Artwork by Ed Nolde, Artist & Sierra Club Maine Volunteer
February 2025
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Standing Strong in the Face of Climate Denial
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Sierra Club is doubling down on its fight against the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to roll back critical environmental protections. From blocking new clean energy projects to doubling down on fossil fuel extraction, the administration continues to prioritize corporate interests and petty personal obsessions over the health of our communities and planet.
But the Sierra Club is not backing down. We are mobilizing our grassroots network, taking legal action, and rallying lawmakers to stand up for our future. We need you to join us in this fight. The stakes are higher than ever—Trump’s harmful policies threaten the very air we breathe, the water we drink, and the lands we love. Stand with the Maine Chapter as we push back, demand accountability, and continue the fight for bold climate action.
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Sierra Club Maine Is Excited to Announce Our New Acting Chapter Director, Jane Brekke!
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Jane has been our Philanthropy Officer since July 2023. Before that, she worked on land protection in York County through her role with Great Works Regional Land Trust in Ogunquit, ME. She has over a decade of experience guiding outdoor adventure trips for young people, ranging from after-school outdoor programs in the Cleveland Metroparks system to month-long trips in Alaska.
Jane fell in love with Maine as a young person, visiting family in southern Maine. She, her husband, and her daughter have been proud South Berwick, ME residents for over 12 years. Jane attended UMO, where she received a BA in Anthropology. She holds an MS from Clemson University in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation. She serves on her local Conservation Commission and has continued to be passionate about land protection and conservation throughout the state.
Jane is proud of her continuous work fostering environmental stewardship and improving the lives of others by helping them connect with nature. She has a side passion as an herbalist and always gravitates toward the natural world in everything she does. Her biggest motivation for working with the Sierra Club is being a role model for her young daughter. Jane is honored to step into the role of Acting Chapter Director at this critical time.
The Chapter also congratulates Laura Berry, Philip Mathieu, and Jacob Stern who were elected for another two-year term on our Executive Committee (ExCom). And a warm welcome to Grant Provost, Luke Sekera-Flanders, and David Zachow who are joining as new ExCom members. Newly appointed officer roles are as follows:
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- Chair: Jacob Stern
- Vice Chair: Laura Berry
- Secretary: Grant Provost
- Treasurer: Hira Zeeshan
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- CCL Delegate: Philip Mathieu
- 1st CCL Alternate: Becky Bartovics
- 2nd CCL Alternate: John Fitzgerald
- Conservation Chair: Philip Mathieu
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Graphic by Greta Tod
Youth Leading the Way:
Shaping School and Local Climate Action
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You're invited! Please join us February 25th, 6:30-8pm for a Community Conversation with an inspiring panel of young people and students from Yarmouth.
Students will be sharing their experiences in driving sustainability projects at school and shaping local climate action efforts. Hear firsthand how the innovative ideas and dedication of Yarmouth students have influenced local initiatives, and discover the valuable role youth play in building a more sustainable future. This event celebrates the power of young voices and provides a space to explore how communities can support and amplify their impact. Whether you’re a student, educator, or community member, come learn, connect, and be inspired!
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Finding Hope in Today’s Reality
By David von Seggern
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Most of us who have advocated for a transition to renewable energy sources over the past years are deeply dismayed by the, not first, but second election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency. We are guaranteed decisions, policies, and regulations that will again throw us into the dark and dangerous age of fossil-fuel dominance and likely stall the energy transition four more years and even beyond.
Due to this political reality, it is difficult to find hope for changing the trajectory of global warming, and all that it entails, today. I myself find the prospects grim based on the current situation. Yet there are at least three elements of hope that I will cling to.
The first is the inability to predict the future. This is known to be true because the predictions of well-known world futurists have consistently been shown over the years to be no better than random guesses. The same has been demonstrated in the business crucible of Wall Street where random selection has been shown to be as good a stock trader as the so-called experts. What might seem impossible today could be the key to making the energy transition happen, and at a rate far greater than experts would predict. We call them game-changers, and many of them are on the lips of those knowledgable in the energy field. Continue reading here.
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Sierra Club and Sierra Club Maine have long been advocates of renewable energy, including offshore wind (OSW) as a necessary tool for addressing the issue of climate change. A recent executive order from President Trump complicates the future of offshore wind in Maine. The order included a temporary withdrawal of all areas of the outer continental shelf from new or renewed offshore wind leasing and a federal review of the leasing and permitting process for existing wind projects. With this executive order, the future of the ongoing offshore wind projects in Maine's offshore waters remains unknown.
MDOT’s plans for port development in Searsport continue to be monitored by Sierra Club Maine. MDOT expects to submit initial applications for permits in the next two months. Of particular interest will be the effort by the applicant to comply with environmental laws that require analysis of the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative when contemplating the destruction of wetlands and coastal ecosystems.
Sierra Club Maine has been working to hold the potential development of Sears Island accountable to those laws since the mid-1980s. The ecological benefits that the island provides to the greater Penobscot Bay ecosystem are significant and warrant careful analysis. Given the urgency internationally to protect coastal ecosystems for the health of the remaining resources in the ocean, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we believe that we should work to avoid industrialization of our coastal lands whenever possible and search for ways to transition our energy sector in the most environmentally-conscious ways possible.
Sierra Club Maine remains committed to fighting back against regressive, anti-climate policymaking and will continue pushing for a renewable energy future that includes offshore wind. Navigating the careful balance between supporting the development of OSW in the Gulf of Maine as a key climate justice solution, as well as protecting the state’s vulnerable coastal habitat, continues to be a priority for all of us. Sears Island is a challenging conflict of these priorities, but we remain committed to advocacy that produces the greatest good for our state and our climate.
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Photo by Ashley Nye
Maine Woods Campaign
Secures Wilderness Protection
By Karen Woodsum
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In 2002 the Sierra Club launched the Maine Woods Campaign to secure wilderness protection along the northernmost 100-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
Maine Chapter leaders (including Carole Haas, Ken Cline, Deb Loftus and Jim Frick) and National Program Director Karen Woodsum designed and implemented a detailed plan to build a coalition of environmental allies, wilderness recreation groups, and rural northern businesses; solicited the full support of the State, under the leadership of Governor John Baldacci and his Cabinet, and raised the needed funding from foundations and individual donors for the purchase of core parcels.
Governor Baldacci created the 100 Mile Wilderness Working Group appointing Karen Woodsum a co-chair with Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan. To date, over 65,000 acres of wild lands have been protected along both sides of this stretch of the trail (Appalachian Mountain Club, the Nature Conservancy, etc.) and the 100 Mile Wilderness is established as a top wilderness experience in the country.
To learn more about this important history, please check out Karin Tilberg’s recent book: Loving the North Woods.
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Rachel Carson's Legacy Benefits Sierra Club
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Today and every day, we celebrate Rachel Carson. A marine biologist and noted author, she ignited the modern climate movement with the release of her best-selling book, Silent Spring, in 1962. Carson was steadfast in her belief that a person did not need a formal education in the sciences to appreciate the workings of the natural world; one only needed to spend time in the beauty of the outdoors.
In 1952, Carson began spending her summers on Southport Island. She was deeply impacted by her time in Maine. Her writing was inspired by her fascination with the vibrancy of its coasts and forests. Today, you can visit the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, spread over 50 miles between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth.
Her legacy serves as a timeless example. The work and projects may change, but it’s made up of the same essential pieces: a love of nature, from the smallest seed to the deepest ocean. Tireless advocacy to ensure that nature is for everyone. When Carson passed in 1964, she left a substantial gift to Sierra Club to support our mission. In her memory, Sierra Club’s legacy society is named the Rachel Carson Society. This society honors individuals who have chosen to make a gift to Sierra Club a part of their estate plan, whether through a will, trust, beneficiary designation, or other plan.
As Rachel Carson wrote in Sense of Wonder, “Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Thank you for being part of Sierra Club. If you’d like to learn more about joining the Rachel Carson Society, please contact Julia Curtis at julia.curtis@sierraclub.org or (800) 932-4270.
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Photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash
Green Tip of the Month:
Take Care of Yourself
By Mike Trombley, Sierra Club Maine Volunteer
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Most of us who read this newsletter are probably always looking for new ways to live sustainably and advocate for the environment. Chances are, if you’re a follower of the Sierra Club, you’re already doing quite a lot to be green. This month, the tip is to pause, reflect, and make sure you’re taking care of yourself. There will always be more green tips, but it’s hard to act on them if you’re overwhelmed or burnt out. Here are a few ways to give yourself some rest:
- Go for a walk, even for just five minutes, and take in the fresh air and beauty of nature.
- Watch a movie with a friend or a loved one.
- Take a break from your phone. Instead, read a book, listen to music, or write in a journal.
- Eat nourishing food, and take your time doing it.
- Make sure you’re getting enough consistent sleep.
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Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
- Events Team Meetings: Help us organize events to educate and engage Mainers across the state.
- February 17 at 6-8pm: Meatless Monday Meal in Belfast
- Join us for a Meatless Monday meal! Participants should bring a food item low on the food chain and either vegetarian or vegan, along with a joke, funny story, or cartoon to share. Sierra Club Maine is a member of the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition. Members will be present and can fill you in on some exciting projects happening locally. RSVP here by February 10th. Questions? Please contact Beverly Roxby at beverlyteach@gmail.com.
- February 18 at 12pm: Clean Energy Team Meeting
- Join our team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!
- February 18, 5:30-7:30pm: Executive Committee Meeting
- February 25, 6:30-8pm: Youth Leading the Way: Shaping School & Local Climate Action
- An inspiring panel of young people and students from Yarmouth will be sharing their experiences in driving sustainability projects at school and shaping local climate action efforts. Hear firsthand how the innovative ideas and dedication of Yarmouth students have influenced local initiatives, and discover the valuable role youth play in building a more sustainable future. This event celebrates the power of young voices and provides a space to explore how communities can support and amplify their impact. Register here.
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Volunteer With Sierra Club Maine
Interested in helping to protect Maine’s environment? We invite you to join us at our next volunteer orientation— view our events calendar here! No matter your background, we have a role for you—no experience necessary.
We are always looking for photos from across the state to feature in our marketing materials. Professionals and amateurs alike are encouraged to submit images of Maine landscapes, nature, and wildlife. Please submit your photo here.
Questions? Email us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.
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