September 2024

---

Secure Your Ticket:
Annual Celebration September 19!

Sierra Club Maine will hold its annual celebration for social and environmental justice on September 19th, 6:30-8pm at Maine Beer Company in Freeport. The public is invited to join us as we celebrate our impact in 2024 and discuss our collective goals for the future. Doors open at 5:30pm.

The evening will include a live auction, a presentation of annual awards, and a special address from Sierra Club Maine’s Chapter Director, Pete Nichols. “We are really excited to bring our amazing members and supporters together to celebrate our collective work over the past year and showcase inspiring things on the horizon for the chapter,” Pete shared. Please register here and stay tuned for updates on our website and social media: Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter. 

Sierra Club Maine would like to thank its sponsors: Atlantic Sea Farms, David Gibson, Ecology School, Evergreen Home Performance, Garbage to Garden, Glidden Point Oyster Farms, GoGo Refill, Gorham Savings Bank,  Inn by the Sea, Kennebec Savings Bank, Lamey Wellehan, Landform Law,  Maine Audubon, Maine Beer Company, Maine Climate Action NOW!, Maine Solar Solutions, Midcoast Conservancy, Nebo Lodge, Pape Chevrolet,  Piper Shores,  Sea Bags, Tandem Coffee, Toad&Co,  Union of Concerned Scientists,  Wild Oats, and its host committee: Becky Bartovics, Jonathan Fulford, Beverly Roxby, and Dinah Minot—thank you! Interested in sponsoring this event? Please contact maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.

The chapter is excited to be hosting two community conversations this month. See below for details and registration. We hope you’ll join us!

We need your voice to be heard in order to ensure that Maine’s next climate action plan addresses the climate crisis at the pace and scale that is scientifically and socially needed. Help ensure a just and livable future for all in Maine by reading the working group recommendations and providing feedback in the Maine Climate Council Survey!

“Overall, these recommendations ‘consider’ and ‘explore’ too much,” said Matt Cannon, State Conservation & Energy Director. “Maine needs more than studies and incremental progress. To improve our health, reduce consumer costs, and cut emissions, we must set, meet, and surpass bold climate goals. Maine must create the economic reality needed to ensure all recommendations are adopted and more. Thankfully, the federal government has supplied additional funds to do just that. This is a monumental shift to a clean energy economy, one with all life at stake, one we can surely accomplish together.”

You can also attend in person meetings in your area! Register here to attend a virtual or in person meeting.

---

Sierra Club Maine is revitalizing its outings program, and we invite you to be part of this exciting effort! Join us in getting our members outdoors, exploring the places we work diligently to protect, and understanding the issues we advocate for. Sierra Club has always been an organization rooted in the outdoors, and we know many of our members have the local knowledge and passion to lead others in enjoying the beauty of our state. 

If you're interested in becoming an outing leader, you'll need to complete a one-day training session, which includes Outings Leader Training and basic First Aid and CPR. The training will be held on September 26, 9am-6pm in Westbrook, ME. You can register for the leadership training here, or reach out to David (775-303-8461, vonseg1@sbcglobal.net) or Nyalat (nyalat.biliew@sierraclub.org) for more information. 

From left: Andrew Blunt, Corrine Adamowicz, Marena Bach, Ania Wright, Jane Brekke, Nyalat Biliew, Matt Cannon

It's with the deepest appreciation that we announce that Ania Wright, Deputy Director, has decided to move on to a new opportunity with our partner, Maine Audubon. Ania started with the Chapter in 2020 as our very first Climate Action Organizer where she supported Community and Climate Action Teams throughout the state. In this role, Ania also deepened the Chapter's relationship with youth groups including Maine Youth for Climate Justice and Maine Youth Action. Ania was promptly promoted to the role of Legislative and Political Strategist where she organized all state lobbying and political endorsements. Thanks to Ania, the volunteer Legislative Team grew to its largest level being able to not only testify on bills but research and write new bills for future legislative sessions. If you worked with Ania, you not only experienced her incredible passion for environmental justice but also her kindness. We thank Ania for her immense dedication and look forward to working with her in her new role. 

Join us on Saturday, September 7th from 3-6pm at Orange Bike Brewing in Portland for an afternoon of fun celebrating clean transportation options! In addition to food, drinks, and games, there will be e-bike demonstrations, keynotes from leaders in the field, and opportunities to take action to support a clean transportation future. You'll have a chance to interact with the organizations that are making our streets cleaner and safer through investment in public transit, active transportation, and better community design. Diamond Street will be closed to car traffic for the duration of the event. Bring your family and your friends to support a clean transportation future. Sign up here!

By Joe Peraino, Sierra Club Maine Clean Energy Committee and Portland Climate Action Team

My wife and I were early adopters of EVs, buying one of the first models available in Colorado back in 2016. Most of our trips concentrated around the state and our trusty SUV for longer hauls, we never took our EV on a long-distance adventure. With a recent move to Portland and a looming invitation in the Hudson Valley, we found ourselves a little nervous about tackling a long trip in our new electric vehicle, a sleek Hyundai Ioniq 6. We needn't have worried.

Charging Made Easy
Planning the route from Portland to Lake Placid, with a detour through scenic New Hampshire, revealed a wealth of charging options. From speedy Level 3 chargers that could top off the battery in 20 minutes to convenient Level 2 chargers perfect for overnight stops, the network was extensive. These charging stations, often located near shopping centers, became welcome rest stops.

Cost-Effective Cruising
The cost savings compared to gas were eye-opening. A four-hour charge, enough for roughly 100 miles, set us back a mere $1.96. Think about it: to cover the same distance in a typical gas-powered car getting 25 miles per gallon, you'd need four gallons, which, at today's national average of $3.50 per gallon, would cost a whopping $14! 

A Seamless Journey
The return trip back to Portland was a breeze. The ease of charging throughout the trip emboldened us to take another unplanned jaunt, driving to visit a relative in Massachusetts without any route planning.

Don't Believe the Hype
There's a lot of negative press surrounding EVs, particularly about limited charging infrastructure and long waits. But our experience in New England paints a different picture; charging stations here are plentiful. Don't let fear mongering and outdated information deter you from exploring the world of EVs.

New England's Electric Friendly
In a region like New England with its concentrated population centers, range anxiety shouldn't be a concern. EVs offer a fun driving experience, require minimal maintenance, can be charged conveniently at home, and most importantly, help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. And if you're still on the fence, consider this: for two-car families, the electric option makes perfect sense for your second vehicle.

Illustration by Alfadanz/iStock 

By Jessian Choy via Sierra Magazine

Where and how can you recycle empty propane gas canisters? "...An important first step is to make sure that the tank is empty. Compressed propane gas cylinders and tanks might seem to be spent, but they could have flammable gas still inside. That hazardous waste can cause fires and is illegal to put in any landfill or recycling bin. When in doubt, you always have the option to bring it to a household hazardous waste collection site, but there are other options that can save time and money. 

First, let’s clear the air on all the names for propane canisters. For this article, I’ll use cylinders for anything that’s one pound (16 ounces) or less. And I’ll refer to anything larger as a tank. 

Save money with refillables 
You can save money in the long run if you get refillable cylinders and tanks. They cost a lot less to refill compared with those that are single use. Also, when it’s time to recycle or safely dispose of any cylinder or tank, you might first need to pay a professional to depressurize them and remove remaining gas. You’ll also save on taxes. “Taxpayers pay up to $65 to recycle or safely dispose of a one-pound propane cylinder,” Nate Pelczar, director of administration, California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), told me. “That’s how much taxpayers pay in Burbank, California. In rural areas, they can pay $30 a cylinder. So we need more producer responsibility laws to make manufacturers pay.”  Continue reading here.

Do you have a green tip that you would like to have included in a future newsletter? Please share it with us here!

Film still from YINTAH, screening at CIFF September 14

Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!

• Climate Council Meetings - Register here!
  • VIRTUAL: Sept 4th at 6pm | Online via Zoom
  • PRESQUE ISLE: Sept 5th at 6pm | Presque Isle Community Center
  • LEWISTON: Sep 10th at 6pm | Lewiston Public Library
  • PORTLAND: Sept 12th at 6pm | King Middle School
  • BANGOR: Sept 17th at 6pm | Bangor Public Library
  • ELLSWORTH: Sept 18th at 6pm | Ellsworth Public Library
  • BIDDEFORD: Sept 19th at 6pm | Biddeford Middle School

• Events Team Meetings:
  • Help us organize events to educate and engage Mainers across the state.
    • September 5 at 12pm, September 26 at 12pm

• September 7 at 2:30pm: Community Conversation: Protecting Maine Jobs and Ecosystems
  • Join featured speaker Senator Troy Jackson, President of the Maine Senate, as he discusses the critical and timely topic of protecting jobs and ecosystems in Maine after the 2024 election. Tina Riley, an IBEW electrician and former State Rep. from Jay, as well as our own Jonathan Fulford, co-chair of Sierra Club’s Legislative Team and small business owner, will also be on the panel. This event will be live at the University of Maine in Orono, and also on Zoom. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions about Maine's future in these challenging times. Please register here. Sponsored by Sierra Club Maine, the Maine Labor Climate Council and the Bureau of Labor Education at UMaine.

• September 7, 3-6pm: Clean Transportation Fest
  • Join us at Orange Bike Brewing in Portland for an afternoon of fun celebrating clean transportation options. In addition to food, drinks, and games, there will be e-bike demonstrations, keynotes from leaders in the field, and opportunities to take action to support a clean transportation future. 

• September 8, 9am-4pm: Wild Seed Project’s Annual Native Plant Sale
  • Wild Seed Project's most anticipated event of the year! They've been growing over 100 species of native plants from seed at their Native Seed Center. And now, they're ready to share them with you! The sale will be held at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth. Attendance requires registration.

• September 10 at 3pm: Advancement Team Meeting
  • Help us raise the crucial funds necessary for us to do our work.

• September 11 at 12pm: Volunteer Orientation
  • Learn how you can help protect Maine's environment.

• September 12 at 4pm: Siting an Offshore Wind Port in Maine
  • Offshore wind is an exciting prospect for Maine's energy future. Sierra Club Maine is supportive of a project being sited in the Gulf of Maine and port selection is a critical part of the process and needs to be considered carefully. Join Jim Theriault, VP of Materials Handling for Sprague Energy, who will be presenting their proposal for an offshore wind port on Mack Point in Searsport. This virtual conversation will bring insights into the issue. Please register here.

• September 12-15: Camden International Film Festival (CIFF)
  • CIFF will feature a slate of boundary-pushing documentary films and filmmakers from across the globe. The festival will take place in person from September 12-15 at various venues throughout Camden and Rockland, and online from September 16-30. A powerful film, YINTAH, will have its New England premiere at CIFF on September 14 at 8:15pm at the Strand Theatre in Rockland. Use code Sierra25 at checkout for 25% off tickets!

• September 17 at 12pm: Clean Energy Team Meeting
  • Join our team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!

• September 19, 6:30-8pm (Doors at 5:30pm): Sierra Club Maine's Annual Celebration!
  • The public is invited to join us at Maine Beer Company in Freeport as we celebrate our impact in 2024 and discuss our collective goals for the future. The evening will include a live auction, a presentation of annual awards, and a special address from Sierra Club Maine’s Chapter Director. Please register here.

• September 23 at 3pm: Volunteer Support Team Meeting
  • Help recruit and orient new volunteers and ensure overall volunteer satisfaction.

• September 26, 9am-6pm: Outings Leader Training in Westbrook
  • ​​The Maine Chapter is revitalizing its outings program, and we invite you to be part of this exciting effort! Join us in getting our members outdoors, exploring the places we work to protect, and understanding the issues we advocate for. Join this one-day training to become an outings leader. The session includes Outings Leader Training and basic First Aid and CPR. Please register here. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• September 28, 12-4pm: Solar and EV Expo in South Paris, Maine
  • ​​​​​​​Join the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) for their Solar & EV Expo as part of National Drive Electric Week. This is a great opportunity to drive locally-owned electric cars, ride electric bikes, get involved in CEBE's Community Solar project, meet solar installers and more! Electric mobility powered by renewable energy is the future. It's here now in Maine's Western Foothills. Don't miss your chance to learn all about it! 

• Political Team Meetings 
  • Join us bi-weekly on Tuesdays to discuss the upcoming November election and endorsements! Email maine.chapter@sierraclub.org for more information. 

---

Interested in helping to protect Maine’s environment? We invite you to join us at our next volunteer orientation—view our events calendar here! No matter your background, we have a role for you—no experience necessary.

We are always looks for photos from across the state to feature in our marketing materials. Professionals and amateurs alike are encouraged to submit images of Maine landscapes, nature, and wildlife. Please submit your photo here.

Questions? Email us at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org.