USGBC Louisiana Advocacy Committee

Meeting Minutes
GNO, Inc. Conference Room
4/14/2010
Attendees
Tony Laska, Chair Conservation tony.laska@csgrp.com 504-579-
Services Group 3633
Grasshopper Latter & Blum info@commercial504.com 504-638-
Mendoza 0839
Drew Morock Latter & Blum jmorock@latterblum.com 504-569-
9321
Paul Richard Latter & Blum prichard@latterblum.com 504-957-
5759
Lisa K. Quarls Sizeler lquarls@sizeler.com 504-523-
6472
Sue Macomber General Services susan_macomber@yahoo.com 312-520-
Admn. Contr. 5074
Alexis Castro Global Green acastro@globalgreen.org 504-525-
2121 ext.
195
Linda Stone Global Green lstone@globalgreen.org 504-525-
2121
ext.186
Steve Picou LSU Ag Center spicou@agcenter.lsu.edu 504-838-
1170
Stan Millan Jones Walker smillan@joneswalker.com 504-582-
8583
Regina Philson La. DEQ philson3@msn.com 225-205-
4609
Thomas Rush GNO, Inc. thomasgr02@hotmail.com 651-343-
4168

The meeting began at 11:30am. Attendees were introduced and minutes of

the March 5 meeting were reviewed and accepted.

Updates
Horizon Water Management
• EPA prepared the Water Quality Scorecard, a guide on green construction
practices.
• 20-30 Dutch Engineers in New Orleans to develop appropriate models of
water management techniques.

Rick Fedrizzi, President & CEO, USGBC

• Grasshopper and Tony, along with several USGBC Louisiana Board members
participated in Rick Fedrizzi’s 9th ward event, which was well-attended.
• The national organization has funding available to support advocacy for
subjects having priority at the national level. Currently a major priority is
finding funding for green schools.

1
Subcommittee Reports
Legislation
• No huge green construction products have surfaced.
• The PSC is examining a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for Louisiana.
Opponents focus on economics and who pays for mandated renewable
energy if it is more expensive than conventional sources. They want to see a
market signal.
• No initiatives for other aspects of green building but energy. Thomas Rush
has a short-list of relevant legislation that would be valuable to focus the
committee’s attention.
• The Ground Water Commission was sent requests on surface water
resources and Louisiana’s ground water management.

Commercial Real Estate

• Performing grassroots outreach to hotel and commercial building owners,
lessees and mangers; getting our issues beyond preaching to the choir.
Grasshopper recruited Sue Macomber, Lisa Quarls and Regina Philson to
assist with this Sustainability Council.
• Upcycling: industries developing from recycled materials.

High Profile Projects and Corporate Advocacy

• Benson Tower is being redeveloped but the developer wasn’t mentioned.
• River Sphere project received $3M in EPA funding. This should be looked at
for leverage opportunities.
• Tulane has hired Johnson Controls for a $24 million project.
• GNO Inc. will be remodeling—will try to do some green upgrades.

Discussion Items
Advocacy Training—Grasshopper will set up Survey Monkey to get members
of Advocacy Committee to contribute to answer questions required to apply for
training, Linda will send out to group, and Anisa will compile and submit
application.

Overlap of AIA Sustainability Committee, Green Collaborative—AIA &

USGBC have statewide constituencies while Green Collaborative and others are
mostly local and regional in focus.

Announcements/Other Business
Green Legal Matters—Conference April 26-27will include course for those
wishing to become LEED Associates*

Next Meeting
Friday, May 7, 2010 at Latter & Blum Corporate Offices, 430 Notre Dame
St. between Tchoupitoulas & Magazine Streets

* On April 20, 2010, Stan Millan wrote to say that the green legal conference will be postponed
until late September-October 2010.
2
3