projects that include improvements to [...]

This week’s Toledo Free Press has a number of articles of interest, both online and in print, I’m focusing on just a few. Hawkins Elementary school being the first TPS school that is a LEED qualifer is worth pointing out. For those of you not familiar with LEEDS, I recommend clicking here as [...]

Curious as to what community members like University of Toledo President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs or Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur or Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz or several others have to say about the future of Toledo? Are we there yet? in the Toledo City Paper will tell you.
Looking for advice from “those who [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and a second release also on this from Energy Ohio:
Kaptur Welcomes Federal Announcement of Tax Credits for Xunlight and First Solar
TOLEDO – U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) this afternoon welcomed the announcement by President Obama of advanced manufacturing tax credits for two [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Recognizes Five Organizations Conducting Green Job Training Initiatives in Ohio
Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today recognized five organizations that will conduct green job training initiatives for Ohioans with funding announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor.
“I am grateful to the Obama [...]

This in via e-mail from Representative Matt Szollosi:
Rep. Szollosi, Ohio House Pass Legislation to Boost Environment, Jobs
House Promotes Solar Panels and “Green” Construction Jobs
COLUMBUS – The Ohio House and Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) have approved two bills that promote the environment and economic development in Ohio. The House this afternoon voted [...]

This in via e-mail from Hart Associates:
Wilkowski joins Marshall & Melhorn, LLC, will Lead Advanced Energy and Green initiatives practice group
Toledo, Ohio. Keith Wilkowski, a leading local government lawyer and most recently Toledo mayoral candidate, has joined the law firm of Marshall & Melhorn, LLC, as a Member. Mr. Wilkowski will chair [...]

On December 8th the Governor sent out a release, on December 9th, Ujvagi sent out a release, yesterday Szollosi sent out a release and today, Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner’s office sent out a release on the loan to Xunlight. There is some additional information, such as the listing of the actual bill and that [...]

Yesterday a release from the office of Governor Strickland referenced the Xunlight loan as a part of a larger release. Today a release via e-mail from the office of Representative Peter Ujvagi shares some specific details to the Xunlight loan agreement.
Rep. Ujvagi Announces State Loan for Xunlight
Money Will Boost Ohio’s Commitment to [...]

This release in from the office of Governor Ted Strickland, I’ve edited it to move up Xunlight since that was the only company in Lucas County receiving funding, the rest of the release is included in full without editing:
Governor Announces Latest Round of Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Awards for Advanced Energy
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Representative Peter Ujvagi, a later e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland lists all of the projects in Ohio, it’s included below as well:
Rep. Ujvagi Announces Green Energy Grants for Toledo Area
Approximately $1 Million Will Promote Jobs, Energy Savings in NW Ohio [...]

Some background on why I’m posting part of a release that happened after the fact, I had spoken with several members of the Toledo Public Schools Board about their going paperless and I had anticipated a release providing more details prior to last night’s School Board meeting. Communication was crossed and that release was [...]

Governor Calls for Postponement of First Energy Light Bulb Program
Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following letter requesting the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio postpone First Energy’s light bulb program:
Dear Commissioner Schriber,
I am proud of the work you and your fellow commissioners and staff have accomplished since the passage of S.B. 221, [...]

This in via e-mail from Michael Szuberla at toledogarden.org:
Green Economics and Urban Agriculture.
Dr. Wayne Roberts
Monday, September 28th 6:30pm
McMaster Center – Main Library
325 North Michigan St.
Dr. Wayne Roberts has worked tirelessly to demonstrate that what is good for the environment is also good for jobs and ordinary people. “It’s a vision that integrates economic, social [...]

That is true, but considering it involved the Mayor it got more heated than that. Fox Toledo has the story, a short news clip video and a longer version of the video with more of the Mayor’s comments.
This has been a long stemming issue with the Mayor and some in the City, one example [...]

This in via e-mail from the Wilkowski for Mayor campaign:
Wilkowski: Green Enterprise Zone Will Spur Job Creation
Democratic mayoral candidate’s plan would promote research and development, advanced manufacturing, and energy efficiency
Toledo, OH – August 20 – Democratic mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski will hold a news conference today to outline a new proposal to stimulate business [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak:
WOZNIAK & THE ANDERSONS HELP LOCAL HOMES STAY ‘GREEN’ THIS SUMMER
Donation of Rain Barrels, Composters Will Help Families Save Money
Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak and Jeff Grabarkiewicz, Chair of the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, will deliver rain barrels and composters [...]

This in via e-mail from NorthRiver Weed & Seed:
Toledo, OH – The Department of Justice Community Capacity Development Office selected the Greenhouse Project of the NorthRiver Weed & Seed Network as a recipient of the 2009 Coordination Honor Award.
The NorthRiver Weed & Seed Network is comprised of residents, the Toledo Police Department, local prosecutors, [...]

In a way it wasn’t really a Committee of the Whole meeting, when it started there were only three present, Waniewski, Collins & McNamara…Later Steve Steel, Phil Copeland, George Sarantou, Michael Ashford arrived.
The purpose of the meeting was to cover Subject: Ord. #385-09 – Appropriation for Operation and Maintenance of Co-Generation Facilities [...]

I agree with the general premise of an editorial in today’s Blade, Protect the Great Lakes. While I also support the the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act sponsored by Senators Voinovich and Levin because I know how invasive and potentially dangerous these Asian Carps are…I recommend the below video for those not aware [...]