TAKE ACTION! Tell the Shelby County Health Department to reject TVA's proposal to build another gas plant in South Memphis. "On top of xAI's unpermitted methane gas turbines, TVA wants a permit to operate six more very large ones in Southwest Memphis. This is in spite of the fact that the Memphis metropolitan area has been out of attainment for National Ambient Air Quality standards for smog (the pollution that comes from methane turbines) for four years now." Send your message to the Shelby County Health Department today!
XAI stockpiling massive equipment at vacant Mississippi lot. "On Wednesday, June 18, a Daily Memphian reporter observed dozens of natural gas turbines and energy equipment stockpiled in a field at 2979 Stateline Road West in Southaven. None of the equipment appeared to be running, but it does seem to be multiplying. Two weeks ago, the reporter saw only six or seven turbines on the same lot." Read more by Samuel Hardiman - Daily Memphian - June 20, 2025.
Some Tennessee Valley leaders scratch heads at Trump’s TVA firings. "Leaders across the Tennessee Valley said they are unsure why Trump fired another director from the board at a crucial moment for the federal utility, which supplies electricity to 10 million people. The White House has not responded to a request for comment." Read more by Daniel Dassow - Times Free Press - June 14, 2025.
Burchett bill requiring more public TVA meetings passes House. "A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Knoxville, to require the Tennessee Valley Authority to hold nearly all of its board meetings in public passed in the House." Read more by Daniel Dassow - Times Free Press - June 10, 2025.
Protesters at the No Kings protest in Oak Ridge, Tenn. There were over 20 No Kings protests scheduled across Tennessee for June 14, 2025to demand an end to authoritarianism, corporate corruption, and attacks on democracy. Tens of thousands of people attended statewide. It is estimated that over 5 million people across the nation participated in a "No Kings" protest. Photo credit: Todd Waterman.
Environmental Updates
TAKE ACTION to increase oil and gas safety standards! Trump's Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is attempting to weaken safety rules for methane gas export terminals, known as LNG. The current safeguards are meant to protect workers and communities from dangerous and volatile LNG infrastructure, but they're profoundly out of date. We must demand common-sense safeguards that prioritize safety, transparency, and accountability. The public comment period to PHMSA is open now until July 7 - Act now! Lost tax credits may mean canceled Tennessee energy projects. "Tennessee clean energy projects may be canceled or majorly revised if tax credits are quickly phased out in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to policy analysts and energy leaders in the state. The Volunteer State has been a leader in securing clean energy investments from automotive plants to solar farms, and many projects were financed with tax credits in mind. If companies are forced to begin construction soon or lose funding, some may not make it, said Gil Hough, executive director of the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association." Read more by Daniel Dassow - Times Free Press - June 24, 2025.
More than half of samples taken in Northwest Georgia exceed EPA limits for PFAS. Fifty-six percent of the samples collected over the past 10 months "exceeded the EPA's limit for drinking water, which is four parts per trillion. The highest result was 186,310 parts per trillion, found in a spring within five miles of the Creole Barn in Chatsworth, where the legal team held its town hall on Thursday. 'This is not a Democrat or Republican issue,' attorney Ben Finley said. 'This is not a political issue. This is a human issue.'" Read more by David Floyd - Times Free Press - June 15, 2025.
Tennessee program makes progress on EV chargers while frozen federal projects languish. "A federally funded program intended to round out Tennessee’s EV charging network — particularly on the state’s major interstates and U.S. 64 — has been halted since February at the instruction of President Donald Trump’s administration." Read more by Cassandra Stephenson - Tennessee Lookout - June 3, 2025.
Rock formation at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. On Sunday, May 18, the Harvey Broome Group sponsored an outing led by Ron Shrieves. The six participants hiked the 9.5-mile-long Middle Creek and Slave Falls Loop Trails. The main attractions of this area are the spectacular geologic "rockhouses" and accompanying waterfalls. We had excellent weather and a pleasant hike. —Description and photo by Jerry Thornton.
Drive Electric Tennessee Momentum Summit
June 24, 2025 at MTSU
By Kent Minault and JoAnn McIntosh
Momentum was the right name for this conference – great panels, discussions, and can-do attitudes led the day! There is plenty to be positive about in the Electric Vehicle world, e.g., new affordable models for 2026, incredible advanced technologies in batteries and manufacturing, and continuing improvement to charging infrastructure. JoAnn and Kent also hobnobbed with various experts in the clean transportation transition and tried to ask provocative questions of the panelists.
Currently we have 78 battery electric school buses operating in our state.
Tennessee has benefited from billions of dollars invested in the EV industry, as well as the creation of over 5000 new jobs. The downside to all of this is that much of the federal support for clean vehicles is in danger of disappearing due to the Senate’s proposed gutting of clean energy tax credits in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
For Sierra Club’s TN Chapter, Kent Minault and JoAnn McIntosh presented talking points on EV advocacy and encouraged folks to CALL their Senators to keep the clean energy tax credits: (202) 224-3121. You can also take action with the Sierra Club here!
The highlight of Kent’s day, with the Voltera Garbage Truck, built in Murfreesboro.
Health & Justice
NAACP plans to sue Elon Musk's xAI over alleged Clean Air Act violations in Memphis. "On June 17, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a 60-day intent to sue notice on behalf of the NAACP, claiming xAI has committed violations of the Clean Air Act with its prolonged use of gas turbines at the company's 3231 Paul R. Lowry Road facility in Memphis." Read more by Neil Strebig - Memphis Commercial Appeal - June 17, 2025.
Northwest Georgia landowners sue flooring, chemical makers over PFAS contamination. "A trio of lawsuits filed on behalf of Northwest Georgia property owners allege two of the region's largest employers dumped toxic 'forever chemicals' into the environment, posing a hazard to residents and requiring millions of dollars worth of cleanup. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were produced by the companies 3M, DuPont, Chemours and Invista for products like Scotchgard, Stainmaster and Teflon, the lawsuits said. These products were in turn used by flooring-makers Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries in their manufacturing processes, the complaint said." Read more by David Floyd - Times Free Press - June 21, 2025.
Groups petition EPA to act as ozone levels in Memphis exceed national health standards. "Petition seeks stricter air quality permit requirements, better mitigation for industrial facilities." Read more by Cassandra Stephenson - Tennessee Lookout - June 10, 2025.
Inside Boxtown: The pollution, problems and reignited push for change after xAI's arrival. "Since xAI arrived in Memphis in June 2024, the company's utility demands have been a focal point. Artificial intelligence requires a significant amount of water and electricity; however, when news broke about the use of gas turbines at the xAI facility on Paul R. Lowry Road in 2024, the focus shifted toward environmental concerns for many Boxtown residents and community activists. 'It has shined a light on generational wrongs and pollution in Boxtown,' South Memphis resident KeShaun Pearson said." Read more by Neil Strebig - Memphis Commercial Appeal - June 4, 2025.
Shelby County residents protesting xAI’s presence in their neighborhood during a March 31st County Commission meeting. Photo by Andrea Morales for MLK50.
Monthly Giving - The Source of our Chapter's Power and Flexibility
By Mac Post, Tennessee Chapter Fundraising Team Volunteer
I became a monthly donor because I wanted to increase our Chapter’s financial stability. Every year when the Chapter Finance Team puts together a budget, we can count the monthly donor amount as “in hand” and plan accordingly. Many non-profits raise as much as 30% of their budget through monthly gifts. The Tennessee Chapter currently raises only 3%. We can and need to grow this amount.
Joining our growing circle of monthly donors is simple! Visit the Chapter's secure webpage, click on “Become a Monthly Donor” button, and have your credit card or bank account information handy. That's it!
Action is now. Please join me and other Tennesseans who are deepening their commitment with monthly giving. As little as $15 per month (50¢ cents per day) goes a long way towards providing steady income that empowers our staff and volunteers to make progress towards a sustainable future where wild lands and waterways are protected; our biodiverse wildlife thrives; energy that powers homes, businesses, and transportation is provided from clean, renewable resources; and everyone benefits from clean air and water. We are building this together and monthly donors are the source of our power and flexibility. Sign up here to start your monthly contributions!
July Events
Statewide environmental events listed chronologically. Do you have an event you'd like publicized? Send it to Enews.sierratn@gmail.com.
Independence Day - July 4th. On the heels of nationwide No Kings protests, the values of democracy and freedom from tyranny ring as loudly as ever. On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. The approved version was printed on July 5th, and delegates began signing it on August 2nd, 1776.
July 17th at 5:30 pm - Community Connector Series in Jackson, TN. Sierra Club Tennessee invites you to join us for an evening of community connection at Baker Bros BBQ in Jackson, TN. Whether you're a member, longtime supporter, or just curious about what we do, we'd love to meet you. Register here so we know you're coming!
SAVE THE DATE! October 4th - Chapter Garden Party at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville. Fifty years strong and still growing! Join Sierra Club Tennessee for our Chapter fundraiser as we celebrate volunteer of the year Dan Firth and our conservation award recipients. Look forward to an evening of live music, appetizers, drinks, and great conversations - plus a raffle and online auction to support the work that's been protecting Tennessee's wild places for half a century. Learn more here.
Species Spotlight
This month's featured species is: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susan grows 1-4 feet tall and has delightful yellow blooms with a domed center.Photo credit: Cathy DeWitt via CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 in Wake County, North Carolina.
Black-eyed Susan is part of the Aster family. These wildflowers are native to the eastern and central United States.
They attract many pollinators and reseed themselves. They can become aggressive in a garden if unchecked; deadheading and dividing the plants occasionally will keep them from spreading and crowding out other plants.
Black-eyed Susans are known as "pioneer" plants, meaning that after a natural disaster occurs such as a wildfire, they're one of the first plants to grow back.
Sign Up for Digital Tennes-Sierran
The Tennes-Sierran is available online! And it has clickable links! To opt out of the paper copy and choose digital instead, request paperless delivery here! You can also view current and past issues.
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.
We are the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. With over 3.8 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and to influence public policy through community activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.
Our mission is to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
Thank you for supporting the Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter!
