Oak Cliff Earth Day this Saturday features vendors, artists, speakers, yoga and the Pooch Smooch dog kissing booth. Free.

The Sierra Club will introduce two campaigns: Beyond TXU, a campaign to hold TXU accountable for its emissions from coal plants; and 100 Days of Climate Action, a campaign to secure Obama’s commitment to clean energy. Guest speaker Al Armendariz of the Beyond Coal Campaign. Contact: [email protected].

Meeting of the Dallas chapter of the national grassroots organization. Members advocate climate change awareness through letter writing and lobbying.

Green Corps hosts this workshop that aims to teach skills needed to promote social and environmental change. Contact: Lisa Trope at 301-318-3892 or [email protected].

Event Highlights: coming soon. Contact:
Pamela Burns, site coordinator, at (817) 704-2510.

The EPA is holding a public hearing on THURSDAY, AUG. 16, on its proposed rule, “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry and Standards of Performance for Portland Cement Plants,” which was published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2012. See http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/pcem/pcempg.html.

Downwinders at Risk, the DFW air quality watchdog group, is urging residents to show up in support of cleaner air at the public hearing, as regulations will affect cement plants in DFW. Reserve a five-minute slot with EPA coordinator Pam Garrett by emailing [email protected] or calling
919-541-7966.

The North Texas Environmental Meetup is about meeting other like-minded environmentally-conscious people to discuss environmental issues both on a global and local level.

The North Texas Environmental Meetup is about meeting other like-minded environmentally-conscious people to discuss environmental issues both on a global and local level.

The Center for the Commercialization of Electric Technologies (CCET) will present the draft “Texas Triangle Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Readiness Plan.” The plan addresses the corridors connecting Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin-San Antonio and Houston and explores ways to educate Texas consumers about PEV costs and benefits.

Plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure is in place and continues to develop in Texas’ largest metropolitan areas, and progress is being made to eliminate other barriers to PEV readiness in these regions. It is also crucial to focus on the corridors between the large population centers to ensure medium-size and smaller cities are able to make gains in electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure development.

CCET will hear questions, concerns and suggestions about the plan during the meeting.

The Dallas City Council will receive its second briefing about the Gas Drilling Task Force and its recommendations for the new city ordinance to govern fracking operations. Mayor Rawlings and Council members will hear presentations from those seeking to strengthen the proposed ordinance—and from others seeking to weaken it. Residents should attend to demonstrate support for protecting public health and our quality of life!