April 20, 2009 eNewsletter

Economic Stimulus

Pennsylvania quickly budgeting stimulus funds. Two months after passage of the federal stimulus package, Pennsylvania is well into the task of allotting the $9.4 B that will be under state and local control.

Vision for High-Speed Rail — High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways. Among the 10 high-speed lines Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and its route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

President Obama lays out vision for High Speed Rail.

Vision for High Speed Rail (PDF 1.9 MB)

Obama pitches $13B high-speed rail plan linking Pittsburgh with East Coast. Improvements could include adding "bypass sidings" so trains can pass, upgrading signals to efficiently share tracks, improving railroad stations and platforms, and using all-welded rails so trains can go faster. Over the past five years, Amtrak and PennDOT split the $140 M cost of adding welded rails and high-tech signals to the Eastern leg of the corridor.

State Recovery Sites — The state websites now have their own recovery web pages that help explain how they are spending funds allocated by the Recovery Act.

Slate presents an interactive map of vanishing employment around the country. The recession as told by unemployment numbers for each county in America.

Planning Related References

Townwatcher — Browse Chester County's townships, boroughs and cities.

County accepts land transfer for trail project— The County Commissioners accepted the transfer of land that makes up the eastern portion of the planned Chester Valley Trail in Tredyffrin. The land was turned over to the County by the state Department of Transportation at no cost.

Suburbs Get Smart-Growth Planning Money — Chester and Montgomery counties made out quite well as the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) approved a list of smart-growth planning grants

Governor Rendell Says Pa. Making it Easier to Build, Renovate Energy Efficient Buildings. The Commonwealth’s new, $25 M High Performance Building program will provide grants and loans to families and businesses constructing or renovating buildings that meet standards that measure a building’s overall sustainability.

422 tolling study approved by Montgomery County planners will receive $15,833 to study how to turn Route 422 into a toll road in order to fund future highway construction and extend commuter rail service west of Norristown.

Investments in Clean Energy, Biofuels Boost Energy Independence, Open Markets for Emerging Technologies — New investments in innovative clean energy and biofuels projects will accelerate Pennsylvania toward energy independence, expand markets for emerging technologies, and ultimately make them more affordable for families and businesses.

PA Insurance Department Approves First-Ever 'Green' Discount for Homeowners Insurance — Homeowners going "green" may be eligible for an insurance discount now that the Insurance Department has approved the first energy-efficient discount of its kind.

Energy Savers — Reduce energy demand, cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to make energy—that means less greenhouse gas emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us… and saves on utility bills.

EPA Smart Growth Grants and Other Funding — The EPA smart growth program offers grants to support activities that improve the quality of development and protect human health and the environment.

The APA needs a Sustainability Division. Many Planners are unaware that the American Planning Association (APA) has special member bodies called Divisions; issue-focused committees that contribute to policymaking, develop conference sessions, publish newsletters, and generally act as focal points for like-minded APA members.

The Brookings Institute: Causes and Consequences of the Oil Shock of 2007-08, the role that the oil price shock may have played in causing the economic recession that began in 2007.

Health risks of shipping pollution have been 'underestimated'. One giant container ship can emit almost the same amount of cancer and asthma-causing chemicals as 50 M cars.

More Chesco residents are using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and methane. Municipalities can now earn $10,000 toward a solar-energy system for a township building, or one kilowatt in solar energy through the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities Campaign.

Visualizing The Grid — The U.S. electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated power plants and transmission lines. Aging infrastructure, and a rise in domestic electricity consumption, has forced experts to critically examine the status and health of the nation's electrical systems.

West Chester Borough Council approved a climate action plan to decrease energy consumption across the borough by 10% by 2015. The plan, developed by West Chester's Borough Leaders United for Emissions Reduction committee, or BLUER, calls to reduce the energy used by its administrative operations and its police and public works departments.

National Top 50 — The Green Power Partnership works with a wide variety of leading organizations from Fortune 500 companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

DVGBC's Green Project Directory — Regional examples of building projects that have incorporated sustainable elements.

The Chester County Agricultural Development Council wants to know your opinion. Participate in a short, 3-minute local foods survey sponsored by the Chester County Agricultural Development Council. Participants may enter to win a Buy Fresh by Local tee shirt or a Bounty of Chester County cookbook (2nd edition).

Chester County Planning Commission has shifted publications to an electronic format. Sign up now to get the latest news and receive emails about available publications.

Chester County Buy Fresh Buy Local guide for locating farm fresh foods, agrotourism experiences, cooperative connections, suppliers, restaurants and everything local in between throughout Chester County.

Get exceptional taste and freshness, strengthen your local economy, support family farms, safeguard your family's health, and help protect the environment. Make your dollars spent locally count: the Local Multiplier Effect.

Local Harvest — find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Local Amish Farms — Farmer's & Grower's Markets.

Food Routes Reinvest money back into my local economy, help local family farmers stay on the land, help preserve the natural landscape.

The Sustainable Table let's you find sustainable resources in your area by using Sustainable Table's Eat Well Guide.

AgMap Promoting Pennsylvania Agriculture.

Community Gardens of Chester County is a local non-profit community organization, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of our county's low-income residents through community gardening and greening.

Green Brandywine — Local resource for sustainable products, services and information on green non-profit organizations serving Chester County and the Brandywine Valley.

Energy Efficient Appliances Earn Big Tax Savings — New tax changes will benefit purchasing energy efficient appliances and will receive a tax credit of 30% of the entire cost, including installation and labor.

Upcoming Events and Training

7th Annual Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference 2009 — Working Together to Protect Our Land, Water & Communities, May 7 - 9.

The Master Planner Program Combines Good Planning With Continuing Education Credits for Professionals. Land Development and Subdivision Review begins on Thursday, May 7, 2009 with subsequent classes on the 14th and 21st.

National Train Day May 9, 2009.

The House of Original Dreams — May 14, 2009. A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring the Chester County Commissioners will begin at 3 PM. Our feature discussion will provide an opportunity to hear about 2009 Recovery Act funds and how they can positively impact Chester County residents.

Main Streets of the Brandywine Valley — Three premier towns of the Brandywine Valley -- West Chester, Kennett Square and Phoenixville, are offering three days of block parties and events May 15, 16 and 17.

Sustainable Community Essentials — Applying the Policy and Practice, May 21, 9:00 - 5:00 Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Summer Farm Start — A Fresh Festival of Foods, Farmers & Fun May 22, 2009.

PennFuture's 2009 Annual Clean Energy Conference, June 3 & 4 Camp Hill, PA.

Pennsylvania Downtown Center Conference June 7 - 10, Johnstown, PA.

10 Thousand Friends of Pennsylvania 2009 Commonwealth Awards — June 9, 2009 in Harrisburg.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's 8th Annual Celebration of Regional Excellence May 14, 2009

The Congress for the New Urbanism announces the Charter Awards for 2009. The 10 professional and 2 academic projects represent the best of the New Urbanism. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony at the annual Congress for the New Urbanism in Denver, CO on June 13.

2009 PA Chapter of the APA Annual Conference “Investing in a Sustainable Future” October 4-6, 2009 in
Valley Forge, PA.