The Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter sent me a State Rep Candidate questionnaire. Since I've been an environmentalist longer than I've been a Democrat, this was a great chance to show off.
The questions were in 5 categories: GENERAL (lame), ENERGY (tough), WATER (tricky), ENVIRONMENTAL (routine), and TRANSPORTATION (fun).
General Information
1. What has been your greatest environmental accomplishment or your most significant activity on behalf of the environment and/or managing natural resources as an elected official, private citizen, or business owner?
Elected Official: As Vice President of my Home Owners Association 2012, I added curbside recycling to the private trash collection RFP, and added composting of leaves & clippings to the landscaping RFP.
Private Citizen: When neighbors comment on how lush our lawn is, I assure them no chemicals are needed if you mulch instead of bag. I like to think I’m changing what “normal yard care” means around here!
2. What environmental and natural resource goal(s) will you actively pursue in the next state legislative session if you are elected?
Texas must comply with federal clean air and water laws, and implement regulations on businesses that endanger the public health and/or natural environment.
Specific Legislative Issues
Energy
3. Most of Texas cannot import or export electricity to and from other states. In other words, unlike California, we have to generate and consume all of our electricity within the state. What should the Legislature do, if anything, to ensure we have enough power to meet demand?
A. Educate the public on the value and techniques of energy conservation.
B. Encourage renewable power generation with tax incentives & subsidies.
C. Impose steep tariffs on exports of power (electricity, fuel, etc.) needed locally.
D. Encourage advances in clean energy generation with research grants
E. Facilitate collaborative initiatives, linking innovative ideas to proven research and industry resources.
4. Texas leads the country in installed wind power. As a state official, what would you do to improve market conditions for other renewable resources, such as solar and geothermal energy?
A. Repeal incentives, subsidies, & rule exceptions for fossil fuel production.
B. Encourage renewable power generation with tax incentives & subsidies.
C. Impose steep tariffs on exports of power (electricity, fuel, etc.) needed locally.
D. Update regulations on fossil fuel production to protect air, water, and soil.
E. Require independent inspections and audits of power production (extraction, collection, refinement, conversion, storage, shipping, & delivery) to ensure the health and safety of the surrounding communities, including air, water, and soil.
F. Fine violators of safety regulations the cumulative cost to the affected communities, including projected cleanup, restoration, medical costs, etc.
5. Do you support homes and businesses generating their own power from renewable resources such as solar? If so, how would you reconcile the revenue loss by utilities that depend on selling kilowatt-hours? Would you support legislation to ensure that homes and businesses earn a fair market value for any excess solar generation?
Yes. Connection to the power grid is worth something, even to net generators. Power line maintenance can be paid for with a low flat rate based on the capacity, quality, and length of the line. The utility would be obligated to provide enough power for all users, but usage costs could be steeply progressive, to encourage local generation and conservation.
A utility should never be required to buy power it can neither sell nor store. However, when it does buy power, co-generators should be first in line, paid/credited at least the lowest tier rate in their market.
Water
6. What do you see as the most pressing issues on groundwater? Do you favor local management of groundwater resources through groundwater conservation districts or a more centralized approach?
Too much of our limited natural resources are being wasted by profitable businesses who don’t pay nearly what it will cost us to replace them. Towns are going dry because corporations have polluted or used up all the area’s water to generate profit for owners elsewhere. Although local control makes sense for residential and office water use, industrial water use must be regulated at the state level, to prevent jurisdiction hopping by water sucking industries.
7. What role do you see emerging water supply strategies such as desalination and aquifer storage and recovery playing in meeting the future water needs for the state? Does anything need to be done to enhance the role of these strategies and if so, what do you propose?
Those are expensive measures appropriate for recovery & restoration after a disaster. However, they should never become necessary on a widespread basis. Perhaps water dependent industries should be required to use these methods instead of leaving our ground water undrinkable.
8. Water supply is a big challenge in many parts of the state. Using the water that we already have as efficiently as possible is one strategy to meeting our future water needs. Would you support efforts to fund a statewide water education campaign to inform people of their sources of water and how to conserve those sources?
Yes absolutely. But it could be part of a broader Civic Education project.
Environment
9. Do you accept the broad consensus of the scientific community that climate change is occurring and human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, is causing it? What, if anything, would you do as an elected official to address climate change at the state level?
Yes; see my answers to your Energy questions above.
10. What is your position on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from stationary sources, such as coal-fired power plants, to protect human health? Please explain why you take this position.
I am all for reducing greenhouse gases from all artificial sources. Human health is far more important than corporate health. Providing energy, power, or profit is no excuse for ruining the air and water we all need for our very lives.
11. Given the dramatic rise in activity and growing public concerns about its environmental impacts, what is your position on “fracking”?
Fracking must be outlawed immediately, and remain so until appropriate safety regulations are in place and can be strictly enforced. Earthquakes, poisoned wells, and sickening fumes are absolutely unacceptable. Where profit clashes with public health, government must step in.
12. Would you support additional funding for our state parks and wilderness areas, including a dedicated fund for the acquisition and development of additional parkland and wilderness areas?
Yes, provided there is an ecology expert in charge of the vision and plan. There are many private organizations attempting this. Perhaps a government office could coordinate & leverage their efforts, so as not to replicate effort? Synergy!
Transportation
13. There is much debate and discussion about how to meet the current and future transportation needs of Texans. What do you see as the best ways to address the transportation needs of the state, especially given constraints on funding?
When city roads are resurfaced, paint & plant them to include safe lanes for pedestrians and bicycles in each direction (Complete Streets has more details).
When city buses are replaced, buy electric/hybrids and be sure they include bike racks. Add bus/train routes & stops until using public transit is more convenient than owning a car.
Spend state transit money on trains that will carry checked bicycles and autos. Use existing tracks at first; improve and expand track network ASAP.
Make PSA videos showing movie stars using bicycles, buses, and trains safely, talking about how nice it is to have a chat or a nap instead of a commute.