Since 2006, our Rockland members and activists have developed a very active branch of Lower Hudson Group of Sierra Club.
Among our most significant accomplishments:
Our role as one of the key leaders in the successful battle to defeat the proposed Suez desalination plant for Rockland’s drinking water.
Ongoing work to represent Rockland residents in Veolia rate cases, advocating for a more sustainable water policy.
Successfully lobbied Rockland County for climate action. Lobbied the County to join New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force and recently lobbied again successfully to revive that campaign.
Response to contamination of Rockland’s drinking water with toxic PFAS chemicals – organized large educational forums for the public and lobbying the state for more protective standards.
Lobbying against large distribution center in Valley Cottage based on environmental impacts.
Endorsements of political candidates, based on environmental record and credentials.
What’s your issue? Bring us your environmental concerns and we’ll try to work with you. We welcome new members and participants! Contact us at rocklandclimate@gmail.com.
Our general public monthly meetings are usually held on the 3rd on Monday of the month at 7 pm, and cover an interesting topic. Click HERE to learn about our next one.
PFAS chemicals in Rockland's water
In November of 2020, many Rockland residents received legal notices from Suez and Nyack Water utilities, informing them that toxic PFAS chemicals in their drinking water exceed New York State drinking water standards.
Since then, Sierra Club and the Rockland Water Coalition have been working to make sure that our water is cleaned up as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. We have also been working to better inform residents about PFAS chemicals.
If you are concerned about ensuring safe, clean drinking water for our community, join us!
Action steps you can take NOW:
- Call Governor Hochul and tell her to protect Rockland County residents from toxic PFAS chemicals in our drinking water. We need her leadership to safeguard our drinking water as soon as possible: 877-796-1948
- Click HERE for a science-based guide to PFAS free consumer products.
Read Riverkeeper's report about Rockland County PFAS drinking water contamination, with an analysis of the 2019 Suez well testing data, here.
Read a two-page fact sheet about PFAS chemicals here.
Read about how you can avoid exposure to PFAS here.
To read a powerful, short article about this issue, click HERE. Also see a different article below.
These actions have been sponsored by the Rockland Water Coalition, with the following partners: Environmental Advocates, Food & Water Watch, NYPIRG, Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Scenic Hudson
For more information, email rocklandclimate@gmail.com. 
New Threat to Rockland's Water? PFAS contamination in the Lower Hudson Valley
Eerily reminiscent of a scene from the 2019 movie Dark Waters, Rockland residents opened a letter from Suez Water New York in November informing us that levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in our drinking water exceed the New York State maximum contaminant level (MCL). We were assured, however, that drinking water at these levels “does not pose a significant health risk.” Read more here.
Community Choice energy comes to Rockland!
The climate crisis is truly urgent. We are focusing our work primarily on local action on climate change: stopping gas pipelines and working for local government action on climate change particularly through two very powerful government programs. Join us to help make change happen in Rockland County!
Community Choice energy is a very exciting program that promotes renewable energy, community solar, geothermal, and electric vehicles. Click HERE to learn more!
Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that helps communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. We are working to get our communities moving ahead in this program! Click here for more information on Climate Smart Communities.
What You Can Do Now!
TAKE ACTION by doing at least one thing from the list below:
JOIN A COMMITTEE:
Make more of a difference by working on a committee: Outreach, Climate Smart/Safe Communities, or Divestment.
- Divestment--We are working to get the state pension fund, the four colleges in Rockland County, and individuals with investment portfolios to divest from fossil fuel holdings and to consider reinvestment in renewables. For dates, locations and details, contact jordan93016@icloud.com.
- Climate Smart Communities--Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time. We are unlikely to get action on climate change at the federal level under the Trump administration, so we are focusing our efforts on the local level, where we can most effective. The Climate Smart Communities program is a very powerful tool to reduce our carbon footprint and make our communities more resilient in the face of climate impacts such as flooding and sea level rise. We welcome people to come and work with us on this initiative, to encourage more Rockland communities to start these programs or to move them more vigorously ahead. To get involved, email Rocklandclimate@gmail.com. Resource
Outreach and Education committee--Volunteer to help table at local events! To connect, please email rocklandclimatemarch@gmail.com
DIVESTMENT FROM FOSSIL FUELS:
DIVESTMENT BLOG--MAKE YOUR PORTFOLIO GREEN!
350NJ-Rockland and Rockland Sierra Club are thrilled to support Shades of Green, a blog by Mimi Hoffman designed to help individuals navigate the world of divestment and reinvestment. Access it here. Climate action is needed to save the planet from catastrophe. One of the most powerful tools in our arsenal is divestment/reinvestment: convincing institutions and individuals to get rid of their investments in fossil fuels and to invest instead in renewable energy sources.
But for individuals, it isn’t always easy to know what to do or how to do it. Mimi’s friendly blog can help you understand the world of personal divestment and start to take action to make your portfolio green. As suggested by the title, Shades of Green, this is not a one size fits all resource; rather, it is designed to be helpful to investors with a wide range of concerns and mindsets. And you can share your thoughts and questions as well!
READ: Jordan's letter to the Albany Times Union about the financial reasons for divestment here.
READ: a summary of the status of natural gas and crude oil pipelines in our region by clicking here.
READ: CNN's powerful editorial about the need to make the connection between climate disasters and climate change: click here.
READ: New York magazine's powerful article on climate change: click here.