Press Releases

Sierra Club: Developers Make Right Decision, Abandon Troubled C4GT Power Plant

RICHMOND -- Today, the Richmond Times reported that Michigan-based NOVI Energy is no longer pursuing the planned development of the C4GT gas power plant in Charles City County.

Sierra Club Statement on PSC Commissioner Conflict of Interest Hearing

The Dane County Circuit Court held a hearing today to hear testimony on former Public Service Commissioner Mike Huebsch’s potential conflict of interest when he voted to approve the proposed $700 million Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) gas plant in Superior, Wisconsin. These issues came to light when it was revealed that, shortly after Huebsch voted to approve the controversial gas plant in January, 2020, he applied for the open position of CEO at Dairyland Power Cooperative, one of two utilities who filed the application. In the hearing, Sierra Club elicited testimony demonstrating that Commissioner Huebsch, in voting to approve a major project for a utility he sought employment from soon thereafter, and one of whose high level executives he had a close personal relationship, was exposed to undue pressure to approve the project, which would have impacted any reasonable person in his position.

Sierra Club Calls for Confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning to Lead Bureau of Land Management

Washington, DC— The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will vote next week on the confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. Last month, more than 100 local and national conservation organizations sent a letter to the Senate urging support for her confirmation. Read the letter here, and watch the live stream of the vote here. 

National Environmental Groups Launch Digital Ad Campaign after Senate For the People Act Vote

Leading national environmental organizations, EDF Action, the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, NRDC Action and Clean Water Action, launched a digital ad campaign to thank Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Mark Kelly, Maggie Hassan, Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, Jeff Merkley and Amy Klobuchar for their support of the For the People Act. The ads also highlight why environmental groups have joined the democracy fight -- “A Healthy Democracy = A Healthy Environment.”

Governor Abbott’s Demands Would Leave Texas more Polluted and Texans in the Dark

AUSTIN, TX -- Earlier this week, Governor Abbott released a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), demanding changes that Abbott falsely claims will ”increase power generation capacity and to ensure the reliability of the Texas power grid.” Unfortunately, Abbott’s letter promotes polluting, unreliable fossil fuels, attacks safer clean energy options, and ignores solutions that would actually benefit everyday Texans.

NEW: Indigenous-Directed Short Film Asks Interior Secretary Haaland to Return Federal Protections to Gray Wolves

Montana— The Global Indigenous Council today released “FAMILY,” a short film highlighting the deep cultural connection Indigenous Nations share with wolves and the major threats currently facing imperiled wolves in the lower 48 states. WATCH “FAMILY” on the Global Indigenous Council YouTube page here.

State Task Force Calls for Expanding Access to Parks, Public Lands for Veterans

Albany, N.Y. -- Today, the New York State Outdoor Rx Task Force released a highly anticipated report on promoting veterans’ mental and physical health through outdoors therapy. The report recommends expanding nature-based therapy and programming for veterans and adjusting or eliminating entrance fees to state parks and public lands to allow for greater access to the outdoors, especially for veterans from diverse, historically marginalized, and underrepresented communities. 

NY Climate Groups Encouraged by DEC’s Call for Comments on Power Plant Applications that Defy Climate Law

New York City; Newburgh, NY - New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said on Wednesday that two proposed fracked gas power plants — Astoria NRG in Queens and Danskammer in Newburgh, Orange County — appear to be “inconsistent with or would interfere with the attainment of the Statewide GHG emission limits” established in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Settlement agreement means major reduction in Dominion Energy’s bid to increase customers’ rates

Sierra Club and multiple partners in South Carolina have reached a settlement agreement that cuts Dominion Energy’s request to raise customers’ rates by 87 percent and gains a commitment from Dominion not to seek additional rate increases until January 2024 at the earliest.

Local Advocates Respond to DTE Energy Waste Reduction Plans

Today, DTE Energy filed its electric and gas energy efficiency (referred to in Michigan as “energy waste reduction”) plans with the Michigan Public Service Commission to reduce energy waste in its service territory. Through the process mandated by state law, Michigan utilities must file plans to allocate resources that improve energy efficiency and reduce wasted electricity in their service territory. DTE is required to deliver customers at least 2% energy savings annually, following the outcome of their most recent Integrated Resource Plan. As Michigan’s largest utility, DTE serves millions of customers and how it funds and prioritizes energy efficiency spending could have huge impacts on the communities affected.