New Senate Energy Bill Offers Real Relief, Not Recycled RhetoricBill Puts Consumers, Clean Energy First

Washington, D.C.—Senate Democrats today unveiled a new energy bill, the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008. It will address the root causes of high gas prices, hold Big Oil accountable and put consumers first in our addressing our current energy and economic crises.

A detailed summary of the bill is available here.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

“The Sierra Club is thrilled with this bill. The Consumer-First Energy Act offers Americans real relief instead of the recycled rhetoric and disastrous energy policies that the president and his allies in Congress have pushed for the past seven years. The bill will actually protect consumers, put America on the path toward a clean energy future, and finally put the brakes on the taxpayer-funded giveaways that have been helping fuel Big Oil’s record profits.
“It’s time for wind farms, not windfalls. Right now, Big Oil has consumers over a barrel but isn’t even paying its fair share. This bill will take back the giveaways to polluters and instead put that money where it will do some good by investing it in clean, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the other smart energy solutions that will help us break our addiction to fossil fuels, bring energy costs back under control, and put our economy back on the path to prosperity.
“This bill offers Senators the chance to stop writing a blank check to Big Oil and begin to help their constituents who are clamoring for real relief from pain at the pump.”

We Can Do it!

We Can Create a Clean Energy Economy with Good Jobs Now — and Save Money!
Investing in renewables and efficiency will transform our economy and free America from our dependence on foreign oil and big oil companies. It will also creates job here at home, save families and businesses money, and combat global warming.
We can do it. We have the necessary technical skills and ingenuity. Now we need to commit -- to fix our economy and our planet.

ENVIRONMENT: Curing the car culture

In the Rochester region, 60 percent of vehicle trips are five miles or less. That's not a new statistic, and it's one that Rich Perrin, executive director of the Genesee Transportation Council, cites often. But it illustrates a local habit and a dependence on cars. A panel of experts talked transportation last week during the Rochester Sierra Club's annual environmental forum.

We Can Do It > Sierra Club

We Can Do It > Sierra Club: "We Can Create a Clean Energy Economy with Good Jobs Now — and Save Money!

Investing in renewables and efficiency will transform our economy and free America from our dependence on foreign oil and big oil companies. It will also creates job here at home, save families and businesses money, and combat global warming.

We can do it. We have the necessary technical skills and ingenuity. Now we need to commit -- to fix our economy and our planet."

Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Continues

by The Great Lakes Committee

The Great Lakes Committee continues to be actively engaged with public outreach and the national Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives campaign, advocating for Great Lakes legislation. Our member, Holly Wheeler, was interviewed by Katrina Irwin for this week’s “Go Green” segment regarding bottled water, which was broadcast on TV Thursday 3/6/08, on channel 8 at 6 PM and at 10 PM on Fox channel. The“Go Green” segment can be found online at http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=14803.

GLC members participated in the Great Lakes Day on Capitol Hill in Washington (organized by the Healing Our Waters coalition), February 27/28, lobbying to pass legislation to protect the Great Lakes, including legislation that will: Stop aquatic Invasive species destroying the Great Lakes ( Legislation H.R. 2830 and S.1578 ); reauthorize and increase funding ($54 M to $150M) for the Great Lakes Legacy Act; H.R. 1350; fund Great Lakes strategic projects; protect the Great Lakes by passing the Clean Water Restoration Act R.R. 2412 / S. 1870; restore Clean Water Revolving funding to update sewage systems and improving coastal health; promote "Plan B+" as the appropriate water Level management plan for Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. You can do your part to protect the Great Lakes by visiting http://www.healthylakes.org/ and clicking on "Take Action".

There is a "Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Tour" planned from June 7th (starting in Buffalo, NY) led by the "Earth Voyager", a Formula 60 trimaran, to engage people who love the lakes. After visiting 15 locations in the Great Lakes the final stop will be Rochester, NY September 5/6/7. At each port "Earth Voyager" will be accompanied by a flotilla of local boats creating a grand visual celebration of the Lakes. Additional information will be provided on our web site: http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/great_lakes.htm

How Green is my PC?

Personal computers have become so entrenched in our daily lives that it's hard to remember what life was like pre-PC. Rumor has it that people took quizzes with pencil and paper, and that scoring was accomplished through a tedious manual procedure. No longer! Now you can test your green PC knowledge in a mere eleven clicks with this special "binary" true/false "How Green Is My PC?" quiz. So sharpen your cursor and test your knowledge of how your PC affects the environment:

The Auburn Trail

This historical hiking area, near Victor, is now an objective for environmental protection by the Sierra Club. Led by Nancy Chalker-Tennant and Howard Camp, we will be exploring this currently endangered area.

We will have a naturalist with us to help sensitize us to the natural environment of the trail surroundings. April 12 at 9:30 AM -

All of these outing groups will gather at the parking lot of the First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14610 unless stated otherwise in the outing description. Walks range from 11⁄2 to 4 miles. None are difficult.

The Coalition to save the Railroad Mills Trail Special Environmental Area in Victor (approx. 1.5 miles on the Auburn Trail) is working to protect this delicate trail segment. The coalition includes the Sierra Club of Rochester, the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club, the Butterfly Club, the Rochester Birding Association, and the Genesee Valley Audubon Club.

This coalition recommends trail development that will highlight the environmental significance of the area with as little impact as possible. We recommend that the existing short section of the trail be widened to no more than three feet (to be ADA compliant) while concurrently developing the area as a model for environmental education and interpretation.

SEEKING A COMMITTED INDIVIDUAL

The Rochester Regional Group is seeking an energetic individual to fill the position of Political Chair. Do you have an interest in both improving our environment and in politics?

Do you believe that not only must individuals minimize our footprints upon the earth, but that government must encourage citizens and industry, through legislation, to protect our environment? Do you want to help ensure that true environmental advocates are elected in November?As Political Chair, you must be or become a Sierra Club member. You will work with our local active members and Executive Committee.

You will recruit volunteers interested in political activities, and work with the Chapter (state-wide) Political Chair to assemble information on candidates for office and make decisions regarding endorsements. You will work with local representatives from all political parties. Some training is available, and our more experienced members can help to mentor you.

If you are interested, or even just a little bit curious, please call us at 234-1056

City and RRG Explore Tree Planting Program

Do you love our native trees. Do you enjoy planting trees? Here is a great new project for adults and young people. The Sierra Club has initiated an innovative project with City Forester, Carol Kodweis, to plant trees in Cobb's Hill Park. The park has many grand old trees but is changing as invasives like the Norway maple gain a foothold. We are looking for volunteers who would like to learn how to identify trees, help map their distribution, and chart locations of invasive species.

We will also note which species are reproducing and which seem to be dwindling. Then we will propose plantings of native species and a gradual removal of the invasives to restore and diversify the forest. We anticipate this program will be at least partially funded by grants and serve as a model for other parks in the city.

This is a hands-on, learning project that will preserve our park for future generations. Please contact Peter Debes, at phdebes@frotniernet.net to get involved.

Clean Energy: It's Getting Affordable

Clean Energy: It's Getting Affordable: "Clean Energy: It's Getting Affordable
The argument that we can't afford renewable sources of energy falls flat when considering the growth in solar, wind, biofuels, and fuel cells"

How Green Is My Screen Sierra Club

How Green Is My Screen; Sierra Club: "Unless you watch all your TV and movies on an iPod, it can be tricky buying a big screen without 'big footing' the planet. A few questions to help you keep your eye on the big picture:"

Stephen H. Schneider Interview > Two Percent > Sierra Club

Stephen H. Schneider Interview > Two Percent > Sierra Club: "Stephen H. Schneider Interview
Sierra Club correspondent Tom Valtin recently spoke with climatologist Stephen Schneider about a public service announcement he did with his son for the Sierra Club. The subject was the Club's 2% Solution to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050, or 2 percent per year for the next 40 years. Here is an excerpt from that conversation.

Lowly streams play big role in fighting pollution

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A meandering stream appears to play a powerful role in filtering out pollutants like nitrogen, and understanding this role could help prevent oxygen-depleting blooms of algae that threaten fish and shellfish downstream, researchers said on Wednesday.
The research was part of a project to determine whether rivers actively process pollutants and remove them from the ecosystem, or simply act as drain pipes that flush polluted waters into lakes or out to sea.

Rocky Mountain Wolves Lose Critical Protection

Removal from Endangered Species List Could Lead to Decline

Today, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it will remove Northern Rocky gray wolves from the Endangered Species list. Though wolves once roamed from central Mexico to the Arctic, by the 1930s, gray wolves had virtually disappeared from the area. Wolves were reintroduced into the region in 1995. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, they’ve begun to rebound, but they have not yet made a sound enough recovery to warrant delisting.

“The decision to remove protections for wolves is premature. We still have a long way to go before wolf populations are sustainable over the long term. This is like declaring victory at mile eighteen in a marathon,” said Sierra Club representative Melanie Stein.

Recent studies have shown that the long-term viability of the Northern Rockies wolf population is still in jeopardy. There is almost no genetic mixing between the three subpopulations of wolves in the region. Without genetic interchange between the populations, wolves will be forced to inbreed, compromising the health and viability of the population.

“The wolves in and around Yellowstone are almost completely isolated from other wolves,” Stein said. “In order for wolves to survive over the long haul, there must be interchange between wolves in Central Idaho, Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Area.”

In addition, the wolf management plans for the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana call for aggressive removal of wolves, including by shooting them from the air. These aggressive wolf killing practices, coupled with genetic isolation and premature removal of protections, could push wolf numbers dangerously low and reverse decades of recovery work.

“We’ve worked hard to bring wolves back from the brink of extinction,” Stein said. “Tourists from around the world come to the Yellowstone area to see our wolves. Wolves are an important part of the natural balance in the Rockies. They’re a symbol of America’s wild legacy, and we can’t afford to lose them again.”

The Sierra Club, along with other conservation groups, plans to challenge the wolf delisting decision in court.

Sierra Club: Email - How Green Is Your Laundry?

How Green Is Your Laundry? Take Our Quiz!
Got a Minute? Learn All About Clean Energy - Surfers (and the Rest of Us) Score a Victory - Play the Carbonrally Game"

Clean Up Dynegy – Stop U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plant Polluter #1 – A Sierra Club Project

Clean Up Dynegy – Stop U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plant Polluter #1 – A Sierra Club Project

To join the Sierra Club's National Coal Campaign, click here.
To work with Sierra Club's coal campaigns in the six states where Dynegy is proposing to build new coal-fired power plants:
Arkansas - Plum Point (#2) - Osceola, AR - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Arkansas;
Georgia - Longleaf - Early County, GA. - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Georgia;
Iowa - Elk Run - Waterloo, IA. - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Iowa;
Michigan - Mid-Michigan - Midland, MI. - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Michigan;
Nevada - White Pine - White Pine County, NV. - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Nevada; and
Texas - Sandy Creek - Riesel, TX. - www.CleanUpDynegy.org/Texas.
To get active in other Sierra Club efforts, click here.

Great Lakes Education Subcommittee

Starting off the year, the education subcommittee of the GLC (Great Lakes Committee) designed and set up a display on Great Lakes Concerns at the Henrietta Public Library.

It was exhibited for the entire month of January. Areas of concern addressed were:

1) the water cycle,

2) the amount of fresh water available in the world,

3) three common local, invasive water species, and

4) two recommendations for home products that reduce phosphorus in the water supply.

The GLC education subcommittee’s goal is to bring water conservation and protection issues to the attention of the public. We hope to install the exhibit in other locations around the region during 2008. To view the display schedule go to http:\\newyork. sierraclub.org\rochester\display.htm .

Send any comments\suggestions for additions to sstinson@mac.com.

In Memory of Ginny Tyler

Ginny Tyler, a long time member and friend of the Sierra Club, passed away on December 20, 2007. She was a lifetime social justice/environmental advocate who lived her beliefs and also believed in lifelong learning. She passed her gifts along to anyone whose life she touched. She contributed to the Sierra Club in many ways. She contributed financially, as a volunteer, and by graciously opening her home to many Sierra Club Ex-Com meetings and Winter Solstice parties. She also served as our membership chair.

Her family has requested that contributions in her memory be made to the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club. Checks can be sent to: Sierra Club, PO Box 39516, Rochester, NY 14604.

We have already received numerous contributions from many of Ginny’s friends. This money will help to preserve Rochester’s green spaces. But more than the monetary value, Ginny’s family appreciates the thought behind these gifts. We know that Ginny would appreciate them.
I will always remember that she smiled with her face and with her heart.

God Speed to you Ginny. You will be sadly missed.

The Executive Committee of The Rochester Regional Group of The Sierra Club: Bob, Cecelia, Deb, Dina, Frank, Hugh, Janet, Laura, Nancy, Ray & Sara

Sierra Club Moves Quickly To Secure Health Protections Group Pressures Coal Plants to Cut Mercury Pollution

Washington, D.C.: In the wake of last week’s court ruling tossing out the Bush Administration’s lax mercury regulations for coal-fired power plants, the Sierra Club is launching a nationwide effort to stop the construction of new coal plants that lack necessary mercury controls, and to push for cleaner energy investments.

“Last week a federal appeals court put coal plant developers back on the hook to curb toxic mercury pollution,” said Bruce Nilles, Director of Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign. “For seven years the Bush Administration has schemed with coal lobbyists to skirt long-standing public health protections. Today we are moving forward to end this illegal practice and keep mercury pollution out of our lakes, rivers and streams and ultimately out of our bodies”
Sierra Club’s first step to make sure that new ruling is implemented began today with formal notification to regulators in Missouri, Nevada and Kentucky that proposals for coal plants in those states must be brought back to the drawing board and new plans to control mercury pollution must be submitted before the plants may be built. The coal plants targeted are the proposed Associate Electric Cooperative Norborne plant in Missouri, the White Pine and Ely Energy plants in Nevada, and the Thoroughbred Generating Station in Kentucky. Over the coming weeks Sierra Club and its allies are planning additional steps to bring other proposed new coal plants into compliance.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that affects brain development and is particularly harmful to young children. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency one in six women has enough mercury in their bodies to put a baby at risk. Coal-fired power plants are the largest single man-made source of mercury pollution in the United States. When the plants release mercury into our air, it rains down into our lakes, rivers and streams. The toxic mercury then makes its way to our dinner tables via contaminated fish.
###
The Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign is working to ensure coal is mined responsibly and burned cleanly. Across the country the Campaign is fighting to stop the construction of dirty new coal plants and direct the proposed investments into energy efficiency, renewable resources and other clean alternatives. For more information about the threat posed to our health and our environment visit www.sierraclub.org/coal.

Message from Carl Pope

If you watched the Republican debate last night in Florida, you might have noticed that Tim Russert said the magic words: "climate change." For the first time in the entire presidential campaign, Mr. Russert asked a question that mentioned global warming. In fact, he asked two questions!

Thanks to all the work you've done by signing our petition, we are starting to break through. But we need to make sure that all the pundits get the message. There are two critical debates coming up in Florida and California. We need to make sure that climate change is a big topic of discussion.

Can you call Wolf Blitzer tonight and ask him to make climate change a part of the debate he's moderating on Thursday? Here is his phone number: (404) 827-1700
To keep up-to-date on the debates, and for some humorous insights about environmental stories, sign up for our weekly newsletter RAW.

The media has to get with the program. The world's scientific community has indisputably determined that climate change is a manmade crisis of the highest order, threatening the economy, the environment, and the survival of millions.
Sincerely,

Carl PopeExecutive DirectorThe Sierra Club
P.S. The petitions will be delivered in a few days -- tell your friends to sign while they still can!

What Are They Waiting For? > Sierra Club

What Are They Waiting For? > Sierra Club: "The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing the next president. But the nation's top reporters don't seem to think so. In 2007, they asked 2275 questions.

THREE questions mentioned global warming!

Sign the petition: tell reporters to focus on the human race, not the horse race.

What are they waiting for?"

Sierra Club:

Sierra Club:: "Find out how your Senators and Representative voted on key energy amendments by entering your zip code in the box below.

Finally! The House passed the final version of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 by a margin of 314 to 100. The bill raises fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon, mandates a massive increase in the production of homegrown biofuels, institutes programs to train workers for 3 million green collar jobs over the next ten years, dramatically increases the efficiency of our buildings and appliances, and begins to take the steps needed to reduce our global warming emissions.
After removing the renewable electricity standard from the House-passed energy package due to political opposition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed for a motion to move the package forward in an effort to raise fuel economy standards, increase the renewable fuels mandate, and provide billions of dollars in funding for clean energy initiatives. Unfortunately Senator Domenici (R-NM) along with other members of the minority party blocked progress on clean energy by opposing cloture, thus forcing Senator Reid to remove the tax package in addition to the renewable electricity standard.
Take a minute to find out how your Senators and Representative voted and send them a message. Enter your zip code below."

Upcoming and Past Events - Color Brighton Green

Upcoming and Past Events - Color Brighton Green: "Focus The Nation Webcast
Join us January 30 for a live interactive webcast titled “The 2% Solution.”
The nationwide webcast is being streamed from the University of Central Florida in Orlando as part of an initiative called “Focus The Nation, Global Warming Solutions for America.” The webcast will feature Stanford University climate scientist, Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins, green jobs pioneer Van Jones along with youth climate leaders discussing global warming solutions. Audiences will be able to weigh in with cell phone voting.
This event is sponsored by the Green Brighton Task Force, in partnership with The Harley School.
Event date and location

Wednesday, January 30 at 7:45 p.m.
The Harley School, 1981 Clover Street"

Public Event

“The Return of the Bald Eagle to Irondequoit Bay” February 27, 2008, 7 pm Irondequoit Town Hall 25 Kings Highway North Rochester, NY 14617

Friends of Irondequoit Bay and the Sierra Club are proud to co-sponsor an educational presentation, “The Return of the Bald Eagle to Irondequoit Bay”. The presenter, Mike Allen, Sr. Wildlife Technician at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), has been instrumental in the effort to restore the bald eagle to Upstate New York. There will also be a captive bald eagle at the presentation to give the public a chance to see this majestic bird up close. Free and Open to the public

Focus the Nation

Focus the Nation In the next few years, we as a nation will make, or fail to make, critical decisions regarding global warming pollution and clean technology investments. These decisions will have far-reaching and irreversible impacts on the lives of today’s students and the lives of their children. At this moment in time, we owe our young people at least a day of focused discussion about global warming solutions for America. Focus the Nation is organizing a national teach-in on global warming solutions for America—creating a dialogue at over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, and directly engaging millions of students and citizens with the nation’s decision-makers. Focus the Nation will culminate January 31st, 2008 in simultaneous educational symposia held across the country. Our intent is to move America beyond fatalism to a determination to face up to this civilizational challenge, the challenge of our generation.