A rainy weekend for Greenfest

By Michael Prager

Nature showed a bit of ingratitude this weekend, washing out the two planned days of Greenfest and dampening the make-up day Sunday. Though the tables were protected top and sides by tenting, there were still plenty of opportunities to get wet, and I watched an informative presentation by architect Bill Boehm with my shoes in puddles of rainwater.

Still, I learned a few things…

* In 2009, New Generation Energy will offer Renewable Energy Investment Notes. People and/or groups that buy them will be guaranteed term and interest rate. The proceeds will fund loans to support renewable energy projects, at rates as low as 3 percent, for nonprofits, municipalities, and community-based for-profit organizations. New Generation, a nonprofit started two years ago, intends to sell notes worth $50 million altogether, in denominations as low as $1,000.

* A not particularly new UN report says that cattle-raising generates more global warming gases (in CO2 equivalents) than transportation does (18 percent to 13 percent). I knew it produced a lot, but not that much.

*Powervote.org is trying to enlist young people (oops, they let me sign, too) to sign a pledge to promote a pro-renewable energy agenda, including by registering to vote and then voting for candidates who have the same values.

* The local affiliate of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is offering energy-saving workshops on Oct. 6 and 20, Nov. 17, and Dec. 1 and 15. Call 617-436-7100 for information.

* A couple of green-eyed partisans, Andree Zaleska and Ken Ward, along with their three boys, are engaged in a low-carbon demonstration rehab project in Jamaica Plain. You can follow their progress at jpgreenhouse.blogspot.com.

* Trecia and Phil Reavis Jr. have just opened earthtees.com, a business selling Phil’s clever, environmentally themed slogans and designs on organic-cotton T-shirts. The couple is from Somerville, and they drive a Prius with the vanity plate “FREEUS,” so they might actually be walking what they’re talking.

Michael Prager often writes about the environment in his blog, michaelprager.com. Click here for more.