The Legislative season has begun! Over the coming weeks as bills continue to be printed, Sierra Club Maine’s Legislative Team is working hard to prioritize and support bills that will have the greatest impact on the environment. We will then utilize the grassroots power of our members and supporters to ensure their passage into law. While we are still working to prioritize bills, here are a few important bills you can start following now: Clean Energy Accelerator (Green Bank), Consumer Owned Utility, Green Amendment, & Tribal Sovereignty.
In addition to our Chapter priority bills, Sierra Club Maine, along with our 32 partners in the Environmental Priorities Coalitions, have announced a slate of priority bills that will have a significant impact in protecting Maine’s environment, public health, and climate future. These top priorities for 2021 include banning herbicide spraying, recognizing tribal sovereignty, passing the Land for Maine’s future bond, stopping toxic waste at Juniper Ridge, saving Maine’s municipal recycling programs, aligning state agencies with climate requirements, establishing a green bank, phasing out PFAS, and funding weatherization/efficiency projects.
Because there are no in-person meetings for the foreseeable future, public hearings will be online. This means more people can get involved! Whether you’re completely new to the legislative process or you’re looking to deepen your advocacy skills, Sierra Club Maine has developed free online workshops for all skill levels. These workshops are open to all, but spots are limited, so please RSVP today. By offering these trainings, we hope to empower more people from across the State to participate in their government, making progress toward a more just and sustainable future. If you would like to participate in the Legislative Team or have any questions, please contact Matt Cannon at matthew.cannon@sierraclub.org.
Saving Our Climate Means Re-thinking Our Electric Utilities By John Brautigam, Former State Representative & Sierra Club Maine Executive Committee Member
The plan adopted by Governor Mills’ Climate Council is a milestone in Maine’s effort to achieve a low-carbon future. Under the leadership of Hannah Pingree, the Council proposed a bold and achievable plan that will capitalize on Maine’s unique assets of abundant clean energy, our spirit of innovation, and sheer Yankee ingenuity.
The plan relies heavily on “beneficial electrification.” Powering our transportation, heating and industrial processes with fossil fuels has damaged our climate. The plan proposes to replace petroleum with cleaner grid power from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro.
Most Mainers only think about the grid when their power goes out. The plan challenges us to reimagine the grid as the backbone of our beneficial electrification efforts while still meeting the basic need of safe and reliable power. Read John’s entire op-ed here.
Maine Needs a Green Bank Now
Many of the recommendations of Maine’s Climate Action Plan—including renewable energy and climate resilience—require financing. Even when capital is available, it may not be practically accessible. Traditional financing methods aren’t always well-suited to clean energy projects due to perceived risks, unfamiliar technology, and information gaps about projects and their value. This is why we need a Green Bank here in Maine.
Setting up a Green Bank would not only provide more financing opportunities for efficiency, clean energy, and climate solution projects, but it would do so equitably by providing low-interest loans to low-income households, marginalized communities, and those who otherwise are not able to afford it.
In an interview with Public News Services, David Gibson, Sierra Club Maine Executive Committee Member and Solar Design Specialist with Revision Energy, shared that “green banks create a revolving door of funding, by providing loans to draw in additional private capital, and then reusing the money once the loans are paid back. He explained there's a focus on working with low- to moderate-income households that may not have the funds on hand or credit scores to pay outright for projects such as renewable energy in the home.” Read the whole article here.
David Gibson of the Sierra Club Maine Executive Committee and solar design specialist with ReVision Energy will speak about the movement to organize a Maine Clean Energy Accelerator (Green Bank).
Published author, artist, and creative leader Helen Rousseau joins us to discuss her most recent publication "Poems for a World on Fire" which focuses "...on the good around us from first responders, the beauty of nature, the love of family and friends, and our own inner beauty and courage as we face overwhelming challenges."
Former State Representative and Assistant Attorney General John Brautigam will explain why Maine must make the transition to a Consumer Owned Utility to achieve ambitious climate goals.
Climate Action Team Spotlight
Sierra Club Maine works with Climate Action Teams in communities across the state to address the climate crisis through local projects. While we may be remote, our teams continue to work hard to protect Maine’s environment. Two of these teams include Portland Climate Action Team (PCAT), and Kittery Climate Action Now (Kittery CAN).
PCAT is currently working on a few projects in Southern Maine, including helping Portland and South Portland roll out their Climate Action Plan, One Climate Future, and working to grow the new Tank Emissions Coalition to advocate for stricter emissions control of oil tank owners in South Portland. In addition, PCAT is working to protect older trees in the city through education engagement.
Kittery CAN is hosting “Maine Won’t Wait, Climate Action Plan Workshop” on February 4th at 7pm. Kittery Climate Action Now, York Ready for 100%, and the Kennebunkport Climate Initiative will share information about Maine's climate action plan and our important role in ensuring the plan becomes a reality.
If you would like to start or join a local Climate Action Team in your community, please contact Ania Wright at ania.wright@sierraclub.org.
Volunteer Opportunity of the Month
Do you enjoy telling stories, writing, researching, or educating others? If so, consider becoming a volunteer for our Communications Team! Our Communications Team aims to educate and inspire members and supporters through several written communication channels including our electronic and print newsletters, website, social media, and various educational pieces.
President Biden wasted no time in fulfilling his promise to prioritize climate action. After four years of wasted time and national embarrassment, we are ready for President Biden to reestablish the United States as a leader on addressing the climate crisis and help to drive progress and ambition faster and further than ever before.
Tell Joe Biden and Kamala Harris thank you for rejoining Paris, cancelling Keystone XL, and their Day 1 efforts to tackle the climate crisis and place racial and environmental justice at the center of climate action. And tell them we expect even more by taking action here.
Green Tip of the Month
By Kyle Bonus
Now more than ever, take out has become a vital way to support local restaurants. These orders keep our stomachs happy, but they also contribute to more single-use item waste. While many restaurants are doing their best to provide alternatives to plastic containers and cutlery, as a consumer you can help reduce waste as well. Remember to ask for what you don't want. You'll likely receive many items that you don't need while eating in the comfort of your own home, like condiment packages and utensils. Calling the restaurant directly to place your order not only ensures that the total of your order goes to the business and not a third party service, but it also allows you to best communicate the importance of avoiding single-use items wherever possible.
Learn about the expectations and requirements of becoming an official Sierra Club Maine Outings Leader. This is part 2 of a 3-part training series to complete Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT-101), a requirement to become an official leader.
Learn how you can help protect Maine's environment. Be sure to fill out our Volunteer Interest Form upon registration!
Legislative Session photo by Joshua Sukoff, Green Bank photo by Henrik Kam, Climate Action photo by Li-An Lim, Volunteer Opportunity photo by Kat Stokes, Green Tip photo by Samantha Fernandes, Month Ahead photo by Dominique Lelièvre
