The Anne Arundel Group’s General Membership Meeting on November 8 discussed the work, and needs, of the group and also received an update on the Maryland Chapter’s Clean Energy campaign. 
The Saturday night meeting was at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis. Only about 35 members attended – a disappointing turnout given the 1,200 Sierrans who live in the county.
The Maryland Chapter’s Beyond Coal campaign representative David Smedick described the club’s efforts to help phase out carbon-heavy coal as the nation’s prime energy source, with the goal of replacing it with wind, solar and other renewable power sources.
Coal is a major factor in our area’s poor air quality, he said: in fact, 86 percent of Marylanders live with air considered unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency, with Baltimore being the worst area for ozone on the entire east coast.
The state has committed to getting 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025, but the club is targeting a 40 percent rate by then. "The cost of installing solar power has been steadily declining," Smedick said.
Turning to operations of the Anne Arundel group, participants heard about how we operate and discussed ways to improve and extend our work. Plans were laid for a variety of new programs, including one on sustainability and transportation coordinated by Jane Shey, and another on Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, arranged by Dick Vanden Heuvel.
Also discussed were the group’s newly revitalized outings program, led by Randi Hogan; the possibility of regular social gatherings at area restaurants, coordinated by Ann Schifferle.
Volunteers were sought for a variety of tasks necessary to help the group function, all calling for regular but limited time commitments. For more information, contact group chair David Prosten at 410-703-0847.