Michael DiRamio

Yes, invest in local food, AND the regional infrastructure that supports thriving communities. #energysystems #flownetworks Food Solutions New England "About twenty years ago, Stewart Smith, the then Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Maine, analyzed the cost of a typical foodstuff item in the years 1900 and 2000. In 1900, about 40% of a food dollar spent went to the farmer, and the rest to inputs and distribution. That #distribution number included processing, refrigeration, packaging, transportation, retail markup, and more. By 2000, seven cents went to the farmer, and distribution accounted for more than 73 cents. "It doesn’t take a math genius to observe the obvious: Whenever distribution costs are significantly larger than production costs, there is a powerful case for localization. Even if #local farming doubles the production costs, say to 14 cents on the dollar, you can bring down the cost of local food if you can reduce the wasted expenses in distribution with less packaging, less processing, and direct delivery. "This is one reason why the local #foodmovement has taken root all across the planet: Why ship, say, soybeans halfway around the planet (which are mostly water) when you can grow the soybeans yourself? But for massive subsidies to fossil fuels, large farms, water, and shipping 'infrastructure,' much of this globalized food system would never pencil out. "And if you think the current system is delivering affordable food to all Americans, you haven’t been paying attention to the huge number of #fooddeserts in the country. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that nearly 40 million Americans did not have access to affordable food. COVID, of course, greatly worsened this problem. But these numbers also suggest an opportunity for local investment to help fix the problem." https://lnkd.in/eHT_zbby

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“Evaluation metrics include cost-saving regional benefits, project costs, urgency of need, environmental impact, siting, and other factors. ‘Since larger transmission projects can help transfer power from larger renewable resources in rural areas to more densely populated areas, these projects may offset the need for new generating resources in urban and suburban locations. Methods to measure such benefits are included in the evaluation process,’ ISO-NE said.” #energy #transmission #electricity #policy #marketregulation https://lnkd.in/emtv5Kmn

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In Maryland, the debate over control in power grid planning is heating up. The Maryland Office of People's Counsel is challenging proposed changes by PJM Interconnection, saying that the changes could give PJM and its transmission-owning utilities too much influence. ⚖️ While currently unfolding in Maryland, this could set a precedent that impacts local utility customers across the country. Read more on this from the Frederick News-Post: https://loom.ly/mkpdoTw ____________________________________________________________ #utilitiesmanagement #utilitiesmanager #energymarket #energyconsumption #energycosts #energyanalysis #transmissioncosts #transmissionrates #energyusage #PJM #maryland

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As BCSE works to advance the #cleanenergy transition, building strong relationships between #energy companies and local stakeholders is key to efficiently, and equitably deploying clean energy solutions. Recent federal legislation has placed community engagement at the center of clean energy funding opportunities. What should clean energy businesses know about this federal focus on community engagement, and what are the best practices for communicating with local stakeholders? In May, BCSE and the Edison Electric Institute headed to Cleveland, OH for The Climate Registry’s 2024 #Climate Leadership Conference to join this discussion. There, BCSE was excited to assemble partners across the climate and clean energy spheres for a workshop on Engaging Communities in the Energy Transition. In a new blog post, BCSE's Laura Tierney breaks down the top four takeaways from the event, including: 1. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making community engagement a core aspect of energy projects by requiring community benefit agreements. 2. DOE’s Office of Community Engagement has funding and resources to support energy projects in communities across the country. 3. On the private sector side, project developers must consider community engagement an integral part of the planning process. ...and more! Read on for the full insights: https://lnkd.in/efdcvby3

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With all final entries submitted, it won't be long until the winners of Maryland ASLA’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) Challenge are revealed this August! Financial support for prizes has been secured, and a prestigious jury of expert practitioners, academics, and environmentalists will decide which submitted projects best demonstrate visionary approaches to climate adaptation strategies within the Chesapeake Bay region, all while meeting the goals of the CAP https://bit.ly/3x7mRmF. Learn more about the CAP goals of Practice, Equity, and Advocacy https://bit.ly/43rGJge. #MDASLAClimateActionChallenge #ASLAClimateActionPlan American Society of Landscape Architects, Maryland Chapter ASLA

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