Town hall with Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas (Sunset Advisory Committee) and Rep. Jim Keffer of Eastland (Energy Resources Committee) where you can voice opinions on the PUC and the Railroad Commission, regarding tar sands, fracking, etc. On Dec.19, testimony will be heard at the Capitol on Sunset* of above-mentioned agencies. This event is sponsored by the Dallas and Fort Worth Sierra Clubs, Public Citizen and others.

*Sunset of an agency deals with all aspects of an agency, how it does business with the public and private sector--even whether the entity as we know it should continue. This process only happens once every seven years.

Held Mondays Jan. 28-March 4. Learn practical best green living practices. Hear from experts in the field, view award-winning films, and meet local environmentalists. Volunteer to share Plano’s message of sustainable lifestyles. All shades of green are welcome. Free.

Green Corps hosts this workshop that aims to teach skills needed to promote social and environmental change. Contact: Lisa Trope at 301-318-3892 or Lisa@greencorps.org.

Gathering for anyone interested in renewable energy, hosted by the Sierra Club, Blue Green Apollo Alliance and the Clean Energy Works for Texas coalition. Learn about the next steps on the Sierra Club's Clean Energy Works for Texas campaign as well as future campaigns that the Sierra Club will be running in the area. Speakers: Dave Cortez, coordinator from the Blue Green Apollo Alliance, and Stephanie Cole, organizing rep from the Sierra Club. Note: Everyone is responsible for own food and drink purchase but there may be the option of ordering pizzas as a group to keep costs down. RSVP Lisa Trope at Lisa@greencorps.org.

Event hosted by the North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia, House District 103, an advocate of energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative technologies, will speak energy issues.

The South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource, a partnership of energy efficiency industry stakeholders committed to the accelerated adoption of advanced building systems and energy efficiency products and services in the south-central U.S., is hosting two workshops:

9am to Noon -- Commercial Building Diagnostic Tools and Lighting Technologies.
1-4pm -- Commercial Building Operators-Evaluating Common Opportunities and HVAC Economizers. Cost: $20/per workshop, $30/both workshops. Lunch provided. See website for directions, parking info.

Green business professionals and environmentally minded residents meet monthly to network and learn about sustainable living. NOTE: The January is meeting is cancelled.

Panel discussion on hydraulic fracturing or fracking with Ed Ireland, executive director of the the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, and Terry Welch, a Dallas attorney who advises local governments on natural gas drilling. Hosted by Mountain View College's Office of Student Life Sustainability Committee.

Speakers to discuss the state of Texas' energy. Speakers include: Mark Armentrout, Former ERCOT chairman, CEO of Texas Technology Partners; Maria Richards, SMU Geothermal Lab Coordinator; Al Armendariz, PhD, Former Region 6 EPA Administrator, Sierra Club Texas Campaign Director; James Smith, PhD, Maguire Chair, Oil & Gas Management; and Jim Duncan, Solar Design Specialist, North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation, SMU and the Sierra Club.

Learn techniques for making your home more energy efficient. Plano residents receive an energy efficiency tool kit. Free.