Switching from fossil fuel combustion to renewable energy plus electrical appliances is called "Beneficial Electrification." For example, when you switch from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle powered by solar, it benefits everyone by eliminating tailpipe emissions and benefits the EV owner through energy savings and a general vehicle upgrade. Ditto for heat pumps instead of boilers and batteries instead of backup generators.
Now try to imagine the beneficial electrification of 150 years of fossil fuel infrastructure in America, including homes, office buildings, manufacturing plants, gas stations, etc. This represents the largest infrastructure project in human history, dwarfing massive projects like the interstate highway system and New Deal initiatives like the Hoover Dam and Tennessee Valley Authority.
Transitioning our society from coal, oil and gas to clean power like wind and solar, combined with electrical appliances is going to require hundreds of thousands of skilled, licensed electrical workers. Unfortunately, we do not have nearly enough of these skilled workers today due to a lack of enrollment in traditional blue collar trades schools, community colleges, and electrical training and licensing programs. Read more here.
Protect Sears Island - Develop Offshore Wind at Mack Point!
Join the movement to protect Sears Island at a public information rally on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the parking lot of Mermaid Plaza, 1 East Main Street in Searsport (the building with the blue roof on the right as you enter town from Belfast). Come learn more about Maine Department of Transportation’s proposal to develop a wind port in Searsport. Free hamburgers and hot dogs while they last! Learn more about this campaign here.
Photo by Megan Steele Photography
Calling all NEW Volunteers!
Are you interested in helping Maine’s environment? No matter your background, we have a role for you! Learn more about how you can make a difference at our volunteer orientation on October 19th at noon. Register here today - No experience necessary!
Virtual Film Screening: The Scattering of Man
Amidst rising flood waters caused by British Columbia Hydro’s W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River, the Tsay Keh Dene Nation and its membership unwillingly found themselves displaced from their lands. DƏNE YI'INJETL - The Scattering of Man, an Indigenous-produced documentary, tells this story from the perspective of the Tsay Keh Dene Nation about the events that took place before and after the flood in 1968. Watch on October 17th from 6pm - 8pm here.
Photo by Megan Steele Photography
Did You Miss Sierra Club Maine’s Annual Celebration?
If you were unable to make it to our annual celebration in September, you’re in luck! Attendees reported that this year’s event was one of the most inspiring events in our organization’s history largely due to Representative Chellie Pingree and our panel of amazing activists. Luckily, we recorded our speakers and panel and it’s available to view here. Enjoy!
Become a Member Today to Receive Endorsed Candidate Information
If you would like to receive information about our state endorsed candidates you must be a member. Election law prohibits us from sharing endorsee information with anyone other than members.
Candidates, who requested our endorsement, are vetted by our volunteer Political Team. This year we have endorsed over 60 candidates. We need your help in order to promote these endorsees. Please become a member today! If you would like to become a member but cannot afford to, please let us know at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.
As they say, “all politics is local” and this year is no different. Let's make a big difference this year in the new legislature by electing a veto proof majority to move our environmental justice agenda forward!
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Request Your Absentee Ballot!
The November 8th election is right around the corner. You can vote early by absentee voting: order your ballot right online here! You can vote absentee in person at your town hall up until the Thursday before Election Day (November 3rd) or by mail (ballots must be received before or on Election Day if mailed). You can also bring in your ballot (with envelope!) to a drop box on Election Day in the event you don't have a chance to return it sooner.
For more information on election day, visit our politics page.
Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Green Tip of the Month
By Logan Hagerty, Intern
Are you looking to eat delicious food, fight food waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and support your local businesses?
If so, look no further than “Too Good to Go,” an app that proclaims to “[connect] users with stores and restaurants that have unsold surplus food at the end of the day.”
Too Good to Go is expanding in Portland, with nearly a dozen businesses currently participating. You can sign up either as a consumer looking to get cheaper food or as a business looking to get rid of excess food in an ecologically-conscious manner.
Tell your friends and family to download the Too Good To Go app, and encourage local businesses to sign up today!
1. Do you want to save Maine’s environment while reducing your taxes?
2. Are you at least 70 ½ years or older?
If you answered YES to the questions above, consider a charitable IRA rollover!
Use your required minimum distribution (RMD) for good. If you are at least 70 ½ years or older, you can satisfy your RMD and save on taxes by making a gift to support Sierra Club Maine’s charitable programs through the Sierra Club Foundation directly from your IRA.
With an IRA Charitable Rollover, you can see the impact your gift has in protecting Maine’s environment throughout your lifetime.
Funds remaining in retirement accounts after your lifetime are heavily taxed if left to someone other than a spouse. Many donors choose to use their IRA resources for charitable giving, while leaving other less tax burden assets to family and friends.
Designating your gift to Sierra Club Maine will protect Maine’s environment for generations to come. Please be sure to make all checks out to “Sierra Club Foundation” and write “Maine Chapter” in the memo. For more information, please contact Sarah at sarah.leighton@sierraclub.org or 207-761-5616.
The Month Ahead
Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
Join us for our biweekly legislative team meeting. This summer we're working on bill planning for the 2023 legislative session! If this is your first meeting, reach out to ania.wright@sierraclub.org for more information.
October 19th at 12pm - Volunteer Orientation Are you interested in helping Maine’s environment? No matter your background, we have a role for you! Learn more about how you can make a difference at our volunteer orientation. No experience necessary!
Led by a Sierra Club Maine Outings Leader, these walks are typically 2-4 miles and about 1.5 hours on established trails or walkways. Check out our Hiking Meetup Group for more information.
