The Center for Natural Capital

Rapidan StreamSweepers Seeks Madison County High School, Virginia Student

admin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:20:05 +0000

For the summer Central Virginia eco-youth job program, Rapidan StreamSweepers, three students have been hired from Orange County. We seek at least 1 more student to round out the team. This is paid employment to conduct river eco-assessment and trash removal.

Oyster Cages Funded through New Ahyayha Project – Nearly 20% of Goal Already Met

admin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:37:42 +0000

In just a few days, funds for more than a dozen cages (19% of the $7950 goal) have been raised though the Ahyayha Project for One Oyster At A Time. Roughly 80 days remain in the funding period for additional project Backers to pledge support for oyster farmers Anthony and Elyse Bavuso. Project rewards include fresh oysters shipped directly to the Supporter, Seaford Oyster Company gear, and phosphorus and nitrogen footprint reduction certificates.

Center Receives Funds to Build Coalition for Implementation of Water Utility Payment System for Green Infrastructure

admin — Thu, 30 May 2013 01:32:05 +0000

Additional funding was awarded today from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the Virginia Department of Forestry to the Center to conduct coalition building among diverse economic and environmental interests in Central Virginia for the purpose of testing implementation of the use of a portion of the water utility base rate as a means to pay for green infrastructure practices. Last year, the Forests to Faucets (F2F) project and specifically results from a case study application of the Optimum Infrastructure Expenditure (OIE) System showed that green infrastructure, such as forest conservation easements and afforestation contracts, were as cost effective as grey infrastructure, such as dredging, when considered over a long term planning horizon.

Center Board Member Chandler Van Voorhis to Speak at Cville TEDx

admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:20:50 +0000

Center for Natural Capital Board Member Chandler Van Voorhis will speak at the November TEDx in Charlottesville. Chandler is a Principal with GreenTrees and an expert on market-based conservation. Board Member Roger Voisinet is serving on the Steering Committee for this event.

Ahyayha Project to Test Voluntary Nutrient Reduction Registry

admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:30:28 +0000

The Ahyayha Project is testing the addition of a Nitrogen and Phosphorus reduction registry to its environmental crowdfunding platform. Ahyayha will list the quantity of nitrogen and phosphorus reduction used and remaining on projects as they are funded. A protocol has also been developed to provide limited verification of certificates. Certificates are available to any individual or business.

Virginia Biomass Solutions Fall Conference Date and Draft Agenda Set

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:49:50 +0000

Biomass for Energy, Economy, and the Environment

Longwood University, Farmville, Virginia

Monday, September 9

5:00 – 7:00 Reception at Hampton Inn for Speakers and Attendees

Tuesday, September 10

7:30 – 8:00 Registration and Refreshments

8:00 – 8:30 Opening comments

Organizers Welcome – Al Weed – Fmr. Executive Director, Public Policy Virginia and Board Member, Center for Natural Capital
Energy to Ecosystem Services – a Systems Approach – Chandler Van Voorhis – Managing Partner, GreenTrees and Board Member, Center for Natural Capital
Host’s Welcome – Richard Bratcher – Longwood VP Facilities & Real Property Management

8:30 – 10:00 – 1^st Morning Session – Biomass Energy Markets Session 1

Feedstocks – Grass, herbaceous/woody biomass, manures, biosolids and food waste – John Ignosh, Virginia Tech Extension
Technologies – scale-appropriate combustion, gasification, anaerobic digestion and combined heat & power – Jactone Arogo Ogejo, Virginia Tech (anaerobic digestion of wet feedstocks), Steve Langseth (thermal conversion of dry feedstocks)

10:00 – 10:30 Morning Break and Sponsor/Vendors

10:30 to 12:00 2^nd Morning Session – Biomass Energy Markets Session 2

Project Development – Neil Clinebell, Trane
Financing – Taynette Tucker (USDA), Steve Versen (VDACS)

12:00 to 1:00 – Lunch – Speaker (TBD)

1:00 – 2:00 1st Afternoon Session – Emerging Biomass Markets – Ecosystem Services

Water quality – Verl Emrick, Virginia Tech
Water supply – grey & green infrastructure optimization – Michael Collins, Center for Natural Capital
Wildlife – pollinators, fee hunting, and tourism – Marc Puckett, VDGIF

2:00 – 2:30 – State and National Legislative Roundup – BTEC (Federal) & Mitch KIng, Old Mill Power (State)

2:30 – 3:00 – Afternoon Break and Sponsor/Vendors

3:30 – 4:30 – Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Longwood heating plant tour – Ben Meyers
Biomass/Bioenergy Market Development Roundtable – Larry Cummings
Biomass/Bioenergy Policy Strategy Roundtable – Eldon James, Eldon James & Associates
Biomass/Bioenergy State and Regional Networking Strategy Roundtable – John Ackerly

4:30 – 5:00 Conference Findings and Discussion – Michael Collins, Center for Natural Capital

5:30 – 8:30 VBN Networking and Biomass for the Bay Social (oyster and crab gathering at Charley’s Waterfront Café)

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

8:00 – 11:00 Piedmont Geriatric Hospital and FDC Enterprises Tour

***Confirmed Speakers

***Suggested/Tentative Speakers

Center selected to manage new Virginia Community Wood Energy Program

admin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:43:59 +0000

The Center for Natural Capital + Partners was selected yesterday by the Virginia Department of Forestry to manage a new statewide initiative – the Virginia Community Wood Energy Program (VCWEP). The Center will manage the program for the Virginia Department of Forestry, in partnership with Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech Extension, Whole Forest Solutions, LLC, Water Words that Work, LLC, Audibert Photo, and others. The program will begin immediately and will run through 2015.

Central Virginia Landowners Step Forward for StreamSweepers

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:02:40 +0000

As Ecology II students at Orange County High School, VA learn about the science side of stream cleaning, local landowners such as David Perdue & Family, Somerset Plantation, and others are stepping forward to enroll the streamside portion of their properties in this local youth eco-job training and entrepreneurship program. Property owners in the Liberty Mills, Spicer’s Mills, and Madison Mills area of Central Virginia can now register for stream cleaning and river monitoring by calling 540-661-7379.

Recruitment for the inaugural summer 2013 StreamSweepers Team, composed of area college and high school youth will begin in the coming weeks. A StreamSweepers 2013 project webpage on this website is now being created to provide more information.

Ahyayha Project Seeks Crowdfunding for York River Oyster Farmer

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:20:22 +0000

Team Ahyayha travels to York County, Virginia this weekend to film a young oyster farmer and his family’s story to build an oyster growing business that will also help restore the York River and the Chesapeake Bay. The family needs more cages to grow more oysters and plans to offer free oysters shipped anywhere in the U.S. in exchange for contributions to buy materials.

Natural Capital Association Moves Forward with River Friendly Council

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:23:46 +0000

Working with Corporate Partners Biogreen USA, Holistic Pet Solutions, and others, the Natural Capital Association, a 501 c-6 trade organization, will create a pilot Central Virginia Trade Association for Vendors of “River Friendly” products and services. The River Friendly Council will exist to promote the need for River Friendly Yards to restore local streams and rivers and the Chesapeake Bay via the products and services provided by Alliance members.

An organizational meeting of the Alliance will be held at a location TBD later this spring.

For more information on how the Council will move forward, visit the website for the Rappahannock River Friendly Yard program.