THG and 2012 — The Year in Review

2012 has been busy at The Horinko Group – enjoy this year’s highlights and stay tuned for the newly designed 2013 Sustainabulletin!

Fourth Annual Summit, “The Next Generation of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement” (Oct. 17)

Executive Salon, “Financing Water Infrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships: Finding the Right Model” (Apr 30)

White Paper, “Hydraulic Fracturing Guidebook" (Oct 22)

Webinar Series —

“Biofuel Production – Dissecting the Water–Energy–Land Nexus” (May 17)

“Promoting Innovative Environmental Technologies: EPA’s New “Path Forward” Strategy” (Mar 30)

“Agricultural Water Usage: Trends, Indicators, and What It All Means” (Feb 16)

“Family Farms, Rural Landscapes, and the Farm Bill” (Jan 18)

Monthly Featured Columns

Events and Presentations

THG Webinar Recording Now Available — “EPA Activities Relevant to Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Issues”

As part of the Mentoring Environment & Energy Together project, The Horinko Group hosted a webinar on December 3 entitled, EPA Activities Relevant to Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Issues. The webinar was presented by G. Tracy Mehan, Principal at The Cadmus Group and former Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. 

The webinar provided an overview of EPA’s involvement in hydraulic fracturing issues concerning water, covering topics such as which EPA Offices are most directly involved, scope of the congressionally-mandated EPA hydraulic fracturing study, and activities currently underway within the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.

To listen to the webinar recording and view the accompanying presentation, click http://bit.ly/THGDec3MEETWeb.

THG Builds Capacity for Public–Private Partnership Efforts

THG has released its latest capability statement entitled, Financing Water Infrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships. Public-private ventures can advance much needed progress in the water and wastewater sector and tackle the most difficult fiscal and environmental compliant situations that confront many communities. THG has built a team of practitioners well positioned to examine and advance P3 opportunities as an honest broker focused on communication and education, community and stakeholder engagement, and technical partnership expertise.

To read and download a PDF of the fact sheet, visit http://bit.ly/THGP3facts.

NRDC Publishes Report on Reducing Oil Dependence

The National Resources and Defense Council in partnership with David Gardiner & Associates published the 6th edition of the Fighting Oil Addition: Ranking States’ Gasoline Price Vulnerability and Solutions for Change report last month.

The study identifies those states whose citizens are most impacted by gasoline prices as well as states that are doing the most to break their oil addiction. The report uses two indicators to provide state rankings, gasoline price vulnerability, and adoption of smart solutions to reduce oil dependence. Among its conclusions, the research finds that few states are taking significant steps to reduce oil dependence.

To read the report in its entirety, visit http://bit.ly/NRDC6thFOA.

The Federal Guiding Principles in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
December 20, 2012 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM EDT | Online Webinar

The U.S. Department of Energy will present this webcast to teach federal energy and sustainability professionals on how to use the ENERGY STAR measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, to help ensure compliance with the Guiding Principles for High Performance Sustainable Buildings required by Executive Orders 13423 and 13514.  Students will receive a brief introduction to the Guiding Principles requirements and recommended evidence of compliance.

For more information and to register for this webinar, visit http://1.usa.gov/VH0zJM.

9th Annual State of the Energy Industry
January 16, 2013 | 12:00 – 5:00 PM EDT | Washington, DC | Registration
The U.S. Energy Association will host the 9th Annual State of the Energy Industry at the National Press Club.

Speakers will include Executive Director of the U.S. Energy Association Barry Worthington.

For more information, visit the USEA website at http://bit.ly/USEA9thSEIF.

13th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment
Jan 15-17, 2013 | Washington, DC | Registration
Hosted by the National Council for Science and the Environment, this conference will bring together over 1,200 leaders from the emergency response, scientific, policy, conservation, and business communities, as well as federal and local government officials.

Participants will address themes such as cascading disasters, the intersection of the built and natural environments, disasters as mechanisms of ecosystem change, rethinking recovery and expanding the vision of mitigation, human behavior and its consequences and “No Regrets” resilience.

For more information about this conference, visit www.environmentaldisasters.net.

WRAP Delegation Returns from Middle East

The Water Resources Action Project (WRAP) delegation recently returned from the Middle East to oversee progress at its two project schools in Sur Baher, East Jerusalem, bordering Israel and Palestine. In each school, WRAP has constructed a rain barrel harvesting system that provides water for toilet flushing, accompanied by an environmental education program. WRAP also used the visit to identify its next project school.

To learn more about this effort, past projects, and contribute, visit WRAP’s website at www.wrapdc.org. Every penny of every dollar contributed goes directly toward project design, construction, installation, and educational awareness.

Excerpt From: “Financing Renewable Energy Innovation & Development — Lessons from Abroad”

By: Cathryn Courtin, Student Scholar, The Horinko Group
While in attendance at the United Nations climate negotiations in Doha, Qatar, delegates dispute many aspects of international action on climate change, one question that underlies every conversation is: How will the proposed changes be funded? A piece of this funding question has to do with investment in renewable energy and how to scale-up the clean technologies that are needed to bolster emissions mitigations.

Panel discussions that went on in events parallel to the negotiations in Doha addressed this question and helped to break down the funding challenge while providing potential solutions.

To read the remainder of the featured column, visit http://bit.ly/THGDec2012FC.

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The Horinko Group is an environmental consulting firm operating at the intersection of science, policy, and communication. The Horinko Group has become a leader in designing and applying innovative solutions to address our nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. We bring together disparate groups of stakeholders and facilitate the collaboration critical to ensure efforts are cost-effective and sustainable.

For the latest updates on the environmental issues you care about, visit us online at www.thgadvisors.org.

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