The Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club endorsed Our Power’s groundbreaking effort to put power back in people’s hands by creating a statewide, consumer-owned utility (COU). The 2022 ballot referendum would create The Pine Tree Power Company, a locally-owned, not-for-profit electric utility for parts of Maine currently served by Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant.
Today, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids called on Congress to maintain full funding for critical outdoors programs in the final version of the federal reconciliation bill. The package drafted by the House of Representatives includes nearly $35 billion in funding for federal programs to support community tree planting, urban parks development, nearby nature access, and youth access to the outdoors and nature. While these programs are popular and necessary for taking on the climate crisis, their full funding is being threatened by potential cuts to the $3.5 trillion package.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - In the wake of a New York Times report on the uncertain fate of a major climate provision of the Build Back Better Act relating to Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the Sierra Club once again urged Senator Sinema today to make her position on funding for climate initiatives in the bill public and clear for her constituents.
This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing on a series of bills, including Senator Padilla’s PUBLIC Lands Act (S.1459). The legislation would protect more than one million acres of public lands and well over 500 miles of rivers in California’s Northwest, Central Coast, and Los Angeles regions. Senator Padilla testified in support of the legislation in the hearing.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senate Republicans filibustered a procedural vote on critical voting rights legislation for the third time this year. The Freedom To Vote Act, which is an updated version of the wildly popular For The People Act, is regarded as the most significant anti-corruption and voting rights bill in generations.
Oklahoma City, OK -- In a filing submitted to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) on Wednesday, Sierra Club was critical of the non-existent public engagement process and utility oversight role of the OCC while offering recommendations for improvement.
Right now Democrats in Congress are looking for a path forward on securing a Clean Electricity Performance Program or NEW investments in other climate priorities to close the emissions gap, deliver on jobs and justice, and meet the President’s international climate goals in the coming days as the U.N climate negotiations near. Sierra Club has pointed toward multiple priorities where climate action could be expanded in the bill, one of which is bold investments to cut industrial carbon pollution and boost manufacturing of clean energy goods. Below we outline the problems in the industrial sector and promising Build Back Better Act solutions.
NASHVILLE, TN - This week, the Tennessee General Assembly is convening for a three-day special legislative session to discuss a $884 million economic package to support a $5.6 billion investment at Ford’s new Memphis Regional Megasite.
The auto manufacturer has announced it will open four new factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. Three of the plants, to be built with SK Innovation, would produce batteries for electric vehicles. The fourth plant would make the Ford F-150 Lightning, an all-electric pickup truck.
This month, Sierra Club Military Outdoors and researchers at the University of Utah presented findings from a study on the effects of outdoors exposure and wilderness trips on veterans’ mental health.