acc nl feb 2010 · title: acc nl feb 2010.p65 author: owner created date: 2/8/2010 8:59:49 pm

w o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e sw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e sw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e sw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e sw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s

Ar l ing tonArl ing tonArl ing tonArl ing tonArl ing ton

C o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o n

C o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i l

Ar l ing tonArl ing tonArl ing tonArl ing tonArl ing ton

C o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o nC o n s e r v a t i o n

C o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i lC o u n c i loak

w o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a tw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a tw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a tw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a tw o r k i n g t o c o n s e r v e a r l i n g t o n ’ s n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e su r a l r e s o u r c e su r a l r e s o u r c e su r a l r e s o u r c e su r a l r e s o u r c e s

volume 11, number 2volume 11, number 2volume 11, number 2volume 11, number 2volume 11, number 2

february 2010

JanuarJanuarJanuarJanuarJanuary Meetingy Meetingy Meetingy Meetingy MeetingGrowing Our MembershipGrowing Our MembershipGrowing Our MembershipGrowing Our MembershipGrowing Our Membership

Bits & PiecesBits & PiecesBits & PiecesBits & PiecesBits & Pieces

POPOPOPOPOSSSSSTTTTTPOPOPOPOPOSSSSSTTTTT

www.arlingtonconservationcouncil.orgwww.arlingtonconservationcouncil.orgwww.arlingtonconservationcouncil.orgwww.arlingtonconservationcouncil.orgwww.arlingtonconservationcouncil.org

More Heat!More Heat!More Heat!More Heat!More Heat!

Today’s Inspirational MomentToday’s Inspirational MomentToday’s Inspirational MomentToday’s Inspirational MomentToday’s Inspirational Moment

Program:Program:Program:Program:Program: Who we are, what we do, and how much Who we are, what we do, and how much Who we are, what we do, and how much Who we are, what we do, and how much Who we are, what we do, and how much

your friend(s) would enjoy joining usyour friend(s) would enjoy joining usyour friend(s) would enjoy joining usyour friend(s) would enjoy joining usyour friend(s) would enjoy joining us

Wednesday, November 12, 6:30 pmWednesday, November 12, 6:30 pmWednesday, November 12, 6:30 pmWednesday, November 12, 6:30 pmWednesday, November 12, 6:30 pmMontessori AcademyMontessori AcademyMontessori AcademyMontessori AcademyMontessori Academy

3428 W. Arkansas Lane3428 W. Arkansas Lane3428 W. Arkansas Lane3428 W. Arkansas Lane3428 W. Arkansas Lane

Much More Heat!Much More Heat!Much More Heat!Much More Heat!Much More Heat!

Heat? Yes!Heat? Yes!Heat? Yes!Heat? Yes!Heat? Yes!

FebrFebrFebrFebrFebruaruaruaruaruary Meetingy Meetingy Meetingy Meetingy MeetingEnergy-Efficient CitiesEnergy-Efficient CitiesEnergy-Efficient CitiesEnergy-Efficient CitiesEnergy-Efficient Citiesand How Yand How Yand How Yand How Yand How You Can Helpou Can Helpou Can Helpou Can Helpou Can Help

Rita Beving,Rita Beving,Rita Beving,Rita Beving,Rita Beving,Dallas Sierra ClubDallas Sierra ClubDallas Sierra ClubDallas Sierra ClubDallas Sierra Club

Wednesday, February 10, 7:00 pmWednesday, February 10, 7:00 pmWednesday, February 10, 7:00 pmWednesday, February 10, 7:00 pmWednesday, February 10, 7:00 pmFielder MuseumFielder MuseumFielder MuseumFielder MuseumFielder Museum

1616 W. Abram St1616 W. Abram St1616 W. Abram St1616 W. Abram St1616 W. Abram St(corner of Fielder and Abram)(corner of Fielder and Abram)(corner of Fielder and Abram)(corner of Fielder and Abram)(corner of Fielder and Abram)

Remember to bringRemember to bringRemember to bringRemember to bringRemember to bringsomething for the rafflesomething for the rafflesomething for the rafflesomething for the rafflesomething for the raffle

Come hear Rita Beving explain theCome hear Rita Beving explain theCome hear Rita Beving explain theCome hear Rita Beving explain theCome hear Rita Beving explain theexpansion of Sierra Club’s Cool Citiesexpansion of Sierra Club’s Cool Citiesexpansion of Sierra Club’s Cool Citiesexpansion of Sierra Club’s Cool Citiesexpansion of Sierra Club’s Cool CitiesProgram, an exciting new opportunityProgram, an exciting new opportunityProgram, an exciting new opportunityProgram, an exciting new opportunityProgram, an exciting new opportunityto help our local cities take part in reduc-to help our local cities take part in reduc-to help our local cities take part in reduc-to help our local cities take part in reduc-to help our local cities take part in reduc-ing global warming, combating climateing global warming, combating climateing global warming, combating climateing global warming, combating climateing global warming, combating climatechange, and increasing energy efficiency.change, and increasing energy efficiency.change, and increasing energy efficiency.change, and increasing energy efficiency.change, and increasing energy efficiency.

From the point of view of a tapeworm,man was created by God to serve theappetite of the tapeworm.

Edward Abbey, A Voice Crying inthe Wilderness (Vox Clamantis enDeserto): Notes from a SecretJournal

It’s too cold and way toowet, so our thoughts naturallyturn to hot, dry things like ourformerly common Texashorned lizard. If you cast ashadow on this beauty, it willmove back into the sun on ahot August day. Ahh.

It’s too bad that theprickly pear so often tellsus that a place has beenovergrazed. It’s hard tobeat the glow of itsflowers on a really hotsummer day. And beeslike them, too.

Roadrunners and heat seem togo together. These charismaticcuckoo relatives are oftenspotted warming themselvesby raising back feathers toexpose their black skin to thesun. Watch for them atVeterans Park or Tierra Verde,especially when it gets hot.

Post Oak february 2010 2Post Oak february 2010 2Post Oak february 2010 2Post Oak february 2010 2Post Oak february 2010 2

Published 10 times a year by theArlington Conservation CouncilP.O. Box 216, Arlington TX 76004-0216.www.arlingtonconservationcouncil.org

John Darling, Editor1316 S. Pecan St.Arlington TX [email protected]

Contr ibutorsContr ibutorsContr ibutorsContr ibutorsContr ibutorsGrace Darling, John Dycus, Molly Hollar,Danny Kocurek, Jan Miller

Proofreader Proofreader Proofreader Proofreader Proofreader Grace Darling

FFFFFrom the Prom the Prom the Prom the Prom the President resident resident resident resident John DarlingJohn DarlingJohn DarlingJohn DarlingJohn Darling

PostPostPostPostPostoakThe

All memberships expired

January 1st.

It’s past time to renew,

so do it today.

We need every one of you.

Okay, the rumors aretrue: I haven’tappointed myselfPresident for Life; thisis my last President’scolumn, honest. Here’s a bit of

what I said when I became presidentialin February 2007: “It’s hard to believe,but for the last 68 issues of the PostOak my job has been to badger ACCpresidents to hurry up and write theircolumn. I can’t tell you how odd it feelsfor me to be the one to fill this space(and this job). I can say that it’s a loteasier to annoy other people about thedreaded deadline than to follow my ownadvice.” (All still true.)

And now this is my 98th issue; aquick scan of the February 2007 PostOak showed few changes from this one:John Davis was our speaker, we pleadedfor volunteers at the prairie park, Mollypraised Wildscape workers, and I whineda lot about the Cowboys stadium.

Well, John Davis has gone on tobigger things, and I’ve decided to smolderquietly about the stadium, but otherwisewe seem to slog along, through thefamiliar mix of environmental ups (few)and downs (more than a few).

Something important to me has notchanged one bit — my motivation forACC involvement. Here are my threereasons, from 2007: Every good thingwe accomplish now will take on muchgreater value in the crowded future. Andthis quote: Nobody made a greatermistake than he who did nothingbecause he could do only a little.(Edmund Burke). My third reason is theACC people. It’s learning that I’m partof a group that shares my values andconcerns. It’s knowing that the shareddefeats won’t be quite so bad, and theshared successes will be a lot sweeter.

On that note, I want to thank all themembers who have so selflessly helpedme act as your president for the past

three years. Even if you think you dovery little, you’re here with us. You’vebeen important to me and you willcontinue to be a valuable part of thegroup that is the most important bunchof people in Arlington — those who trulycare about its environmental future.

I hope you’ll all help our new presi-dent, Jo Ann Duman, the way you’vehelped me. Here’s hoping for bouquets ofprairie celestials, possumhaws, andbaobabs for everyone.

So here we go, off to another year.Let’s see what happens.


New YNew YNew YNew YNew York Avenue Blackland Pork Avenue Blackland Pork Avenue Blackland Pork Avenue Blackland Pork Avenue Blackland Prairie Prairie Prairie Prairie Prairie Park ark ark ark ark Jan MillerJan MillerJan MillerJan MillerJan Miller

Big PrairieBig PrairieBig PrairieBig PrairieBig PrairieWorkday!Workday!Workday!Workday!Workday!Saturday, February20, 2010.9:00 am – noon.Please mark yourcalendar! We have agreat opportunity to

take back more of the prairie: OnFebruary 20 Arlington Parks andRecreation Department is planning tobring chainsaws to take down some ofthe larger trees and make fast work ofsmaller ones. Volunteers are needed towield loppers and to clear the brushafter cutting. Since we’ll be partneringclosely with APRD and in case ofinclement weather, please RSVP [email protected].

Please wear sturdy soled shoes/bootsand long pants. Bring gloves, loppersand hand saws if you have them.Water and snacks will be provided.We’ll work up an appetite, so plan tomeet for lunch afterwards.

Great Backyard Bird CountGreat Backyard Bird CountGreat Backyard Bird CountGreat Backyard Bird CountGreat Backyard Bird Count(GBBC)(GBBC)(GBBC)(GBBC)(GBBC)February 12-15, 2010Count birds at any location from Friday,2/12 though Monday, 2/15.For details about GBBC, seewww.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Count Birds at Southwest NatureCount Birds at Southwest NatureCount Birds at Southwest NatureCount Birds at Southwest NatureCount Birds at Southwest NaturePreservePreservePreservePreservePreserveSaturday, February 139:00 am – noonMeet at the northwest gate on BowmanSprings Rd.

Participate in the 13th annual GBBCevent by walking the trails through postoak woodlands, savannahs, grasslandsand around 4 ponds at this 58-acre city

park. A wide variety of birds has nearlyalways been reported here, with 30species last year. Everyone’s welcome!

Bring binoculars and bird guides ifyou have them; if you have extras, bringto share. Wear long pants and sturdyshoes or boots. Please note thatalthough there are trails, the park isundeveloped and there are no facilities(water or restrooms). We’ll meet forlunch afterwards to compare our specieslist and bird counts with those fromprevious years. Results will be reportedto GBBC.

An RSVP would be appreciated, incase of inclement weather and to gaugeparking needs, but isn’t required.Contact [email protected] or817/988-9341 for more information.

PrairiePrairiePrairiePrairiePrairieWWWWWorkdayorkdayorkdayorkdayorkdaySaturdaySaturdaySaturdaySaturdaySaturday,,,,,FFFFFebruarebruarebruarebruarebruary 20y 20y 20y 20y 209:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon Southwest Nature PreserveSouthwest Nature PreserveSouthwest Nature PreserveSouthwest Nature PreserveSouthwest Nature Preserve

Bird CountBird CountBird CountBird CountBird CountSaturday, February 13Saturday, February 13Saturday, February 13Saturday, February 13Saturday, February 139:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon9:00 – noon

ACC MakACC MakACC MakACC MakACC Makes Donation to Downwinders at Riskes Donation to Downwinders at Riskes Donation to Downwinders at Riskes Donation to Downwinders at Riskes Donation to Downwinders at RiskAt the first 2010 meeting of ACC’sBoard of Directors we voted to respondto Downwinders at Risk’s year-end pleafor money by donating $1000 to thatworthy organization. Specifically, webelieve that ACC should support theirlobbying efforts on behalf of cleanMetroplex air by aiding Jim Schermbeckin his remarkable struggle with the forces

of big industry and the political estab-lishment that so often appears to favordirty air.

You can learn much, much moreabout Downwinders and their issues athttp://www.downwindersatrisk.org/. Andyou’ll surely see why your boardmembers believe that this donation isyour money well spent.


Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-TTTTTrade Explained rade Explained rade Explained rade Explained rade Explained Grace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace Darling

If you are like me, you’ve heard of it butreally don’t know how it works. Jour-nalist Mark Shapiro has been investigat-ing how the system functions and thenew, complicated bureaucracy that hasdeveloped around it. The following areannotated excerpts from his interviewwith NPR’s Terry Gross (Fresh Air,January 28, 2010) that may answersome of these questions – and raiseplenty of concerns.

SHAPIRO: The basic idea behind cap-and-trade is that the government issueslimits on the amount of greenhousegases that major industries can emit intothe atmosphere, and then it permitscompanies to exceed those limits bypurchasing an offset elsewhere. Offsetsare essentially investments in emission-reduction projects, and can be anywherein the world. The government estab-lishes the caps on emissions but thenallows you to obtain emission reductionsso you can continue to pollute at home.

A significant portion of these offsetscan be obtained in developing countries.An American company that exceeds itsemissions cap can go to Brazil, China, orIndia, and can invest in, for example, ahydropower dam or a wind farm. Youcan also trade carbon offsets within theU.S., of course: If I’m Utility X and youare Utility Y, I’m emitting too much andyou are emitting under your cap, I couldbuy the gap between your emission limitand how far under it you are.

GROSS: So the idea is that globally itall balances out, since people aretrading in different parts of the world?

SHAPIRO: That’s the theory. What’sinteresting is that the notion of green-house gases has suddenly given theworld a startling realization that we areone planet, ecologically speaking. If youare polluting into the atmosphere in theUnited States and you have the abilityto reduce pollution in Brazil or India orChina, then the overall balance in theatmosphere is reduced.

GROSS: Who is already using this cap-and-trade system?

SHAPIRO: All 27 countries of theEuropean Union, Japan, and severalother developed countries, like NewZealand. These are the countries thatsigned the Kyoto Protocol in 1997; theyare deeply invested in the idea of having

emission limits on the one hand and theability to purchase emission reductionssomewhere else. The United Nationsadministers the program: the first time inhistory the UN is in the business ofregulating a commodity. Because thisthing called a carbon offset has beenturned into a commodity. This is thefastest growing commodity market in theworld, with companies buying and sellingcarbon credits like pork bellies or silver.

GROSS: What are people actuallybuying and selling?

SHAPIRO: A carbon credit is based onan emission-reduction promise. In 2005this market was around zero, and now

it’s approaching more than $150 billion –a huge market. What is it that’s beingtraded? For example, you have a pigfarm in Brazil that emits a lot of meth-ane, a very potent greenhouse gas. Nowsomebody comes up with a proposal toreduce the methane emissions from pigfarms, and you want to obtain money toincorporate that technology. You sendthat proposal to the United Nations andsay that over the next five years you aregoing to reduce the emissions thatotherwise would have occurred by asignificant amount. The United Nationsgives its stamp of approval, and you canthen go sell that offset to an industrysomewhere in the world that needs toreduce its own emissions.

GROSS: Wait, wait; that sounds sospeculative. You are saying thatcompany A has a plan to limit methanegas produced on a pig farm in Brazil,they go to the U.N. for approval of thisplan, and then they sell that as carbonoffsets to another company? Butnothing has happened yet.

SHAPIRO: Exactly. You have acommodity that’s based on a promise toreduce emissions in the future. It’sabout how you measure this commod-ity. With carbon, what you get is notsomething you can hold in your hand.What you get is a certificate that

continued on page 8


Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update John DycusJohn DycusJohn DycusJohn DycusJohn Dycus

What began in 1995 asa half-acre demonstra-tion site has grown tomore than four acres ofurban wildernessrestoration and wildlifehabitat. The MollyHollar Wildscape has

always been about educating the com-munity to use native plants to attractwildlife, conserve resources and connectwith nature, and now the outreachcommittee — volunteers Peggy Quinn,Hester Schwarzer, Callie Mitchell, RosalieRogers and Linda Zombeck — is stretch-ing the education mission in exciting newdirections.

Rosalie is out presenting thePowerpoint show to Lions Clubs andRotary Clubs and recently to theBurleson Garden Club. Linda hascreated a self-guided tour, and soon signswill be up, with additional informationon the website. Tours are planned forlarge student groups from GoodmanElementary and Rankin Elementary, andthe wildscape continues to be a projectsite for Master Naturalists, MasterGardeners and the Native Plant Society.

Out in the city, the Arlington Parksand Recreation Department is plantingmore native Texas plants in our parksand some major building landscapes.City Hall, the APRD building and thedowntown library have major face-liftsplanned featuring Texas natives. To learnmore about native plants, 60 parkemployees recently toured the wildscape.

More education, the first-Saturdaymini-classes, continued in January on a

very cold day better suited for Mexicanfood — Mijo’s! — than out communingwith nature. Texas Parks and Wildlifeurban biologist Jessica Alderson’s talk onthe importance of backyard wildscapeswarmed a receptive crowd of 21 people.Hot coffee, chips and salsa were avail-able, and some participants evenknocked down a little breakfast or lunch.In more agreeable weather, the mini-classes meet at the wildscape pavilion.Jessica has agreed to lead a Powerpointcreation workshop for the outreachcommittee.

The APRD having all that inventory inits LEAF program turned the wildscapersgreen with envy, so they were thrilled tosnag 35 big trees. While pondering the

prospect of digging 35 big holes, greatwildscape friend Mike Warren at TarrantCounty Juvenile Services called to see ifthere was anything his young men coulddo. Indeed, they could dig 27 holes(regular volunteers dug the other eight).Greenhouse volunteer Larry Norris made

numerous trips in his pickup to move thetrees, and Callie Mitchell oversaw theplanting. With only nine trees to go,APRD supervisor Martin Sanchez and

his Veterans Park crew finished the job.Hooray for all our friends.

The next spring plant sale, May 8,will provide indigenous native plants andinformation on their care. Availableplants will soon be posted on thewebsite, thewildscape.org. VolunteersJosephine Keeney, Marylee Thomason,Kay Sekio, Jo Poppelreiter, Joe Martinezand Glenn Troutman meet every

continued on page 6


Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update Wildscape Update continued from page 5continued from page 5continued from page 5continued from page 5continued from page 5

Tuesday morning at the Randol Mill Parkgreenhouse to propagate organicallygrown Texas native plants.

Glenn is expert at mixing greenhousesoil, repairing plant wagons and such, andhe and Josephine and these supergreenhouse volunteers are a huge part ofthe success of the wildscape. They havegrown thousands of dollars worth ofplants for actual planting and many morethousands of dollars worth for the twice-a-year sales. Their plants are usually betterthan commercial varieties because they’regrown from local seed or cuttings withoutchemical fertilizers or pesticides.

On February 27 wildscape presidentDanny Kocurek will again lead the attackagainst Japanese honeysuckle and theprivet that ate Pawtucket. Last year theAPRD chainsaw crews and impassionedpriveteers eliminated the worst areas. Butbirds eat nearby privet and honeysuckleberries, and from their droppings sproutnew shoots of Satan’s weed. The smallevergreen privet and honeysuckle are easyto find in February, and winter rainsmake the ground soft for pulling. Thuseradication has become an annualproject of highest priority. Thank good-ness it gets easier each year.

January Business Meeting and BrunchJanuary Business Meeting and BrunchJanuary Business Meeting and BrunchJanuary Business Meeting and BrunchJanuary Business Meeting and Brunch

Thanks to everyone who came out toour annual meeting for all the greatconversation and marvelous food. We’reindebted once again to The MontessoriAcademy of Arlington for the use of theroom. (Note: The editor normally avoidsphotos of the president, but it can’t behelped this time. It never occurred toyour outgoing president that there wouldbe gifts. Thanks to everyone for theprivilege you’ve given me since 2007.)


Gas WGas WGas WGas WGas Well News Update ell News Update ell News Update ell News Update ell News Update Danny KocurekDanny KocurekDanny KocurekDanny KocurekDanny Kocurek

If you are thinking that the long awaitedrelease of the TCEQ gas well air testingresults last month was going to clear theair, think again. With great fanfare thetest results were released and the TCEQrepresentative announced that the airaround gas wells in the Barnett Shalewas clean. Lots of questions were raisedimmediately about who did the testing,were the results potentially compromisedby testing only on 3 very cold days inDecember, and why so few air sampleswere actually taken. Within a week,TCEQ had announced that the testingwas just a “screening” and that moretesting was to follow. A week laterTCEQ released the results of anotherround of testing, which was actually doneprior to the testing in December, whichshowed levels of benzene (a knowncarcinogen) that exceeded safe levels in20% of the sites tested. Other chemicals,like carbon disulfide, ethane andisopentane, were also found at excessivelevels at some of the wells. According toTCEQ, repairs were made at the siteswith excessive benzene levels as a resultof the study.

This is obviously a convoluted processand the reports are confusing, whetherdue to disorganization or incompetence isup for debate. But what is perfectly clearis that there is cause for concern forthose living or working close to well sites.As a result of the studies, TCEQannounced the following plan:

• TCEQ has already instituted newcomplaint and investigation guidelinesfor oil and gas production areas thatwill see citizen complaints investigatedwithin 12 hours. Investigations canresult in enforcement actions againstentities responsible for excessiveemissions.

• Two new long-term auto-GC moni-tors (these monitors perform continu-ous, near-real-time VOC monitoring)will be installed at DISH and EagleMountain Lake to get a betterunderstanding of long-term ambientair conditions and to help assess theemissions inventory of sources,including an actual gas analysis fromeach site.

• TCEQ will investigate sources forproper permit authorizations andrequire testing of sites with continuedexcessive emissions.

• TCEQ has undertaken a review ofpermitting rules that apply to oil andgas operations. The review will ensurethat authorizations and permits areenforceable and protective of publichealth, and that they properlyregulate all operations located at anoil and gas site.

• TCEQ will continue to providecompliance assistance to smalloperators, focused initially oncondensate producers.

More testing is sure to follow, so staytuned. The only good news is thatTCEQ now appears to be challengingindustry claims that “everything is okay,trust us.” Please remind your city councilrepresentatives today that you are veryconcerned about the health effects of gaswells in your city.

What’s in Those Gas WWhat’s in Those Gas WWhat’s in Those Gas WWhat’s in Those Gas WWhat’s in Those Gas Well Pell Pell Pell Pell Ponds?onds?onds?onds?onds?

On February 6 there were about two dozen Ring-necked ducks and four Canvasbacks on the Masonic Home gas well pond nearDavis and Division Streets. Is this a happy winter resting spot or some sort of toxic trap?


promises X amount of emissions reduc-tions over the next several years. It’sthese certificates that are becoming thehottest commodity in the world. Why?Because most of the developed worldnow operates under a cap-and-tradesystem, which means you’ve got hun-dreds of billions of dollars in search ofoffsets. These packages of carbonpromises are also being speculated uponin a secondary market, which is essen-tially a derivatives market where peoplebet on the price of carbon, much likethey bet on the mortgage derivatives[before the recession]. London is nowthe center of this international carbontrade, largely because the U.S. pulled outof Kyoto. Some of the major Americanfinancial houses, like Goldman Sachs,Citi Bank, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan –which also owns one of the biggestcarbon brokerage firms – have carbon-trading desks in London. These financialgiants are very much looking forward tothis market coming to the United States.

GROSS: How do investors make moneyon carbon trading?

SHAPIRO: Say that Company A needsto buy carbon offsets to meet its emissionlimits. It can go to company B and tryto buy those offsets or go to an invest-ment house that controls a whole groupof offsets, like a million tons each. If youare a speculator, you can buy thesebundles of carbon offsets at the currentprice – e.g., $20 a ton – and put them inyour pocket and hope that the price willgo up to, say, $22. Then you are goingto sell it on the market either to anotherspeculator or to a business that needsthose emission offsets. A lot of peopleare making quite a bit of money specu-lating on carbon. It’s a pretty liquidmarket and it’s growing rapidly.

There are people who see parallelsbetween the carbon markets and thederivatives markets, and this is the reasonwhy. If you unpack those derivativebundles, each is based on many differentprojects. It could be a methane-reduction project in Brazil, a dam inIndia, a windmill farm in China – allbundled together into the same package.These projects all have various levels of

reliability, various means of measure-ment, various degrees of predictability.The calculations are very different whenit comes to a methane-reduction plant, awind farm, or a solar panel complex.There is a whole new array of companiesthat have been certified by the UnitedNations to do those calculations; they arecalled Designated Operational Entities.But there’s a great deal of concern abouthow reliable the valuation of thosecarbon bundles is.

Think of it this way: These DOEs aremeasuring a promise. For example, a

company runs a pig iron factory in Brazil.The company used to use oil to fire up itsfactory, but then it proposes to the U.N.that instead of using oil, it’s going to planta bunch of trees. The trees will grow forseven, eight, nine years – during whichtime they are removing carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere but also soaking upcarbon from the soil – and then the treeswill be burned, turned into charcoal, andthe charcoal used to fire up the pig ironfactory. At several stages along the way,the company claims that it is reducingemissions by a certain amount andcalculates what the net carbon savings willbe in 10 or 15 years. Before the project isapproved by the U.N., the DOE is broughtin to validate those claims – the way that

Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s operateon Wall Street to establish the valuationof a company.

GROSS: A couple of these validatorswere found to have done very inaccuratevaluations, right?

SHAPIRO: Yes, and they were the twomajor validators, who together areresponsible for more than half of theoffset emissions in the world. The U.N.suddenly found these firms did not havethe technical skills to conduct theanalyses, there was a lot of discrepancyin their findings, and essentially theircalculations were flawed. Overnight,hundreds of millions of tons of carboncredits that were being bought and soldwere called into question. Since then,both these companies have cleaned uptheir act and been reinstated asvalidators by the United Nations. Butwhat remains is a doubt that the funda-mental premise of cap-and-trade – aworldwide market based on buying andselling of carbon credits – will actuallyresult in emissions reductions.

GROSS: The European Union has saidthat the system they’re using for cap-and-trade works. Do you agree?

SHAPIRO: It works to some extent. Asa market it works very well; in terms ofgreenhouse gases control, the systemoverestimates by 15 to 35 percent theemissions reductions achieved. You aregetting emissions reductions, but notnearly as much as you think you are.

GROSS: What are the alternatives tocap-and-trade?

SHAPIRO: A carbon tax has beenproposed, but that’s unlikely to passanytime in the near future in the U.S.This whole elaborate system I’ve tried todescribe was created to detour a carbontax. And the irony is, if you were toactually have this whole system workingwith the effectiveness that it claims, youwould in some ways end up with acarbon tax.

Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-Cap-and-TTTTTrade Explained rade Explained rade Explained rade Explained rade Explained continued from page 4continued from page 4continued from page 4continued from page 4continued from page 4


Editor’s note: The Cross Timbers UrbanForestry Council gives annual awards inseveral categories to those who advancethe goals of urban forestry. This yearACC has submitted the followingnomination on behalf of Arlington Parks& Recreation’s forester, Matt Churches:

Matt Churches is a treasure. His careerbegan on the West Coast, where heworked for the U.S. Forest Service andlater as a firefighter with the CaliforniaDepartment of Forestry and Fire Protec-tion. He then went to work as a utilityarborist on vegetation managementcontracts to ensure quality service forutility companies and their customers.Along the way he received a Bachelor ofScience degree on Forestry and Range-land Management from the University ofNevada, Reno, and rose to be operationsmanager at ACRT for three years. Inwhat turned out to be a pivotal move inhis professional life, Matt joined the cityof Arlington’s parks and recreation staffin December of 2008: Thus he cameover from the dark side and joined apeaceful world of high-minded colleaguesdedicated to protecting and growing theurban forest.

Shortly after he came to Arlington,Matt was given the daunting task ofconducting a city-wide tree inventory thatwould provide a baseline on the state ofour municipal canopy and guide futuremanagement decisions by city officials.Never one to settle for less than the best,Matt organized an intensive, two-daytraining workshop for professionals andvolunteers on UFORE surveying tech-niques, led jointly by Courtney Blevinsand Micah Pace, Staff Foresters with theTexas Forest Service in Fort Worth andDallas, respectively. After several monthsof scientific data collection by Matt andother Forestry Division staff, volunteers,and one contractor, the UFORE surveywas completed and the data now awaitanalysis.

Matt was also charged with theresponsibility of maintaining the city’stree farm and running the LEAF (Let’sEnhance Arlington’s Forest) program.

With the help of a few dedicated volun-teers from the community, he is slowlytransforming a run-down, meager treefarm into a vibrant, valuable reservoir forplant material. On the LEAF program,Matt has implemented new processes toreduce paper usage, increase efficiencyand improve coordination with citizengroups.

Matt is a great addition to our forestrystaff, full of energy and enthusiasm,focused and good-humored, alwaysresearching and looking for new tech-niques to make us more effective in ourgoal to improve the urban canopy andincrease efficiency of the city’s opera-tions. He has adjusted admirably fromcutting trees to growing them andcreating plans to install more. Herecently passed the Municipal ArboristExam and is a credit to his profession.

Please help us honor his achievementswith the Bronze Leaf Award.

2110 Bronze Leaf Nomination 2110 Bronze Leaf Nomination 2110 Bronze Leaf Nomination 2110 Bronze Leaf Nomination 2110 Bronze Leaf Nomination Grace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace DarlingGrace Darling

Recently, Matt Churches taught aclass on winter tree identification atRiver Legacy Living Science Center.Despite very cold weather, about 40people showed up to learn aboutbuds, leaf scars, branching patterns,and bark texture.

Matt made a difficult subjectaccessible while his manner encour-aged questions even as participantsfended off hypothermia.


NONPROFITORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDARLINGTON, TXPERMIT NO. 633

The Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakThe Post OakArlington Conservation CouncilPO Box 216Arlington, TX 76004-0216

Printed on recycled paper

Arlington ConserArlington ConserArlington ConserArlington ConserArlington Conser vation Council Membership Applicationvation Council Membership Applicationvation Council Membership Applicationvation Council Membership Applicationvation Council Membership ApplicationMemberships are good for one year, renewable each January. Your dues go directly to our public education efforts.

Membership InformationMembership InformationMembership InformationMembership InformationMembership Information

Name

Address

Telephone

E-mail

How did you hear about us?

Make checks payable to Arlington Conservation Council. Mail to ACC, Box 216, Arlington, TX 76004-0216. Contributions anddues are not tax-deductible. Please add $5.00 if you want a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you.Please add $5.00 if you want a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you.Please add $5.00 if you want a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you.Please add $5.00 if you want a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you.Please add $5.00 if you want a paper copy of the newsletter mailed to you.

Please circle membership category. Please circle membership category. Please circle membership category. Please circle membership category. Please circle membership category.First-year member $10.00

Individual $15.00

Family $25.00

Supporting $40.00

Sponsor $100.00

Lifetime individual $250.00

Other $________________

President President President President President Jo Ann Duman516-7453 [email protected]

First Vice President First Vice President First Vice President First Vice President First Vice President Danny KocurekSecond Vice President Second Vice President Second Vice President Second Vice President Second Vice President Roy Miliner

230-4295 [email protected]

Arlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of DirectorsArlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of DirectorsArlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of DirectorsArlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of DirectorsArlington Conservation Council Officers and Board of Directors

Heather DowellJohn DycusMarianne Herrmann

Board MembersBoard MembersBoard MembersBoard MembersBoard MembersTreasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer Marian Hiler [email protected]

Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary Grace Darling [email protected]

EditorEditorEditorEditorEditor John Darling [email protected]

Be sure to visit us atarlingtonconservationcouncil.org

Molly HollarLorna MarshJan MillerCallie Mitchell

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDRETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDRETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDRETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDRETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Newmember

Renewingmember

Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!Don’t Forget!Wednesday February 10

7:00 pm

Rita Beving:Energy-Efficient Cities and

How You Can Help

acc nl feb 2010 · title: acc nl feb 2010.p65 author: owner created date: 2/8/2010 8:59:49 pm

Documents