GREENS INVITED TO COMMENT . . . Lincoln Electric System is seeking a 5.5% retail rate increase (half a percent of the total budget) to assist residential and business customers in becoming more energy efficient. Renewable energy will also be part of the program. There is support for this step, but a Lincoln business group opposes it. Electric rates for residential customers are two to three times higher than for commercial and industrial users. Rates are not inverted as water rates are, to encourage conservation. The City Council must approve, and may make changes. They need to know there is strong support for making electricity more efficient—the cheapest and fastest way to curb global warming pollution. The Council public hearing is Monday, February 4, 1:30 pm, County-City Building, 9th and K Streets. Rate schedules at http://www.les.com.
GREENS SPEARHEAD Coalition for the Environment and Earth Day 2008 . . . The next planning meeting will be Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 7:00pm, at ME Group offices, 2820 North 48th Street, Lincoln.
GREENS VIGIL WITH NEBRASKA COALITION FOR PEACE every Wednesday, 5-6:00pm at the Federal Building, 15th & O Street in Lincoln. The Coalition meets every Saturday, 2:30pm at Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P Street.
WACHISKA AUDUBON 4th ANNUAL WINTERFEST . . . Sunday, February 10, 2008, 3:00pm, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3825 Wildbriar Lane in Lincoln (one block north of the intersection of South 40th Street and Old Cheney Rd.) This year’s event features novelist Jonis Agee (UNL English Dept), nature writer John Janovy Jr. (UNL biologist), and photographer Chris Helzer (program director for The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern NE Project Office). Admission: $5/person. Refreshments will be served. Books will be available for sale and signing.
STEVE LARRICK FOR SENATE campaign priorities . . . (1) END THE IRAQ OCCUPATION NOW! – build peace through diplomacy; (2) RESTORE SOCIAL JUSTICE – single-payer health care and living wages for all; (3) FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING – weatherize homes to conserve energy and develop renewable wind, solar, and switchgrass energy; (4) RESTORE TRUE DEMOCRACY – through public campaign financing and instant run-off voting.