The Udall Legacy Bus Tour Comes Home

On Aug. 3rd, our bus rolled into Tucson. Home. Not home to any of the riders -- but home to Mo and the Udall Foundation.

Andrew Lee (Scholar '06) leads the welcoming cheer (Photo by Tom Spitz)

And it was definitely a homecoming. We arrived to the loving welcome of the Udall Foundation staff. Not only were we received with open arms -- but also a full on cheer. The cheer on Friday was surpassed only by the cheer the following day from all the 2007 scholars led by Andrew Lee (Scholar 2006) in front of the Foundation's HQ in downtown Tucson.

The end of the tour coincided with the 2007 Udall Scholar Orientation -- the annual gathering of all the recipients of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship. It was an appropriate place to end the tour considering that it was two years ago at this same event that the idea of a big 'ol bus tour was first kicked around.

The energy at Orientation was infectious. It always is. Udallers, as we saw on the tour, and were reminded of again in Tucson -- are incredibly passionate, caring, and engaged. The "small talk" during Orientation is often about organizing a campus, researching a problem, or tackling policy issues head on. I always find it's such a recharge -- which was a great way to end our Tour.

The official finale of the tour included remarks from Carol West (Tucson City Councilor), Ramona Grijalva (who read a message from her husband, Rep. Raul Grijalva), Terry Bracy (Chair of the Foundation), and Anne Udall (Mo's daughter and vice-chair of the Foundation). After Bret, Jen, and I spoke about some of the most memorable moments of the trip we moved into the building where, amidst the mingling, there were photo and video slideshows showing images of the past two months.

Anne Udall speaking at the finale event in Tucson (Photo by Tom Spitz)

The photos and video -- as good as they are -- can't capture the tour fully. This blog can't do it either. Nor do they do a good enough job thanking everyone who made this tour possible: the Udall Foundation Education Team, the many alumni who helped plan stops, and the many friends who opened their doors to a traveling group of public servants. But we hope that all of it - stories, photos, and video -- have been able to convey at least a little bit of those thanks and communicate what the Udall Legacy Bus Tour was.

Thanks for riding with us!

By: Eli Zigas

P.S.
(Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more video posts ...)

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Udallers visit National Renewable Energy Lab

On the morning of July 13, eleven of us went out to visit the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, CO. There, we met up with Jim Bosch and Ivilina Thornton and hopped over to the security center – luckily everyone remembered to wear shoes and leave their Nalgenes behind.

At the Visitor’s Center, we received a quick introduction to the history and key research going on at NREL, such as solar and wind energy, biomass fuels, hydrogen technologies and infrastructure. Because hydrogen currently used in industry is more than 90% derived from natural gas, Jim emphasized the importance of finding green sources for hydrogen – whether using algae to produce it, or using clean electricity (ex. wind) to split water molecules via electrolysis.

Most of our brief visit (barely an hour, whereas I could have spent days in there) was spent looking at the evolution of photovoltaic (PV) solar technologies at NREL. Apparently, the early solar panels from the 60s were under 10% efficient at converting the sun’s energy to electricity, and today’s “high performance” solar panels can utilize over 40% of the sun’s energy.

Much of this research was spurred in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis and Arab oil embargo, as energy independence was seen as the priority (not so much environmental concerns). Today, a similar sentiment is in the air, in addition to growing environmental awareness and concern, which is helping to raise the profile of solar and other research being led by NREL. In addition to the high tech PV solar technology, we also got a glimpse of some clever “low tech” projects, such as using a “transpired solar collector” (black perforated wall) to pre-heat air entering a heating unit. While these technologies are very exciting due to their potential to lower our dependence on fuel from foreign countries, many of them should also make it possible to improve the quality of life in remote and financially poor communities.

By: Bret Strogen

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Design-Your-Coach

While in Chicago last week, Motor Coach Industries – the Schaumburg, Illinois-based motor coach company that provided our stylish ride for the summer – treated the Legacy Crew to an evening of famous Chicago-style pizza at Gino’s East.

At dinner we met with Brent Maitland, MCI’s VP of New Markets, and talked about our coach, as well as the future of the motor coach industry.

If you’ve read up on the tour a little bit, you probably know that our coach was the first certified by the University of Vermont’s Green Coach Certification program, due to its use of a B-20/ultra-low sulfur diesel blend, it’s 2007 Caterpillar engine, and the use of carbon-offsets. UVM’s new program is just starting to take off and is a great start to move the commercial motor coach industry forward in providing more eco-friendly transportation for its customers.

But MCI is hoping to take the phrase “green coach” even further in the near future. Brent asked the crew about what we’d like to see if we were able to design a coach. So we shared some ideas – some realistic and practical, while others were a little more of a stretch – on how one’s motor coach experience can be even greener.

So, in the spirit of having fun and sharing ideas, I have a question for you all. If you were to design your perfect “green” motor coach, what types of things would you incorporate in your interior and exterior design?

Recycled carpeting? Solar panels on the roof? Composting toilets?

Leave a post with your ideas!

By: Bret Muter

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Celebrating Energy Independence in New Orleans

In the spirit of our patriotic summer holiday, the Alliance for Affordable Energy welcomed the Udall Legacy Bus Tour to New Orleans with a day full of public workshops and outreach to celebrate “Energy Independence Day” in America. The Alliance made good use of all 13 Udall volunteers: a few promoted the afternoon’s events in front of Whole Foods, others joined Andi Hoffman’s Greenlight New Orleans volunteering with his light bulb exchange program (to reduce the energy usage of many residents), some helped distribute recycled paint to residents moving back into their homes (quasi-energy related, right?), and everyone helped set up tables, chairs, signs and displays for the evening workshops.

Forest Bradley-Wright (Sustainable Rebuild Coordinator for the Alliance), kicked off the evening at 4:30pm with an update on new energy policies that apply to residents prior to leading a workshop on improving home energy efficiency. At the same time, many folks attended a biodiesel workshop headed by Topher Mira and Eileen Beall of the New Orleans Biodiesel Initiative. Towards the end of the evening, the Udall bus riders introduced themselves, and then Austin Travis of Whole Foods outlined the company’s greening initiatives as people snacked on the food they generously donated. The evening came to a close with a workshop overviewing solar technologies as a few of the Udallers helped cleanup. Overall, everyone felt like we accomplished a lot throughout the day, and that we helped out the community, learned a lot about technologies, policies, and successful (last-minute) event planning.

After working hard all day, we said goodbye to Forest and enjoyed a piece of delicious chocolate birthday cake (that the crew surprised me with), prior to going out to celebrate energy independence in true New Orleans style!

By: Bret Strogen

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Tasting biodiesel, burning country music, and listening to wine in Nashville

Sunday morning – Wake up! We’re going to learn about biodiesel! 8am on a Sunday morning, and the Udall crew was off to meet with about a dozen Nashville residents and Vanderbilt students to see the site for the soon-to-be biodiesel pilot plant on campus. Derek Riley, a PhD candidate in Computer Science Modeling at Vanderbilt explained to the audience how the WilSkills club began this initiative to produce biodiesel to use for their outings (with the help of '06 Udall Scholar Jenny Magill). What started as a small student hobby will soon be a small operating facility adjacent to the university’s coal-fired power plant. The main lessons we took away from this visit were that potassium hydroxide is preferred over sodium hydroxide (lye), though more expensive, because it clumps up less often, methanol is preferred over ethanol because the process is more forgiving, and cool things happen when students don’t wait for others to support their projects, but rather go ahead and try it first. The discussion was followed by a tour of Vanderbilt’s new LEED certified Commons building, which is almost completely constructed and will be a multi-purpose building for students.

For most of us, the afternoon was spent moseying around Nashville with Derek listening to live country music at Roberts Western World and the Bluegrass Inn (where there is no cover, and beer is cheaper than soda). Lunch was enjoyed on cigarette-burned lawn furniture on a fake grass turf porch at Paradise Park.

At 4pm, we meandered over to the office of Hastings Architecture, which is the only LEED-certified building in Nashville. Here we were greeted by David Bailey and Erik Lund of Hastings and my good family friends, the Saucy Sisters (Barbara and Beverly). After sampling one or two glasses of Foris wine (grown organically in Oregon), donated by Vicki Turner at VPT Ventures, we all mingled and went on a tour of Hasting’s impressive green building, which was constructed inside the skeleton of an old warehouse. Hastings has been a part of the green building movement since the early days, and continues to inspire visitors to their building.

As a perfect end to our day in Nashville, we headed over to Barbara’s house, for the most delicious home-cooked meal of the trip . . . and more wine, of course. If anyone could show this group how to have fun together, it was these two sisters. Great food, good friends, good wine, and a beautiful evening to eat out on the patio really helped the Udallers unwind and enjoy each others company . . . so much so, that we held our first spontaneous dance party on the bus as we got ready to leave the neighborhood. Thank you Saucy Sisters!!

By: Bret Strogen

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In good company

We'd like to be able to claim that we're the only tour on the road addressing public service, Native American, and environmental issues. But we'd be lying if we said so. (First green certified motor coach, however -- not a lie).

Two weeks into the tour, we've got empathy for all the other folks out there doing the same kind of thing we're doing. So here's a shout out to those other bus tour crews!

• The Big Green Bus -- Dartmouth students spreading the good word using veggie biodiesel in a tricked-out school bus.
  
  
• Crossing the country in a bike is way more impressive than doing it with a motor. Ride for Climate = hardcore + inspiring.
  
  
• Soon to be launching - Sustainable Table's Eat Well Guided Tour of America. Sustainable food -- and what appears to be a whole lotta pie :)
  
  
• The BioTour -- Exploring sustainable energy and American culture
  
  
• YERT -- your environmental road trip -- just launched eco-expedition

~~~

If you know of any more bus tours related to public service, environmental, or Native American issues -- drop us a comment!

By: Eli Zigas

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From City to Countryside – Borderview and Allenholm Farms, Vermont

After a successful press conference, which unveiled our coach's Green Certification through the University of Vermont (UVM), tour riders and community guests traveled around the Vermont countryside to visit two local farms. Director and Natural Resources Specialist, Dr. Lisa Chase and Senior Program Manager, Dr. Dave Kestenbaum, both from the Vermont Tourism Data Center, developed the UVM Green Coach Certification program.

Lisa is also a ’99 Udall Fellow. After the exciting morning press event, she helped the Udall tour plan our afternoon which highlighted two local area farms in Vermont: Borderview Farm in Alburgh and Allenholm Farm in South Hero.

Our first stop was Borderview Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. To get to Alburgh from UVM, you must cross a bridge over the famous Lake Champlain. I had never been to Vermont nor seen Lake Champlain before our visit. It was a spectacular site. The water and mountains were breathtaking. Alburgh is a small town, called an Island by locals, but is rather a peninsula attached to Canada. Borderview farm is located right next to the Canada and USA border… which is probably why the farm received the name Borderview. Fellow rider Crystal Olin, one of our community guests, and I lightheartedly walked the few feet across the Canadian border. After leaving the country (jokingly), we quickly returned to the United States to rejoin the group. Dr. Doug Lantagne, Dean of the UVM Extension, introduced the Udall tour to the owner of Borderview Farm.

Borderview Farm is owned by Clare and Rodger Rainville. Borderview was previously a dairy farm. The Rainvilles, over the past three years, have converted the farm into a laboratory in partnership with the UVM Extension. They currently grow Canola in an effort to better understand and make local biodiesel. The farm also supports ongoing research projects to identify optimal growing conditions for plants (e.g. wheat, spelt, and soy beans). Dr. Heather Darby, UVM Extension Assistant Professor, works directly with the Rainville family. Heather gave us a tour of the farm. She was very engaging – lots of energy and high spirits.

The stop emphasized the need to have a self-sufficient local economy. The tour riders were also reconnected to the land. It is too easy for society to go to the grocery store and buy food products without even knowing how the plants that produce their oats, wheat, and different grains and beans actually look like. The farm was well marked with different signs and jars full of the various different harvested products. The farm was practical, experimental, and educational. I walked away from Borderview with increased knowledge of more sustainable farming practices.

After saying good to Rodger and Heather, we loaded back onto the biodiesel motor coach. I must note that besides traveling on our biodiesel motor coach, we have traveled using many forms of public transportation. Throughout our various adventures in the big east coast cities, we have journeyed on the DC “Metro”, the Philadelphia and NYC “Subway”, and the Boston “T”. However, after driving to South Hero, we went from the fast paced hustle and bustle of city transportation to a rural Vermont wagon and donkey!

When we drove up to Allenholm farm, located in South Hero, Vermont, owner Ray Allen welcomed us and directed the group off of the motor coach and onto his tractor pulled wagon. He drove us from his small family farm store and petting zoo up to his home and apple orchard.

Ray welcomed us into his home, which also serves as a bed and breakfast. Ray and his wife Pam both own and operate Allenholm farm along with their children and grandchildren. Their family has owned Allenholm since 1870 and their grandchildren are the 6th generation to live on the farm. The Allen family made an excellent lunch for our visit. We ate lunch outside in their beautiful yard – full of gorgeous flowers. Fresh applesauce and strawberry lemonade were some of my favorite menu items. Their beautiful apple orchard and Lake Placid were in view off in the distance. Perhaps my favorite part of their house was seeing a cute dusty orange cat curled up on its back in one of the bedrooms.

After our homemade lunch, Ray and Pam took us back onto the wagon to revisit their farm store and petting zoo. Ray and Pam talked with us about their business which includes a Bed and Breakfast, Farm Store, Petting Zoo, and Orchard. They also host different events on their orchard and will sell other items, such as homemade apple pies, to local area businesses and restaurants. They utilize several forms of agrotourism. Agrotourism helps them develop a sense of community at Allenholm and stabilizes their farming business.

The Udall riders really enjoyed visiting the Petting Zoo. A couple of the Allen’s bunnies had just birthed two litters of baby bunnies. Ray showed us the less-than-24-hour baby bunnies. They were hairless, but very cute, and already wiggled their little noses. The animal who received the most attention was their donkey Willy. Pam explained how spoiled Willy is on the farm. Ray will give Willy kisses by putting a peppermint candy between his lips … letting Willy “kiss” it from his mouth. Everyone was laughing at this silly site! He asked if anyone else wanted to try. Sure enough, Bret Strogen, Matt McMahon, and Julie Curti were up to the challenge. One by one they gave Willy a big kiss.

Doug explained that out of his many visits to Allenholm, he had never seen a visitor kiss Willy. I think everyone was surprised. Especially when the donkey, while kissing Julie, gave her such a big smoocher that Willy knocked her glasses off! Ray even let Martina Gast, who is afraid of horses, take a ride on Willy’s back. What a spoiled donkey! While I did not give Willy a kiss, the rest of us were very much a part of the laughter and excitement.

After visiting the animals, we went into the Allen’s farm store and ate dessert. They made us fresh apple pie with soft serve ice cream. It was amazing! Of course I couldn’t leave Vermont without trying some Vermont cheese and purchasing some Vermont maple syrup from the Allenholm Farm store. When we left Allenholm, it was like saying goodbye to our own family. Allenholm Farm was very welcoming. Having grown up in Virginia, I felt like I was in the south even though I was actually in the northeast…. Lots of kindness and home cooked food.

By the end of the day, my mouth was literally hurting from smiling so much. Borderview and Allenholm Farms both give me hope that society can work towards both peace and sustainability. I would like to thank both farms for giving us their time, passion, and for sharing their knowledge and businesses with us. I also give a big thank you to Rachel Cadieux who works for the Farm Service Agency with the US Dept. of Agriculture. I had the pleasure to learn so much about Vermont farms and culture while sitting next to her on our motor coach throughout our adventure. I can’t believe we'll be back in New York tomorrow. However, I’m already planning a return trip back to beautiful Vermont!.

By Jessica Fagan

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It's nice to be first .... green certified

Wednesday the sun rose over the green hills of Vermont – it was a good day for our coach to be green certified.

Amidst the stately campus the Udall Legacy Bus Tour’s motor coach – donated by Motor Coach Industries and operated by Lamoille Valley Transportation (which also received the certification that day) – had its three leaf certification unveiled. The cameras were rolling (check out the video) and the reporters had questions (read the article) and the crowd let out an ooh and an ahhhh… ok, maybe not the last part. But it was sweet nonetheless!

Dave Kestenbaum and Lisa Chase (Udall Fellow '99) unveil the Green Coach Certification
on the Udall Legacy Bus Tour motorcoach

The certification program and our tour were given well wishes by Vermont Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, UVM Provost John Hughes, Dean of the UVM Extension program, Doug Lantagne, Udall Fellow (1999) and director of the Vermont Transportation Data Center, Dr. Lisa Chase, and Senior Program Manager at the VT Transportation Data Center, Dave Kestenbaum.

As the certification ceremonies drew to a close, we drove out of campus with a camera team riding alongside us, trying to catch footage of the certification logo on our bus -- in motion!

By: Eli Zigas

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Udall Legacy Bus Tour Gets a Capitol Send-Off

And we’re off! At noon on Capitol Hill – we got our first glimpse of the bus – and it’s a beauty.

A crowd of folks – including alumni of the Udall programs, family, friends, sponsors and others gathered to hear a series of send-off speeches from:

• Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett
• Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT)
• Rep. Peter Welch (VT)
• Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ)
• Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ)
• Rep. Harry Mitchell (AZ)
• Rep. Nick Rahall II (WV)
• Rep. Mark Udall (CO) [Mo’s son]
• Dr. Anne Udall [Mo’s daughter]

Each successive speaker emphasized just how strongly Mo’s legacy is still felt on Capitol Hill to this day. And there’s also no question that energy independence and biofuels is an issue many of the members of Congress are focusing on in this session.

At the end of the event ... you could say the crew was pretty excited!

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Welcome to the Udall Legacy Bus Tour Blog

The Countdown Begins.

On June 12th, thirteen crazy Udallers are hoppin' on a ride so pimped out -- it would make Arnold Schwarzenegger jealous. We're taking our motor coach coast-to-coast highlighting people -- especially young people -- who are finding solutions to pressing environmental and Native American issues (full itinerary). And we're going to be documenting the whole trip -- with text, photo, and video -- right here.

We want you to join us; There are a couple of ways to do it

1. Join our email list. On the right hand navigation bar, a little bit down, there's an easy place to sign up for it. We'll be sending updates from the road with news from the communities we visit, links to stories about the tour, and links back to the blog. We promise not to flood your inbox (i.e. no more than two emails/week).



2. If you're tech savvy -- sign up for our RSS feed. See the button at the bottom of our blog or copy this link into your feed reader.



3. If you hate computers but love Mo & Udallers, just bookmark our site and keep checking back here: blogs.udall.gov
   

We also want your help spreading the word.

1. If you're on Facebook, MySpace, or have your own blog/website -- please link to us. The bookmark button at the bottom of our blog makes it easy.



2. Send your friends and family a link to our blog. We all know there are problems out there. Our tour --and blog -- will be highlighting some of the solutions.
   



3. And, if you really want to be our favorite person ever -- tell any reporter you know about our tour and point 'em in the direction of our media resources.

While we're posting updates from the road, we hope to get your feedback. At the end of every post there's a link that says 'comments.' Just click on that link to leave your thoughts. If you've got any suggestions for the blogs, drop us a line at : legacybustour@udall.gov

THREE WEEKS 'TILL KICK-OFF IN D.C.

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