Residents chip in to help environment

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007

Kathleen Phelan said she bought a hybrid Honda six months ago because she wanted to help make the environment healthier.

‘‘I went for a hybrid because I am concerned about the environment, and buying a hybrid car reduces my impact on the environment without changing my habits to a great extent,” said Phelan, of Greenbelt.

Hybrid cars operate by integrating a gas engine, electric motor and a high-powered battery. Hybrids are categorized as either ‘‘mild” or ‘‘full.”

In mild hybrids, the gas engine provides the main propulsion and the electric motor provides assistance whenever extra power is needed while the full hybrids combine an electric motor, gas engine and battery so the electric motor can operate on its own. Full hybrids are also able to generate and consume electricity at the same time.

A full hybrid model includes vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Mike Tidwell, president of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), said he is looking to work with people who share Phelan’s philosophy on the environment.

‘‘It’s amazing to see the degree of which concerned Marylanders are making global warming a priority and making clean energy an absolute top priority,” Tidwell said. ‘‘It’s no longer just one more thing on the list to get to, it moving up to the top where it needs to be.”

CCAN hosted its first town hall meeting at Greenbelt Elementary School on Tuesday in order to gain support for the Maryland Clean Cars Bill, which will be discussed by the Maryland General Assembly later this month and will come up for vote in the Maryland legislature in February.

Currently, 11 other states have adopted the Clean Cars Program, which raises the emission standards for new vehicles.

‘‘There’s three main components of this policy,” said Brad Heavner, state director of Environment Maryland.

Other topics that were discussed included Greenbelt’s efforts to stay greener, the status of global warming and how businesses through the area can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenbelt Mayor Judith Davis said to keep Greenbelt environmentally savvy, the new Public Works Building will be greenhouse friendly and there will be policies requiring that the Springhill Lake redevelopment plan have apartments and homes that are energy safe.

E-mail Marcus Ngbea at mngbea @gazette.net.