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Delaware Students Compete in Junior Solar Sprint
DNREC Public Affairs
Almost 100 middle and junior high school students from 9 schools participated in Delaware's 17th Annual Junior Solar Sprint Competition.
DNREC's Delaware Energy Office organized the event to educate students about renewable energy and the environment through a creative and exciting competition.
Students designed and built model cars powered by solar photovoltaic cells and competed for trophies awarded for the fastest and best-designed cars.
Racers competed in time trials and test runs prior to the start of the competition, and such was the degree of focus on the Solar Sprint races that pit crews came equipped with spare parts for possible repairs.
The winning schools were:
RACE RESULTS - FASTEST CARS:
1st place: Beacon Middle School, Lewes - Car #1
2nd: Springer Middle School, Wilmington - Car #18
3rd: Springer Middle School, Wilmington - Car #19
4th: Holy Cross School, Dover- Car # 6
5th: Skyline Middle School, Wilmington - Car # 16
DESIGN RESULTS:
1st place: Springer Middle School, Wilmington
2nd: Skyline Middle School, Wilmington
3rd: Skyline Middle School, Wilmington
4th: Springer Middle School, Wilmington
5th place: Holy Cross Middle School, Dover
Solar technologies diversify the energy supply, reduce the country's dependence on imported fuels, improve air quality and offset greenhouse gas emissions. A growing solar industry also stimulates the state's economy by creating jobs in solar products manufacturing and installation.
For more information on solar and other alternative sources of energy and the programs of the Delaware Energy Office, visit www.energy.dnrec.delaware.gov.
Wilmington is Recognized as a “Cool City” by the Sierra Club; Mayor Baker is Honored for His Environmental Stewardship
City of Wilmington Communications Dept.
On January 11th the Sierra Club of Delaware recognized the City of Wilmington as Delaware’s first “Cool City” and honored Mayor James M. Baker for his efforts to aggressively adopt policies and programs that promote energy sustainability, environmental stewardship and climate protection.
The Sierra Club of Delaware's Cool Cities Program is a statewide volunteer effort that encourages local governments to adopt policies and programs that protect the environment and citizens.
The Sierra Club said Mayor Baker is a public official who follows through on what he believes when it comes to protecting the environment and elevating Wilmington’s position as a City that cares about its future. Mayor Baker was cited for his many environmental accomplishments that include:
Climate Sustainability Plan: Established by Executive Order in 2008, this plan provides a framework for the City’s response to climate change through revisions to the City’s policies and programs, innovative community partnerships and outreach.
Energy Leader’s Roundtable: Engages Wilmington’s business and development community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through voluntary reductions in building construction, building operation, employee conservation and commuter emissions.
Wilmington Green City Environmental Stewardship Self-Certification: A workbook that provides households with resources to conduct a home self-assessment to reduce environmental impacts through urban gardens, energy and water conservation, wise use of household cleaners, waste management and transportation.
Urban Forest Initiatives: Mayor Baker has supported efforts to improve Wilmington's urban forest tree canopy through the Trees for Wilmington Coalition and an Urban Forest coordinator to develop an urban forest management plan for the City.
Mayor Baker thanked the Sierra Club for the recognition and congratulated Sierra Club members for their years of dedication to preserving the environment and the planet.
The Mayor extended his appreciation to the citizens of Wilmington and the City’s many “green” community and business partners for adopting and supporting climate sustainability programs.
Mayor Baker also recognized his Department Directors and their staffs for developing and implementing the City’s “green” initiatives and City Council Members for supporting “green” initiatives such as the City’s recycling program which has made Wilmington a regional leader in diverting trash from the landfill to recycling, the recently adopted Tree Ordinance to preserve the City’s tree canopy, the Real Time Control system for mitigating Wilmington’s combined sewer overflows and other energy conservation programs related to the use of solar power.
For more information about Wilmington climate sustainability programs, visit the City’s website at www.WilmingtonDE.gov
For more information about the Sierra Club of Delaware’s Cool Cities program, visit http://coolcitiesde.us.
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Former State Representative Pamela Thornburg receives Legislative Award from Delaware Association of Conservation Districts
DNREC Public Affairs
The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD) on March 30 presented former State Representative Pamela Thornburg with the Association’s Legislative Award, which is presented annually to a legislator for outstanding service, loyalty and devotion to conservation efforts in the state of Delaware. Rep. Thornburg was a member of the House of Representatives from 2000 - 2010.
Rep. Thornburg chaired the Tax Ditch Right-of-Way Task Force that led to House Bill 452, an Act to amend Title 7 of the Delaware Code relating to tax ditches. The Bill clarifies the reduction in the tax ditch right-of-way and defines construction, major maintenance and minor maintenance rights-of-wa
She was recently named administrator of the Delaware Farm Bureau. Preserving open space and farmland in Delaware and empowering agribusinesses have always been core values for Thornburg and her constituents. Rep. Thornburg was the House sponsor on legislation that provided permanent funding for the Agland Preservation program. She also sponsored legislation that created a Forestland Preservation Program.
Senate Bill 263 authorizing Delaware to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was co-sponsored by Senator Harris McDowell and Rep. Thornburg. It established the framework for Delaware’s program and authorized the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to adopt regulations to fully implement the law.
As a state representative, Thornburg served on the following committees: Agriculture, Energy, Natural Resources, and Transportation/Land Use.
“The continued support and commitment of legislators, such as Rep. Thornburg, is vital to Delaware’s three conservation districts and their cooperative efforts with partners and landowners to conserve Delaware’s natural resources,” said DACD President Terry Pepper.
“This award means a lot to me,” said Thornburg. “I understand I could have never earned this award without the dedication and support of many brilliant stakeholders – together we accomplished the ‘Delaware Way’.
The DACD is a statewide organization for the supervision of the State’s three conservation districts. DACD is a voluntary, non-profit alliance, which provides a forum for discussion and coordination among the state’s Conservation Districts as they work to ensure the wise use and treatment of our natural resources.
For more information about the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts call 302-739-9921.
Former Rep. Pamela Thornburg & Terry Pepper, DACD
Photo - DNREC
Governor’s 2011 Agricultural and Urban Conservation Award Winners Honored
DNREC Public Affairs
The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village was the setting for Stewardship Week designation and presentation of the Governor’s Agricultural and Urban Conservation Awards. DNREC Deputy Secretary David Small led a ceremony recognizing the awardees and read the proclamation signed by the Governor officially designating April 24 through May 1 as Stewardship Week in Delaware.
“Stewardship requires personal and social responsibility including a duty to understand and improve natural resources as we use them wisely, leaving a rich and sustainable legacy for future generations,” said Mr. Small. The six winners honored were nominated by Delaware’s conservation districts for taking the responsibility to heart and translating it into actions that will help build that legacy.
This year’s Conservation Award winners and their conservation efforts are:
NEW CASTLE – Agricultural Award
F. Thomas Unruh, Townsend - Recognized for his many years of dedication to the improvement of our environment through action in his Townsend farming operation. He is a strong advocate of no-till farming; practices nutrient and pest management; maintains better records to improve irrigation efficiency; and manages his tidal marshes to control invasive species in an effort to improve wildlife habitat.
His conservation efforts help to improve soil and water quality, reduce erosion, and improve wildlife habitat. As one of the original Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation members, Mr. Unruh remains a strong proponent of the program designed to maintain critical farmland for future generations of Delawareans.
NEW CASTLE - Urban Award
Springmill Maintenance Corporation, Middletown - Their project coordinator and a host of volunteers are being recognized for their efforts in completing a private open space wetland enhancement project. The one-acre wetland, located between residential homes in the 55+ community, filters drainage from the surrounding area and eventually drains to Dove Nest Branch, a tributary of the Appoquinimink River.
The project involved removing invasive species, planting native species, restoring the wetland to its natural function and improving the quality of the wetland. More than 900 volunteer hours have been given to implement and maintain this project between 2008 and 2010, demonstrating how any dedicated group of volunteers can have a positive impact on the environment by taking action to improve and enhance the natural resources that are impacted by development.
KENT – Agricultural Award
Marshall Anthony Jr., Harrington - Owns and manages a poultry and grain farming operation west of Harrington. The poultry facility consists of six chicken houses with a capacity of 154,000 broilers, while the grain operation consists of approximately 285 acres of tilled ground.
He is being recognized for the implementation of conservation practices that will help control erosion, prevent leaching, protect surface and sub-surface water supplies, maintain soil structure and increase irrigation efficiency.
KENT – Urban Award
Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, Dover - Recognized for the installation of two rain gardens and the retrofit of a dry storm water pond into a bio-filtration pond on their property in an effort to reduce the potential pollutant discharge from their complex. Both rain gardens and bio-filtration ponds are relatively new technologies found to reduce up to 80 percent of the pollutants in storm water runoff, which is identified as one of the leading sources of pollution to our waterways.
The rain gardens and bio-filtration pond will help filter storm water runoff, promote the recharge of ground water and drinking water sources, reduce the flow speed of storm water, add beauty to the property and provide habitat and food for local wildlife, particularly birds and butterflies.
SUSSEX – Agricultural Award
William C. Otwell and William R. Otwell, Laurel - A father and son poultry operation located on Johnson Road in Laurel, in the Broad Creek Watershed, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. The operation consists of seven poultry houses, one 40-foot by 64-foot manure storage structure, one 50-foot by 140-foot manure shed, one four-bin poultry carcass composter, and one 48-foot long channel composter.
The Otwells are being recognized for the implementation of conservation practices designed to prevent nutrient runoff, to improve water quality, to compost poultry mortality in accordance with USDA regulations, to improve air quality and keep the operation as clean as possible thereby limiting impacts to the environment.
SUSSEX – Urban Award
Bethany Blues Restaurant, Lewes - The Bethany Blues Restaurant, design consultant Element Engineering, and general contractor John L. Briggs Co. are being recognized for developing and implementing a progressive design to comply with Delaware Sediment and Storm water Regulations that utilizes existing well drained soils for infiltration and Green Technology practices.
Prior to development, the property consisted of pavement, stone, and existing structures. The site was re-developed with the intentions of maximizing green space – including the roof. This is the first and only green roof project in Sussex County and is a good example of how projects can re-develop, comply with regulations, and utilize green design.
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