Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
CONCORD, NH. -- The New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ (NHCUCC) has awarded Cathy Corkery, Sierra Club New Hampshire Chapter Director, its Environmental Justice Award for her decades of work championing the retirement of local coal plants. Corkery’s advocacy culminated in the March announcement of 2028 and 2025 retirement dates for the coal-burning units at Merrimack and Schiller Stations respectively, ending the era of coal in New England.
Read More on Coal-Free New England Here.
Sierra Club and partners have engaged in legal, regulatory, and organizing actions to clean up Merrimack and Schiller since 2003. Under Corkery’s leadership, Sierra Club New Hampshire collaboratively organized from Massachusetts to Maine, hosted local hair testing for mercury contamination, and supported the passage of multiple bipartisan state bills. In awarding Corkery the honor, NHCUCC specifically highlighted her contribution to the creation of Town Energy Committees in 2007. Since, these local committees have helped to address countless environmental justice and health issues in towns statewide.
“It is possible to equitably protect the health of New Hampshire communities and energy cost without depending on polluting fossil fuels,” said Cathy Corkery, Sierra Club New Hampshire Chapter Director. “We have seen the power of organizing together and will continue to pursue the development of clean energy solutions like solar, battery storage, and offshore wind.”
Since 2014, Sierra Club has operated under the Jemez Principles, seeking to cultivate a more just, equitable, and inclusive culture. Key tenants of the principles include an emphasis on just relationships and bottom-up organizing, letting people speak for themselves, working in solidarity and mutuality, and a commitment to self transformation. Corkery has practiced each of these principles in her state advocacy and collaboration across various communities and coalitions.
NHCUCC will host its fourth biennial New England Environmental Justice Youth+ Summit on November 14 and 16. Corkery is scheduled to speak on Saturday, November 16 in the morning session. See information below to RSVP for the group’s two free webinars.
What: NHCUCC New England Environmental Justice Youth+ Summit
When: Thursday, November 14, 7pm to 9pm and Saturday, November 16, 9am to 12pm
Remarks By: Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), as keynote; Sierra Club New Hampshire Chapter Director Cathy Corkery; Retired State Representative Marge Shepardson, Reverend Rob Grabill, Reverend Kenneth Makuakane-Minister, Reverend David Houseal, and Student Representative Zeph Marean.
RSVP Here: https://www.nhcucc.org/enjgyouth2024
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.