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With just two issues left to publish in
this series as our year long project
nears completion, please forgive your
editor for an indulgence.
The Capitola
Chamber of Commerce is in my home
town and because we can focus on a
member of that chamber who is also a
clear leader of the community there, I'm
publishing this edition to offer a
challenge to that local leader and all
California chambers that just may
provide the basis for California
reaching 2020 AB32 goals early.
Remember when gas costs shot up to
almost $5.00 in late 2008? Businesses
and local governments reliant on
vehicles had no alternatives then.
Beginning in 2011, that will change.
Electric vehicles are going mainstream!
Simply put, I'm calling on local
chambers to encourage and provide a
tally for their members, including their
local government members, to purchase
electric vehicles which will lower fuel
costs and reduce emissions.
This issue spotlights Capitola Chamber
member Triad Electrical. Triad
Electrical installs large-scale
commercial photovoltaic systems, like
the one atop the Community Foundation
building in Aptos that will provide
about 30 percent of the building's
power.
Since this issue is really more about
Triad's owner, Mike Termini, here is
some background.
Michael Termini is
knowledgeable, committed to the
environment and effective in turning
ideas into action. Here are some
examples.
Michael Termini's leadership in banning
Styrofoam containers in Capitola has
made the City a model for the rest of
the nation. He saw the blight that
polystyrene caused on beaches and in the
ocean and took bold steps to ban its use
for take-out food. Capitola had the
first such ordinance in the nation.
Termini has also taken the lead in
persuading restaurants to separate food
waste from other trash. This is a vital
first step to addressing the problem of
fugitive methane in landfills. Methane
is a far more dangerous greenhouse gas
than CO2 and is generated from organic
material such as decomposing food waste
in landfills. Eliminating this source of
a greenhouse gas is a very important
measure that cities can implement to
fight global warming.
As mentioned above, Mr. Termini's company
installs photovoltaic systems on
commercial buildings and he even uses
two electric delivery vehicles to
shuttle materials from the company's
supply depot to various jobs around
Santa Cruz County.
And as the technology improves and
becomes slightly more affordable,
Termini, a Capitola Planning
Commissioner and former mayor, said that
he hopes other local residents and
merchants warm up to the idea.
"In my eyes the solar project that is
often overlooked is heating your hot
water with solar panels. Considering
dollars spent versus dollars gained and
the environmental benefit, heating hot
water with solar is far superior and far
more efficient than photovoltaics. I
eliminated practically all my hot water
energy bill."
Solar water heaters fall in the $5,000
range, Termini says, compared with
$20,000 to $40,000 for rooftop solar
cells that heat entire homes and
buildings. "Even with the 40 to 50
percent tax rebates, it's still a
significant cost," he said.
"The advantage is that people can [make
solar improvements] immediately and have
an easy pay-back method," said Termini.
"Plus, it fuels an enormous amount of
work for local residential, plumbing and
solar contractors."
Michael Termini will soon likely be
referred to in another way that
addresses his willingness to lead in his
community. Since he was the top vote
recipient in the 2010 elections for the
Capitola Council, his new title may be
Mayor which will be the
second time this has occured with his
last term in 2007.
It seems the time may be just right for
Mayor Termini to pull out all the stops
for Capitola local government and
businesses to invest in battery powered
vehicles which will means lower long
term fuel costs and protection from high
price spikes as oil becomes more costly.
The Ford Electric Transit Connect is
one vehicle that might be an excellent
long term value for businesses and local
government. The Nissan Leaf and Chevy
Volt are other examples.
Since much of the technology for these
vehicles is made in the U.S.A. and with
virtually all the battery power provided
by local utilities (or the sun), now
might be the perfect time to combine the
membership power of local California
chambers together with far-sighted
leaders like Mike Termini.
To join the Capitola
Chamber of Commerce, click Here!
To other California chambers: Please
let us know about your Clean Energy
successes and Green Members so we can
publish your story in the C of C
GreenSheet! |
