COVID-19 Update: Read about the most recent Sierra Club guidelines here.
Tennessee News
Tennessee’s massive oil spill cost $4.7 million. A federal investigation says it poured from a 7-inch crack. “Pipeline operators have increased pressurization in recent years because of the past decade’s fracking boom, and, in 2015, the US lifted a 40-year-old oil export ban – so increasingly consolidated companies are literally pushing product faster than ever, Scott Banbury, of Tennessee’s Sierra Club, told This Is Nashville last month. He said these trends are especially concerning with the current lack of oversight. “Most of these companies are self-reporting, self-regulating, and we only see the intervention of federal agencies, or state agencies, when there is a catastrophic accident,” Banbury said.” Read more by Caroline Eggers - WPLN News - August 5, 2022.
Testing reveals high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in Music City Gold, a home fertilizer made with Nashville sewage waste. "While the federal government and state of Tennessee are scrambling to identify and control industries responsible for PFAS pollution, practices like the reuse of sewage waste or “biosolids” effectively recycle pollution from homes and industries back into food crops on farms and home gardens. 'We can no longer turn a blind eye to the crisis posed by the reckless use of PFAS in products and industry,' said Scott Banbury, Chapter Conservation Director of the Tennessee Sierra Club. “The good news is that states have the tools to solve the problem. They can ban harmful uses, and limit the discharge of PFAS into state waterways and the wastewater system." Read the Sierra Club TN Biosolids Report - August 15, 2022.
Clean energy coalition urges TVA to take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act funds. "Clean energy advocates are urging the Tennessee Valley Authority to use funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver environmentally-friendly energy to Tennessee customers." Read more by Dulce Torres Guzman - Tennessee Lookout - August 15, 2022.
Letter to the Editor: Air pollution too often goes unchecked. "I am very concerned about hazardous air pollution coming from Sterilization Services in southwest Memphis. Sadly, this information is not new. I worked for the Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program for 18 years (now retired) and I published many reports about hazardous air pollution between 2000-2017. The Terrible Ten pollution reports highlighted the top ten polluting industries in Shelby County." Read more by Rita Harris - Daily Memphian - August 11, 2022.
A sunny day by the pond at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville, Tenn. Photo by Mac Post.
Recycling Survey Results!
By Lisa Luck and Dan Firth
The Sierra Club Solid Waste Committee for the Tennessee Chapter recently conducted a survey about recycling across Tennessee. The survey was sent to chapter members and supporters. In a great turnout, 416 responded of which 265 were Sierra Club members.
Knowing that the survey was sent primarily to Sierra Club members and those who have supported the club in the past, it was not surprising that the respondents went to great lengths to recycle! Over 98 percent recycle some materials. Those surveyed use a variety of methods to manage their solid waste. Convenience centers are how most recycle: 278 of those surveyed. The strategy of reusing packaging is utilized by 158 individuals. Recycling in a single stream through curbside service in their municipality is how 143 individuals recycle. Other methods used by individuals to recycle included dropping off materials at a retailer (90), pickup by a commercial recycler (46) and access to a commercial composter (14).
At the same time, responses indicate dissatisfaction with their current recycling programs. Challenges include inconvenient access to facilities, limited materials accepted for recycling, confusion about what materials may be recycled, and poorly maintained facilities. Respondents want to recycle more. Dishearteningly, more than a few of responses indicated a suspicion that materials collected for recycling were actually going to the landfill.
As the Solid Waste Committee continues to explore how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can improve recycling in the state, of particular interest was the question of whether or not those surveyed knew about EPR. Seventy one percent responded that they were unfamiliar with EPR, while twenty nine percent indicated that they were familiar with EPR and viewed it positively. No responses indicated a negative perception of EPR. This shows our committee that much more education about EPR is necessary as we work toward getting an EPR bill passed in Tennessee in 2023. If you would like to learn more about EPR, be on the lookout for the EPR article in the September/October issue of the Tennes-Sierran.
The first U.S. climate bill will make renewable energy easier, and cheaper, for TVA. "The U.S. Senate has finally passed what may become the first comprehensive climate law in American history: the Inflation Reduction Act. The plan contains compromises that will benefit fossil fuels, especially gas and pipeline companies." Read more by Caroline Eggers - WPLN - August 8, 2022.
TVA spends nearly $600 million to replace equipment in newest reactor less than 6 years after startup. "Steam generator replacement project wins industry award for innovation. The cost of replacing the steam generators at America's newest nuclear reactor swelled to nearly $600 million and took weeks longer than originally expected to install this spring when windy weather prolonged the outage at the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor." Read more by Dave Flessner - Times Free Press - August 5, 2022.
Knoxvillians gather to protect mature trees. On August 19th, Harvey Broome Group and friends held a protest against the felling of several mature oaks in downtown Knoxville's Cradle of Country Music Park to accommodate a large, $400,000 pedestal for an already-paid-for sculpture which otherwise would fit without sacrificing any trees. We're advocating more broadly for cooling, carbon-sequestering trees in Knoxville to counter increasing future heat island effects and the carbon that's causing them. City Council member Seema Singh will introduce at the September 6th City Council meeting a resolution to pause the project for six months to find a way to preserve the trees. Sign the petition here to protect the trees!
On August 19, about 60 supporters gathered in Cradle of Country Music Park to protest the cutting of these trees to accommodate the sprawling pedestal of a planned sculpture. Co-organizers Kent Minault (pictured speaking above) and City Council member Seema Singh addressed the crowd. Photo credit: Todd Waterman.
Health & Justice
Groups sue Environmental Protection Agency over coal ash. “A coalition of environmental groups [including Sierra Club and Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment] sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday over its refusal to regulate some older coal ash dumps, claiming they are polluting air and groundwater.” This AP article begins with the Kingston coal ash spill and spotlights TVA’s Bull Run Steam Plant. Two of three coal ash impoundments at Bull Run are exempt because they were closed before the EPA’s regulations went into effect in 2015, and TVA can even claim groundwater contamination at the currently-used Dry Fly Ash Stack is exempt as pre-2015 contamination. AP quotes Todd Waterman, a member of Bull Run Neighbors, a grassroots group organized by Sierra Club, SOCM, and Appalachian Voices. Read more byTravis Loller - Associated Press - August 25, 2022.
EPA is monitoring possible cancer-causing emissions in Southwest Memphis. "The Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring 23 communities, including Southwest Memphis, after learning more about the cancer risks associated with ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial sterilizers. The Sterilization Services of Tennessee at 2396 Florida St. is adhering to current EPA regulations, but a recent risk assessment shows elevated risk of long-term exposure to EtO." Read more by Keely Brewer - Daily Memphian - August 3, 2022.
Dickson County landfill settlement requirements come to close. "After more than 20 years of investigations and lawsuits connected to well contamination for a family living near the now-closed Dickson County landfill, the county and City of Dickson reached a settlement Dec. 8, 2011 with the Holt family as well as Natural Resources Defense Council. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, the city and county jointly contributed funds totaling $5 million to a remedy fund." Read more by Chris Gadd - Tennessean - August 25, 2022.
Kingston Cleanup Worker Memorial created by fallen coal ash cleanup worker Ansol Clark.
An Empowering, Back-From-the-Dead Climate Win Asks, Can We Have a Livable Future? Can We All Share In It? Can TVA?
Opinion by Todd Waterman
After decades of fossil industry-orchestrated congressional climate failures, as escalating floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires presaged climate hell, suddenly the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) promises to transform U.S. energy policy. Analysts agree the 73% publicly approved compromise bill’s fully-funded clean energy tax credits, consumer rebates, loans, and investments should reduce U.S. carbon emissions by forty percent compared to 2005 levels within just seven and a half years. Though more is urgently needed, Sierra Club said, “We're urging Congress to pass this bill, despite its shortcomings, because it may represent our last opportunity to pass transformative climate legislation within this decade. We cannot wait any longer for climate action.” And though TVA denies it will change course, the IRA’s cornucopia of billions in clean-energy tax incentives for utilities, offered to TVA and other non-tax entities as direct payments, will make TVA’s planned new Tennessee gas plants even worse investments.
Despite grievous omissions, the IRA is hard-won progress for Sierra Club and all who have so long marched, lobbied, demonstrated, donated, commented, signed Action Alerts — or just talked about climate change. The public pressure we created together made this bill unstoppable even for a lavishly fossil-fueled coal-state Senator — whose fossil-boosting concessions should increase carbon emissions by 1 ton for every 24 tons the bill reduces them. Manchin left intact $60 billion for environmental justice. But frontline communities he sacrificed to fossil leasing are righteously incensed. “Sacrifice zones are a direct product of racism and classism, and have no place in a climate bill,” said Sierra Club President Ramon Cruz.
Can we stop a fossil industry juggernaut with half the government in its pockets? Can we find and fund miracles to pull a million million tons of excess CO2 from the sky? Can we reverse carbon-releasing feedback loops that will otherwise accelerate warming until we have no tundra unthawed, no ice unmelted, no coastal cities undrowned, no Tennessee as we know it, on a dangerous, oven-like planet? Can we pull back from the precipice billions of our fellow humans, and a million exquisitely evolved species? We, and Sierra Club, will never take “no” for an answer.
Statewide environmental events listed in order of occurrence:
Day Hike in Laurel-Snow State Natural Area. Join the Harvey Broome Group for a hike to the magnificent Laurel Falls in the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area just west of Dayton, Tennessee. This will be an out and back hike of about five miles with a vertical rise and fall of around 800 feet. The trail to Laurel Falls is moderately difficult. Register here for event on Saturday, September 3, 10:30 am - 6 pm.
TDEC Office of Energy Programs Hearing on Sept 15. TDEC OEP will hold a public hearing regarding the utilization of the State of Tennessee's Year 1 allocation of $7,614,436 under the US Department of Energy's Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program (i.e., Formula Grants to States and Indian Tribes for Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid) that is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Additional information on the Program can be found here. Doors open at 6:00 CDT or join virtually via Webex link.
Knoxville Drive Electric Week Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Pellissippi State Community College. "The Festival will feature all vehicles that can be plugged in, and that a person can ride in or on: cars, motorcycles, eBikes, three wheeler FUVs (Fun Utility Vehicles) and electric scooters. There will be an information station, utility representatives, vendors (solar and other), and additional exciting electric alternatives." RSVP here.
Chattanooga Drive Electric Festival on Saturday, Oct. 1, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. The exciting one-day event will be held in conjunction with National Drive Electric Week. It will feature a variety of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Chattanooga’s all-electric public shuttle bus will be featured along with area dealerships representing their respective EV inventory. More info here.
Note: Fall Retreat Cancelled. The Sierra Club Chapter Retreat which would have been at Pickett State Park has been cancelled.
Special Features
Dear Eartha: Advice from an Eco-Guru
Dear Eartha,
How can I cope? I have spent a number of years trying to get people to change their beliefs and their behavior regarding climate destruction. I felt that if they made the changes I was proposing they could make a “good” outcome more likely. I was disappointed when my exhortations and hectoring fell on mostly deaf ears—whenever I wasn’t just preaching to the choir, that is. It was Cassandra’s dilemma too. In Greek mythology, Cassandra was cursed to speak the truth, correctly predict the future, but never to be believed. The more I try to promote change, however, the more I suffer. What can I do? —Tom from Knoxville
Dear Tom,
You are asking the questions most of the choir, environmental activists, and thoughtful people who care about climate change ask, either voiced or unvoiced. How do we cope while the planet burns, and stop-gap (inadequate) policy measures barely get enacted?
Here’s a notion a friend shared with me called “Witness Collapse” by Paul Chefurka. You can find his writings here , but this is a short compendium. In his writing he explores the “worlds of energy, ecology, economics, and human culture” (from his “Explorer’s Notebook”). Chefurka takes a personal growth perspective brushed with a scientific hue and asks the question: “How might [we] resolve our alienation—from each other, from our societies, from nature, from our own place in the universe? How may we find the re-connections that are essential if we are to emerge from this careless, tumultuous adolescence into individual and collective adulthood?”
His thesis posits what many environmentalists, feminists, labor unionists, and anti-racists have been saying for decades: the sultans of status quo work to uphold policies that benefit the wealthiest few, and are short-sighted, even blind to the overall destruction faced by those on the fringes of society and affected first by climate change’s floods, droughts, and wildfires. Chefurka lays out a 5-stage awareness spectrum that ranges from stage 1: dead asleep (many MAGA folks), to stage 5: those with an awareness of the interconnectivity of all aspects of life. Chefurka says that for the few who occupy stage 5, the “hope for tomorrow by solving problems today” diminishes so much that depression and despair set in. He suggests two paths to deal with this despair: the outer path and the inner path. The outer path is familiar to many of us: community building, local organization, and sustainability efforts. The inner path “involves re-framing the whole thing in terms of consciousness, self-awareness and/or some form of transcendent perception.”
The idea of “collapsology” references an awareness that “civilization may collapse at some point, possibly in the near future, due to the convergence of various internal and external pressures…Chief among the environmental problems is climate change, followed closely by ocean acidification” (Dean Walker, livingresilience.net). Collapsologists make known large-scale issues and their interconnectivity with rising problems. These include the “social collapse” \ caused by climate deterioration: food supply shortages, population and consumption overshoot, increasing debt loads, widening income disparities, rise of authoritarian governments and more.
But when personal actions (outer path) fall short of preventing us from witnessing collapse, the “inner path” work of a more spiritual, psychological nature may shore us up. Chefurka cites Buddhist practice which teaches techniques to alleviate suffering by accepting impermanence and imperfection, while not succumbing to our addictions and other forms of denial and paralysis. He goes into much more detail in his “Explorer’s Notebook.”
There’s so much more to learn about this philosophy and its uses today. Thanks, Tom, for opening up this conversation in the environmental community we cherish. Many other ways exist. Please write in, readers, with your “inner path” approaches as our social contract constricts.
Get out in nature. She misses you! Eartha
I love hearing from you! Submit your questions, comments, or brief opinion of 'What Matters Now' to the Sierra E-News Editor [Enews.sierratn@gmail.com]. Dear Eartha is penned by Rita Bullinger.
Fundraising Corner
Support our Tennessee Chapter Lobbyist!
By Mac Post, TN Chapter Fundraising Chair
Our most important fundraising appeal – for the Defenders Fund – will be starting in September. These donations directly fund our Chapter’s lobbyist Scott Banbury. Scott is one of only two lobbyists at the state legislature who fight for the environment of Tennessee. Having a dedicated lobbyist allows us to work more effectively towards passage of bills that protect our air, water, land, wildlife and the people of Tennessee or for the defeat of damaging legislation.
For those of you who are already Defenders Fund contributors, your personal donation request letter will be sent to you in the mail soon.
For those who have yet to contribute, this is your invitation to join this important group of donors. This is easily done by visiting our secure Defenders Fund.
Please consider joining the special group: the Defenders of Tennessee. Be sure to sign up for Scott’s Action Alerts and Legislative Updates emails on the Defenders Fund webpage, or by emailing Scott directly at scott.banbury@sierraclub.org.
Species Spotlight
This month's featured species is:
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Sunchokes spotted growing by a creek in September, 2021 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Photo credit: Allie Stafford.
A member of the Asteraceae family, the Jerusalem artichoke is native to North America. The bright yellow blooms occur in late summer or early fall.
Jerusalem artichoke goes by many names: sunchoke, sunroot, wild sunflower. The common name "Jerusalem" possibly evolved from a mishearing of either the Italian word for sunflower [girasol] or of the Dutch city Terneuzen, where a Dutch gardener began distributing the plant throughout Europe in the 17th century.
It has edible tubers which can be prepared similarly to other root vegetables. The tuber is highly nutritious and contains no starch, but does contain a high percentage of the polysaccharide inulin. Humans can't digest inulin easily, which has led to the unfortunately accurate nickname of "Jerusalem fartichoke."
To combat gastric distress, there are 2 ways to prepare sunchokes that reduce inulin impact. The first, acid hydrolysis, requires boiling the tubers in lemon juice (preferred) or vinegar. The second is fermentation-style pickling. Read this author's adventures with cooking sunchokes.
Paperless Delivery
Are you a Sierra member who has been receiving our bi-monthly print publication, the Tennes-Sierran? You can now opt out of getting a paper copy of the newspaper and instead receive it digitally as an email attachment. To request paperless delivery, open this form to make your request.
Contact Us
Do you have a program or speaker idea for your Group? An issue you're particularly passionate about? Do you have a story idea for the Tennes-Sierran or the e-newsletter? Let us know! Look through our past programs for inspiration. Submit your suggestion here!
The views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sierra Club.
Who We Are
We are the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. With over 3.8 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and to influence public policy through community activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.
Our mission is to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
