Sierra Club Rallies in Support of Clean Power Plan

Activists gathered across the country to show their support for the Clean Power Plan (CPP). 

Pictured, above, Sierra Club organizer Whitney Pearson toasts Obama, the EPA, and the release of the final CPP at Oklahoma "Cheers to the Clean Power Plan" Happy Hour as one of twenty or so Club members in attendance, August 6. Team Oklahoma highlighted a supportive op-ed by guest of honor Dr. Mark Davies. Davies' piece ran in a conservative statewide newspaper, and this encouraged attendees to follow up with supportive letters to the editor.

The Las Vegas Sun's picture, above, of Clean Energy Project executive director Jennifer Taylor, features Sierra Club volunteers proudly displaying "Clean Energy is Our Future" signs. Taylor speaks to the Plan at one of two events held in Nevada within a couple hours of Obama announcing the final Plan.

Together under the sun in one hundred degree weather, August 5 in Atlanta, over 125 activists united at Sierra Club #CleanPowerforGA Celebration. Georgia NAACP's Reverend Willian E. Flippin, Jr. and "White House Champion of Change" Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley both spoke of the moral imperative put forth in Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si, "On Care for Our Common Home". Youth activist Mikayla Wiseman, above, hailed the public benefits of the CPP outside the State Capitol's Gold Dome, with her inhaler in her pocket.

The CPP will reduce pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog that make people like Mikayla, who has lived with asthma for eight years, sick, thus helping to reduce asthma attacks and premature deaths in children by over 25 percent. #CleanAir4Kids

"As a mother of (almost) two, the Clean Power Plan gives me both a great sense of relief and hope for our children's future. Acting responsibly towards the environment is the only way forward". -- Evangeline Lilly, Actress, Activist, and Mother

More Sierra Club exclusive celebrity quotations in support of the CPP can be found HERE.

The Sierra Club's Dakota Chapter held a celebratory "Ice Cream Social" Thank You Event for President Obama's Clean Power Plan on July 30 at Trollwood Park in Fargo, North Dakota. Members, the public, and membership of the North Country Trail Association were all invited. Former North Dakota State legislator Ed Gruchalla spoke, and CPP-shirt-sporting, sign-holding participants stood together, posing with a Club banner for a group photo. The picture was sent to the President, EPA Director Gina McCarthy, Governor Jack Dalrymple III, and congressional delegation.

Indiana! Club members, below, threw a Clean Power Party at the Indiana Statehouse, emceed by District 16 City-County Councilor of Indianapolis, Zach Adamson and featuring Carmel Mayor James Brainard; complete with remarks from Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler, and Congressman Andre Carson.

Over 200 Indiana activists and partner organizations rallied for the CPP. Sierra Club partners included Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light, OFA Indiana, Earth Charter Indiana, Hoosier Environmental Council, Eastside Creation Care Network, Energy Matters Columbus, Elders Climate Action, and Carmel Green Initiative. Sierra Club organizers mobilized carpools from nearby cities of Bloomington and Columbus.

Over 67,000 Hoosiers have signed petitions in support. For video footage of the rally, click here!

Texas! Sierra Club member David Cortez and Team Austin organized a press conference at City Hall Plaza, below, to show big polluters that Texans support strong climate action. The conference was a collaboration of the Sierra Club and Environment Texas, Public Citizen, Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition, and Texas Impact. The press conference featured Deacon Sam Dunning (Galveston-Houston Archdiocese), Michael Skelly (Clean Line Energy Partners Founder and President), Dr. Susan Pacheco (UT Health Science Center Department of Pediatrics Assistant Professor), Steve Brown (Capitol Assets Managing Director), and Luke Metzger (Environment Texas, Director).120 Sunflowers represented the number of Missouri lives that will be saved each year with the Clean Power Plan. Two local music acts and four different speakers representing health, clean energy, and faith communities attended. Missouri attendees planned to write letters to editors of local publications in support of the Plan.

Minnesota! Minnesotans lauded the final Plan with both Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power continuing to see themselves as well-positioned to comply with the state's 40.3% carbon reduction goal.

"We think that strategy has Minnesota Power well positioned to meet the Clean Power Plan, as well as Minnesota's greenhouse gas reduction goal". -- Minnesota Power's Amy Rutledge

Club member Karen Monahan connected affected community members with state leaders and forged a partnership with Green For All and local climate justice allies through media events which initiated this organizing effort. Media events and partnership on a climate and drought photo project highlighted the CPP as a solution. Minnesota's Environmental Quality Board youth leader representatives presented 6000 petitions, in support of a strong and just plan with state based implementation, to MPCA and environmental justice groups. Monahan also engaged youth from the Science Museum of Minnesota's Urban Heat Island Network program in radio interviews, an editorial board visit with the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder (the state's largest African American newspaper), and a number of other events. 

The CPP "will prevent up to 90,000 childhood asthma attacks, meaning more Americans can breathe easier", stated Illinois representative Keith Ellison. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith agrees, “The Clean Power Plan is a good step forward for our country. Here in Minnesota, these rules will build on our bipartisan efforts to build a renewable energy economy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. With fossil fuels costs likely to remain volatile in the future – continuing to collaborate on a cleaner, more sustainable energy future will be good for both the environment and the economy". On the day of the release, Pollution Control Agency Commissioner John Linc Stine said that Minnesota "imports all of its electric generating fuel sources, except renewables", adding, "Clean energy is good for Minnesota".

In Duluth, Sierra Club Team Minnesota, with instrumental member Natalie Cook, organized a press event with faith, health and clean energy leaders. Senator Al Franken and staff for Representative Rick Nolan attended; Alexis Boxer of Beyond Coal was quoted in this: Minnesota Public Radio story.

"This is a truly historic day for our country—and for future generations who will be better off because of the steps we're taking now to address the threat of climate change. The Clean Power Plan will help clean up the air, and at the same time, it will create a lot of renewable energy and energy efficiency jobs in Minnesota and across the nation. This plan works for Minnesota, and builds on our strengths. It provides states like ours—which are already on the right track when it comes to addressing emissions—flexibility in implementing these new rules. Furthermore, it encourages stronger investments in the clean energy sector. Not addressing climate change isn't an option. This landmark proposal will help us attack the problem head on, and in a smart and sensible way". -- Senator Al Franken

 

Articles published in The Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland's The Plain Dealer, and The Hannah Report, contain quotes from prominent attendees. Proffessor and football Coach Robert McCollister, Reverend Pamela Pinkney Butts, and Tracy Sabetta of Initiative Consulting attended the rally and press conference.Michigan! On August 15, Team Michigan held a Clean Power Plan press conference at the Southeast Michigan Group's annual Green Cruise. Following the festival they all marched and rode in tandem at the scenic parade, above, in support of the plan.

"The event furthered the relationship with Waukegan and Little Village in their shared struggle for a just transition beyond coal". -- Christine Nannicelli, Sierra Club

Chicago! In partnership again with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, the Sierra Club organized a celebratory press conference with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Congressman Bobby Rush, Congressman Mike Quigley, Reverend Otis Moss III (Trinity United Church of Christ), Dr. Susan Buchanan (Director of Great Lakes Center for Children's Health, University of Illinois at Chicago), and Patrick Woodson (Chairman of E.ON Climate & Renewables). The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition now has over 50 environmental, consumer, public health, faith, and social justice organizations as well as over 150 clean energy businesses. Please click aquí for coverage from Chicago's leading spanish language newspaper, Vívelo Hoy.Alton! Festivities at a Clean Power Plan Celebration (party hats and kazoos included!), and petition delivery down-state. Activists called on legislators to support the CPP and co-sponsor the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill. Sierra Club volunteer leaders Laura Asher and Chris Krusa emceed the event. Team Illinois and Erin Crilly of Beyond Coal had a Clean Power Plan Celebration and Petition delivery, above, with citizens and three partner groups.

Representatives from Youth Environmental Network (YEN), Straight up Solar, and United Congregations of Metro East (UCM) all joined in the fun. The festive rally began in song and resulted in the delivery of hundreds of petitions to Senator William Haine and Representative Ben Beiser. Pastor Norma Patterson (President of UCM), Eden Vitoff (founding member of YEN), and Bruno Dosso from Straight up Solar and 41 community members delivered 275 petitions to Senator Haine and Representative Beiser.

Montana! Approximately 60 Kansas Citians celebrated the CPP on August 1. To start, the Kansas City Department of Health Deputy Director commented on climate change’s effects on children and low-income communities using statistics and anecdotal stories. Participants called Senator Claire McCaskill or Governor Steve Bullock to encourage their support of the CPP.

Sierra Club president Aaron Mair, at center, celebrated with activists in Chatanooga, Tennessee.

Activists also gathered in Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Utah to take part in visually exciting community press events such as those featured above, and below.

Bellingham! The Mount Baker Group met at a local brewery, hosting a CPP party. Aslan Brewery supports Oregon in transition from a coal dependency through to clean energy in supporting campaigns such as the Club's Beyond Coal, "Coal-Free" Oregon PSE campaign. Members old and new shared in a toast, or two. A local group member addressed the efforts led by Obama and Governor Inslee to end climate disruption in a speech.

And last, but not least, Spokane!The Spokane, Washington community; Sierra Club activists, artists, community leaders and officials, all joined together on August 18 to celebrate the CPP, envision our clean energy future, and celebrate real climate action at Energize Spokane! art event. The event was curated by local arts collective, Terrain. #WeAllBuildThisThe Sierra Club worked with an extensive list of partners to bring over 200 people together in this conservative part of Washington for a fun night of local music, art, and refreshments. Guests at Energize Spokane! celebrated in conjunction with a listening session for state-based Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy. Enjoying the work of organizers and of local artist Ashley Rae Vaughn and artist Jacob Johns; The BlueGreen Alliance, The Young Emerging Labor Leaders Spokane Chapter, Professional Musicians of the Inland NW (AFM Local 105), Climate Solutions, and the Washington Environmental Council joined in the fun.Each attendee who signed in received a Sierra Club shirt and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a painting created at the event by one of the artists.

Thanks be to All!

Beyond Coal !  #BeyondCoal