Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments : www.terrain.org Issue No. 24 : Fall/Winter 2009 : Borders & Bridges PDF Version. Contents Columns • Guest Editorial : “Solar is the Bridge to Our Future” by Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. Representative, Arizona’s 8th Congressional District • The Literal Landscape : “My Neighbor’s Bird” by Simmons B. Buntin, Editor/Publisher, Terrain.org • Plein Air : “Mapping Mary Ann Armstrong” by Deborah Fries, Editorial Board Member, Terrain.org • Bull Hil l: “The Road That Must Be Taken” by David Rothenberg, Editor, Terra Nova (with online image gallery of northern forests) • A Stone’s Throw : “The View from Point Sublime” by Lauret Savoy, Editorial Board Member, Terrain.org Interview • “A Place You Can Live” : Philip Fried interviews poet A. R. Ammons (1926-2001) UnSprawl Case Study • Agritopia in Gilbert, Arizona (with online photo gallery) ARTerrain Gallery • Four series of impromptu sculptures-in-the-wild and studio sculptures by R. L. Croft Poetry Poetry Features • Borderland Translations: Tedi López Mills, translated by Wendy Burk : Four Poems in English and Spanish with Audio • God, Seed: Online Chapbook of Poetry and Images by Rebecca Foust and Lorna Stevens : Six Poems/Images with Audio Other Poetry • Pamela Uschuk : Three Poems with Audio • Jessica Weintraub : Three Poems with Audio • Polly Brown : Three Poems with Audio • Linda Parsons Marion : Two Poems • Jenn Blair : Two Poems • Laura Sobbot Ross : One Poem • J. P. Dancing Bear : One Poem • Beth Winegarner : Two Poems Issue No. 24 : Fall/Winter 2009 : Borders & Bridges 1 Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments : www.terrain.org Contents Poetry, continued • Peter Huggins : Two Poems with Audio • Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer : One Poem with Audio • George Moore : Two Poems with Audio • Eva Hooker : One Poem • Scott Edward Anderson : Three Poems • Alison Hawthorne Deming : Three Poems with Audio • William Keener : Three Poems with Audio • Brett Foster : One Poem • Kathleen Hellen : One Poem with Audio • Thorpe Moeckel : One Poem • Joe Wilkins : Two Poems with Audio • Sue Swartz : One Poem Essays • “Night at the World’s Largest Atomic Cannon” by Christopher Cokinos (with audio online) • “Body Exposed in the Golden Wind” by Florence Caplow • “Positioning” by J. David Bell • “Lee’s Ferry” by Ben Quick • “Mustering the Sky” by Mark Tredinnick Fiction • “The Hank Williams Dialogues” by Andrew Wingfield • “The Garden” by Jaren Watson • “Stones” by Jeffrey Stevenson Articles • “To Wit, to Woo: The Silence of Owls” by Kathryn Miles • “Ken Wu and the Fight for Canada’s Remaining Pacific Coast Old-Growth” (with online slideshow), text by Joan Maloof, photography by Rick Maloof • “A Hole in Time” by John Lane • “A Region of Wounds: Severing the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands” by Tom Leskiw Reviews • “A Certain Harmony, a Definitive Hope” : Simmons B. Buntin reviews A Conservationist Manifesto, by Scott Russell Sanders • “Walking the Perimeter” : Heather Killelea McEntarfer reviews The Trouble with Black Boys and Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the Future of Public Education, by Pedro A. Noguera • “Uncertain Delights” : Kim Barke reviews Unexpected Light, poems by C. E. Chaffin • “Crazy for Crazy Love” : Terrain.org reviews Crazy Love, new poems by Pamela Uschuk Issue No. 24 : Fall/Winter 2009 : Borders & Bridges 2 Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments : www.terrain.org Guest Editorial by Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. Representative, Arizona’s 8th Congressional District Solar is the Bridge to Our Future The Middle East is synonymous with oil—a critical natural resource that has transformed the nations of that region into some of the wealthiest on Earth. My home state of Arizona has no oil to speak of but is blessed with a natural resource that in my opinion is even better: abundant sunshine. Just as oil was a passport to wealth in the 20th century, I believe the sun will be a gateway to prosperity in the 21st. With more than 300 days of sunshine every year, Arizona and the neighboring states straddle some of the best areas in the world for solar power. We have the potential to be a global center for the production of clean, renewable electricity—a commodity that is certain to be in high demand in the decades to come. As a member of Congress, I wake up every morning and go to sleep every night thinking about the significant challenges facing our country. Among the greatest of these are: • How do we create good jobs and strengthen our economic competitiveness? • How do we ensure our national security in a dangerous world? • How do we protect our natural environment—especially from the threat of catastrophic climate change? The reason I get so excited about solar power is that it offers a viable solution, at least in part, to all of these major challenges: economic competitiveness, energy independence, and climate change. Indeed, my support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act is rooted in the need to address these critical issues. Because of its tremendous potential, promoting solar power has been a top priority for me ever since I arrived in Congresswoman Giffords participates in a rooftop solar consultation. Congress in 2007. I never miss an Photo courtesy U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. opportunity to advance this issue, Issue No. 24 : Fall/Winter 2009 : Borders & Bridges 3 Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments : www.terrain.org whether through legislation, public education or personal advocacy. But what would it take for solar to really become a major power source in the United States? Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a report outlining how we could generate 20 percent of our power from wind by 2030. What if we were to adopt a comparable target for solar? What would it take to achieve that? Well, over the next two decades we would need to install at least 2,200 times as much solar power capacity as we did last year! The industry would have to sustain an annual growth rate of 33 percent for the next 20 years. In other words, our future growth would have to dwarf our past accomplishments. That’s a significant challenge in its own right. But significant solar expansion also would challenge us to increase our grid integration capabilities, develop new energy storage systems and upgrade solar financing mechanisms. And we would need to train a solar workforce that can deploy and integrate solar into existing and new infrastructure. Meeting such enormous logistical challenges is difficult, but not impossible. Our nation has risen to incredible challenges before. But it will require more than just effective individual companies. It will require coordination across the entire solar community, including private companies, academia, non-profits, and government. We must take our collaborative efforts to a new level. The good news is that solar policy has made some remarkable advances in While solar hot water heating is standard on most homes recent years, despite the industry’s in the Tucson, Arizona, community of Civano, many limited resources. This has happened homes also feature solar photovoltaic panels. Photo courtesy Community of Civano, LLC. because solar offers a real solution that speaks to today’s needs in a uniquely effective way. Nevertheless, from my vantage point in Congress, I can see that continued forward momentum will require a substantial and coordinated advocacy effort. Thankfully, solar supporters are passionate about their cause. We must draw on that passion to overcome some significant hurdles. First among these is raising awareness of the true potential of solar power. Few of my congressional colleagues really believe that solar is capable of making a substantial contribution to our energy needs anytime in the near future. This must change. Issue No. 24 : Fall/Winter 2009 : Borders & Bridges 4 Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environments : www.terrain.org People need to understand that solar technology works, it is affordable, and it is in our national interest. They also need to understand that without supportive policy, our nation will fall behind foreign competitors in what is poised to be a major 21st century industry, just as we have in so many others, such as textiles, automobiles, flat-panel displays, and nuclear technology. My staff and I are working hard to spread the news about solar: • Since 2007 I have introduced or cosponsored numerous pieces of solar legislation, including workforce training, grid-integration studies, and incentive tax credits for manufacturing and deployment. • My district office gives free “Solar 101” seminars across southern Arizona to help people understand how to take advantage of the new incentives and go solar themselves. • I talk almost weekly with solar leaders across our state to coordinate efforts with them to educate Arizona business and community leaders. And Arizona is an example of a state moving forward with solar: • Applications have been submitted to develop solar projects on more than half a million acres of federal land in Arizona. • The governor recently signed a manufacturing tax credit into law, prompting numerous companies to explore locating in The solar field at Nellis Air Force Base is comprised of the state. more than 72,000 photovoltaic panels. The array is • The statewide Renewable Energy expected to produce more than 25 percent of the base's electricity. Tariff is generating millions of Photo by Robert Valenca, courtesy U.S. Air Force. dollars for utilities to use in developing solar projects to meet their renewable energy requirements. President Obama recently visited the Southwest and toured the vast photovoltaic array at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The base is home to the largest PV installation in the western hemisphere: 72,000 panels on 140 acres generating 14 megawatts of clean, sustainable power. After his tour, the President spoke of the “power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.” He is absolutely right.