April update from your local Southwest Indiana Network
April 15, 2026
Happy Earth Month!
Happy Earth Month!
Welcome to the latest from the Southwest Indiana Network of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter.
We have a packed newsletter this month:
🤩 Thank you for showing up this past month! 🎸 Join us at the Evansville Earth Day Fest: Clean Power to the People 🏥 Visit us at the Deaconess/Memorial Hospital Earth Day Event 🌎 Come to our Earth Month Director Hike! Join Robyn at Harmonie State Park 📢 Keep up the pressure: Tell Gov. Braun and AG Rokita to challenge Trump's illegal and costly coal orders! 🛣️ Mid-States Corridor Update 🌬️ Pollution and Public Health: State officials challenged to protect southwestern Indiana citizens from unnecessary harm 📚 You're invited to the Hoosier Chapter Book Club 🥾 Find out about upcoming events and outings ✍️ Keep in touch and get involved in our work.
Happy reading! Rebecca Dien-Johns Chapter Digital Strategist
🤩 Thank you for showing up this past month 🤩
Evansville says “No Kings!”
Thousands came together in Evansville for No Kings on March 28th. It was wonderful to see so many people joining together to defend democracy and take action!
Sierra Club Beyond Coal tabled at the involvement fair, which enabled us to connect with folks who want to help hold polluters accountable, and advocate for cheaper, cleaner, and faster forms of energy.
Want to get involved and volunteer with the Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign? Sign up for an orientation at bit.ly/repowerorient.
Sierra Club Beyond Coal tabled at Evansville No Kings on Saturday, March 28th and spoke to hundreds about how we are advocating for cheaper, cleaner, and faster forms of energy! Photo: Nicole Chandler.
Crowd at Evansville No Kings on Saturday, March 28th from the involvement fair portion where Sierra Club Beyond Coal was tabling. Photo: Nicole Chandler.
Indiana Beyond Coal Statewide Kickoff Call
The Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign had a wonderful 2026 statewide call.
We heard from wonderful guest speakers from Solar United Neighbors (Zach Schalk) and Just Transition Northwest Indiana (Ashley Williams) about their respective organizations and what they are doing to create a better Indiana. We got into what Indiana Beyond Coal has been doing statewide to move away from extractive fossil fuels and how folks can join the movement and take action in supporting renewable energy in Indiana. Thanks to all that attended and asked great questions.
The Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter will be tabling at the Deaconess/Memorial Hospital Earth Day Event on April 22nd.
This is the third year we will be participating. Based on the audience being predominantly doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, we will be sharing information on how pollution and other environmental issues impact our public health. Southwest Indiana is considered an environmental impact zone with a number of polluting coal plants, unlined coal ash pits and other polluting industries that impact the health of every citizen living in Southern Indiana.
Mark Nowotarski Volunteer Leader
Sierra Club and Solar United Neighbors will be hosting a free, family-friendly Earth Day festival on April 22nd from 6:00-9:00pm CT at the Haynie’s Corner Wiffle Ball field.
Earth Month Director Hike! 🌎Join Robyn at Harmonie State Park🌎
The Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter is enthusiastic about Posey County these days. You may have seen the news that County Commissioners in Posey County passed a solar ordinance that would act as a de facto ban on commercial solar projects.
As we work to build up the critical community connections in Posey County we couldn’t help ourselves but to plan a hike. Join fellow Sierra Clubers as we visit Harmonie State Park later this month!
Robyn Skuya-Boss Chapter Director
🌎 Earth Month Director Hike! Explore Harmonie with us (Harmonie State Park) 🗓️ Sun, Apr 26, 2026; 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Central) 📍 New Harmony, IN
🛣️ Mid-States Corridor Update 🛣️
In December, the Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor along with the Property Rights Alliance hired the Public Policy Polling organization to conduct a poll to gauge how residents of Dubois County felt about the proposed Mid-States Corridor project. The result was that 81% of residents opposed the project. Shortly after the announcement, INDOT distributed a press release stating due to a lack of state funds they are cancelling 340 current projects on the STIP but elevating the Mid-States Corridor. Once key members of the legislators got that information they objected to it. Soon after that announcement the Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor and the Property Rights Alliance did a statewide poll and the results came back that 65% of Hoosiers are opposed to the Mid-States Corridor project.
Before the end of the short session, key legislators added an amendment to SB 27 (the Chicago Bears bill) that requires any project in the states that exceeds $250 million must go in front of the budget committee for approval. So where we stand today is that we do not know when it will be brought up in the budget committee for review but we are positive we have a very good opportunity now to stop the project. In fact, several people close to the issue already state it will not go forward.
In the meantime there is a national organization, Your Are The Power, that is actively assisting in efforts in opposing the Mid-States Corridor. It is being promoted in their social media channels and on their website at youarethepower.net. On their website you can click on causes, click on Freedom Funds, and scroll to learn more about the Mid-States Corridor. There are several video interviews that share stories by residents fighting the Mid-States Corridor.
Mark Nowotarski Volunteer Leader
🌬️ Pollution and Public Health 🌬️ State officials challenged to protect southwestern Indiana citizens from unnecessary harm
Dr. Annie Shattuck speaking to community members in Southwest Indiana at the Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life (SWICQL) event on 4/7 in Dale, Indiana. Photo: Colleen Curtin
On Tuesday evening, April 7, 202!6, in the Dale library, over 50 people attended SWICQL's public presentation on the health effects of southwestern Indiana's air and water quality. The report was delivered after months of data-driven analysis by two Indiana University scientists--research epidemiologist Dr. Kate Eddens and geography professor Dr. Annie Shattuck. Their slide presentation focused on specific health outcomes like certain cancers, multiple sclerosis, stroke, etc., scientifically linked to contaminated water and air. They relied upon resulting data from SWICQL's water-testing kits and published water quality reports, SWICQL's new PurpleAir monitoring network, and other publicly accessible data, stressing the need for further research.
Eddens and Shattuck also shared recurring concerns, themes, and perceptions from six citizens' focus groups from throughout southwestern Indiana--a region well-known for its environmental sacrifice-zone status. For decades, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has routinely permitted a vastly disproportionate number of toxic industries and coal-fired plants in our low-lying corner of Indiana.
The scientists' findings were followed by an engaging Q and A. Included in the audience were renowned pediatrician Dr. Norma Kreilein, young mothers, an elected state official, a candidate for state office, teachers, members of the clergy, and more.
Rock Emmert Southwest Indiana Citizens For Quality of Life
📢 Tell Gov. Braun and AG Rokita 📢 Challenge Trump's illegal and costly coal orders!
The Trump administration has extended these illegal orders keeping these costly and polluting coal plants online. We just filed a lawsuit in response.
Thank you to the 500+ of you who already took action, demanding Governor Braun and AG Rokita speak out against this costly and illegal act! Continue to share this petition, get the word out, and keep the pressure on. Gov. Braun says energy affordability is a concern of his; well challenging these 202c orders is an easy way to advocate for Hoosier’s pocketbooks.
If you’ve already taken action, thank you! Please send this link to five of your friends to help spread the word: sc.org/INcoalorders
Join the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Book Club!
Join us for the 2nd year of our Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Book Club! This year we have some fantastic reading selections as well as opportunities for members to submit suggestions for future books. Have a book you want to see us read this year? Submit your recommendation here or via email to colleen.curtin@sierraclub.org.
Our Earth Month Book Club selection, voted on by Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter members across the state, is The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture by Barrett Klein. April Book Club is Tuesday 4/28. Register online to get additional Book Club updates and the link for the discussion! Can’t make it in April? Join us in May for The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration by Jake Bittle and again in June for our Pride Month read Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian.
Gentle reminder that it is totally okay to show up to Book Club having read all of the book, some of the book, thought about reading the book, or looking for a pitch to sell you on reading the book. ALL are welcome! Also a reminder that the goal of this space is to facilitate conversation and there is not a quiz at the end or an objective beyond learning more about issues we care about and cultivating community with one another.
We look forward to the opportunity to connect, share about, and reflect on the issues, themes, and excerpts that resonated with you in the book.
Colleen Curtin Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Outreach Coordinator
Upcoming Events and Outings
Repower Ohio River Valley Team Meeting - April 16, email nicole.chandler@sierraclub.org if you’d like to be added to the calendar invite.
From Sierra Club:
Fri, Apr 17, 2026; 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Eastern) Wildflower Hike at Green's Bluff Nature Preserve Freeman, IN
Sat, Apr 18, 2026; 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Central) Indiana Beyond Coal at Wesselman Woods Earth Day Event Evansville, IN
Wed, Apr 22, 2026; 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Central) Evansville Earth Day Fest: Clean Power to the People Evansville, IN
Thu, Apr 23, 2026; 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM (Eastern) Hayes Trail Spring Wildflower Hike Bloomington, IN
Sat, Apr 25, 2026; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Eastern) Art and Nature Family Hike Bloomington, IN
Sun, Apr 26, 2026; 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Central) Earth Month Director Hike! Explore Harmonie with us (Harmonie State Park) New Harmony, IN
