From the Vice Chair, Rhea Jezer, Ph.D
Dear Fellow Sierrans and members of the CNNY Group,
Many of us ask, is there a limit to the destruction our “President” intends to inflict on the citizens of the U.S. and the protection of the environment and health of the world? Sierra Club has played a key role fighting harmful policies before and we will do it again. We must defend critical environmental protections. With your help, we are prepared to defend critical environmental protections.
We are now particularly concerned about the devastating impact the massive cuts being proposed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). We are at risk of losing a vital source of funding in New York State for environmental projects and promoting sustainable practices. Even funding for ongoing projects like further cleanup of Onondaga Lake and lead abatement in our water are being withdrawn.
The proposed cuts of over 54% from 2025 include gutting research, substantial cuts to grants for state and water infrastructure, eliminating or significantly cutting grants for environmental justice, climate change, and diesel emissions, eliminating superfund cleanup funds, canceling $7 billion in "Solar for All" grants and many enormous cuts in other climate and clean energy grants previously awarded. Regulations are being lifted which limit pollution from power plants, carbon and air pollution from power plants, and limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking water. This is the most sweeping rollback of environmental rules in the nation’s history and returning to an era before 1970 when the EPA was created.
The progress of clean renewable energy in the past decade has been record-breaking. Clean energy sources are more and more increasingly becoming a vital part of the U.S. economy and power system. Renewable sources and battery storage make up the vast majority of new additions to the grid. Renewables collectively account for around 90% of the United States’ new installed capacity in 2024. New projects in progress, renewables (including wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower) and battery storage which would make up 30% of the country’s large-scale power generating capacity, are now on hold. All this is because our “President” calls climate change “a hoax”. This is demonic!
The EPA was started in 1970 because of public outcry. The first Earth Day was April, 1970. We now desperately need public outcry again. As a member of Sierra Club, I urge you to let your voice be heard at rallies, public hearings, voting for environmental champions and in letters to the editor. I also invite you to join the larger and growing protests. Being silent is not an option.
You are a member of our CNNY (Central & Northern New York) Group of Sierra Club and I urge you to get involved and help us. Our hard working Executive Committee and volunteers work on local and state issues such as air & water quality, lead abatement, lobbying our elected officials to pass environmental legislation, and other renewable energy projects. We are actively involved with and monitoring the Micron installation and it’s environmental impact. Our Executive Committee as well as our country need your help, particularly at this crossroads of the environmental protection challenge. This is our country and our planet and we are needed as defenders to keep our environment livable and safe. Please contact us to help Sierra Club protect the environment.
Dr. Rhea Jezer has stepped down as chair and Tom Amidon has been elected as new chair. Rhea’s long service and high competence will not be totally lost as she has been elected as vice chair and will help Tom come up to speed on how to effectively meet the demands on the chair. Her notes from the chair remain valuable reading for members which Tom hopes she can help him learn how to do nearly as well as she has done.
.