Join us for our last four Community Conversations before we take a break during the warmer months and reconvene in October! Check out the lineup and register below!
Jill Pelto is an artist and science communicator based in Westbrook, Maine. Jill's artwork incorporates scientific research and data into watercolor paintings to communicate human-environment connections. She's conducted field research around the world and has recently created a custom data-art painting for the cover of TIME Magazine.
Nickie Sekera of Community Water Justice will discuss the concerns with the recent acquisition of Nestle Waters North American and the Poland Spring brand by One Rock Capital Partners and Metropoulos & Co. She will address its implications for our groundwater in Maine, Nestle's infiltration into our state house, and the hurdles to modernizing our legal infrastructure to protect our water sources.
Aislinn Sarnacki, author of three Maine hiking guidebooks and outdoors columnist for the Bangor Daily News, will share some of the amazing lesser-known trails that she's discovered during the past decade of documenting hikes in Maine. She’ll also offer some tips for finding trails in your area and share a few of the conclusions she's made while exploring the wilderness statewide.
David Gibson, certified energy manager and LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design and Construction, will share examples of Maine homes that have transitioned from oil heat to air source heat pumps. He will discuss what works best in an old farmhouse, and other efficiency measures that can help attain the most comfort for the lowest energy use.
Divest MainePERS from Fossil Fuels
by David Gibson, Sierra Club Maine's Policy Vice Chair
Maine Public Employee Retirement System currently has $1,272,274,408 invested in fossil fuel companies, as of 12/31/2020. Yes, that is more than $1 billion invested in coal, oil, and fracked gas. For most of us at Sierra Club Maine, this flies in the face of our long-standing efforts to close coal-fired power plants, stop new pipelines, and promote the production of local clean energy. As the Executive Committee Vice-Chair for Policy, I have taken a personal interest in pushing MainePERS to divest from fossil fuels.
Last year for Earth Day, I led a webinar on this topic with Maine Youth for Climate Justice and MaineStrikes. In that webinar, I discussed my assessment of the MainePERS holdings, including their private equity investments. These investments include every aspect of the fossil fuel industry, from coal mining to coal-fired power plants, tar sands oil extraction, oil and gas fracking, pipelines, refineries, and seemingly everything else in between.
Across New England, decarbonization policies are being enacted and implemented. However, there is an obvious need to actively align electric utility systems to meet the needs of the increasingly electrified world. A holistic approach to ‘Fix the Grid’ is bringing together stakeholders, utilities, regulators, elected officials, and grassroots activists. The Sierra Club has played an active role in moving the New England region towards the grid of the future.
Join us on May 18th at 6:30pm to hear how Vermont author, Meredith Angwin, and Northeastern University sociologist and author, Jennie Stephens, look at the future of the grid and the need for diversifying power. Learn more and register here.
Join us on May 25th at 6:30pm for a conversation with Dr. Richard Silkman. Dr. Silkman, a Ph.D. economist, Co-Managing Partner of Competitive Energy CO., former director of the State Planning and a nationally recognized expert in the regulation of public utilities and the development of competitive energy markets will share a number of strategies he has developed for Maine to be fully carbon neutral in 30 years. Register here.
Sierra Club Maine Participates in PUC Stakeholder Process
Sierra Club Maine recently participated in a stakeholder group representing environmental nonprofits, renewable energy developers, electric utilities, consumer advocates, and other energy sectors. The group issued a set of nine recommendations to plan, build, and operate the electric grid that is needed to meet Maine’s climate and energy requirements.
Between September 2020 and March 2021, the Maine Utility/Regulatory Reform and Decarbonization Initiative (MURRDI) gathered virtually for nine half-day meetings convened by The Nature Conservancy in Maine (TNC) and facilitated by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). The focus of these meetings was to identify common ground in charting a path for Maine to modernize its electric grid to help meet the state’s decarbonization requirements established in 2019, while maintaining safe, reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable service. Although some of our solutions did not make the final consensus report (e.g. consumer-owned utility), the process was still useful.
A crucial, overarching recommendation developed by this group is that Maine should investigate, adopt, and implement a holistic, long-term, strategic grid planning process. In coordination with existing proceedings and efforts, the implementation of a grid planning process would allow key electric sector actors to make more strategic system operations, planning, and investment decisions consistent with Maine’s climate and energy requirements. To read the full report and see other consensus-based recommendations, download the full report.
Our Power Day of Action a Success
The Our Power Day of Action on April 20th coordinated by Sierra Club Maine, Maine Climate Action Now! and Our Power was a great success! Bill sponsor Rep. Berry and co-sponsor Rep. Grohoski led us through the bill details and how to participate at the hearing. Various members of Maine Youth for Climate Justice led breakout rooms on how to effectively contact legislators and write LTEs and op-eds. Additionally, we were inspired by an incredible spoken word segment by Jess Cooper! You can watch the event here.
The public hearing is scheduled for early May. We will be in touch with more details and materials to help you advocate. For now, please contact legislators, by taking action here.
The Pine Tree Power Company is the best way to decarbonize our grid. Click here to learn more about why we need to democratize our energy and create more reliable, low-cost power here in Maine.
Green Tip of the Month
by Kyle Bonus
Wind in your hair, sun on your face—it's that time of year when car windows are being rolled down after a long winter of hibernation. But what does this bit of fresh air mean in terms of your car's aerodynamics and efficiency? The faster you drive, the more your car's efficiency will suffer. Below 55mph, windows are more efficient for your car's fuel economy than AC - open your windows and enjoy the breeze! But what could be better than wind in your hair through a window (and for our planet)? Wind through a bike helmet- more on this next month!
Future Focus is a youth-led monthly webinar series highlighting youth climate justice activists and their stories from across the state. For a special evening, previous speakers and new voices will discuss ways to get involved with youth climate justice in Maine before Future Focus takes a break for the summer. Speakers include: Jess Cooper, Norway Climate Action: Cassie Cain and Ania Wright, Maine Youth Climate Justice: Anna Siegel, Maine Strikes; Amara Ifeji and Julia St. Claire, Just ME for Just US/Changemakers. Bring your questions!
This webinar, hosted by the North American Megadam Resistance Alliance, will review new science that confirms why hydropower should not be part of any climate action plan or the Green New Deal.
There is no greater commitment to nature than to ensure its care after you’re gone. Whatever legacy you create during your lifetime can continue, in your name, with a bequest to the Sierra Club Maine Chapter through the Sierra Club Foundation.
A planned gift to Sierra Club Maine will create a lasting legacy that provides for a sustainable and healthy future. Naming us as a beneficiary in your will, living trust or other estate plans will provide a significant, meaningful and enduring impact on Maine’s environment. For more information, please email Sarah at sarah.leighton@sierraclub.org.
