Heartland Sierran – October 2014
Parents, Doctors and Faith Leaders Host Forum Addressing Concerns about Air Pollution in Kansas City
By Gretchen Waddell Barwick, MO Chapter Sierra Club Staff
On August 13, the Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted a forum with top local experts and community leaders on the health impacts associated with high levels of air pollution in the Kansas City area. Read more...
We are going to a quarterly schedule for our meetings. The first month of each quarter, our executive committee will meet to discuss and vote on issues, usually around conservation, political endorsements, long-range planning, etc. Any THB member is welcome to attend and become more informed about the issues at this level. These will be in January, April, July, and October. Read more...
Our New Fundraiser: Trivia Night and Silent Auction
This year, instead of the lemonade stand, we’re trying something exciting and new: a trivia night and silent auction. The lemonade stand was a great fundraiser for us for many years, but sadly, our revenues from that have been steadily declining. So instead, our new fundraising chair, Stephen Flanery, has arranged for us to have a trivia game and silent auction on October 21, 7 p.m., at the Westport Flea Market. Read more...
Independence to shut down Missouri City plant
By Jim Turner
The Independence City Council has approved plans to shut down Independence Power & Light’s Missouri City coal-powered electricity plant by 2016, and to shift its Blue Valley plant to natural gas. Planning is underway for achieving efficiencies and conservation in city buildings and for IPL’s customers. IPL is currently evaluating potentials for adding solar power to its generation portfolio. For more information, see IndyEnergy.org. Sierra Club’s St-Louis-based Beyond Coal Campaign staff has been working with local activists to support these important developments in Missouri’s fourth-largest city. Read more...
Sierrans Stand with Environmentalists, Labor Unions and Wind Experts for Wind Energy in Missouri
By Gretchen Waddell Barwick, MO Chapter Sierra Club Staff
Recently, there have been eight public hearings from the Public Service Commission to determine if a wind-energy transmission line will come to Missouri. The project, called the Grain Belt Express (GBE), is part of a series of wind-energy transmission lines Clean Line Energy plans to install throughout the county in an effort to increase our country’s access to wind energy. Read more...