NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Lori Bird, director of the World Resources Institute's U.S. Energy Program and Polsky Chair for Renewable Energy, will give a talk titled "Factors that Influence Demand for Green Power" as part of MCLA's Green Living Seminar Series at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.
Green Living Seminar Series webinars are free and open to the public; community members can register for each lecture at mcla.edu/greenliving. All seminars take place weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. through April 14.
For the World Resources Institute (WRI), Lori Bird focuses on decarbonization by the utility sector and large buyers, increasing grid flexibility through market design and transportation electrification.
Prior to joining WRI, she served as a principal analyst in the Markets and Policy Group of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where she specialized in renewable energy policy, solar and wind energy markets, and integrating variable generation into electric grids. At NREL, she helped launch the Solar Energy Innovation Network, a large, multi-year program designed to leverage research support to advance cutting edge solutions to solar market challenges. Earlier, she led extensive work on green power markets and stakeholder engagement activities on renewable grid integration. She also provided testimony to states on renewable energy policy and technical assistance to state agencies and international clients. Over her career, she has co-authored nearly 150 publications on renewable energy, including articles in a variety of academic and trade journals. She received several NREL awards for her sustained contributions in renewable energy markets.
Earlier in her career, she worked for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Denver on the Million Solar Roofs Initiative and Hagler Bailly Consulting in Boulder, Colorado, where she prepared economic and policy analyses for clients such as utilities, U.S. EPA, and the World Bank. She holds a master's degree in environmental studies from Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in economics and environmental studies from Indiana University.
Every semester, MCLA's Green Living Seminar Series hosts lectures by local, regional, and national experts organized around a central theme related to the environment and sustainability. The 2021 series theme is "Individual Actions and Environmental Sustainability." The series is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department and MCLA's Berkshire Environmental Resource Center.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu/greenliving or contact Elena Traister at (413) 662-5303.
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Weekend Outlook: Celebrate the Weekend
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Check out the events happening in Berkshire County this weekend including celebrations, fun, and free days at the museum.
Editor's Pick
First Sunday Free: Sprouting Seeds
The Clark, Williamstown
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Enjoy a free afternoon at the Clark Art Institute by immersing yourself in artist Aboubaker Fofana's outdoor sculpture exhibition. There will be a tour at 2 p.m. and an opportunity to decorate a flower pot or a mini sculpture. A great afternoon to bring the kids to experience what The Clark has to offer.
Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge at the Fitzpatrick Greenhouse from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to welcome the new season amongst hundreds of flowering bulbs.
The greenhouse is free and open to the public. More information here.
Friday
Free Bowling Night
K&M Bowling, Pittsfield
Time: 7 p.m.
Bring the family for a free night of bowling, sponsored by Gateway Fiber. You need to have a minimum of two players for a one hour time slot at 7 or 8.
DIY Birdhouse Event
46 West St., Pittsfield
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Build a birdhouse to welcome the arrival of birds this spring at Solarium Plant Shop. Raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Enjoy light snacks and refreshments as well as botanical elements for your houses.
Tickets are $45. More information and tickets here.
Family Friendly Outdoor Adventures
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Bring your family to enjoy a day of free fun. Have some hot chocolate by the fire. Also take a self-guided snowshoe walk and demo, a guided mindfulness hike, and more.
Contemplative Film Night
Sanctum Gallery, Pittsfield
Time: 7 p.m.
Watch the second part of the television program "Awakening Mind," which explores consciousness, true nature, and awareness. Following the film there will be a discussion. More information here.
Berkshire Singer Showcase Finale
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 8 p.m.
After months of auditions, showdowns, and performances, the Berkshire Singer Showcase reaches its final chapter of the season at the Shire Tavern.
This season’s finalists will take the stage one last time, bringing their own voice, story, and artistry. Tickets are $10. More information here.
Sunday
Greylock Together Community Potluck
American Legion Drive, North Adams
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Bring the family and a dish to celebrate together. Enjoy live music and sing karaoke.
Tea and Talk
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, Lenox
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Film director Jay Craven will present “New England Movies: How and Why,” sharing stories from his filmmaking journey and how he built a career in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Craven will also take audience questions. Tickets are $45. Members receive $5 off with their discount code.
Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. All tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable.
Two separate staples of the Northern Berkshire cultural calendar, the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the FreshGrass Bluegrass Festival have canceled their summer 2026 seasons to reorganize their operations and programming.
click for more
Local officials say the proposed rate hike by Berkshire Gas could cost the city more than $40,000 extra just in heating its three schools, and be a burden to its residents, many of whom already rely on fuel assistance. click for more
A local restaurant has a solution to acoustics, a plant store is going mobile, and a popular ice cream/sandwich shop is getting new equipment and a website. click for more