RDC News:

What: SFCC, LANL, Sen. Tom Udall, the RDC, the City of Santa Fe and others have come together to present a community forum: “Local Response to Climate Change.” The forum will focus on strategies that communities can use to deal with this all-important issue.

The event will include an introduction from SFCC President, Dr. Ana M. Guzman, leading climate researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, as well as a recorded speech from Sen. Tom Udall. The keynote speech will be given by Søren Hermansen, to be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Santa Fe Mayor David Coss.

The forum is free, and open to all in the community. Light refreshments will be offered.

Who: Søren Hermansen is the director of Samsoe Energy Academy and the head of the Samsoe renewable energy island project. His mission is to demonstrate that it is possible to create a self-sufficient society based 100 percent on renewable energy. In 2008, Søren Hermansen was named one of the ‘Heroes of the Environment’ by Time Magazine. In 2009, he was awarded the Gothenborg award – the Nobel prize of the environment. Other Awards include the Energy Globe ’08 and Eurosolar ’02. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Aalborg Universitet.

The Samsoe project is an effort spearheaded by the Danish government to demonstrate the feasibility of sustainability. Starting in 1997, the island of Samsoe (pop. 4,100) managed to cut its carbon footprint significantly through community involvement, and today exports wind-power to the European mainland. The island’s success as a model for the energy revolution draws thousands of visitors and tourists from around the world, eager to learn how this was accomplished.

When: 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8

Where: The SFCC Board Room

Contact: Director, New Mexico Energy Smart Academy, Amanda Evans at (505) 428-1805, amanda.evans@sfcc.edu or www.sfcc.edu.