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Spring 2010

Energy and the Green City

The Great Works Symposium presents the third in its 2009-2010 series on "ENERGY":

ENERGY AND THE GREEN CITY/ SUSTAINABILITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

UNIV 241, 3 credits
SPRING TERM, 2010

Course Information:

In 2009, Philadelphia’s Nutter administration released Greenworks Philadelphia. Building upon the City’s 2007 Local Action Plan for Climate Change and its GreenPlan, Greenworks lays out goals with measurable targets and specific initiatives regarding Energy, Environment, Equity, Economy, and Engagement to be met by 2015. This course is designed to critically examine the four targets set out to meet the Greenworks Energy goal: “Philadelphia reduces its vulnerability to rising energy prices.” To do this, students will use the Ecological Footprint model, asking: To what extent do the Energy targets of Greenworks Philadelphia reduce the City’s ecological footprint? Is the city the appropriate scale to consider the energy ecological footprint? What are the issues that complicate measuring the City’s energy ecological footprint? What are the implications of the Greenworks Energy targets for city policy?

This course, co-taught by Richardson Dilworth, Jerry Mead, and Dan Moscovici, will take up these questions – guest speakers will be featured, and small group meetings will facilitate critical thinking and research on the topic.

Mission:

The Great Works Symposium is an interdisciplinary course—focused on exploring subjects of the broadest possible interest and greatest societal impact—designed to bring Drexel University students, teachers, and weekvisiting expert lecturers into collaboration. The Great Works Symposium strives to avoid the “textbook approach,” with an emphasis on developing in students the active skills of interdisciplinary inquiry: reading, writing, critical thinking, methodological creativity, and argument. Through an intense examination of one topic, students are encouraged to see the University as an interconnected enterprise, and to imagine the University as one part of a larger spectrum of scholars in the communities of the city, the nation, and the world.

Class Meeting Days and Times

Lectures: Thursday, 6:00-7:20 p.m.
Sections: Thursday, 7:30-8:50 p.m.

Instructors, Contacts, Office Hours

Richardson Dilworth
Director, Center for Public Policy
Associate Professor of Political Science
Dept. of History & Politics
rd43@drexel.edu
215-895-2471

Jerry V. Mead, PhD
Watershed and Systems Ecology Section Leader
Academy of Natural Sciences
mead@ansp.org
215-405-5091

Dan Moscovici
Great Works Symposium Fellow
dmoscovici@gmail.com
215-688-2910
Hagerty Rm. 203

Texts

Chambers, N., Simmons, C., and Wackernagel, M. (2007). Sharing nature’s interest. London: Earthscan.

Other assigned readings will be made available via e-mail or blackboard, or will be available directly on the web. A reading schedule will be assigned and students must keep up with all assignments. The instructors may add supplemental readings as the course progresses. Please keep up with the weekly reading assignment schedule, and make sure you are aware of any reading updates given throughout the term.

Assignments and Grades

Class Participation (including weekly reaction/discussion papers): 25%
Mid-Term Exam: 35%
Term Project: 40%

This will be a very ACTIVE class! Participation comprises a large proportion of your grade. Please attend every lecture and every section/workshop meeting. Come to class having completed the reading assignments, prepared to meet research goals, and ready to take part. This will result in your getting the most possible from the course, and it will create a dynamic classroom environment. You will be evaluated with these expectations in mind.

Your class participation grade will be determined in part by your attendance and your role in section/workshop discussion. Additionally, for the seven weekly guest lectures, Weeks 1 through 9, you will be required to submit a brief (2 page) “critical summary” paper consisting of article summaries and questions /specific talking points related to the week’s topic and readings. This should be type-written and double spaced, and they should reflect your preparation for the week’s discussion. Please submit your questions to your instructor by e-mail no later than 6:00pm the night before class. You are to use these as the basis for the Q&A and discussion section during these weeks.

At mid-term you will complete an exam that will evaluate your completion and comprehension of assigned readings, and your understanding of material presented in lectures, panel discussions, and section meetings. The format will be written (essay), and it will be administered in class during Week 4. The last date on which a student may withdraw from the course is May 7. Therefore, students who score below a grade of 65 on this exam, or miss it for any unexcused reason will be expected to drop the course.

During Weeks 5 through 9, students will work in groups towards completion of a major term project. Students will address one of the four Energy Targets of Greenworks Philadelphia, examining the extent to which they will impact Philadelphia’s ecological footprint. Targets will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Specifically, students will be expected to:

  1. Articulate an accurate and concise summary of the specific Energy Target,
  2. Put that information into the context of an ecological footprint analysis for Philadelphia,
  3. Generate original research examining the extent to which Philadelphia has met these energy goals laid out in Greenworks Philadelphia (employing 5 original, citable research references, including but not limited to telephone interviews and official city agency/department reports), and
  4. Synthesize research findings into an analysis of the impact that the Greenworks framework will have on Philadelphia’s energy ecological footprint, Including new perspectives for sustainability.

In collaboration with the group, students will research, write, and submit their work by the close of the term. The class will need to start thinking about the scope and direction of this project early on. In Week 10, groups will present their projects to the class and work with course instructors to develop their ideas and craft their contributions to the final project. . Though a significant portion of your grade on this project will be earned individually, the group dynamic is expected to push you to produce the most interesting and rigorous possible research effort. Final reports will be due the Thursday of Exam Week.

Course Readings Available to DownloadPDF:

Download the PDF package

Course Policies and Grades

Policies and Conduct

Consult the syllabus frequently in order to keep up with scheduled speakers, section meetings, readings, and assignment deadlines. Keeping up with the assignment schedule is your responsibility. We will make all take-home exam assignments available to you in plenty of time for successful completion.

As a rule we do not accept late exams or other assignments for any reason other than excused, documented absences. It will be your responsibility to make certain that the instructor receives a hard copy of any excused absence documentation. Leaving town for work and having a busy week are both understandable facts of life, but they do not comprise excused absences from class.

Please arrive to guest lectures and discussion sections on time, stay for the entire period, and display professional conduct at all times. Cell phones/digital devices must be turned off, laptops must be used only for taking notes during class time—these rules will be strictly enforced.

All excused schedule conflicts must be submitted to your section instructor, in writing, by the end of the first week of the term. Make-up assignments are only offered in the case of documented, excused absences. Excused absences include illness, religious observances, and documented university extra-curricular events.

No extensions or incompletes will be offered in this course. If a student has unfinished coursework at the end of the term due to a documented, excused absence, the instructor will assign the grade earned to that point—the student will then have two weeks from the last day of the term to complete any missing work, and the instructor may at that time submit a change of grade form.

It is the responsibility of the student to be on the class e-mail list, and to be aware of e-mail updates from the instructors. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that she/he is marked present on roll sheets. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all reading updates, sample exam questions, take-home exams, and any other materials handed out in class.

The instructors reserve the right to amend this syllabus in any way necessary for the benefit of the class.

Academic Honesty

The following policies are drawn from the Official Student Handbook: Drexel University is committed to a learning environment that embraces academic honesty. In order to protect members of our community from the results of dishonest conduct, the University has adopted policies to deal with cases of academic dishonesty. We comply fully with the Drexel University “Academic Honesty Policy,” as explained in the Official Student Handbook. It is the student’s responsibility to know and follow the policies set forth in the Official Student Handbook.

Academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will result in an immediate F for the course with no exceptions. Academic dishonesty may result in suspension or expulsion from Drexel University.

Americans With Disabilities Act

In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Drexel University’s policies and procedures, the University is committed to the non-discrimination of students with disabilities. Student with disabilities requesting accommodations and services at Drexel University need to present a current accommodation verification letter (“AVL”) to faculty before accommodations can be made. AVL’s are issued by the Office of Disability Services (“ODS”). For additional information, contact the ODS at www.drexel.edu/edt/disability, 3201 Arch St., Ste. 210, Philadelphia, PA 19104, V 215.895.1401, or TTY 215.895.2299.

Course Schedule

Week 1: April 1: Sustainable Development in Philadelphia (Past to Present)

Film: Greenworks Philadelphia, an introduction, http://www.phila.gov/green/greenworks/

Guest Speaker:
Katherine Gajewski – Director, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia

Assigned Reading:
* Greenworks Philadelphia should already have been read (download document at: http://www.phila.gov/green/greenworks/ )

Week 2: April 8: Local Energy Policy and Ecological Footprints

Guest Speaker:
Laurie Actman – Director of Government Relations and Business Development, Viridity Energy

Assigned Reading:

Week 3: April 15: Ecological Footprint

*** Download the Midterm Exam***

Guest Speaker:
Jerry Mead – Systems Ecologist, Academy of Natural Sciences

Assigned Reading:
Chamber, N., Simmons, C., and Wackernagel, M. (2007). Sharing nature’s interest. London: Earthscan.

Week 4: April 22: MID-TERM EXAM (in class)

Undergraduate students complete an in-class mid-term exam
**Please answer two of the three questions**

Graduate students meet with their section

Week 5: April 29: Our Gas, Coal, Nuclear Footprint

FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNED

Guest Speakers:
  • Henry F Scheck, III - Director, Outage Management, Exelon Power
  • John Ferrara, P.E. - Program Manager Business Development Programs, Babcock & Wilcox - Modular Nuclear Energy
  • Paul M. Schmidt, Esq. – Environmental Lawyer, Zarwin & Baum PC
Assigned Readings:

Week 6: May 6: An Opportunity for Alternatives

FINAL PROJECT: SHORT DESCRIPTION DUE

Guest Speakers:
  • Kristin Sullivan - Project Director - Solar America Cities
  • Nathaniel S. Doyno - Partner & VP of Clean Technology - The Ecolibrium Group, LLC
  • Laila Reilly - Manager of Mass Markets Community Energy Inc., PecoWind
Assigned Reading:
  • Dias de Oliveira, M.E., Vaughan, B.E., and Rykiel, E.J. (2005). Ethanol as Fuel: Energy, Carbon Dioxide Balances, and Ecological Footprint. BioScience, 55(7), 593-602.
  • Eder, M., et al. (200). Ecological impact of renewable resource based energy technologies. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 18, 611-616. http://www.aidic.it/cet/09/18/099.pdf
  • Hill, S. (2007). Philadelphia’s trap of grease: National energy policy versus urban realities. Public Works Management Policy 2007; 11; 194-203.
  • Stoglehner, G. (2003). Ecological footprint — a tool for assessing sustainable energy supplies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 11, 267-277.
Websites: Presentations:

Week 7: May 13: Tying it All Together – Electrical Transmission

Guest Speaker:
Alan Elmy – Manager Interconnection Project - PJM Interconnection

Assigned Readings:
  • Wamukonya, N. (2003). Introduction. In N. Wamukonya (Ed.), Electricity reform: Social and environmental challenges, pp. 1-6. United Nations Environment Programme.
  • Byrne, J. and Mun, Y. (2003). Rethinking reform in the electricity sector: Power liberalisation or energy reform. In N. Wamukonya (Ed.), Electricity reform: Social and environmental challenges, pp. 48-76. United Nations Environment Programme.
  • Bradshaw, T.K. and Clark, W. (2003). The California experience: From deregulation debacle to flexible power. In N. Wamukonya (Ed.), Electricity reform: Social and environmental challenges, pp. 135-160. United Nations Environment Programme.
Websites:
PJM - http://www.pjm.com/home.aspx

Presentation:
PJM Interconnection, by Alan ElmyPDF

Week 8: May 20: A Regional Perspective and Plan

Guest Speaker:
Robert Graff - Manager, Office of Energy and Climate Change Initiatives, DVRPC

Assigned Readings:
  • Connections: The Regional Plan for a Sustainable Future, The Long-Range Plan for the Greater Philadelphia Region; SUMMARY BRIEF. Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. http://www.dvrpc.org/reports/09047D.pdf
  • McDonald, G.W. and Patterson, M.G. (2004). Ecological Footprints and interdependencies of New Zealand regions. Ecological Economics, 50, 49-67.
  • DVRPC Regional Greehouse Gas Inventory: www.dvrpc.org/EnergyClimate

Week 9: May 27: Buildings and Housing Stock

Guest Speaker:
Sarah Shapiro – Green building lawyer, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP
Presentation: Red White & Green: Recent Changes to Federal Green Building and Renewable Energy Policy Powerpoint file

Assigned Readings:

Week 10: June 3: Student Project Presentation and Workshop

Exam Week: June 10: FINAL PAPERS DUE