Newsletter- December 2020 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

 
Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter banner - text with Sierra Club logo of a green tree on a white background
   
 
A winter scene of a river. The trees are bare either side and there is snow on the ground.
Potato Creek State Park, first day hike 2020. Photo by Sarah Perschbacher.

Happy holidays from all of us at the Sierra Club in Indiana!

 
Dear Supporter,

We want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for being part of our work at Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter in 2020.

It's been a year of unexpected challenges, with many losses we've felt deeply. Our hearts go out to all who have struggled this year.

As we look ahead to 2021, we have hope that a new year, and a new presidency, will bring brighter things for us all. We know many hurdles will come- including challenges for our environment and our communities- but we can face them, together.

In this issue, we're delighted to introduce you to the work of Indiana Phenology, give you an update from our Indiana Beyond Coal team, and of course our usual list of recommended reading. 

If there's anything we can do for you as your local Sierra Club chapter, please do reach out and let us know. We love to hear from you!
Click here to send us an email
A woman with glasses and long brown hair smiles at the camera. She is in a forest and is holding up different sized leaves.
Amanda Wanlass, Executive Director of Indiana Phenology

Introducing Indiana Phenology

It can be a challenge to find ways to make a difference in your community. It can feel like we have to make a grand gesture or change the entire course of human history for our actions to be meaningful. But that's just not true. 

Small acts make a big difference when people come together for a common cause. If you're looking for a way to help manage wild spaces, fight climate change, keep people healthy, or provide evidence to legislators, citizen science is the answer!   

When you become a Backyard Observer with Indiana Phenology, you’ll collect the life cycle data of the species that live in your backyard or nearby natural space. You’ll help build our statewide database of environmental knowledge. And that knowledge has the power to protect people, land, and species. 

Get started today as a Backyard Observer and in three easy steps you'll be making one big difference. 

- Amanda Wanlass, Executive Director of Indiana Phenology
A group of around 15 people smile to the camera. Two people at the front hold up a blue Repower Indiana t-shirt
A Duke Campaign team meeting at West Lafayette Public Library in February 2020.
The outline of a map of Indiana with Beyond Coal written over it
A young child wearing a yellow t-shirt that says Beyond Coal. There is a blue arrow text inlay that says Indiana's Best Eco-Movement.
Be part of our success story -- moving Indiana Beyond Coal to Clean Energy! 

Indiana Beyond Coal news

Volunteers with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign (virtually) attended the first meeting of Duke Energy Indiana’s 20-year planning process in November. These half-day-long utility planning meetings are held at a difficult time for many customers to participate. Despite that, there was plenty of public engagement in the meeting, at which customers asked Duke hard questions about their plans to phase out their dirty, expensive coal plants and replace them with clean energy.

In addition, Mayor John Dennis of West Lafayette read a letter signed by 20 public officials in Duke’s service territory asking that Duke issue an all-source request for proposals (RFP) and get real market prices for energy resources as part of their process. The letter was also signed by Mayor James Brainard of Carmel, state legislators and city councilors from three cities in Duke territory.

Both NIPSCO and Vectren utilized all-source RFP’s in their 20-year planning processes and as a result are building enough renewable energy to replace the coal plants they are retiring; that will mean both utilities will be meeting over half their customers' needs with renewable energy like wind, solar and energy storage. 

Duke is Indiana’s largest electric utility in terms of service area and number of customers, but lags far behind the other four Indiana investor-owned utilities in terms of their plans to phase out coal. In addition, Duke proposed two massive fracked gas plants in its last plan. 

Since the November meeting, Duke has informed advocates they will instead pursue an all-source request for information (RFI). While we are concerned that an RFI may not be as valuable or accurate as an RFP, this is a step in the right direction in terms of bringing competition to Duke’s planning, which is ultimately part of our strategy because Duke’s coal plants can’t compete against clean energy.

There will be four additional planning meetings in 2021 before Duke releases their next 20 Year Energy Plan. Are you a Duke Energy customer and want to get involved? Contact matt.skuya.boss@sierraclub.org. 
A close up shot of a pink plastic flamingo lying on a lawn
From the article, Gen Z’s Next Victim: The Lawn (Sierra Club)
PHOTO BY LAYRES | ISTOCK
An autumnal trail. The ground is covered with leaves and speckled with sunlight.
From the article, A Burgeoning Movement Improves Outdoor Accessibility for the Blind( Sierra Club) PHOTO BY REIMPHOTO/ISTOCK
A white woman wearing glasses, with a raincoat on and her hood up, drinking a hot drink outdoors.
Rachel from Curious Wilds gives tips on dressing for a chilly London winter. (Photograph- Rachel Summers)

Our recommendations this month

From Indiana

Profiles of Hoosier Environmental Leaders (NUVO)
A garden on Indy’s near northwest side (NUVO)
KHEPRW Institute- Feeding Community Wealth podcast

From Sierra Club

Gen Z’s Next Victim: The Lawn
A Burgeoning Movement Improves Outdoor Accessibility for the Blind

From around the country and beyond

From Moomins to murder mysteries: the best books on life outdoors (The Guardian)
How to Practice the Norweigian Concept of Friluftsliv (And How it Can Help You Embrace a Coronavirus Winter) (Bluezones)
How conservation groups confront distrust from communities of color (High Country News)
Treat artificial light like others forms of pollution, say scientists (The Guardian)
The Young Black Farmers Defying A Legacy of Discrimination (VICE) (video)
Teaching climate crisis in classrooms critical for children, top educators say (The Guardian)
Q&A: Betty Reid Soskin reflects on her life and multifaceted career as a singer, activist and park ranger (USA Today)
The BAME women making the outdoors more inclusive (Guardian)
Student Who Grew Her Own Canoe Out of Mushroom Thinks Fungus is Our Best Ally in Climate Change (Good News Network)
Stories from Home: Living the Just Transition Podcast (Climate Justice Alliance)
Rediscover nature: winners and finalists – in pictures (Guardian)
Rachel Summers from Curious Wilds Forest School in London gives tips on dressing for the cold (video)

Have a recommendation for us?

Please email us so we can feature your recommendations in a future issue!
A community park at dusk. There are no people - just a tree outlined against the sky, green grass, and a small stage.
St Clair Neighborhood Community Space on the near east side of Indianapolis, in the winter sun. Photo Credit: Rebecca Dien-Johns

See you next year! 


Once again, thank you so much for your support this year. We wish you a very happy and safe holidays, however you celebrate them. 

In solidarity and gratitude, 

Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter.

PS Looking for previous issues? You can find our summer newsletter here, our September newsletter here, and our fall issue here. 
 
   
Want to get in touch? You can contact us at hoosier.chapter@sierraclub.org
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This email was sent by the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter
1100 W 42nd Street, Suite 215 Indianapolis, IN 46208

 


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