The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is on the brink of failure when it comes to transitioning to renewable energy, according to the Sierra Club’s new Dirty Truth Report. This groundbreaking analysis gave TVA a ‘D’ for its clean energy efforts in large part because of the utility’s plan for a massive gas buildout. when more resilient and cost-effective options, like wind and solar energy, are already available.
TVA head Jeff Lyash announces plans to retire. “TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash, who has led the largest public power company in the country for nearly six years, will retire from the agency no later than the end of the fiscal year, which wraps up Sept. 30…Lyash is the highest paid federal employee and received compensation of $10.5 million in 2024, which includes $2.4 million he would receive upon retiring from the agency.” Read more by David Floyd - Times Free Press - Jan. 31, 2025.
Clinch River Nuclear Site Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology Park Unit 1 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). TVA is accepting comments until March 18th. They are hosting an Open House on Feb. 27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET, at the East Tennessee Economic Council, 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike. TVA will also host a virtual public webinar on February 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET. Read more here and register here to attend the webinar.
Tennessee legislation pushes for recycling overhaul amid looming landfill closures. "Every year, Tennessee sends nearly one million tons of recyclable materials worth $150 million to its landfills, contributing to a growing waste crisis. One state lawmaker is turning to a solution that’s been used in Europe since the 1990s: Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR." The EPR legislation, also called the Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act, is one the Sierra Club will be lobbying for at Conservation Day on the Hill at the Capitol on February 25th (please join us!). Read more by Pierce Gentry - WUOT - Jan. 31, 2025.
If you would like to receive weekly updates on environmental legislation being considered by the Tennessee General Assembly, send an email to scott.banbury@sierraclub.org.
XAI has been slow to pay MLGW. "The artificial intelligence startup xAI has, at times, been slow to pay its electric bills, according to copies of the company’s bills obtained by The Daily Memphian." Read more by Samuel Hardiman - Daily Memphian - Feb. 03, 2025.
We Had “An Ice Hike” on the Hidden Passage! (pun intended). On January 25th, eight intrepid Sierra Club hikerswalked the Hidden Passage Trail, which winds for 7.8 miles in a loop from Pickett State Park into and back out of Pickett State Forest. The trail wanders under the ancient sandstone cliff-line of Thompson Creek Canyon before climbing back atop the Cumberland Plateau and completing the loop through a mixed hardwood forest. Highlights of this trail are the numerous “rock houses,” or places where softer parts of the sandstone has eroded cave-like undercuts at the base of the cliffs, which are up to 400 feet high in places. Due to the snow that fell the previous weekend and the below-freezing temperatures of the previous week, the cliffs were adorned with masses of ice that produced numerous ice stalactites, stalagmites, and columns that grew from places where groundwater oozed out of the sandstone walls. A 1.4-mile side trip on the DoubleFalls Trail took us to the falls, which were still completely frozen, despite temperatures in the 40s, as was the stream below the falls. However, the warm day was causing rivulets of meltwater behind the ice and we heard several enormous crashes of ice falling to the ground from the cliffs. We were glad none of us were standing under those icicles when they let loose! Thanks to hike leader Vince Cianciolo, who completed his provisional hike and is now a full-fledged Local Outings Leader for the Sierra Club! Look for more hikes to be led by Vince in the near future! —Submitted by Jerry Thornton
Group of Sierra Club hikers smile for the camera atop Hidden Passage Trail. Pictured (L-R) is Maureen Cianciolo, Diana Hun, Vince Cianciolo, Alice Thornton, Jerry Thornton, Steve More, Rob Biolchini, and Mac Post. Photo credit: Maureen Cianciolo, Jan. 25, 2025.
Winter Retreat Welcomes New Leadership for the Chapter
By Tim Weeks
During the winter retreat held January 17-19th at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, the Chapter and Group elections were certified, and the Executive Committee (ExCom) selected Bill Moll as the new Chapter Chair. On Saturday evening prior to the ExCom meeting, outgoing Chair Dr. Cris Corley was honored for his service with a framed Tennessee State Parks poster. The weekend featured a gathering of 40 members, including Chapter Director Pat Cupples, Conservation Director Scott Banbury, and Regional Director Andrea Callan.
The retreat began with a wet but rewarding 4-mile guided hike. For those who preferred indoor learning activities, Native American artisan Shakela Clinton taught a group of 12 members how to make a dreamcatcher.
Saturday afternoon was anchored by a group of presenters providing updates on conservation activities and legislation. Highlights of the session included Gary Cohen’s explanation of the Waste to Jobs Act pending in the Tennessee Legislature, Dan Firth’s overview of PFAS, JoAnn McIntosh’s summary of energy related issues, and Rita Harris’ personal story regarding environmental justice.
After a fabulous dinner catered by the Crab Shack in Lebanon, Tennessee, members were entertained by Native American flutist Justin Miller, followed by State Director Pat Cupples. Mac Post and Amy Smart then concluded with a silent auction to raise money in support of Scott Banbury, our lobbyist at the state legislature.
Sunday morning featured the Chapter ExCom meeting, which certified the election results for Chapter and Group ExCom positions. Yolonda Spinks, Bill Moll, and Kent Minault were elected to at-large seats on the ExCom, replacing Virginia Dale and Cris Corley. Additionally, Charlie High was elected Vice Chair and Delegate to the Council of Club Leaders, Joanne Logan as Secretary, and Craig Brandt as Treasurer.
Treasurer Brandt reported that the chapter currently has a $45,000 deficit, but we are expecting money from National to help cover the salary of Director Pat Cupples. Fundraising Chair Mac Post emphasized that we need to find ways to raise more money to continue having a State Director because National will stop covering his salary in a year or two.
Hosted by the Middle Tennessee Group, the retreat was well-managed thanks to all the members who pitched in and helped. Networking and socializing on a chapter level makes the retreats worth hosting, but they are not possible without the volunteers who prepared breakfast, managed the recyclables and compost, and cleaned up on Sunday morning.
Make plans to attend the Spring Retreat hosted by the Cherokee Group! May 2-4 at Fall Creek Falls State Park
Shakela Clinton, staff member at the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, demonstrates how to make a dreamcatcher at the Winter Retreat on January 18, 2025. Photo credit: Tim Weeks.
Environmental Updates
Attention Tennessee hikers! Here's how you can help save the eastern hemlock tree. "Are you a hiker or a biker? A discoverer or outdoor lover? This is your chance to make a big impact on Tennessee's trails. Adventure Scientists is looking for volunteers to take part in its new Tracking Eastern Hemlock Project, a way to identify the endangered eastern hemlock tree." Volunteers should register here and go hiking by March 31st.Read more by Allison Kiehl - Knoxville News Sentinel - Jan. 28, 2025.
Ways to celebrate Valentine's Day sustainably. All of those boxes of chocolates, imported roses, and stuffed bears add up. The environmental impact of Valentine's Day in the U.S. "adds up to more carbon emissions than would be created from driving around the world 3,993 times." Flowers alone have a huge impact: 80% of cut flowers are imported from foreign countries. Once in America, they are transported in refrigerated trucks, which use more fuel than non-refrigerated trucks. Consider more sustainable options instead, like making your own card, candle, treats, or using local flower sources. Learn more from University of Colorado Boulder, Environmental Center, Feb. 12, 2024.
Tennessee's wetlands are at risk. "Tennessee has a precious natural resource: wetlands. We even have wetlands right here in the heart of Nashville. And they are at risk. This legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers will consider a bill that will remove protections for our state’s wetlands." Harpeth Conservancy's Grace Stranch and Young, Gifted & Green's LaTricea Adams were guests on WPLN's "This Is Nashville" talking about wetlands. Listen to interview by Caroline Eggers, Jan. 29, 2025.
Tennessee farmers continue struggling to keep land intact: 'Can we keep doing this?' "Tennessee loses 10 acres of farmland every hour. As farmers face unpredictable weather, markets and pressure to sell their land, Gov. Bill Lee again will push for preservation... Tennessee’s agriculture industry employs more than 360,000 people and generates $89 billion annually, making agriculture the top contributor to the state's economy. But economic development ― incentivized by the state ― and urban growth are threatening the industry." Read more by Vivian Jones - Nashville Tennessean - Jan. 29, 2025.
"Grandpa's Barn." Family farm in rural North Carolina. Photo: Allie Stafford, July 4, 2024.
Health & Justice
Trump's America Last agenda is a knife in the back of working people. "Making our communities more susceptible to climate-fueled disasters, driving up respiratory and heart disease, increasing our energy bills, and shipping our jobs overseas is the opposite of 'America First.' And it shows Trump breaking his promises – ON DAY ONE! – to stand up for working-class families." Read more by Ben Jealous, Sierra Club Executive Director - Tennessee Tribune - Jan. 26, 2025.
Advocates urge action as samples find PFAS contamination in Tennessee. "PFAS are known for their heat- and stain-resistant properties, and they don't break down naturally in the environment, meaning they can accumulate in animals through food or water. Studies indicate they may cause developmental delays in children, increase the risk of certain cancers and reduce the body's ability to fight infection, according to the EPA." Dan Firth, Chair of the Solid Waste and Mining Committee of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Nick Jackson, an attorney with PFAS Georgia, were interviewed for this article. Read more by David Floyd - Times Free Press - Jan. 29, 2025.
West Tenn. officials decry ‘foul stench’ from wastewater ‘fertilizer,’ demand stricter regulation. "The company under scrutiny says they promote sustainable reuse of industrial food processing leftovers." Read more by Cassandra Stephenson - Tennessee Lookout - Feb. 4, 2025.
Powering Up: Tennesseans could benefit from energy that is more affordable, reliable, and clean. ThinkTennessee's newest report , "provides both a clear understanding of Tennessee’s energy industry today – including the challenges facing the most vulnerable Tennesseans – and demonstrates how robust energy efficiency programs, updated building codes, a modernized state transmission grid, and greater investment in renewable energy sources can create cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy for residents." And "while Tennessee continues to be a leader in nuclear energy generation and our residents enjoy some of the lowest electricity rates in the nation, many households (particularly those with lower incomes) face high energy burdens. Tennesseans also face more frequent and longer power outages than residents in other states." ThinkTennessee is a "nonpartisan, results-oriented think tank that uses research and advocacy to build a state where all Tennesseans are civically engaged and economically secure."
Thousands of protestors showed up for the People’s March in D.C on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Photo: Sierra Club.
February Events
Statewide environmental events listed chronologically. Do you have an event you'd like publicized? Send it to Enews.sierratn@gmail.com.
February is Black History Month. What we now know as Black History Month began as "Negro History Week" in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). It was originally established during the second week of February because of the proximity to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. While both men were great American symbols of freedom, Dr. Woodson never wished to confine Black history to one week, or even a month: "His life’s work and the mission of ASALH since its founding in 1915 represent a living testimony to the year-round and year-after-year study of African American history."
Now through Feb. 28th - Records of Removal: Ration Books from the Trail of Tears. The Chattanooga Downtown Public Library is currently hosting an exhibit that tells the tragic history of the Chattanooga-area being a main hub for removal of the Cherokee and Muscogee people to a designated reservation in modern-day Oklahoma. The display shows original documents from the 1830s, ration log books, and an original letter penned by Principal Chief John Ross protesting the removal. The exhibit is a powerful opportunity for education and reflection. Check the Library website or call 423-643-7700 for hours of operation. There are also links to online lessons/resources for students in grades 6-12.
Tues. February 25th is our annual Conservation Day on the Hill. Join us at the State Capitol to advocate for wetlands protection and support our TN Waste to Jobs recycling bill! Training will be held via Zoom on Monday evening, Feb. 24th.
Tennessee Tree Day is March 15, 2025. "Since 2007, Tennessee Tree Day events have mobilized over 100,000 residents to plant over one million native trees in Tennessee and the surrounding states." Reserve your native tree by March 2nd! Learn more here.
SAVE THE DATE: March 19th is the State of the Environment Conference, hosted by Vanderbilt Law School's Energy, Environment & Land Use Program.
Species Spotlight
This month's featured species is: American goldfinch (spinus tristis)
American goldfinches have a 9 inch wingspan and weigh about half an ounce. Photo Credit: Miles Moody from Pixabay.
The goldfinch is the bird that's the most sighted in February in Tennessee. They are present year-round. Goldfinches love to eat seeds, so they nest in summer when seeds are plentiful.
Goldfinches molt twice per year: once to shed their dull brown winter plumage to bright yellow (for males) or olive and dull yellow (for females), and then again in the spring. Breeding season is October-March. During non-breeding season, all goldfinches are dull brown.
Goldfinches are usually monogamous, but female goldfinches commonly find a new mate after having a first brood, leaving the male to finish raising the younglings. The female may find a new mate and start a new family. The average clutch size for goldfinches in Tennessee is 5 eggs.
Going Digital!
Did you know the Tennes-Sierran is available online? The digital version is in color and has clickable links! Do you wish to opt out of the paper copy and go digital instead? View current and past issues or request paperless delivery here!
Contact Us
Do you have a program or speaker idea for your Group? An issue you're particularly passionate about? Do you have a story idea for the Tennes-Sierran or the e-newsletter? Let us know! Look through our past programs for inspiration. Submit your suggestion here!
Questions or comments for Sierra Club in Tennessee? We want to hear from you! Chapter E-news Editor: Allie Stafford Photo Editor: Todd Waterman
The views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sierra Club.
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