The Price of Going,

or Not Going, Green

One question often posed is how much does it cost to be green—to be environmentally sensible? What will it cost to live in a way that does not trash the climate-control system of the planet with ridiculous quantities of former fossils, now fossil fuels, that get turned into carbon dioxide when these get burned? In many cases, there is the implication that it will be too costly to switch to a better way, or that there is not a viable alternative to our present energy gluttonous lifestyle.

Well, there may be several answers, but a very important simple answer is twocents/kilowatt-hour. That’s the average difference in price between making electricity with commercial-scale wind turbines and the present coal-natural gas-oil-coal system that provides the bulk of the electricity in New York State. Nationwide, 40 percent of the man-made CO2 is made as a waste byproduct in the production of electricity, so swapping out polluting with renewable-derived electricity would get halfway to the 80 percent reduction needed for a modicum of a sustainable future. Replace the non-renewable electricity with this renewable (the wind energy potential in this country is several times that needed to supply the entire US supply of about 450 gigawatts; see http://www.stanford.edu/~lozej/ for several papers on this topic), for an average of two cents/kilowatt-hour additional to what is paid now. And this would also put a cap of what future prices will evolve to, given the depleting nature of North American natural gas reserves.

Some other plausible routes are tidal, run-of-river (think Niagara), geothermal, perhaps wave and perhaps solar thermal, but these are apt to be pricier solutions than large wind turbines. And, if price is no object, there is “small wind” and photovoltaics.

However, price usually is an object. Of course, if you are smart about things, you may find that being efficient with energy is actually better than buying this consumable stuff. In fact, being smart about the energy that you use, knowing what it really costs, where it comes from and who we are allowing to live large by buying this highly squandered resource may be the real price that has to be paid. Our national ignorance about energy kills…for instance, in IraqNam, where we are waging Oil War Two. So another price to pay is becoming informed, and evolving from the “ignorance is bliss” way of life.

So, as we head into air-conditioning season, consider voting with your dollars and choosing electricity made without mass quantities of CO2 waste by-product. In this state, at least such choices are available. Otherwise, enjoy the part that you have played in drowning much of Long Island, which will be the most obvious global climate change effect in New York State, when the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets start breaking up.

Dave Bradley

Buffalo Wind Action Group

With the passing of another Earth Day, it is obvious that that the greatest threat to the planet is war, especially the quagmire in Iraq. The loss of the treasures of civilizations, the destruction of the environment by the bombs and the pain and suffering and American and Iraqi lives lost can only point out the need to end the war. This should be done not at the end of 2008 or at the close of July 2007, but now. While those in Congress are debating the issue, people are dieing.

Since a military solution is impossible, it is time for a political one, with all the countries of the region entering into the process while the United States exits the scene.

If you agree with this proposal, sign the petition and get your friends and family to do likewise by going to www.bobcooks.com and then click on “bring them home now,” and finally click on “sign the petition.” You can also just go directly to www.epfwny.org/ipnpetition.htm. Thank you.

Robert Swiatek

Buffalo

DYNGUS DAY 2007

As I sat in the back of a horse-drawn carriage, the chill of the wind seemed to fade as we made the turn onto Memorial Drive and the magnificent Central Terminal towered over the First Annual Dyngus Day Parade. People of all ages lined the streets of the historic Polonia district, waving pussywillow branches and smiling broadly as they celebrated this forgotten neighborhood.

Now that I have finally recuperated from the post-Lenten revelry known as Dyngus Day, I feel compelled to thank a few people that not only made me proud of my heritage but proud to be a Buffalonian as well.

First off, Judge Ann T. Mikoll and her late husband Theodore V. Mikoll. In 1961 they held the first modern Dyngus Day party at the Chopin Singing Society clubrooms on Buffalo’s East Side. That tradition continued and has spawned numerous other celebrations throughout the region. Buffalo now lays claim to being the Dyngus Day Capital of the World. Forty-six years later that party on Koszciusko Street resulted in a spectacle the likes of which haven’t been seen on the city’s far East Side since John F. Kennedy marched in the Pulaski Day parade.

Secondly, the participants and the spectators that marched, drove or cheered on, the colorful procession through the heart of the historic Polonia district on a chilly Monday afternoon. From children dressed in traditional folk dancer costumes to senior citizens with walkers and canes. They not only demonstrated their love for a good party, they confirmed their desire to salvage an overlooked neighborhood. Yes, it was bit cold but Poles are a hearty bunch. A little wind chill won’t stand in the way of a good time. Why do you think they call it the North Pole?

And finally the Buffalo Police Department. Not only did they create a visible security presence through their traffic control, but after the parade was over I witnessed thousands of people walking through a neighborhood that for the past 30 years has made headlines more for arsons and drug activity than for new housing or business development. The police saw this as well and continued to make their presence known by very visibly patrolling the area for hours afterwards. Many came back after their shifts were over to join in the fun and the reminiscing. Many of these officers grew up in the shadow of the soaring Central Terminal and were encouraged by the outpouring of the community. As I gazed at the immense edifice that seemed destined for the wrecker’s ball not so long ago, and the nearby steeples of Corpus Christi Church that very nearly had been boarded up and sold off piece by piece, I thought that if we can save a building, maybe we can save a neighborhood. Even if we have to do it one house at a time. And maybe, just maybe, we can rescue what was once a vital thriving part of our community and make it whole again.

Eddy Dobosiewicz

Buffalo

The Best of Buffalo

I couldn’t help but be amused reading last week’s local pro sports teams listed amongst the “Best Of” nominees. Actually, one team in particular. I’m notsure if it was a facetious nomination, but as a former radio color analyst and former Director of Media Relations for the Buffalo Destroyers, I can assure thecitizenry of Western New York that not only was the Arena Football League team’s record less than stellar during their tenure here, but also that they relocated to Columbus, Ohio in 2003. If anyone is ranking the Destroyers as a favorite anything, this town is in more trouble than I thought.

Joshua Gregory

Amherst

EDITOR’S NOTE and Best

of Buffalo corrections:

The Destroyers nomination was indeed facetious. The voting in the favorite local pro sports team category was ridiculously lopsided; perhaps understandably, given the time of year and the season they’re having, our readers could not seem to imagine that any team besides the Buffalo Sabres fit the category. The Sabres received more than 800 votes, leaving the remaining four finalists to split about 100 more. The Destroyers crept into fifth spot and we decided to leave them there. We’d have done the same for the Braves.

For spotting the error, Joshua is entitled to one drink on AV’s editor at Monday’s Best of Buffalo Bash, Monday, April 30, at Town Ballroom. The winners in all categories will be announced that evening.

The following mistakes, on the other hand, were genuine and regrettable errors:

We left one of the finalists in the best pizza category off the list of nominees: Just Pizza, perennial finalists and good sports, are sending 100 pies to the party despite our editorial carelessness. Another good reason to come down.

And we left one entire category out of the list of finalists in the shops and services category: The finalists for best jewelry story were Aurum, Abraham’s Jewelers, Wild Things, Crinzi & Gullo and Behringer’s.

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