With water becoming an increasingly precious commodity, I should welcome being offered a drink; but I would much prefer being served from a pitcher than a firehose. At least that’s how it’s seemed in my first month as Interim Director of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter. All whining aside, I couldn’t be happier. Despite the steep learning curve, the incredibly talented staff and dedicated Executive Committee have done a hero’s job of welcoming me and helping me come up to steam. That being said, I take the reigns during “interesting times” to paraphrase a Chinese curse of dubious origins. The 84th Texas Legislature started the week after I did with a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor at the helm. Both have sworn to make Texas even friendlier to business (If Texas government gets any friendlier to big biddness we’ll have to re-use that firehose to cool their passions). Sierra Club wants jobs and economic prosperity for the people of Texas as much or more than the current political leadership; however, we also want and will continue demanding clean air and water, and protection of Texas’ natural wilderness and coastal resources. We’ll keep pressing for continued progress on renewable energy as well as the associated economic development and jobs needed to keep Texas strong and a leader in wind and solar power and on the cutting edge of innovation in distributed generation and energy storage. Given the strong pro-industry electoral returns in Texas, we anticipate a need for a strong defense to protect past environmental gains, but as competent and well respected as our inside-the-capitol team is, protecting and advancing a sustainable and clean Texas will depend on a strong outside game. Concurrent with our lobby efforts in the Capital, I will focus considerable attention on working with the local groups and supporters across the state to amplify their voices while growing our membership and support. In short, I will be looking for a bigger club.
Reggie James, Interim Director
Lone Star Chapter