Congratulations to Roger Downs, Chapter conservation program manager, who was recently presented with the Special Achievement Award at Sierra Club headquarters in San Francisco.
The award recognizes his leadership in bringing about New York's ban on hydraulic fracking. The Special Achievement Award for staff "acknowledges an employee's special achievement that has benefited, changed, or streamlined the work of the Club, or enhanced its public image." Roger was one of two state-level staff to win the award; the other was Molly Diggins, North Carolina Chapter director.
“It took a village of us in New York, including so many volunteers, working along with Roger starting in 2008, playing a key role resulting in the state's December 2014 decision to ban fracking,” said Susan Lawrence, former chair of the Chapter and a long-time member of the Chapter’s Executive Committee. “Roger, many thanks, well done, and bravo!”
And thanks to his Albany colleague, Caitlin Pixley, conservation associate, for throwing his hat in the ring.
“Roger's work was a major factor” in the state’s decision to ban fracking, according to Bob Ciesielski, chair of the Chapter’s energy committee. During the turbulent seven years of the campaign to ban fracking, Roger’s was “a calm and strong voice” and he “maintained contact with all parties, including the Governor's office, legislative leaders, the Department of Environmental Conservation and other state agencies.”
Thanks to Roger’s effort, the Atlantic Chapter became one of the leading environmental organizations in the fracking fight. Roger’s efforts led thousands of chapter members to make official comments about proposed regulations and environmental studies.
Because of his efforts, the Chapter earned the trust of other fracking opponents, many of whom were skeptical of the commitment of the major mainstream environmental groups, which were generally slower to recognize the dangers of fracking. Although many thought a ban on fracking was beyond reach, Roger remained a steadfast voice of reason, Ciesielski said. “For many individuals, Roger's efforts to obtain a state fracking ban would have been the achievement of a lifetime.”