Issues and Other Important news:

TEC helps Volunteers Plant Trees at Wyngate Estates to Curb Erosion

Eleven-year-old Chase Highland could have spent his Saturday morning playing in the yard like other kids his age but instead chose to volunteer his time planting trees. The youngster knew if nothing was done about the erosion problems plaguing his neighborhood, there soon wouldn't be much of a backyard for him in which to play. Read complete story

Help protect the heart of the North Cumberland Plateau –

TAKE ACTION TODAY

If you love the beauty of green Tennessee… if you love waterfalls, and rock shelters, and bluffs, and natural bridges and clean creeks and sparkling rivers, and abundant wildlife, tell your legislator. Call today – 615-741-1100 (to locate your legislator visit http://www.legislature.state.tn.us.). Your action can conserve the most beautiful land in Tennessee. More information

Attorney General, TDEC expand lawsuit against Memphis construction company in crackdown on alleged

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) have expanded a lawsuit filed against a Memphis construction company and other defendants for alleged repeat violations of the Water Quality Control Act at 15 sites. The expanded lawsuit is the latest in a new joint initiative of the Attorney General’s Office and TDEC to target the State’s most serious repeat environmental polluters. Full article

Great News for Solar Energy

TN Community Economic Development Grant of $75,000.00 announced. This is for solar PV systems for businesses that become TVA Green Power Generation Partners. The 30% Federal tax credits can be combined with this and the complete project is financed at 0% by the State.

100% of the power generated will be purchased by TVA through the Generation Partners program at either the $0.15/KWH or $0.20/KWH depending on whether it is a demand metered customer or not.

Cleveland State Community College teaches classes for solar installers to become accredited. As an experiment, Cleveland State installed a 1.4 kw demo solar PV system on one of its buildings. The system is being monitored and dated recorded at http://view2.fatspaniel.net/FST/Portal/BigFrogMountain/cleveland/HostedAdminView.html

For more information go to http://www.tectn.org/Resources_solar.htm or contact Thomas Tripp with Big Frog Mountain Corporation at 423-265-0307

EVENTS:

Sonnenschein Green Power Festival on June 2, 2007 in Hohenwald

For more information, please go to http://www.sonnenschein-tenn.org/

USGBC Middle Tennessee Chapter hosts workshop

U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED^® for New Construction and Major Renovations Technical Review Workshop at the Millennium Maxwell House on June 28, 2007, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Gina Emmanuel at GEmmanuel@FAANET.COM

Take Action:

Join TEC Today

Call Ellen at 615-248-6500 to get your membership packet or check us out on the web at http://www.tectn.org.

Take the Gardener's Pledge! According to The Gardener's Guide to Global Warming, there are many ways that you can help fight global warming right in your own backyard! What changes will you make? http://www.nwf.org/gardenersguide/Gardeners_Guide.pdf

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The Tennessee Environmental Council is a 501 (c) (3) conservation organization whose mission is to educate and advocate for the protection of Tennessee's environment and public health.

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