DC Media Group

Ranson, W.Va.—Local residents rallied at the doorstep of the planned Rockwool insulation factory on May 16 to express their resolve to keep fighting the insulation manufacturer, even as walls of factory buildings rise on the construction site. Resist Rockwool, organizer of the rally, estimated that as many as 400 people attended and lined the edges of the Route 9 bike path, holding aloft protest signs and chanting, “No Toxic Rockwool!”

Twenty-four people were arrested following the rally when they obstructed the road leading to the entrance to the Rockwool site. They were charged with obstructing an officer and blocking a roadway.



Opposition to the Danish company’s mineral wool manufacturing plant has been sustained for ten months now, as residents of Jefferson County continue to object to the siting of the factory across from an elementary school and within two miles of three other schools. They point to numerous hazards and negative impacts of the facility, such as the emission of thousands of tons of air pollutants per year, the risk of ground water contamination and the loss of the area’s rural character. Proponents, on the other hand, talk up economic benefits, such as future tax revenue and at least 140 jobs created.

Blocking the roadway, an act of civil disobedience, was described by rally speakers as an escalation in tactics after pursuing many avenues of redress. Citizens have attended and commented at a multitude of hearings and city council meetings, and expressed their will through the November elections, said Mary Ann Hitt, Sierra Club campaign director and Shepherdstown resident. And Tracy Cannon of Eastern Panhandle Protectors said those willing to commit civil disobedience were there “having exhausted all other means of protesting Rockwool.”

David Levine of Shepherdstown said there was no ambiguity when it comes to Rockwool. “You’re either on the side of the people and the trees and farms, or you’re on the side of greed, coal and fracked gas,” he said.

Many speakers emphasized that resisters would not back down and would even expand their campaign. Kai Newkirk of Resist Rockwool related how a delegation of Jefferson County residents went to Denmark and met with Rockwool executives.

“We told them: We will organize, boycott and divest and use nonviolent direct action until there is a greater cost to Rockwool than leaving. I don’t think they took it seriously. I think they thought when we saw the walls go up, we’d give up. But we’re going to fight every day until Rockwool leaves,” Newkirk said.

Click to view slideshow.

Sharon Wilt, who lives only a half mile away from the site–formerly Jefferson Orchards–mourned the change that Rockwool has already brought to the area. “We used to pick apples and look for morrell mushrooms in the orchard, it was a family tradition to go for hay rides there,” she recalled. “Now there is nothing left but dirt and concrete. They can put it in their backyard [in Denmark]. I will not back down!”

Brian Ross, who lives about a mile away from Rockwool, says it is a bad deal for everyone here. He is a descendant of several people buried at the African-American Methodist cemetery adjacent to the Rockwool site. “It hurts me to my heart to sit here and think that Rockwool come across cemeteries and dig up property that does not belong to them,” he said, referring to the gas pipeline to service Rockwool recently laid along two sides of the cemetery.

On the Danish Day of Prayer, those attending an interfaith service appealed to Danes to stand with them against Danish company Rockwool./Photo by Anne Meador

Other speakers referred to the lack of transparency in the Jefferson County Development Authority’s (JCDA’s) recruitment of Rockwool to come to the area. “We were not given a choice,” Morgan Sell, mother of two, said. “The health and safety of our children is more important than any economic endeavor. We do not consent to this factory.”

In an interview, newly appointed JCDA member Bob McEachern vowed to change things if he could. “I never want to see another Rockwool. My job is going to be to prevent something like this from ever happening [again],” he said. Pointing out that Jefferson County doesn’t even have a bowling alley or movie theater, he says wants to prioritize “quality of life” economic development with businesses that “every vibrant community has.”

On the morning following the rally and civil disobedience action, about 70 people gathered at St.Paul’s Baptist Church, located not far from the construction site, for an interfaith service. The service intentionally coincided with Store Bededag, or General Prayer Day, in Denmark, the home country of Rockwool.

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Washington, DC—Four peace activists who remained in the Venezuelan embassy for 36 days were released from police custody on Friday afternoon, just over 24 hours after federal agents raided the embassy in Georgetown. They were charged with “interfering with a federal law enforcement agent engaged in a protective function,” a class A misdemeanor. They are staying at a safe house in the District, recovering from their ordeal.

At about 9 am on Wednesday morning, Federal Protection Service officers of the Department of Homeland Security entered the Venezuelan embassy and arrested the four activists who were the last of a group of 30 individuals calling themselves the Embassy Protection Collective. The operation took about two hours as dozens of agents from at least four agencies, some dressed in full tactical gear, went from room to room with battering rams. They cleared each room making sure no one was inside.



With the raid and arrests, the dramatic 36-day stand-off at the embassy was over. However, it begins the the next chapter in an international struggle to keep the democratically elected government of Venezuela from being ousted.

The siege produced dramatic scenes between supporters and opposition that spread across social media. U.S. mainstream media effectively blacked out coverage of this story from its beginning.

Activists had repeatedly stated during the siege they were in the embassy at the invitation and pleasure of the democratically elected government of Venezuela. Any attempt to remove them, they argued, was illegal under the Vienna Convention which the U.S. co-signed with 32 other nations in 1961.

Those arrested were Kevin Zeese and Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-founders of Popular Resistance; Dr. Adrienne Pine, a medical anthropologist and Professor at American University; and David Paul, a member of Code Pink.

“The fact that the State Department has broken into a protected diplomatic mission to arrest peace activists will have repercussions the world over,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, an attorney representing the interests of the activists. “This is an extraordinary violation of the Vienna Convention.”

The embassy of Venezuela under siege by “the opposition,” or Juan Guaido supporters near front door./Photo by John Zangas Tuesday Afternoon Drama May Have Sparked Wednesday Morning Raid

On Tuesday, Reverend Jessie Jackson joined a rally in support of the activists from outside the embassy. He participated in a food delivery across opposition lines, in which supporters wrestled with opposition after activists in the embassy dropped a rope from a window to pull up a backpack of food. While supporters grabbed the rope thrown down to them, opposition tried to stop the delivery. Reverend Jackson could be seen in the video carrying food to the embassy.

Ajamu Baraka, former 2016 Green Party candidate for Vice President, intervened as several opposition members placed hands on and tried to wrestle food packages from Reverend Jackson. Baraka and several other supporters pulled opposition away from Jackson as he attempted a humanitarian food delivery, allowing supporters to allow activists above to pull up a backpack of food. The delivery would have extended the ability of the activists to remain in the embassy. DC Metropolitan police stood by watching and there were no arrests, despite clear video evidence that the opposition assaulted supporters.

Activists Already Stood Down a Raid by Federal Agents Monday Night

On Monday night, federal agents massed outside the embassy for a raid, and cut the chains on the doors. Carlos Vecchio, the man the Trump administration would like to install as ambassador of Venezuela, and his staff waited to gain access to the embassy. But attorney Verheyden-Hilliard intervened and warned the officers of the consequences of violating a treaty without having produced an authentic document or having substantive authority. They went inside anyway, but about 20 minutes later, they left without arresting the activists. She had effectively stopped the raid in its tracks.

Embassy Raid Has International Implications

The forced removal of the activists could potentially set in motion a precedent in future disputes between governments. PPAs will not hold as much weight if other government take the lead of the U.S. to allow a takeover an embassy by force. By going against the Vienna Convention, the U.S. has signaled it no longer regards foreign embassies as inviolable territory. This could endanger personnel in embassies of other nations where governments have disputes, according to Kevin Zeese.

An ironic development in the raid and subsequent charge against the activists is that they were not charged with trespassing, although it was the basis for federal agents ordering them to leave and eventually returning to arrest them in the embassy. “They were not charged with trespassing because the US government does not want to explain who is lawfully in charge of these premises,” said Attorney Mara Verheyden Hilliard.

For now, the activists are recovering and resting and preparing for the next phase in the Venezuelan Embassy takeover. They have been issued an 100 foot stay-away order from all Venezuelan missions.

Demonstrations at the Venezuelan embassy are planned in the coming days to pressure on the Trump administration from allowing self-declared Ambassador Carlos Vecchio and his staff from entering the embassy.

The post Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Arrested After Feds Raid Building appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington, DC–Activists opposed to the Trump administration’s plans to overthrow the Venezuelan government returned to the Venezuelan embassy Saturday afternoon to express their support for the group of people known as the Embassy Protection Collective, four of whom were arrested Thursday by U.S. police agents who entered the embassy without the permission of the government of Venezuela.

One day after their release from jail, the four collective members were among the nearly 200 people who rallied and marched to the White House. Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese of activist group Popular Resistance, academic Adrienne Pine and Code Pink member David Paul were released from jail Friday afternoon after appearing in federal court on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with State Department diplomatic protective functions.

Rally and protest at the Venezuelan embassy against U.S. attempts to install an illegitimate ambassador/Photo by Ted Majdosz

A federal judge ordered the activists to keep at least 100 feet away from the Venezuelan embassy and other buildings owned by what the judge referred to as the Trump administration-recognized government of Venezuela. The defendants’ next court date before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is scheduled for June 12.

On Saturday, the four activists followed the judge’s order not to go within 100 feet of the embassy. Instead, the four joined the march as it made its way toward M Street in the heart of the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington on its way to the White House.

Embassy Protector Kevin Zeese hopes to make U.S. hostility toward Venezuela and Iran an election issue./Photo by Ted Majdosz

After marching for about a mile, Zeese said in a speech on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House that the actions of the Trump administration against the Embassy Protection Collective would not deter future protests against U.S. policy toward Venezuela, Iran and other countries.

The protests are “going to escalate and grow,” Zeese said.

“This is just the beginning of a movement that is going to be growing over the next half-dozen months,” Zeese said. “It’s a major issue in the 2020 elections so that no one running for office can be in support of a U.S. coup in Venezuela. We are going to change the narrative.”

Embassy Protector Dr. Margaret Flowers say she was sustained by supporters outside the embassy/Photo by Ted Majdosz

According to legal experts, the Trump administration violated international law by sending police agents into the building without permission of the government of Venezuela.

Zeese chided the corporate news media for their lack of coverage of the standoff at the Venezuelan embassy.

“In their silence is their complicity. They are showing what side they are on by not covering an historic event. The first time ever that U.S. citizens have gone into a foreign embassy to stop a U.S.coup. Never happened before. But it’s not good enough for CNN or MSNBC to be out there,” he said, citing the virtual news blackout of the standoff.

In the few instances in which the corporate news media covered the event, they neglected to explain that the U.S. government’s raid on the Venezuelan embassy–protected diplomatic territory under the Vienna Convention–represented the first time the United States has violated this particular treaty.

“We denounce these arrests, as the people inside were there with our permission, and we consider it a violation of the Vienna Conventions,” Venezuela Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ron said Friday in a statement. “We do not authorize any of the coup leaders to enter our embassy in Washington, DC. We call on the U.S. government to respect the Vienna Conventions and sign a Protecting Power Agreement with us that would ensure the integrity of both our Embassy in Washington, DC and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.”

Outside the Venezuelan embassy Saturday, there were no signs of pro-coup Venezuelans who had spent the past few weeks continuously blowing their sirens and horns, disturbing residents of the Georgetown neighborhood.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration recognized Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela after he proclaimed himself leader of the country. Allies of the Trump administration and countries that receive large amounts of U.S. aid quickly followed Trump’s lead.

Protesters act out roles of John Bolton and puppet ambassador Juan Vecchio/Photo by Ted Majdosz

In her address to the crowd, Flowers thanked the people who showed up to demonstrate their opposition to the takeover of the embassy by the Trump administration and its pro-coup allies in Venezuela.

“Your presence here every day literally gave us the strength to continue to be inside of this building. We have so much love and gratitude for every one of you who was outside facing these violent, racist, homophobic pro-coup people,” Flowers said. “We are saddened that we were unable to hold the embassy until a peaceful path was achieved. But we’re glad that we held it off for 37 days.”

The post Activists to ‘Escalate’ Opposition to Trump’s Pro-War Policies Toward Venezuela, Iran appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Update:

Building plans including foundations for three “stacks” are permitted for the Rockwool plant. Two foundations are intended for 210-feet tall smokestacks, and the third is for a 115-feet tall, 4-foot diameter “chimney,” according to Michael Zarin, Vice President of Group Communications at Rockwool, in an email to DC Media Group. When the mineral wool is cut during the manufacturing process, the chimney will vent “a small amount of particulate matter” after exhaust passes through a “de-dust” filter, Zarin says. He also says that the chimney is part of the original plans.

On August 1, 2017, the Ranson City Council passed an ordinance approved by the Building Commission which amended the building code regarding height limits. The regular height limit is 90 feet for all structures, but the regulation does not apply to certain structures such as water tanks and chimney flues. In the amended ordinance, the City Council added “stacks” to this list of exceptions.

Rockwool does not have plans for a second insulation production line, Zarin says, nor is it currently planning to manufacture acoustic ceiling tiles under the brand name Rockfon, even though the air permit from the West Virginia Department of Environment allows for the ceiling tiles.

_______

Above-ground construction of the Rockwool manufacturing facility in Ranson, W.Va., is moving forward. Concrete walls have become plainly visible at the site of the insulation manufacturing plant in recent days, and permitting shows that the company is making substantial progress toward its goal of erecting the factory amid significant local protest against it.

Concrete walls and a crane are visible on the Rockwool construction site. In the foreground is the area where the Mountaineer Gas pipeline is buried.

On May 5, the City of Ranson issued a permit allowing Rockwool to build steel and concrete structures on the foundations for the furnace, the “cold end” building and a materials storage building. The “hot end” of the factory consists of the furnace where rock and slag are melted, the spinning chamber, oven and cooling zone, while the large, 130,500 sq. ft. “cold end” building is where slicing, dicing and packaging of the mineral wool insulation takes place.

Ranson has also issued permits for construction of underground utilities–including HVAC, electric, and plumbing–for the cold end building and the furnace.

The large “cold end” building is highlighted. The furnace is on the lefthand side of the diagram.

Surprisingly, building plans showing foundations for a third smokestack have been permitted. Rockwool’s intention to erect two 21-story smokestacks has been one of the most highly contentious aspects of the factory. They will be highly visible in the valley and spoil the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail and many other tourist attractions. The possibility of a third smokestack has never been mentioned.

One explanation for the construction of a foundation for a third smokestack–and the lack of a public announcement about it from Rockwool–may be because it is preparation for expansion.  Susan April, a resident of Myersville, Md. who has been researching the inner workings of the Rockwool factories, speculates that a second mineral wool production line will be added in the future.

The Rockwool factory, sited across from North Jefferson Elementary School. The three circles indicate the locations of the three smokestack foundations.

The stack is consistent with dual production lines with the Byhalia plant and other, newer Rockwool plants abroad, she says.

“A second mineral wool line would require installing a second Aquila furnace and a second gutter zone parallel to the present one,” she told DC Media Group in an email. “Both could use the single larger flue-gas cooling tower stack that sits separately in the diagram [pictured above].” April stresses that she is not an architect or a civil engineer.

The possibility of a third smokestack has not been confirmed by Rockwool.

A view of construction from the air on May 11/Photo by Brent Walls, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper

 

The post Ranson Gives Rockwool Go-Ahead for Vertical Construction appeared first on DCMediaGroup.

Washington, DC–The opposition cheered as federal agents Monday night cut the chains on the front doors of the Venezuelan Embassy and prepared to raid the diplomatic mission. As they entered the dark building with flashlights to arrest activists for refusing to leave, it was unclear what would happen next. Such a raid would mark an unprecedented breach of the U.S. obligation involving the Vienna Convention of diplomatic relations and the inviolability of the Embassy. It would put the U.S. on an uncharted course of turning back international norms regarding diplomatic missions.



But the unthinkable happened. At about 2 hours into the raid federal agents were forced to stand down from the operation, although it appeared all but certain to activists that they would be arrested and charged with trespassing into an Embassy. Several journalists voluntarily left the Embassy Monday in anticipation of being arrested during an expected raid.

But Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, an attorney representing the activists interests at the Embassy, challenged the federal agents to explain what authority they had to enter the Embassy or to produce a warrant showing just cause to enter the building and arrest those inside. They had none.

Even the order agents had posted on the Embassy and later read over a loudspeaker, had no signature, no official stamp identifying the authority of the order, and no letterhead of authenticity. It was simply a laminated one-page statement Agents put up which could have been written by anyone. It looked official but it was not.

As Verheyden-Hilliard challenged the agents, they were forced to contend with the one legal choice they had left: request the activists leave of their own free will. The activists refused to leave.

Mara Verheyden-Heller, an attorney representing the activists, peaks to police at Venezuelan Embassy. Photo: John Zangas

Outside opposition grew impatient as Carlos Vecchio and his staff, dressed in immaculate dark suits, stood waiting to take control of the Embassy. Agents were forced to leave the Embassy without arresting anyone or ending the standoff. Opposition repeatedly chanted “Fuera!” (Get out) but the night would pass with the activists still inside.

The four remaining activists Adrienne Pine, an anthropologist, Margaret Flowers, a pediatrician, Kevin Zeese, co-founder of Popular Resistance, and another activist. They released a joint recorded message in essence asserting their right as lawfully invited guests of the elected Bolivarian Government of Venezuela and stated any attempt to remove them would be a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The activists seemed to realize that with food almost gone and electricity and water now turned off since Thursday, another violation of the Vienna Convention, they had less wiggle room to remain inside. But with their numbers now diminished to four, their rations would go further. It would also be less complicated for federal agents to physically enter the Embassy to arrest and remove them.

Four activists of the Embassy Protection Collective remain inside the Venezuelan Embassy.

In a carefully worded letter to the State Department, the activists offered several conditions for voluntarily leaving the Embassy. It was as much a message of Peace as much as one based on diplomacy. They set forth the following conditions for their voluntary departure:

“This is the 34th day of our living in the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. We are prepared to stay another 34 days, or however long is needed to resolve the embassy dispute in a peaceful way consistent with international law.

“This memo is being sent to the US and Venezuela as well as members of our Collective and allies. We are encouraging people to publish this memo as a transparent process is needed to prevent the US from making a unilateral decision that could impact the security of embassies around the world and lead to military conflict.

“There are two ways to resolve the issues around the Venezuelan embassy in DC, which we will explain.

“Before doing so, we reiterate that our collective is one of independent people and organizations not affiliated with any government. While we are all US citizens, we are not agents of the United States. While we are here with permission of the Venezuelan government, we are not their agents or representatives.

“We are here in the embassy lawfully. We are breaking no laws. We did not unlawfully enter and we are not trespassing.

“1. Exiting with a Protecting Power Agreement
The exit from the embassy that best resolves issues to the benefit of the United States and Venezuela is a mutual Protecting Power Agreement. The United States wants a Protecting Power for its embassy in Caracas. Venezuela wants a Protecting Power for its embassy in DC. Such agreements are not uncommon when diplomatic relations are severed.

“A Protecting Power Agreement would avoid a military conflict that could lead to war. A war in Venezuela would be catastrophic for Venezuela, the United States, and for the region. It would lead to lives lost and mass migration from the chaos and conflict of war. It would cost the United States trillions of dollars and become a quagmire involving allied countries around the world.

“We are serving as interim protectors in the hope that the two nations can negotiate this resolution. If this occurs we will take the banners off the building, pack our materials, and leave voluntarily. The electricity could be turned on and we will drive out.

“We suggest a video walk-through with embassy officials to show that the Embassy Protection Collective did not damage the building. The only damage to the building has been inflicted by coup supporters in the course of their unprosecuted break-ins.

“2. The United States violates the Vienna Convention, makes an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests
This approach will violate international law and is fraught with risks. The United States would have to cut the chains in the front door put up by embassy staff and violate the embassy. We have put up barriers there and at other entrances to protect us from constant break-ins and threats from the trespassers whom the police are permitting outside the embassy. The police’s failure to protect the embassy and the US citizens inside has forced us to take these actions.

“The Embassy Protectors will not barricade ourselves, or hide in the embassy in the event of an unlawful entry by police. We will gather together and peacefully assert our rights to remain in the building and uphold international law.

“Any order to vacate based on a request by coup conspirators that lack governing authority will not be a lawful order. The coup has failed multiple times in Venezuela. The elected government is recognized by the Venezuelan courts under Venezuelan law and by the United Nations under international law. An order by the US-appointed coup plotters would not be legal.

“Such an entry would put embassies around the world and in the United States at risk. We are concerned about US embassies and personnel around the world if the Vienna Convention is violated at this embassy. It would set a dangerous precedent that would likely be used against US embassies.

“If an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests are made, we will hold all decision-makers in the chain of command and all officers who enforce unlawful orders accountable.

“We have taken care of this embassy and request a video tour of the building before any arrests.
We hope a wise and calm solution to this issue can be achieved so escalation of this conflict can avoided.

“There is no need for the United States and Venezuela to be enemies. Resolving this embassy dispute diplomatically should lead to negotiations over other issues between the nations.

“The Embassy Protection Collective”

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Washington, DC–On Monday night Secret Service, DC Police, and State Department agents attempted a coordinated raid on the Embassy of Venezuela to arrest activists that have been inside for a month. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, an attorney representing the activists’ interests at the Embassy, intervened on their behalf as federal agents entered the building. She notified them that they had no legal authority to enter the Embassy when they did not present a signed warrant authorizing them to arrest the activists.

Beginning about 7pm, Metropolitan Police several times read an order to the activists over a loudspeaker outside the Embassy that the U.S. Government had recognized Juan Guaidó as the President of Venezuela and Carlos Vecchio as the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, and they were no longer welcome in the Embassy. Agents then ordered them to cease trespassing on Embassy grounds and that failure to immediately leave would result in their arrest. The activists did not appear at windows or acknowledge the order.



The activists, who call themselves the Embassy Protection Collective, are there at the invitation of the Venezuelan government. On Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tweeted his support for them. U.S.-supported coup attempts led by Juan Guaido have failed, but the U.S. government persists in recognizing Guaido as the self-proclaimed president of Venezuela and expelled Venezuelan diplomats. The U.N. recognizes the Maduro government. Maduro won reelection in May 2018 with 68% of the vote.

The activists held up signs last night reading: “Criminals break in. We have the keys.”

Secret Service Agents cut chains on the doors which had been placed there by diplomats before they left the country on April 24, then entered the Embassy with flashlights. They asked the activists to voluntarily leave, but they declined unless certain conditions were met under international law.

It turned out the order posted and read by police was produced on nondescript paper purporting to be by the order of Juan Vecchio and not authenticated with either a signature or stamp by any federal agency or authority, nor any stamp of the Venezuelan government. The agents left the Embassy after some consultation with Verheyden-Hilliard and did not arrest any of the activists remaining inside.

Earlier in the day, however, in anticipation of the coming raid, The Grayzone Project reporter Anya Parammpil and Mintpress News journalist Alex Rubinstein voluntarily left the Embassy. This left only four activists inside the Embassy. Others had left on Sunday or before.

The four members of the Embassy Protection Collective still remaining inside the embassy

Police also forced the opposition to remove all signs, tents and equipment from outside the Embassy and move back to the opposite side of the street. They put up barricades and closed sidewalks around the embassy.

After agents exited the Embassy, they put zip ties around the front door handles and placed a barricade on the front porch. The remaining activists appeared at the windows as supporters cheered: “No Coup!” while the opposition gathered below railed against them, shouting: “Fuera!, Fuera!” (get out) from across the street.

Officers labelled only as “Federal Agents” enter the embassy with attorney Mara Verheyden-Hilliard/Photo by John Zangas

The opposition has barricaded and besieged the activists for the past two weeks, not allowing any food or supplies to be delivered to the activists. Opposition grew enraged when they realized federal agents and other authorities outside the Embassy were not going to arrest or remove the activists.

Carlos Vecchio, the Venezuelan that the U.S. has installed as “ambassador” at the Organization for American States, had shown up at the Embassy with his staff for a short period in anticipation of being allowed to enter the building but was forced to leave without doing so. It was the second time he had been rebuffed in efforts to enter the Embassy as a result of activists refusing to leave.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, the activists’ attorney, tells reporters that federal agents could not produce an arrest warrant./Photo by John Zangas

Three black sedans with tinted glass and federal license plates remained parked in front of the Embassy, while nearly 100 police from various agencies remained in the street and around the Embassy, sealing it off from public access.

It appeared agents we’re still planning to arrest the activists but could not carry out enforcement without a warrant. It was not clear if a warrant could be produced or what jurisdiction would have authority to issue a warrant. According to Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, it would be in violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations for any agency or police force to either enter or remove any of the activists without permission of the elected Government of Venezuela. She stated that regardless of whether representatives the U.S. government had chosen to recognize alternative representatives as the government of Venezuela, they could not enter under the Vienna Convention, a treaty of which the U.S. was a signer in 1961.

We will update this story later on Tuesday as it further develops.

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Washington, DC–Power was cut to the Embassy of Venezuela on Wednesday night after a day of skirmishes between supporters of the activists inside and opposition blockading the building. The conflicts were sparked as activist supporters tried to deliver food to Embassy protectors inside. Supporters were confronted by opposition during each attempt they made to circumvent the blockade.

The skirmishes resulted in minor injuries for at least four activists outside the embassy. While inside, Embassy protectors have to deal with no means to cook food, communicate over WiFi or refrigerate what perishable food they have remaining. They remained sealed off from the opposition who have been trying to gain access since the Venezuela coup attempt 9 days ago.

Over two dozen Secret Service agents assigned to guard the Georgetown red-brick building watched as food deliveries were attempted but stepped in only after conflicts erupted. They arrested three activist supporters but no pro-Juan Guaidó coup supporters for their part in the confrontations.

Skirmishes erupt outside the Embassy of Venezuela as tensions spike. Authorities cut power to force Embassy Protectors to leave.

Jerry Condon, 72, President of Veterans For Peace, was thrown to the ground and his face was bloodied as he attempted to carry food past the pro-coup supporters’ blockade. Five Secret Service agents jumped on him and arrested him. He carried only a cucumber.

Jason Charter, another activist who attempted a food delivery earlier in the day, was choked and knocked to the ground, He suffered minor injuries as a crowd of opposition surrounded and flung him away from a rope he was trying to use to lift food to an window in the embassy. He was treated for injuries at a nearby hospital and released later in the evening.

A third skirmish at the front of the embassy broke out as a group of activists attempted food deliveries. Secret Service arrested Ursala Rozum, a member of CodePink, after she reacted to a person in the blockade who had already assaulted her. She was released later in the evening.

Authorities surround utility workers who appear to be cutting utility services to the Embassy of Venezuela Wednesday night. Activists say this is illegal under provisions of Article 22 of the Vienna Convention. Photo: Alex Rubinstein/Mintpress News

Embassy diplomats invited the activists to the Embassy of Venezuela as guests and later asked them to stand in for them after they were forced to leave the country on April 24. Activists named themselves the Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Collective and maintained an indefinite presence, holding nightly speaking events and lectures about the history of Venezuela and the role its vast mineral and petroleum reserves played in deteriorating relations with the U.S.

The embassy siege began 6 days later on April 30, the same day the self-appointed leader of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó attempted to overthrow democratically elected President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. As the coup attempt unfolded in Caracas. about 200 Juan Guaidó supporters attempted to take over the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, triggering the present siege.

Maduro agreed to and won a special election in 2018 which was demanded by Juan Guaidó. Nicolás Maduro defeated Guaidó with a 68 percent vote majority. The Juan Guaidó coup attempt failed the next day after a majority of the Venezuelan military refused to back Guaidó.

The power cut to the Venezuelan Embassy creates difficult living conditions for activists inside, but they remained committed to staying in the embassy no matter what is thrown at them. They released a statement by video on twitter although the room from which they spoke was nearly pitch black.

“The authorities just illegally turned off our electricity. We expected this and prepared for it, and we’re not leaving,” said Kevin Zeese, one of the activists inside the embassy. Zeese compared the living conditions and treatment of the activists in the embassy by U.S. authorities to the effect sanctions are having on the Venezuelan people.

“It’s ironic that the U.S. government attacked Venezuela’s electric grid and now they’re attacking the Embassy of Venezuela’s electricity,” said Zeese. “They attacked Venezuela with sanctions that made food difficult to get. They’ve used sanctions to prevent us from getting food.” He ended by joining the other activists by singing, “We’re not leaving.”

As night fell, utility workers surrounded by police could be seen at the front of the Embassy of Venezuela descending into manholes. It was feared they would soon turn off water service to the embassy as well.

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Georgetown will receive $1 million and a huge shot of publicity; it was the only city in Texas among the nine winners.

Contact Alba Energy of Round Rock to get a quote for going solar if you live in Georgetown. Government Technology: Luminant to develop $1M solar battery next to West Texas solar farm

Irving-based Luminant announced in November that Texas environmental regulators awarded the company a $1 million grant to build the state’s largest electricity storage facility of its kind. To be located adjacent to Luminant’s 180-megawatt Upton 2 solar power plant in West Texas, this 10-megawatt battery would be the seventh largest in the U.S., according to Luminant.

Related Reading: The BIGGEST Solar Farms in Texas Houston Chronicle: Sunnova brings SunSafe solar-plus-storage system to Texas

Sunnova Energy Corporation, a Houston-based solar energy company, said in November that it is introducing a solar-plus-storage system that will allow homeowners to store solar energy for use during nighttime. Sunnova’s residential solar-plus-storage system, SunSafe, debuted in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria caused the longest blackout in U.S. history. The service provides a 25-year performance guarantee.

Sunnova is one of Alba Energy’s local finance partners.  Wind Solar Alliance: Renewables reduced wholesale power costs by $5.7 billion in Texas

A recent report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) shows just how cost-competitive wind and solar are becoming. The modeling found that wind and solar have reduced wholesale power prices by an average of between $1 and $2.50 per megawatt-hour each year from 2010 through 2017, resulting in prices that were between 2.8% and 8.2% lower than they would have been without these resources. Save Money With Solar Panels In Texas!

Alba Energy is proud to be one of the premier solar installers in Texas with offices throughout the state. Alba’s services include residential solar for homeowners as well as commercial solar for business owners.

And by the way, Alba’s SMART Solar Financing means you can POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. Request a FREE solar consultation today! Request A Free Solar Quote!

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Alba Energy Locations

Austin  |  Dallas  |  Houston  |  McAllen  | San Antonio

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Saving With Solar Panels In Pharr, Texas

The following interview was conducted with Ralph F., an Alba Energy residential solar customer from Pharr, Texas. Find out how much lower your power bills could be by requesting a free solar savings analysis from Alba Energy of McAllen today!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Pharr, Texas. I was born a town over in McAllen but grew up most of my life in the Pharr area. Once I got married my wife Marti and decided this would be where we would continue to call home.

Why did you decide to switch to solar energy?

We decided to go solar because it just made sense. Our sales representative Trae Sepulveda did a great job selling it as well. We loved the fact that we could own our own electricity. The buyback from Green Mountain if we under-used energy sounded good also. And the one year free electricity promotion was pretty amazing.

How much did you know about solar energy?

I had heard about solar before but I thought it would be too complicated to switch. However, i was wrong. Alba made it very easy. 

Related Reading: How Solar Works

What kind of system did Alba Energy install for your home?

Alba installed a 10.2 kW system on our home with 34 Trina Solar panels. It should give us at least 79% power offset each year.

What made you choose Alba Energy for your solar installation?

The one year free electricity promotion was awesome, and their customer service was even better. They were also the first solar company to contact me from the multiple bids I requested.

What was the process of going solar like?

“The process was simple. Alba provided all the steps and we just did what was needed.”

What was the most difficult part of the solar process for you?

The most difficult part was making the decision. Not knowing is difficult but I’m glad my wife and I made the decision.

What benefits have you seen from going solar?

“The greatest benefit is seeing a consistent power bill every month. And only paying $10-$20 if I happen to over use electricity in a given month.”

What would you say to someone who is skeptical about going solar?

It is less complicated than you think, and Alba makes going solar really simple.

Save Money With Solar Panels In Texas!!

Alba Energy is proud to be one of the premier solar installers in Texas with offices throughout the state. Alba’s SMART Solar Financing means you can POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. Request a FREE solar consultation today! Request A Free Solar Quote!

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A special flip-the-switch solar unveiling event has been scheduled for Thursday, November 15th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Local residents and members of the press are invited to join Alba Energy, IDEA Public Schools and Green Mountain Energy as they “flip the switch” to turn the system ‘on’ and begin energizing the school with solar power. 

Who

Public event held by Alba Energy, IDEA Public Schools and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

What

Solar unveiling and ‘flip-the-switch’ event to turn the solar power system ‘on.’

When

Thursday, November 15th 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Where

IDEA Public Schools Weslaco Branch

2931 E Sugar Cane Dr, Weslaco, TX 78599

Why

To commemorate a 1,000+ solar panel roof recently installed atop the IDEA location in Weslaco. The new solar roof will produce over 500,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year — the equivalent to nearly 75% of the school’s needs. The system was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. This is the 6th successful project Alba Energy has completed in partnership with the Sun Club in the past 3 years.

About Alba Energy

Alba Energy is proud to be a leading solar company in Texas, with offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio. Alba’s SMART Solar Financing Programs allow you to POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. For more information visit www.albaenergy.com. Request A Free Solar Quote!

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Alba Energy Helps IDEA Public Schools ‘Green’ Their Headquarters In Weslaco, Texas

 A new solar roof is helping IDEA Public Schools go green and save money in Weslaco.

The Pre-K-12 public charter school recently installed a solar project that covers the roof of their educational facility.

The solar installation will provide the IDEA Public Schools headquarters with electricity from sunlight and save the company tens of thousands of dollars on power bills.

Alba Energy’s McAllen, Texas office designed and installed a 1,072-panel, 364.48-kilowatt solar array on the rooftop of IDEA Public Schools’ campus in South Texas.

The new solar roof will produce over 500,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year — the equivalent to nearly 75% of the school’s needs.

The system was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. This is the 6th successful project Alba Energy has completed in partnership with the Sun Club in the past 3 years.

“In early 2018, Sun Club approved a $100,000 donation towards the installation of a 1,072 panel solar system, saving the school money and reducing its carbon footprint. That’s money that will instead be used to continue providing the high quality educational experience that students at IDEA Public Schools are accustomed to receiving.” – Stacy Mehlhoff, Program and Marketing Manager of the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

“Alba Energy is honored to be selected as the solar design, engineering, and installation firm for yet another project in partnership with Green Mountain Energy and the Sun Club. This system is one of the largest in the Valley, and will provide IDEA Public Schools with 25+ years of savings and carbon reduction.” – Graeme Walker, Founder and CEO of Alba Energy

A special flip-the-switch solar unveiling event has been scheduled for Thursday, November 15th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Local residents and members of the press are invited to join Alba Energy, IDEA Public Schools and Green Mountain Energy as they “flip the switch” to turn the system ‘on’ and begin energizing the school with solar power. 

About IDEA Public Schools

IDEA Public Schools  believes that each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to the fastest-growing network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves 45,000 college-bound students in 79 schools across Texas and Louisiana. IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s Top High Schools lists. IDEA remains on-track to uphold its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.

About Alba Energy

Alba Energy is proud to be a leading solar company in Texas, with offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio. Alba’s SMART Solar Financing Programs allow you to POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. For more information visit www.albaenergy.com. Request A Free Solar Quote! [contact-form-7 id=”10123″ title=”Leads Contact Form 7 – Blog”]

Alamo Solar Farms Produce MASSIVE Amounts Of Clean Energy For San Antonio Electric rates in San Antonio are among the lowest in the nation’s largest U.S. cities. And it’s no coincidence that CPS Energy, the local power utility, ranks first in the state and seventh in the nation for solar generation. CPS recently built out 400 megawatts (MW) of new solar power plants, while solar leasing and community solar power programs in San Antonio are underway to help more people and businesses benefit directly from solar installations. The Alamo Solar Project: San Antonio’s HUGE Solar Power Plant

Map view of San Antonio’s Alamo Solar locations.

Constructed from 2012 to 2016, the Alamo Solar Project will produce approximately 400 MW-ac of clean electricity to serve approximately 90,000 San Antonio, Texas homes in the CPS Energy service territory. Scroll down to learn more about the 7 sites making up the Alamo Solar project.

Alamo 1 – 39.2 MW Solar Power Plant

Aerial view of the Alamo-1 Solar Farm. Image credit: CPS Energy

The 40 MW Alamo-1 solar farm was officially completed in December 2013.  Alamo-1 is made up of 167,680 modules on 2,260 single-axis and 1,932 dual-axis tracker rows, serving approximately 8,820 homes. Alamo 2 – 4.4 MW

View of the Alamo-2 Solar Farm. Image credit: CPS Energy

The 4.4 MW Alamo-2 solar farm was officially completed in March 2014.  Alamo-2 is located northeast of downtown San Antonio on 45 acres of land. It uses  17,920 modules sitting on 448 dual-axis tracker rows. Power for approximately 900 homes.

Alamo 3 – 5.5 MW

View of the Alamo-3 Solar Farm. Image credit: OCI

The 5.5 MW Alamo-3 solar farm was officially completed in January 2015.  Alamo-3 is located on 60 acres of land and uses 21,420 modules on 510 dual-axis trackers. Power for approximately 1,200 homes. Alamo 4 – 39.6 MW

View of the Alamo-4 Solar Farm in Brackettville, Texas. Image credit: OCI

The 39.6 MW Alamo-4 solar farm was officially completed in August 2014.  Alamo-4 is located on 600 acres of land in Brackettville, TX and uses 161,280 modules on 4,032 dual-axis tracker rows. Power for approximately 8,500 homes.

Alamo 5 – 95 MW

View of the Alamo-5 Solar Farm in Uvalde, Texas. Image credit: Mortenson

The 95 MW Alamo-5 solar farm was completed in December 2015.  Alamo-5 is located on 1,000 acres of land in Uvalde, TX and uses 378,000 modules on 9,000 dual-axis trackers. Power for approximately 21,375 homes.

Alamo 6 – 110 MW

View of the Alamo-6 Solar Farm in Iraan, Texas. Image credit: OCI

The 110 MW Alamo-6 solar farm was completed in March 2017.  Alamo-6 is located on 1,250 acres of land in Iraan, TX and uses 438,480 modules on 10,440 dual-axis trackers, the largest dual-axis tracking solar project in the U.S. Power for approximately 24,795 homes. Alamo 7 – 106 MW

View of the Alamo-7 Solar Farm in Haskell, Texas. Image credit: OCI

The 106 MW Alamo-7 solar farm was completed in September 2016.  Alamo-7 is located on 1,230 acres of land in Haskell, TX and uses 423,360 modules on 10,080 dual-axis trackers. Power for approximately 24,000 homes. 

As you can see from above, San Antonians derive a relatively large amount of power needs from solar energy (and you probably never knew it)!

What’s better, CPS Energy is offering one of the best solar rebate programs currently available in Texas – Up to $25,000 in rebates for going solar! Find out how much your CPS Energy Solar Rebate is worth by contacting us below!  Join the solar movement happening in San Antonio, Texas!

Alba Energy is proud to be one of the top solar panel installers in San Antonio, Texas. Our in-house team of NABCEP certified solar experts are trained to design beautiful solar energy systems that can produce as much power from the sun as your home requires, and at a cost that will allow you to save money from day one!

With SMART Solar Financing from Alba Energy you can POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. Request a FREE solar consultation today! Request A Free Solar Quote! [contact-form-7 id=”10123″ title=”Leads Contact Form 7 – Blog”] Alba Energy Locations

Austin  |  Dallas  |  Houston  |  McAllen  | San Antonio

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How many solar panels are needed to power a home? Installing solar panels on your roof is a smart decision for both saving money on power bills and contributing toward a clean energy future. The amount of savings you’ll see each month is determined by a few factors, one of which is how much power is generated by each solar panel. Below is a brief explanation of generating power or electricity with solar. Solar Panel Wattage Rating Solar panels are rated based on the amount of power they can generate, expressed in watts (W). Modern solar panels being installed today have power ratings that range from 250 to 350 watts. What this means is that, under ideal circumstances, an average solar panel will produce 250 watts or more for every hour of direct sunlight it receives. You can view Alba Energy’s Portfolio of Solar Panel Installs in Texas to get a better idea of the solar panel wattages that are commonly used today for residential projects. Solar Panel Efficiency Another key factor that plays a role in answering the above question is solar efficiency, or the amount of sunlight that gets converted into electricity. The good news for you is that both wattage and efficiency ratings of solar panels have increased over time, which is great because it means going solar today will produce more power (and savings) versus years ago.

Image credit: Solar Power Rocks

The earliest solar panels that were used back in the 1950’s converted sunlight at around 6% efficiency. Fast forward to today, and solar efficiency ranges from 15% to 22%.

Example of Solar Panels Wattage and Efficiency

Image credit: EnergySage

Solar panels rated at 15% efficiency are compared in the above example. You can see that with higher wattage panels (300W), just 16 300W panels will produce the same amount of power as 20 250W panels.

Other Factors 

There are a few other factors that play a role in determining how much power can be generated by solar panels, like climate, shading, and orientation. You can learn more about the benefits of adding solar panels to your home by reading more Solar Power FAQs below:

Solar Power FAQs: Will The Electricity Meter Run Backwards When I Go Solar?

Solar Power FAQs: Do Solar Panels Work On Cloudy Days?

Solar Power FAQs: Is Going Solar Worth It In Texas?

Solar Power FAQs: What’s The Best Solar Warranty?

Solar Power FAQs: Are Solar Panels Hail Proof?

Solar Power FAQs: Where Do The Batteries Go?

Find out how many solar panels you need to power your house!

Alba Energy is proud to be one of the premier solar installers in Texas, with offices across the state. Alba Energy has completed hundreds of solar panel installations on both homes and businesses, helping our customers save thousands of dollars on electricity costs. Thanks to our SMART Solar Finance Programs, there’s a good chance you can install solar panels and pay less for the system than you currently pay for electricity. Your monthly energy savings pays for the system!

Contact your local office to schedule a FREE solar consultation, and a representative will walk you through the available options in your zipcode and help you understand the plan that makes the best financial sense!

Request A Free Solar Quote!

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Alba Energy Locations

Austin  |  Dallas  |  Houston  |  McAllen  | San Antonio

KEEP IN TOUCH

800-238-3112

         

SHOW ME MY SOLAR SAVINGS!

HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL

Latest News Stories About Solar Power In Texas The following article contains important news updates about solar energy in Texas from October 2018. Contact Alba Energy – the leading solar company in Texas – to learn about saving money by powering your home or business with clean, unlimited solar energy. Texas Solar Energy News October 2018 PV Magazine USA: Alba Energy unveils SMART Solar PPAs in Texas Austin-based Alba Energy began offering solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Texas in October. Under the company’s new solar option, customers can lock-in 25 years of energy savings with a solar power system owned, operated, and maintained by Alba Energy.

Click to learn more about Alba Energy’s SMART Solar Power Purchase Agreements. Austin Monitor:  Austin Energy proposes new solar farm

According to an article posted on the Austin Monitor, Austin Energy is in the process of negotiating a deal with a developer to build a 144-megawatt solar farm. AE will not yet disclose the location of the proposed site, only saying that it’s in the Austin metro area. The proposed solar farm was submitted to AE in response to a request for proposal from the utility. The RFP did not specify the location or type of renewable energy. If it is approved by City Council, it should be in operation by 2020. San Marcos Corridor News: Austin To Install New Charging Stations For Electric Vehicles

Travis and Williamson counties have 5,313 registered electric vehicles, and the city is planning to accommodate the growing demand by adding 24 new charging stations around town. Both Austin Energy and the city plan to use the new technology of direct current (DC) fast charging stations, which will complete a charge in approximately 20 minutes. Houston Chronicle: Houston needs to lead on solar power, along with oil and gas

Houston’s leaders should embrace the fast-moving development of solar-powered electricity, says Sunnova CEO John Berger, who appeared on a recent panel on the future of electricity at the University of Houston. Solar-related technology is changing rapidly, especially as battery storage improves and smart technology does a better job controlling the flow of power on and off the grid. Solar energy is also less expensive than other fuel sources.

Sunnova is one of Alba Energy’s local finance partners.  Markets Insider: CPS Energy Launches Solar Energy And Battery Storage Project

CPS Energy held a groundbreaking ceremony in October for a new $16.3 million solar and #battery storage project. A 5-megawatt solar farm on 48 acres off West Commerce Street will feed four containers filled with 10 megawatts of lithium-ion batteries to meet local power demand.

The battery storage project is being touted as the first step down CPS Energy’s Flexible Path Plan, which calls for the city-owned utility company to rely less on power generation from fossil fuels and more on renewables, battery storage and other technologies to fill gaps in demand. Save Money With Solar Panels In Texas!

Alba Energy is proud to be one of the premier solar installers in Texas with offices throughout the state. Alba’s services include residential solar for homeowners as well as commercial solar for business owners.

And by the way, Alba’s SMART Solar Financing means you can POWER your home with solar panels, pay LESS on electricity bills, and contribute to a CLEAN energy future. Request a FREE solar consultation today! Request A Free Solar Quote! [contact-form-7 id=”10123″ title=”Leads Contact Form 7 – Blog”] Alba Energy Locations

Austin  |  Dallas  |  Houston  |  McAllen  | San Antonio

KEEP IN TOUCH

800-238-3112

         

SHOW ME MY SOLAR SAVINGS!

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Earn Rebates for Going Solar in Denton, Texas – Up to $30,000 Dollars!

ACT FAST – City of Denton offers up to $30,000 rebate for going solar for a very limited time!

Denton Municipal Electric (DME) is paying local homeowners to install solar panels under their 2018 distributed generation program. Effective October 1, 2018, DME’s Solar Incentive has changed from being a flat rebate to a tiered rebate. Funding was increased to $500,000. Scroll down to learn more about rebates for going solar in Denton.

Request a FREE online analysis of how much money you could save with solar power in Denton!

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Solar Panel Rebates in Denton, Texas – Top 5 Things To Know

 

• Energy created from solar panels is energy that electric utilities do not have to create from their own power plants. Installing solar panels on your home helps you lower power bills, save money, benefit the environment, and also helps the utility during “peak demand” periods.
• Denton, Texas homeowners in the DME service territory can receive up to $30,000 dollars worth of rebates toward the cost of installing solar panels on a residence. A rebate is available for residential customers in Denton who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes.
• Effective October 2018, a tiered rebate program is now in effect, with separate tiers for systems with and without energy storage (batteries). See below for incentive levels.
• This rebate program is limited to $500,000 in total funding. Rebates WILL run out, so ACT FAST to secure yours before then!
• Homeowners must use an approved solar contractor (like Alba Energy of Dallas).

Going Solar in Denton, Texas – How It Works

Under Denton Municipal ’s program residential customers are billed for their whole house energy consumption at standard residential rates and then credited for any excess solar energy sent back into the grid. In the diagram below (1) is solar panel absorption of sunlight in AC energy form. (2) an inverter changes the AC energy into DC form. (3) solar energy is sent into the home for immediate use when needed. any unused or excess solar energy goes through the power meter (4) where it is credited to your account and put into (5) the local power grid. 

Tiered Rebates for Denton Energy’s Solar Panel Incentive

The rebate is tiered, so the final dollar amount will depend on how large of a system you install:

For Solar ONLY Installs (No Batteries) The Rebate Is As Follows:
3.0 kW to 5.0 kW 80¢ per AC Watt 

5.1 kW to 10.0 kW 60¢ per AC Watt 

Above 10.1 kW 40¢ per AC Watt 

For Solar with Battery Storage:

3.0 kW to 5.0 kW $1.20 per AC Watt

5.1 kW to 10.0 kW 90¢ per AC Watt

Above 10.1 kW 60¢ per AC Watt

All incentives are to be an amount up to $30,000, not to exceed 50% of total project cost.

Solar Rebate Example:

5 kW system size or 5,000 watts

$0.80 x 5,000 watts = $4,000 eligible rebate. *Note there is also a 30% Federal Tax Credit available on all solar panel installations through 12/31/2019.

SMART Solar Financing Available In Denton, Texas

With SMART Solar Financing from Alba Energy, going solar on your home is affordable for everyone, allowing you to save money INSTANTLY! That is, the cost of your new power bill + the monthly solar finance cost could be less than your current power bill! It’s a no-brainer! Installing solar panels in Denton, Texas lets you take ownership of your energy supply and costs. Let one of Alba Energy’s 5-star solar professionals show you how to save money with a solar panel installation. Contact Alba Energy of Dallas to request a free consultation about going solar TODAY! Alba Energy Locations

Austin  |  Dallas  |  Houston  |  McAllen  | San Antonio

KEEP IN TOUCH

800-238-3112

         

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Two fracking well “derricks” and chanting protesters block First St. at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission./Photo by Anne Meador

Security at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seemed caught unawares Monday morning when anti-pipeline activists blockaded the staff parking garage at the agency headquarters. In the middle of First Street, two people climbed up and perched high on bamboo structures made to resemble hydraulic fracking well derricks. FERC is responsible for approving or denying proposed interstate gas pipelines, most of them supplied by fracking wells.

“FERC greenlights all energy projects, paying no mind to how dirty or unsafe they are to the climate or community,” said derrick-sitter Jessica Sunflower Rechtschaffer of New York City. “We erected these towers in front of FERC to show how these towers are being placed all over the USA, disrupting people, their homes livelihoods and environment.”

The FERC critics from Beyond Extreme Energy (BXE) and other groups, numbering about two dozen, also unfurled a long banner in front of the main entrance, blocking it as well. They say FERC should no longer be “a rubber stamping agency” and instead dedicate itself to facilitating “a just transition off fossil fuels.”

FERC has long been accused of having a “cozy relationship” with industry with commissioners and staff enjoying a revolving door to and from gas industry jobs. Critics also say that it assists gas companies in breaking up projects into smaller ones which will more easily obtain approval, a practice known as segmentation. Meanwhile, communities must grapple with a complex and time-consuming permit process directed toward what seems like a predetermined outcome. FERC has also been accused of “cherry-picking” data to force pipelines through low-income areas and communities of color.

There has been a sustained initiative to draw attention to the broad impact of the agency’s work, as gas companies seize private property and dig up forests, streams and mountaintops with a massive expansion of pipeline networks. For more than four years, BXE has held similar protests at FERC headquarters and disrupted the Commission’s monthly public meetings. Their efforts may be paying off.

“We’re beginning to see cracks between the FERC commissioners,” derrick-sitter Drew Hudson of North Carolina said, pointing out that earlier this month, Commissioners Cheryl LaFleur and Richard Glick voted to vacate Mountain Valley Pipeline’s permit.

FERC recently embarked on a review of the process governing its permit approvals. There are indications that Democrats LaFleur and Glick are demanding analysis of the climate impacts of pipelines, which would be in accordance with a recent court ruling. But the three Republican commissioners want to shorten the timeline for permit applications and streamline any evaluation.

Swaying only the two Democrats on the Commission may not be enough to achieve BXE’s goal of turning FERC into an agency willing to facilitate a transition to renewable energy. “We need at least three and preferably all five commissioners on board,” Hudson said.

While communities continue to fight FERC, vast numbers of people around the country are affected or potentially affected by the pipelines it approves. An independent safety analysis ordered by Governor Cuomo just released by the New York Department of Public Service finds that FERC was aware that the Spectra Algonquin Pipeline involves unacceptable risks when it approved it in March 2015, according to Kim Fraczek of Sane Energy Project. The Algonquin Pipeline runs only 100 feet from the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant located 30 miles north of New York City.

“This agency is responsible of saying yes to this pipeline knowing that it was unsafe,” Fraczek, who was protesting at FERC on Monday, said. “It’s putting a population of 25 million at risk. If this pipeline blows up next to Indian Point, it’s game over for the metropolitan New York City area.”

Click to view slideshow.

The post Blockade by Pipeline Opponents Disrupts Work Day at FERC appeared first on DCMediaGroup.


Washington, DC — Thousands of people protesting systemic racism and poverty marched to the Capitol on Saturday but were barred from entering the grounds by U.S. Capitol Police. A long line of officers blocked the South Lawn and halted a march organized by the Poor People’s Campaign–a revival of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s movement 50 years ago—at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

Rev. William Barber and Rev. Jesse Jackson pressed police to allow them to proceed to the Capitol Lawn and conclude their march with the delivery of petitions demanding Congress allocate resources for the poor and struggling workers. U.S. Capitol Police Captain John Erickson, however, refused on the grounds that a large group needed a permit to demonstrate. An agreement was eventually worked out for petition boxes to be carried by individuals one at a time to the Capitol steps.

Rev. William Barber (c) with Rev. Jesse Jackson (to his right) leads the Poor People’s Campaign march to the U.S. Capitol

Barber and Jackson gathered the crowd in prayer. “There is no black and white. We’re all precious in God’s sight,” Jackson said, leading the others in a call-and-response. He concluded with “We’ll all remember in November,” referring to the midterm elections.

The march wrapped up 40 days of protests, rallies and civil disobedience actions in Washington, DC and around the country. Many prominent civil rights activists took part, some of whom were founding members the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.

Rev. Barber reviewed the victories of the campaign so far, saying it had been the goal to shift the narrative and get the attention of the international community. They had engaged in simultaneous civil disobedience in 40 states, registered voters in poor communities and put issues on the record at a hearing in Congress. The campaign will continue as a multi-year organizing and get-out-the-vote effort.

“We know how to fight, and we’re committed to do it,” said Rev. Barber. “I got a feeling everything’s going to be all right, you know Martin’s done told us,” Rev. Barber sang with the crowd.

Drawing from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Rev. Barber outlined actions Poor Peoples Campaign would pursue in the coming months. “We learned from our non-violence training that you only have the authority to shut it down when you have given your adversary clear understanding of what you want, why you want it, and you’ve attempted to give them the opportunity,” he said.

He was critical of police for not letting them deliver their demands to Congress. “We remember this month [June 1968] when they tried to kill the Poor People’s Campaign, snatched them away, ran them out even after they had permits. Now today they won’t even give you a permit to be on the mall,” he said.

Rev. William Barber and Rev. Jesse Jackson confer at U.S. Capitol as Capitol Police block the marchers from entering Capitol grounds.

A huge three-hour rally on the National Mall preceded the march. The severe humidity affected many of the older civil rights leaders. Rev. Barber appeared to suffer as he walked behind the lead banner, and several people offered him assistance in walking.

Actor Danny Glover was also among civil rights leaders walking with the lead banner. “We see the contradictions with this administration all the time. Now we have to gather a mass mobilization, a real mass movement to change and that’s got to take place in many ways,” he said. He urged anyone feeling discouraged to keep going. “When you hear the dogs barking, keep going. When you think they’re going to catch you, keep going,” he said, drawing from the words of Harriet Tubman.

The original Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 was a march of nine caravans from different cities to Washington, DC. Once they arrived, they set up Resurrection City, a tent area for permitted tent city of homeless on the National Mall. It was led by Rev. William Abernathy who took on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision after he was assassinated in April of that year.

Click to view slideshow.

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Washington, DC — U.S. Park Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers forced a protest encampment at Dupont Circle to disband Monday evening. The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign set up the camp, which they called Resurrection City II, on Saturday to bring attention to worsening conditions experienced by poor people and the homeless. They had obtained a permit from the National Park Service to be in the park until Wednesday.

Police began gathering on the outskirts of the park in the upscale neighborhood of Dupont Circle around 7:00 pm but gave no prior warning to organizers that they would soon evict them. No one was arrested, but police confiscated tents and bedding. About 40 people staying in the park, many of them veterans as well as homeless, took refuge at a nearby church on 16th Street.

Police cited “noise complaints, permanent structures and obstruction of signs” as reasons to evict them and seize property, according to a PPECHR press release.

Cheri Honkala protests the eviction of Resurrection City as a violation of 1st Amendment rights/Screenshot Mark Apolloa FB Live

PPEHRC had set up a stage for outreach to the public to tell about their first hand experiences with poverty and homelessness in urban neighborhoods. They had also scheduled a series of punk and rap groups to perform original venues to attract hundreds each day to hear their stories.

The group had walked from the Kensington district of Philadelphia to Washington, DC over a 10-day period. They had named their occupation Resurrection City II, commemorating the original Poor Peoples Campaign March organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 50 years ago. The original march of 1968 walked from Baltimore to Washington and formed Resurrection City on the National Mall.

Kensington is the poorest district of Philadelphia and one of the poorest per capita neighborhoods in the U.S. with more than 60% of its population either homeless, unemployed, receiving public assistance, or suffering from addiction.

Cheri Honkala, co-director and organizer of the Poor People’s March, had been released from custody earlier in the day after she was arrested for refusing to leave a sit-in at the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) headquarters. No sooner had she been released for trespassing than she was dealing with over 20 police officers from the National Park Service and DC Metropolitan Police.

Many first time activists took part in the Poor People’s March who had never participated in any protest activity before. They included poor and homeless families, veterans, disabled persons, those with addictions, newly returned citizens, and clergy.

A band plays at Resurrection City before police move in to evict Monday evening/Photo by John Zangas

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Dheri Honkala is taken from the lobby of HUD by Federal Protective Service officers/Screenshot from PPEHCR video

An advocate for the poor and homeless was arrested today at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) while attempting to speak with Secretary Ben Carson.

Federal Protective Services police took Cheri Honkala into custody Monday afternoon when she refused to leave the lobby of the HUD building.

“All I wanted is a meeting on behalf of poor, homeless families across the entire country,” she said as police pulled her toward a vehicle. “Poor people deserve to eat. One fucking meeting!”

The arrest took place during a protest at HUD organized by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, which has set up an encampment in Dupont Circle. Honkala was Jill Stein’s running mate and the Green Party candidate for vice president in the 2012 election.

Carson announced a plan in April that would raise rents for those receiving federal housing assistance by 20 percent, according to an analysis just released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The proposal would affect 2 million households immediately and an additional 2 million in the next six years.

Carson says reducing assistance will force the poor into the workforce and give them a path to self-sufficiency. “It’s our attempt to give poor people a way out of poverty,” he said in an interview with Fox News.

Honkala and about fifty others with the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign had just arrived in Washington on Saturday after walking for ten days from Philadelphia. They began their walk in Kensington, the poorest district in Philadelphia, on June 2, the 50th anniversary of the original walk led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Baltimore to Washington in 1968.

They set up camp in Dupont Circle, in the midst of some the most costly properties with the highest rents in the District. Resurrection City II, as they call it, will remain indefinitely and serve as their base of operations for protest actions like the one at HUD today. They hope to highlight deteriorating economic conditions, rampant homelessness, hunger, job displacement, drug addiction and rising debt among the working class.

The new occupants of Resurrection City are advocating for themselves as poor Americans. Many of them are homeless and have never done anything like this before. Part of their message is that in order for meaningful progress in any movement, it must be led by those affected, according to Rev. Bruce Wright. “Any movement to end poverty must be led by poor people, homeless people, unemployed people and people impacted by it,” he said.

After 50 marchers arrived in Washington, they began to set up Resurrection City II/Photo by John Zangas

Rev. Wright was critical of Rev. William Barber’s Poor People’s Campaign, which has been underwritten by big monied interests such as the Ford Foundation. “No disrespect to him, he’s a good man, but I think he’s been co-opted by big money,” Rev. Wright said, adding that PPEHRC does not accept corporate sponsorships, big money donations or grants.

“Poor people are the ones that need to be heard,” said Wright. “Unless you have been homeless, unless you’ve been poor, unless you’ve experienced poverty, you have no right to dictate to poor people how their change should happen,” Wright said.

Leaders of large foundations and the Democratic National Committee are top-down organizations and want to take control, Wright said. This used against Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s, when leaders from political parties tried to intervene in his campaign. “They tried to co-opt Dr. King and tell him don’t say anything because [President] Johnson is doing all this for the poor, and he said ‘I can’t not say anything, this isn’t about political parties.’”

Organizers are asking for support at Resurrection City II, including food, water, medical supplies, and moral support. They are also requesting donations to help with transportation costs. The plan to stay in Dupont Circle at least a week or longer if hey can generate the support needed.



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Police form a line at 13th & K Streets NW as Inauguration Day protests dragged into the afternoon. They deployed concussion grenades and mace. Photo: John Zangas

Washington, DC–A defendant in the Inauguration Day protest trials was found not guilty by jury trial on Monday. Casey Webber was acquitted of all felony and misdemeanor charges against him stemming from the mass-arrests of 230 protesters during January 20 protests. The trials have come to be known as the J20 trials.

Three other defendants are still waiting jury verdicts in the trial, which began on May 14. The jury told Judge Katherine Knowles on Tuesday, that they were deadlocked but she returned them to the jury room until they reached verdicts.

Webber said that though his trial was over and has resulted in a positive personal outcome, he did not feel any relief due to seeing the three other defendants in his trial anguishing over the possible outcome. He also said he could not rest and would continue to support another 40 defendants who were awaiting trials.

The defendants faced a possible 60 years in prison for the charges of malicious destruction of property, conspiracy to riot, inciting a riot, rioting, and assaulting a police officer.

The May 14 trial was the second that had gone to a jury. Another J20 trial of six defendants in December of last year resulted in acquittals of each of six defendants for a total of 42 charges. Another 129 defendants had their charges dropped in January 2018 shortly after the first acquittals.

Webber said that there was no direct evidence admitted by the U.S. Attorney’s office that linked any of the defendants to any of the charges they faced.

Key Exculpatory Evidence Withheld From Defense

The U.S. District Attorney was forced to drop all charges in another J20 trial against 6 other defendants which had been set to begin on Monday, June 4. There were no grounds to pursue felony charges in the trial when it came to light that Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kerkhoff withheld key evidence from defense attorneys.

District of Columbia Superior Court, Chief Judge Robert E. Morin had been hearing pretrial motions in the June 4 trial in regard to exculpatory evidence that Kerkhoff had in her possession. The key evidence in question was a video clip the prosecution was using to support felony charges against all defendants.

The Inauguration Day protests lasted the entire day and involved thousands of protesters throughout the downtown area. Photo: John Zangas

Defense attorneys argued the felony charges of conspiracy to riot and inciting a riot were not valid since they had not been provided an uncut version of the video during discovery. The defense team also learned from an email sent by the US Attorney’s office to Judge Morin that the Project Veritas evidence should have included an additional 65 videos and 4 audio recordings that had been withheld from defense during discovery. The videos had been also been recorded and provided to DC police by conservative media group Project Veritas, which had produced the videos when it infiltrated and secretly recorded Dissent J20 planning meetings.

Dissent J20 was an umbrella organization with which other protest groups coordinated to disrupt the Inauguration Day parade. On Inauguration Day, hundreds of police moved against a breakaway group of protesters and mass-arrested 230 of them, including journalists, photographers and independent media live-streamers.

Defendants in the May 14 trial have already been subjected to admission of the tainted Veritas Project video in their trial. Judge Katherine Knowles of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia is presiding in this jury trial and had already admitted into evidence the edited Project Veritas video. It is not certain what the final outcome of this trial will be for the three remaining defendants but it gives credence to a strong defense on appeal in the event of conviction based on omitted exculpatory evidence.

Project Veritas Video Evidence Backfired Against Prosecutors

Project Veritas subsequently produced their heavily edited video from recordings of the Dissent J20 planning meetings and released it the day before the J20 protests in order to discredit the protesters. The video was produced to cast planners as endorsing violence during the Inauguration Day parade. Project Veritas provided the heavily edited video to Detective Pemberton, who then provided it the U.S. Attorney’s office. The video formed a basis for felony inciting riot and conspiracy to riot charges against all 230 defendants in the J20 trials.

Defense attorneys filed additional motions for dismissal of the felony charges once they discovered that the Project Veritas videographer could be heard saying that he believed the J20 planners did not know of a conspiracy during the J20 protests.

Defense attorneys argued the U.S. Attorneys office should have provided a copy of the omitted video clip but instead deliberately withheld it and in so doing, violated a foundational principle of due process known as the Brady rule. This legal procedure is compulsory during the discovery phase of pretrial procedures. The Brady rule requires prosecutors to share materially exculpatory evidence with the defense before an actual jury trial begins.

The defense attorneys argued that by not adhering to this legal requirement, the U.S. Attorney’s office denied defendants due process under the law. The Brady rule came out of a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1963, which provided defense attorneys access to evidence prosecutors discover during the course of an investigation, which may assist the defendants in their case.

Chief Judge Sanctions Prosecutor

Judge Morin was said to have been incredulous at the revelation of the prosecutor’s multiple violations of the Brady rule. Judge Morin queried the stand-in prosecutor during the June 4 pretrial motions but the prosecutor could not answer for Assistant Kerkhoff because she was at that time prosecuting the ongoing May 14 J20 trial.

Judge Morin sanctioned Kerkhoff as a result of the Brady rule violations, thereby prohibited her from submitting any additional evidence in the course of future J20 trials, further weakening the U.S. Attorney’s ability to secure J20 trial convictions.

It is not yet clear which party edited the critical portion of the video clip. Whether it was Project Veritas, the police, or the U.S. District Attorney’s office, real damage has been done to the credibility and handling of the trials by the prosecution.

Inauguration Day protesters not being arrested gather at 13th & K Streets and confronted police while a block away more police kettled 230 protesters. Photo: John Zangas

The conservative Project Veritas media organization has previously been involved in a series of clandestine video traps. In operations against ACORN and Planned Parenthood, operatives penetrated business offices of these groups unbeknownst to them and recorded discussions which were later edited. The videos were then released to the public in an attempt to discredit the organizations.

The Project Veritas sting methods used against Planned Parenthood and ACORN have now also played a role in ensnaring the U.S. Attorney’s office in what is turning out at best to be chaotic records of trials.

Webber was pensive concerning the behavior of prosecutors and police and likened the justice system to a design to work exactly as it did. “The evidence was problematic from the beginning,” he said. “The charges were based on conjecture and there was never any material evidence presented on any person,” he said.

Webber believes the conduct of the prosecution was “closer to political persecution than criminal prosecution.” He also stated that the approach was to over dramatize the accusations so people would take pleas. “The prosecution obstructed evidence from defense council over the threat of built up charges for minor offenses,” he said.

Webber also pointed out the cost to the defendants and their families as well as the taxpayers. “The prosecution has cost the taxpayers millions in these cases,” he said.

Webber was found not guilty on all counts but he believes he likely would not have faced the charges had the defense attorneys been provided the full Veritas Project video during disclosure. Webber’s trial was unique in that he was seen by prosecutors as a prime Dissent J20 organizer who at the time worked as an officer for Industrial Workers of the World Union. He had since vacated his position because of the trial but remained a member of IWW.

More Defendants Have Charges Dropped

The defendants in the third trial (June 4) have had felony charges dropped with prejudice. This means the U.S. Attorney’s office cannot refile these charges against them. They will not face retrial on any of the felony or misdemeanor counts dismissed with prejudice.

Concurrently another set of dismissals were issued Monday, June 4 for another J20 trial which began pre-hearing motions on May 29. Chief Judge Morin had determined the Brady violations were so severe that he would not let the trial proceed.

As a sidebar to the unfolding court chaos under the watch of the Judge Morin and at the hands of U.S. Attorney’s office and Assistant Prosecutor Kerkhoff, a police officer who testified at the May 14 trial as a witness against J20 defendants, wore a shirt in the courtroom a few minutes after he testified. DC police officer William Chapman had fashioned a silk-screened shirt emblazoned with ‘Police Brutality…or doing what their parents should have,’ along with an image of a police baton and handcuffs. He plainly wore the shirt and message around the courthouse until he was seen leaving with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerkhoff.

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