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THIS MONTH IN EDA                         sustaineda.org                                

Chair of Education Team is leaving
Coming soon: EDA education seminars
Annual Report 2022
An EDA elevator pitch

The Colorado River Compact - early beginnings
Hydrogen as a clean energy source - Part 1
Regenerative agriculture – a promising movement in the US
What is a Superfund?
Stop wasting food
Worth Noting
Chair of Education Team is leaving

Chloe Brown will be leaving her position as Chair of the Education Team, effective April 30th, to continue her own education. EDA would like to thank Chloe for her time and commitment to the Education team and her contributions on IMPACT.  Here’s a message from Chloe:
Please contact us to learn more about this role, what the education team is working on and how you can help. 

Coming soon: EDA’s Education seminar series

EDA will be offering a free seminar series starting in May. This will consist of eight one-hour sessions presented weekly on Friday evenings. The first series is called The Principles of Local Economic Democracy.

Economic democracy is about creating a more equal and just economy, where everyone has a say in how resources are used and distributed. This ensures that people's needs are met and that resources are used in a way that benefits everyone, not just a small group of people.

This first series will discuss the basic steps toward the development of economic democracy at local and regional levels.

More information on time and dates and how to register will be sent over the next few weeks.

EDA Annual Report


EDA issues an annual report to our members every year. Each report provides a snapshot of our work toward the management, regeneration and resilience of our shared resources.

You can review the 2022 Annual Report on the
website.


An EDA elevator pitch
Read time: 1:10
Who is EDA?
EDA is a grassroots organization dedicated to research, education, and advocacy on the sustainability of food, water and energy. We believe that change needs to happen in our economic system so that basic human needs can be met, and that our resources are used in a way that benefits everyone, not just a small group of people.

What do we do
?
We conduct research on how much food, water and energy in a region can support the population that lives there, and for how long. This information is called carrying capacity. It’s invaluable in helping communities and local governments plan for the long-term. We are the only organization that offers this kind of data on a regional or state basis.

We educate and inform citizens on these results through our website, seminars, events and annual conferences. We partner with like-minded organizations so that together we can be a stronger voice for change.

Our advocacy training demystifies the legislative process so that anyone can take part. We help people learn how to be skilled advocates so they can work with their local officials to support changes that will protect and preserve resources for everyone who lives in that region.

When it comes to searching for legislation that supports the management of food, water and energy, we do all the background work for you. Our State Legislative database scans thousands of bills in all 50 states and identifies those bills that we’re sure you'll want to support.

Why join EDA
?
We’re using up more resources than Nature can replace. Deserts are expanding. Water is becoming scarcer. Soil is eroding and we’re losing species at an alarming rate. There isn’t enough time to create change from the top down. It must come from the bottom up. By working at the local level, we can make a difference, one community at a time.

Join us now. Your voice matters!

The Colorado River Compact - early beginnings
Read time: 1:37
In February’s newsletter we covered the early history of the Colorado River Compact and how the Prior Appropriation Doctrine affected water rights back then and today. Also referred to as "first in time, first in right", it meant that the first users of water from surface or groundwater resources had the right to continue using it over and above the people who came later. This unfair principle in combination with an agency of the federal government deciding it should manage what happens to the water is a recipe for all manner of conflict.
In the early 1900’s a man named Delph Carpenter, attorney and life-long resident of Colorado, decided he had to do something about the water-rights situation. He had experience with interstate lawsuits so he knew how much money was spent litigating them, how long they could take to settle, and how unsatisfactory the outcomes could be. He had argued a ten-year case before the Supreme Court just to have the judges endorse the Prior Appropriation Principle.
This confirmed his opinion that not many public officials appreciated the sovereign power given by the Constitution for states to solve interstate conflicts by compact. He decided to convince the Colorado River states to apportion their water through negotiations that resulted in a compact. He based his decision on the Compact Clause in the US Constitution which permits states a sovereign right to make agreements and compacts, provided Congress consents.
He then drafted legislation to authorize the governors of the seven Colorado River states to appoint a qualified negotiator for their state. By January of 1921, these governors had appointed their commissioners. Carpenter informed the commissioners that they needed to prepare a plan for their particular state that mapped out their thoughts on equitable apportionment of water. Then for six months, he worked in Washington to get a bill through Congress that authorized the formation of the Colorado River Compact Commission (CRCC).
President Harding appointed his Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover, as the government’s representative. Hoover held two beliefs that helped him in this role. His goal as Secretary of Commerce was to fully utilize natural resources under the coordination of a central authority. At the same time, he said of this central authority, "We are a democracy, and we must proceed by persuasion."
In late January 2021, Hoover was elected chairman at the opening meeting of the Colorado River Compact Commission. He wanted to hear every commissioner’s thoughts about the task ahead, starting with Commissioner Delph Carpenter who, he said, could best lay out the plan for their work to go forward expeditiously.

In the next installment, we'll explore the expeditious work of this Commission.
Hydrogen as a clean energy source - Part 1
Read time: 1:29

Hydrogen use as a clean fuel source has been receiving plenty of press recently but is little understood. This article looks at how hydrogen as a fuel source that will mitigate global warming.

‘Clean fuel’ refers to the ability of a fuel source to create little or no greenhouse gases (GHG’s) both in its formulating process, and then from the resulting emissions when it’s used as a fuel.


A ‘transition’ or ‘bridge’ fuel is considered a fuel that produces less carbon dioxide than coal. Therefore, it’s considered for widespread use while rebuilding our energy infrastructure away from coal toward zero emissions. Major energy sources widely considered as ‘transition’ fuels include:

  • Renewables such as wind, solar, hydro and tidal
  • Natural gas
  • Nuclear power
  • Hydrogen
Hydrogen is considered an "energy carrier" – you have to use energy to transform it into the form of a fuel.  Emissions at the endpoint of burning hydrogen as a fuel consist of water vapor and heat. Current major uses for hydrogen:
  • Feed stock component to create ammonia for fertilizers
  • Feed stock component for petroleum fuel refining
  • Fuel for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles
  • Component for producing methanol
Hydrogen for our use comes in many colors, depending on how it's obtained:

Grey Hydrogen - created from a process that separates hydrogen from methane in natural gas, using a steam process.  Almost 100% of all hydrogen currently used for industrial and fuel purposes is grey.  The by-product from this process is carbon dioxide, which is released directly  into the atmosphere.  It’s estimated that for each ton of hydrogen created, 11 to 12 tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere.

Blue Hydrogen - created using the same process as grey hydrogen except that the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) by-product is captured and stored in a process called Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS).  The CO2 must be stored and can be used in other processes such as advanced oil recovery.

Green Hydrogen - powered from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar, uses electricity-driven electrolysis to separate hydrogen from water (H2O molecules).  The only by-product is oxygen (O2).  The hydrogen is captured for use as a fuel, and the oxygen is released with no negative impact.

Pink Hydrogen - similar to green hydrogen, except that it uses nuclear power as the energy  source for the electricity-driven electrolysis process similar to green hydrogen. The process itself results in no negative emissions.

Yellow Hydrogen - similar to green hydrogen, but uses only solar energy for the electrolysis process.

Regenerative agriculture:
         a promising movement in the US
Read time: 1:19
Since the 1970’s when chemical agriculture really took hold, Earth has lost one-third of its topsoil. If we continue with the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, the UN estimates that within 60 years the remaining topsoil will be gone. But there is an easy solution – regenerative agriculture. The challenge will be convincing farmers that it works.
Today, less than 5% of US farms are managed for soil health. Chemical fertilizers are masking the problem of degraded soil. Poor soil means reduced crop production and lower profits. Regenerative agriculture can turn this around. It’s a farming practice that restores and improves the health of soil, water, and ecosystems while increasing the profitability for farmers.
Instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, regenerative farming focuses on building healthy soil through practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage and crop rotation. These practices increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure, and enhance nutrient cycling, leading to healthier plants with greater resilience to pests and diseases.

Regenerative agriculture supports biodiversity. Unlike monoculture farming, a variety of crops are planted and livestock is integrated into their operations. This diversity supports a wide range of beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife, creating a more resilient and balanced ecosystem.

Water management is greatly improved. By reducing tillage and planting cover crops, farmers improve soil moisture retention and reduce erosion. Some regenerative farmers also use techniques like keyline plowing and contour farming to better manage water flow across their fields.

Regenerative practices help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from synthetic fertilizers. This farming method is a far more sustainable and economically viable model.

In 2017, the Soil Health Academy was formed. This is a regenerative education non-profit that provides practical training and support to hundreds of farmers and ranchers who are transitioning from conventional to regenerative agriculture. Education is provided through workshops, testimonials, case studies, and assistance to farmers and ranchers across the country. Regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum as farmers recognize the environmental and economic benefits of this approach.

For a deeper dive into this topic, watch an engaging Netflix documentary: "Kiss the Ground", narrated by Woody Harrelson.

What is a Superfund?
Read time:  1:10
Remember toxic waste dumps like the Love Canal? In the late 1970’s the American public began hearing about contaminated sites around the country due to dumping of hazardous wastes left out in the open, or improperly managed. These sites included manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills, mining sites, and more.
As a result of public outcry, in 1980 Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Informally called "Superfund", the act forces responsible parties to either cleanup the site or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.
Superfund sites can be found in every state.  The EPA’s emergency response program deals with thousands of emergencies annually, such as the recent East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment. Longer-term remedial response actions often involve abandoned sites that release hazardous substances but are not immediately life threatening.

Cleaning up Superfund sites is a complex and time-consuming process. It involves identifying the hazardous materials, evaluating the risks they pose to human health and the environment, and developing a plan to remove or contain them. The process can take years, and requires significant resources and expertise. Currently, there are over 40,000 Superfund sites in various stages of remediation around the country. Despite these challenges, progress has been made in cleaning up Superfund sites.

Are there Superfund sites in your state?
The EPA oversees the cleanup process and works with state and local governments, as well as private companies responsible for the contamination to address these sites. The cleanup process involves a combination of techniques, such as excavation, treatment of contaminated soil and water, and long-term monitoring.

You can search for superfund sites in your state on the EPA website.


Stop wasting food!
Read time:  1:20


Have you ever gone into the fridge and found some indistinguishable greenish-grey thing growing in the bottom of the drawer? Or how about all those leftovers that nobody ate? Does it bother you to waste food? Here’s some tips on how to avoid that.

Food waste in America is astounding. Billions of pounds of food end up in landfills every year which is more than any other item being dumped there. Residential households contribute to the majority of that food waste. Some estimates say that up to 39% of a household’s food may go to waste. This means some people are throwing away a big portion of their food! That’s a lot of wasted money, and a lot of greenhouse gases from the landfill.

Here are some recommendations on how to stop wasting food at home:
1.     Shop wisely. Know what you have on hand before you shop, so you won’t purchase unneeded items. Plan your meals for the week, using what you have on hand and supplementing with what you need. Make a list and shop from your list. 

2.     Understand labeling. Products are usually labeled with a ‘use by’ or ‘best when purchased by’ date. These dates are added by the manufacturer or packer to ensure highest quality. The date doesn’t mean the product is going to spoil or be dangerous. No need to throw them away on that date! If they are spoiled, you’ll know by the smell or sight.

3.     Handle leftovers properly. Know the proper storage temperatures and duration for various items in the refrigerator. All foods can be frozen for later use. Label frozen food containers with a description and the date.

4.     Serve smaller portions. Restaurants often serve too much food, and generate lots of waste. But at home, you can avoid wasting food by serving small portions and then refer to #3.

Individual households can play a big part in reducing the amount of food that goes into landfills. The greenhouse gases saved can equal the output of millions of motor vehicles. These simple habits can reduce climate change, as well as save money at home.


Mollie Engelhart is the featured farmer on Farmer’s Footprint website. She explains how she practices regenerative agriculture on her farm. Food from the farm goes to her restaurants, KindKreme and Sage located in California. There’s an interesting 4-minute video describing her farming techniques and how she collaborated with other farms to support people with fresh food during Covid.
5 things to ask about any climate change solution,
from Bill Gates


There are two numbers you need to know about climate change. The first is 51 billion. The other is zero. Fifty-one billion is how many tons of greenhouse gases the world typically adds to the atmosphere every year. Zero is what the world needs to aim to be carbon neutral. To stop the warming and avoid the worst effects of climate change — which will be very bad — humans need to stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere
Our buildings aren't designed to withstand climate change

Climate change will affect every aspect of our lives — including the buildings we live and work in. Most people in the US, for example, spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. But climate change is fundamentally altering the environmental conditions in which these buildings are designed to function.

Join one of our groups
You're welcome to visit any team and sit in on their meetings. It's a great way to learn what they're working on and see which team you might prefer to participate in. Email one of the contacts to receive a link to the meeting.

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Economic Democracy Advocates, 638 Spartanburg Hwy, Ste. 70-342, Hendersonville, NC 28792, United States
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