Tag Archives: Benicia CA

Benicia, Climate Change, Global warming, Heat pumps, Methane

Benicia’s Jumping Into Solutions: All About Heat Pumps

BenIndy highly recommends ‘Jumping Into Solutions’

Email from Pat Toth-Smith, March 31, 2023

Hi, I‘m so pleased to announce Jumping Into Solutions Episode 2, “Switch is On for Electric Heat Pumps.”  This episode features the new electric water heat pumps and home heating/cooling units for your home. The video clears up confusing things like:

    • How do the new heat pumps work?
    • Will they cost a lot of money to install?
    • Do I have to change my electric systems?
    • Can I remove my gas system after installing them?
    • Will they save money in the long run?
    • What are the new Air District (BAAQMD) rules for getting new electric water/heat systems?
    • Are there rebates?

Much more efficient, non-toxic and economical, electric heat pumps use Thermal Dynamics to run their systems.

Guests for this episode are homeowner Constance Buetel and Energy Engineer Tom Kabat, who speak candidly about all of this and share their knowledge and experiences switching over to heat pump water heaters and home heat/cooling heat pump systems.

Other benefits to the home heat pump is that it is also an air conditioner. They come in all sizes from a central system to mini splits that go in the walls to portable window units to heat and cool any room in your home, which is especially nice for people living in apartments.

Lastly, this episode discusses the dangers of having gas products in our home for our families’ health and for the health of our community. The reduction of gas and its byproduct, methane, a serious greenhouse gas, goes a long way to reducing our carbon footprint and helping our planet.

Check it out at Jumping Into Solutions on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qIvbHwXyYpQ.

An audio version is also available at https://open.spotify.com/show/3utt9ARsPtlTvKbS35ru3V.

Pat Toth-Smith
Benicia

Benicia CA, Bomb Trains, Derailment, Hazardous freight

This is NOT Benicia…

By Roger Straw, February 23, 2024
Over the last three weeks, communities everywhere have watched in horror and solidarity with the people of East Palestine, Ohio. Few of those communities have experienced the depth of concern and understanding as here in Benicia, California.
Here’s my 1-minute video commentary.

Backstory, and looking ahead…

In 2013, the Benicia Valero Refinery proposed bringing in two 50-car bomb trains every day, filled with Canadian tar sands crude oil. It took 3 years, but a staunch group of citizens and an incredible army of allies eventually overcame Valero’s slick campaign. On September 20, 2016, with backing from the Benicia Planning Commission, the California Attorney General and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Benicia’s City Council voted to deny Valero’s proposal. The City breathed a sigh of relief. And we continue to marvel at our good fortune, and the good fortune of communities uprail from here.

Our collective breath of relief, however, must be challenged by the everyday passage of trains carrying multiple hazardous cargos through our town and across the bridge to other San Francisco Bay Area cities. Stricter regulations are needed from federal and state authorities. Regulations on the trains and the profit-seeking companies that run them, on the rails, and on public preparations for potential disasters. As I said in the video, This is NOT Benicia, but WHO WILL BE NEXT? 

For more, see SafeBenicia.org and the Benicia Independent’s Crude By Rail Archive.

Roger Straw
The Benicia Independent

Air Quality, Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP)

CANCELLED/POSTPONED – Benicia Forum on Air Quality, Monitoring, and Human Health Risks

Email on February 14: ALERT! Cancelled/POSTPONED: BCAMP’s February 16 Forum on Air Quality, Monitoring & Public Health Risks

Hello friends, one and ALL,

We of the BCAMP board —Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program— regret to announce that our Forum “Air Quality, Monitoring & Public Health Risks”, which was to be held this Thursday at the Benicia Public Library, is now cancelled, owing to unfortunate news learned this a.m. that one of our panelists has tested positive for Covid.

We plan to reschedule the forum and will let you all know the new date and time.

Thank you for your interest! Please stay tuned!

Best regards,

Marilyn
BCAMP board member

PREVIOUSLY…
By Kathy Kerridge, February 6, 2023

What do you know about the health impacts of what you breath? A forum on Air Quality, Monitoring, and Human Health Risks will be held at the Benicia Library on February 16 at 7:00 pm in the Benicia library. This is sponsored by the Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) and will feature experts on air monitoring and the health impacts of air pollution. [Flyer & about BCAMP to follow…]

Flyer…


Benicia Public Library, Benicia, CA

…

About BCAMP (previously on the BenIndy)

It was a LONG time coming, and thanks to the vision, hard work and persistence of Benicia activists and volunteers, Benicia now has a state-of-the-art air monitoring station just outside the Valero Benicia Refinery.

A culmination of the more than decade-long efforts of the Good Neighbor Steering Committee and a recently established and highly effective Governing Board, the Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) was unveiled to the public in a webinar on March 3rd.

Benicia videographer Constance Beutel recorded the March 3 webinar, and has produced several options for you to view now (see below).

First, however, I am so proud of my friends, neighbors and all involved, and I want to offer profound thanks:

A HUGE THANK-YOU from the BenIndy!
    • Good Neighbor Steering Committee: Marilyn Bardet, Constance Beutel, Mary Frances Kelly Poh, Kathy Kerridge, Nancy Lund and attorney Dana Dean
    • BCAMP Board of Directors: Chair David Lindsay, Kathy Kerridge, Marilyn Bardet, Nancy Lund, C. Bart Sullivan
    • Argos Scientific Team, Don Gamiles, President and Founder
    • Ruszel Woodworks, accommodating and providing the site

Five Video options – BCAMP Webinar, Mar 3, 2022

Via a zoom webinar, attendees celebrated the official launch of the Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP), a non profit community run state of the art air monitoring system. This slightly edited (2 hour) video captures the historic launch of this critical community resource regarding air quality.

This edited video (just over an hour) from the launch of the BCAMP community project provides an overview and introduction to BCAMP, the BCAMP Board members and zoom webinar panelists.

This four-minute video is an extract from the 3/2/2022 zoom webinar launching BCAMP in Benicia, CA. It describes the state-of-the-art air monitoring equipment that is being used.
On March 2, 2022, BCAMP was publicly launched with a zoom webinar. This 6-minute video is an extract from the panelist presentation about the partnership of BCAMP with AirWatchBayArea.org

This 12-minute video extract from the zoom webinar on Mar 3, 2022 demonstrates the features and functionalities of the the BCAMP website: https://www.fenceline.org/bcamp/
Benicia, Climate Change, Global warming, Recycling

New Benicia Channel, ‘Jumping Into Solutions’

BenIndy highly recommends ‘Jumping Into Solutions’

Email from Pat Toth-Smith, February 10, 2023

Hi All, I’m so EXCITED to announce the start of a new YouTube and Spotify channel titled, “Jumping into Solutions” it was created by myself and a very skilled team of people (Kathy Kerridge, Bart Sullivan, June Mejias plus more).

We’ve had our first episode which features guest, Marie Knutson from Republic Services. It’s titled: What Can & Can’t be Composted? Exploring California’s New Composting Law SB1383 & More! (See below, or go to https://youtu.be/Q7PrASgvs2o .)

This episode clears up confusing things like: which bins do I put milk cartons, waxy take-out containers, paper coffee cups, or dog waste in? And it takes a deep dive into the new expanded compost law SB1383. Please check it out and let us know what you think!

ALSO FROM PAT:
A great video from the State about how this law (SB1383) reduces methane to help combat climate change. The goal is to remove 75% out of the landfills by 2025. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZoiQVyIW3M
You can also check out the audio version on Spotify – listen in your car or at bedtime! https://open.spotify.com/show/3utt9ARsPtlTvKbS35ru3V

The purpose of this channel is to explore climate solutions in meaningful ways, that can empower people to make changes in their lives to help our ailing planet.

Please help support our channel and watch the video/podcast, and if you like it… promote it, share it to your friends and family, and post & comment on it your social media feeds! Thank you for any help in getting this off the ground.

Pat Toth-Smith
Benicia