Field Notes
by Peter B Brace

Clean Power TV

Clean Power Now is taking to the airways to get its message out about renewable energy use.

Working with Cape Cod Community Media Center TV, Clean Power Now is doing a television series called "The Vision," which airs Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at noon on Nantucket's Channel 17. Each installment, featuring Clean Power Now Board President Richard Elrick, will focus on clean energy topics including renewable energy organizations here and abroad, European offshore energy projects, land-based wind energy projects and U.S. offshore energy policies.

If watching a weekly series about clean energy is not enough for you, Clean Power Now is leading a global warming rally today in front of the Statehouse from noon to 2 p.m. This rally is designed to remind our politicians of the need to strengthen their stand against the continued use of fossil fuels and recommit themselves to reducing carbon dioxide emissions through passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act. This act requires greenhouse gas emission reductions of 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

After several speeches, the rally moves inside the Statehouse to meet with Cape and Islands legislators to lobby their support for this act.

To learn more about "The Vision" series, this rally and Clean Power Now, call them at 508-775- 7796 and visit www.cleanpowernow.org

Bill Connell's trash obsession

It seems incomprehensible that anyone but the Department of Public Works personnel would be out on the island roads and beaches picking up trash during the month of July. Certainly no one doing it pro bono.

But a select, dedicated and almost obsessed group of people, extremely reverent of their very presence on Nantucket soil, can be seen canvassing a different part of the island nearly every Saturday morning throughout the summer. This month is no exception. Bill Connell's Clean Team is at it again. On July 5, Connell, a seasonal resident of Polpis, and those who want to join him will be cleaning downtown, including Orange Street, especially the stretch from Hatch's all the way to the Rotary, Union Street and Washington Street. Meet in the Grand Union parking lot. The following Saturday, July 12, the team moves to Madaket Beach and meets at the beach end of Madaket Road.

On July 19, the lucky island locale is at the intersection of Milestone and Nobadeer Farm roads with special attention paid to the Delta ball fields. And on July 26, the Clean Team descends on the Creeks at the end of Washington Street Extension past the Great Harbor Yacht Club.

All Clean Team adventures begin at 8 a.m. and end promptly at 9 a.m. E-mail Connell at wconnell@connellwiener.com to have the Clean Team come to your area or to volunteer.

Hazardous waste day is July 19

Is your garage packed with dangerous chemicals, used motor oils and buckets of spent batteries? Don't go running into the moors with your toxic waste. Hang in there and think of the treasures of open space we all share and the contamination and damage your lethal waste would inflict on our precious wilderness. Bring all of your nasty liquids and solids out to the garage at 188 Madaket Road from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. To get there, take the third entrance to the landfill property coming from the town and the first coming from Madaket. For a complete listing of what you can and can't unload, check out www.nantucket-ma.gov/departments/ dpw.html, scroll down and click on the link for household hazardous waste or call 228-7244. I