Previously, I have posted on new residential solar power as well as problems with Dominion Power’s service in the neighborhood. One of the benefits of putting grid-tied solar into place, (besides redundant power, besides lower power bills, besides tax credits, besides being able to sell state renewable energy credits (SRECs), not to mention cleaner energy in general), is that it does illuminate grid problems. For example, since taking inverter readings, and contacting the State Corporation Commission (SCC), Dominion Power has put new poles in, added transformers, and increased voltage to proper levels. In other words, if neighborhoods want better energy service, then get solar and create your own energy.
But that leaves the old utility poles in place, and brings me to my next topic- Verizon actually owns many of the old poles in the neighborhood. Dominion Power has just rented space on them in the past, while it is the City of Richmond that actually does the planning and managing of the right-of-ways. So, getting Verizon to do its part in upgrading service will encourage the City and Dominion Power to do more.
With that in mind, I call on Verizon to bring FiOS to Oregon Hill. For one thing, I have heard that FiOS is already offered north of Cumberland Street. The neighborhood has the residential density. The City has a contract with Verizon for services to its residents. I already have DSL, and Verizon sends me offers for DirecTV every week- why not save the ad money and use it instead to bring FiOS to the neighborhood? The neighborhood is right next to downtown and close to Verizon’s Virginia headquarters. While many residents already have Comcast, many of them would be willing to make the switch to FiOS. Covad and wireless beckon if Verizon cannot keep up with technological advances in the neighborhood.
The newly Council approved Downtown Master Plan recognizes Oregon Hill as a historic neighborhood that deserves Old & Historic status- to the point of offering incentives to residents for the designation. Certainly, getting rid of old utility poles and lines by bringing in buried fiber optic cable with new services would go a long way. After all, Verizon already buries line and offers these services for VCU campus.
Again, these are the sort of services that citizens expect our elected representatives to push for, especially when the service contracts come back up for vote.
Speaking of these issues, I just found out about this:
Save Your Energy! (and money!) Educator Workshop
Thursday August 6th, 2009
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
@
Science Museum of Virginia
2500 West Broad St, Richmond, Virginia
ONLY $10 (for materials)
Energy and the economy are two hot issues these days. Jennifer Barrie, Kilowatt Ours Youth Initiative Director, will be sharing the award-winning film Kilowatt Ours and the award-winning Youth Initiative resources which illustrate how individual actions add up to make a profound impact. Come view the film, participate in discussion and activities, and receive the Kilowatt Ours DVD and Companion Curriculum! Learn how to save energy and money, and how to engage your students to take action! We will also get a chance to tour the Science Museum of Virginia’s solar home and alternative energy exhibit.
Curriculum activities comply with Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning for grades 1-12.
Leaders: Jennifer Barrie, Remy Luerssen, David Hagan
Call Remy Luerssen at 540-568-8768 to register.
Parking
There is ample free parking adjacent to the museum.
Driving Directions
From the north or west
Take I-95 south or I-64 east to Richmond (I-95 and I-64 run together through Richmond). From I-95, take the Boulevard exit (#78), bear right onto Boulevard. Take Boulevard to West Broad Street (US 250) (4th traffic light). Turn left onto West Broad Street and go two blocks. The Science Museum is on your left.
From the south or east
Take I-95 north or I-64 West to Richmond (I-95 and I-64 run together through Richmond). From I-95, take the Boulevard exit (#78) and bear left onto Hermitage Rd. Take Hermitage south for 1.3 miles to West Broad Street (US 250). Turn right onto West Broad St. and proceed for one half mile. The Science Museum is on your right.
The Kilowatt Ours Youth Initiative is the proud recipient of the 2008 Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award!
Do you know where your electricity comes from?
The Kilowatt Ours documentary traces the wires from your light switch to the energy source.
Kilowatt Ours is… “recommended for use in the classroom”
by the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program.
“An appealingly quirky and moving film!” – School Library Journal
My friend in Randolph has had access to FIOS for quite some time now. Surprised it’s still is not available in Oregon Hill.
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http://gizmodo.com/5350735/us-broadband-providers-seek-excuses-to-continue-sucking
I bet you didn’t realize that part of your Verizon Wireless bill is being spent to support an anti-environmental rally did you?
Well it is. Verizon Wireless is sponsoring the “Friends of America” rally this weekend at a coal mine in West Virginia. Verizon’s partner in this event? None other than Massey Energy, best known for having to pay the EPA $20 million for over 4,500 violations of the Clean Water Act!
It’s important to note that this is just one example how energy companies and corporations are working to misinform people about our movement. They have many more resources than us which allows them to easily create big events, throw a lot more money at organizing people, and influence media which can be seen through Fox News’ Sean Hannity being listed as a speaker at this one sided event. So much for ‘fair and balanced’ right? This is why it’s that we grow our movement bigger and stronger than ever right now!
So maybe I’m just exaggerating the facts to make it seem like this peaceful picnic has some anti-environmental agenda right? Here is what Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s invitation to the event said…you decide:
“Hello I’m Don Blankenship and I’d like to invite you to a Labor Day rally in West Virginia. We’re going to have Hank Williams and have a good time but we’re also going to learn how environmental extremists and corporate America are both trying to destroy your jobs.”
Destroying jobs? Isn’t that the exact opposite of what the millions of American’s who are trying to create new jobs and economic opportunities by investments in clean, renewable energy are all about?
If you’re like me, you also probably thought this rally was sponsored by some local Verizon Wireless affiliate and the national corporate office doesn’t know anything about this and if they did they would do the right thing and back away from these extremists right? WRONG!
James Gerace, VP of Corporate Communications at Verizon Wireless is not only aware of the sponsorship, but defended it by dismissing, then demeaning, the activists who brought it to his attention. The VP of Corporate Communications is the official spokesperson for a company so his words that dismissed environmental concerns and put down youth activists should be taken literally as the position of Verizon Wireless. This is why we all need to act now.
http://www.powershift09.org/
Wow. 1 year later and still no FiOS in Oregon Hill. Verizon sucks.
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