I’ve wanted to make a post about this since it was in the news last Thursday, but it slipped to the back of my mind.  The Washington Post had an article about how in Maryland it’s now cheaper on the electric bill for residents to buy renewable wind energy credits through the Rockville-based Clean Currents than it would be to just buy power through BG&E and Pepco.  This means if you’re in Maryland, you can lower your utility rates and take a significant step to greening your lifestyle at the same time.  Usually, being part of the Clean Currents Program costs ratepayers a little bit more, but the current economic climate has created different conditions.

“The decreased rates are the result of a steady decline in wholesale energy prices. Utility companies set their customers’ rates periodically and have not reduced them to reflect the lower prices they are now paying for energy to produce electricity. But Clean Currents and other companies have taken advantage of the downturn in the price and are offering residents as much as two years of power for 10 to 15 percent less than the utilities’ summer rates. They use some of their revenue to promote wind farms and the use of wind power.”

The article also talked about a family in Maryland who set up their own wind turbine to power their home in Charles County, where the wind is strong.

I’m hopeful this is a trend towards renewables that we’ll be seeing across Maryland and the United States.  One other recent signal that the winds of change are upon us is that there are now more wind jobs than coal.  For now, if you live in Maryland, there’s no excuse to not google Clean Currents right now and consider entering into a 2 year contract with them.  You can save money, and less your impact on the environment at the same time.

Annual Event to Raise Funds for Autism Research

BALTIMORE, MD – This year, families throughout the region will once again come together to “ROAR” for the millions of children with autism who cannot. Celebrating its 5^th anniversary, Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual fundraiser ROAR for Autism will be held on Saturday, April 25 at Oregon Ridge Park. Following a successful 2008 fundraiser that featured over 1,000 participants, once again teams of families and friends will participate in the activity-filled event that helps raise critically needed funds for autism research. Autism, a complex, life-altering, developmental disorder, affects 1 in every 150 children.

ROAR for Autism will feature events and activities for every member of the family including challenging 50- and 25- mile rides, a 10-mile ride for recreational bikers, a 5-mile ride designed for beginner cyclists, and a kid’s youth fun ride. For those who prefer to stay off the road and in the woods, hiking trails at Oregon Ridge will be open with guides available to lead tours. In addition to the hiking and biking activities, there will also be a family fun festival including face painting, children’s entertainment, and the popular Wegman’s Wellness Village featuring healthy food for all families including those with children on special autism diets.

With last year marking the successful introduction of the online team fundraising component, participants can once again go online to register, join a fundraising team, and to build a personal fundraising page to raise money from supporters. Additionally, “Snore for ROAR” is an option again this year for those individuals who can’t quite get out of bed that early but want to make their voice heard and “ROAR” for autism research. For more information about ROAR, or to register, visit www.ROAR.kennedykrieger.org or call 443-923-7300.

All cyclists and hikers can register either solo or as a team. Rest stops and bike repair services will be available along the bike routes.

As New York City begins fulfilling its commitment to build 200 miles of new bicycle lanes over the next three years, the question will increasingly arise: What kind of bike lane should go where? Currently, DOT seems not to have any set of guidelines to answer that question. So, take a look at how the City of London does it.

Transportation Alternatives' bike program director Noah Budnick pointed me to the London Cycling Design Standards book. It is a remarkable document and, perhaps, a great model for New York City to follow.

The chart below can be found in Chapter 4, page 62. With vehicle volume on one axis and speed on the other, it establishes a general set of rules for when a street should have a physically-separated, "segregated" bike lane versus when bikes should mix with "calmed" motor vehicle traffic. Note that London has long-since stopped debating whether or not physically-separated bike lanes are a good and necessary thing.