Current Situation

Due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic situation, we are sensitive to our constituents during this challenging crisis…

Update On In-Person Gatherings

At this time, HBG and the Tennessee chapter have postponed plans for in-person meetings and large events this fall (See Local Issues & Business section below).
Read more about reopening guidelines here

Virtual meetings and events:
Online (via Zoom) Tennessee Chapter ExCom Business meetings
Online (via Zoom) Harvey Broome Group ExCom meetings
Online (via Zoom) Harvey Broome Group Program Meetings - note online program meeting info below
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October 2021 Virtual Program
What: Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC) - A Southeast Regional Land Trust Celebrating 36 Years of Service! by Bill Clabough, Director
When: Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: Virtual via Zoom. Please RSVP through this Campfire Event Link. You will receive information on how to connect to this program and be notified via email if there are any changes.


Bill Claybough. Image courtesy of Foothills Land Conservancy.

For 36 years the Foothills Land Conservancy (FLC) has assisted in the preservation of over 135,000 acres of cherished mountains, working farms, and rural landscapes across 48 Tennessee counties and 6 surrounding states. FLC’s mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the lands and environments of the Southern Appalachian region and to promote the character of the land for the benefit of the general public, now and in the future.
Bill Clabough has spent his entire life in Blount County. A graduate of the Blount County School system and UT Knoxville, Bill spent 30 plus years in the retail grocery business in Blount County. In 2004 he was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, serving 4 years in the Tennessee House and 6 years in the Tennessee Senate. He joined Foothills Land Conservancy in the spring of 2006 as the Executive Director with the charge to take the organization to the next level. Bill has put together a strong team that is moving Foothills Land Conservancy forward on land protection partnerships, land stewardship and community outreach. He has been involved in all project areas of Foothills. Through the course of overseeing the completion of many successful programs, Bill is always reminded that land protection is our business and our only business!

Please RSVP here and you will receive information on how to link to this virtual presentation:

Note: Consult the HBG website Calendar for updates to our calendar. Questions regarding HBG events should be addressed to HBG Chair Jerry Thornton (gatwilcat@aol.com).

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HBG and Local Issues & Business

Tennessee Chapter Fall Retreat Cancelled

Due to the level of COVID-19 spread in Tennessee and across the United States, the Sierra Club has restricted travel and overnight events. The chapter retreat, which had been scheduled for October 29th - 31st at Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga, is cancelled. We look forward to meeting with our friends and colleagues from across the state as soon as it is safe to do so.

HBG’s Endorsed Candidates Clinch Knoxville General Election Spots

Congratulations to all of the HBG-endorsed candidates for Knoxville City Council! Now, on to the general election on November 2nd. Find out more about the candidates here.
 
Knoxville’s First Electric Buses
By Kent Minault


Electric bus ribbon-cutting event. Photo by Kent Minault.

Caswell Park in Knoxville was my savior when I moved to Knoxville in 2018.  I was an electric driver with no home charger. The park provided a free car charger five minutes from my house and kept my car juiced for over a year. Now three years later I charge at home and pay for the electricity, but the park is keeping up the EV tradition. Last Thursday it hosted an official gathering to celebrate Knoxville Area Transit’s first new all electric buses. We have five of them now, and seven more are scheduled to arrive by the end of 2021. Next year, the city plans to add six more, bringing the total to 18. Knoxville is on track to completely electrify our transit system by 2030.
“Today marks a dramatic milestone for Knoxville – this is a major step on our path toward a more clean and resilient future for our children and grandchildren,” Mayor Kincannon said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “These high-efficiency electric buses are an investment in clean air, in healthy neighborhoods, and mobility for our residents.” On cue, two buses whirred around the corner and on to Winona Street, stopping behind the green ribbon. Mayor Kincannon brought Gabe Bolas, CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board, up to the podium. “This is an exciting day for Knoxville, and KUB is proud to be part of it,” he said. “KUB supports electric vehicles in our community, and we’re proud to be a partner with the City of Knoxville in building a more sustainable future.”
Read more here.

Kingston Coal Ash Workers Legacy Flag Ceremony
by Todd Waterman

Coal ash widows Janie Clark, left, and Johnnie Bledsoe, right, and coal ash orphan Jessica Waller with the flag flown over the Capitol in honor of Kingston cleanup workers as behind them the flag flies at half-mast. Photo courtesy of Janie Clark.

The Kingston Coal Ash Workers' Legacy Flag, which was flown over the U.S. Capitol on July 29, was presented in Knoxville on Monday, September 13 to Kingston cleanup worker Ansol Clark's widow Janie. Tennessee 2nd District Representative Tim Burchett made the presentation at the East Tennessee Veterans' Cemetery Pavilion.
 
Rep. Burchett Tweeted: "On Monday, I presented Kingston Coal Ash workers with a flag that was flown in honor of their legacy. Many of the workers who cleaned up the disastrous 2008 coal ash spill still face devastating health effects. It was an honor to recognize these folks."
 
"Monday was perfect," Janie Clark said. "This was a long awaited dream that came true for me. I am just saddened Ansol was not physically present and by my side, although I know he was there in spirit."
 
"At the time and place of God's choosing, the workers' flag will be given to Jamie Satterfield in enormous gratitude for the extraordinary sacrifice she has made in seeking justice on our behalf."

KUB posts intentions with respect to disconnections for non-payment.

They also include their suggestions for “assistance” for those in need, and how those of us in better circumstances can assist those in need via “Project Help."
 
For utility companies in other counties and municipalities in Tennessee, e.g., Alcoa, LaFollete, Lenoir City, Maryville, Clinton, and more, links to pandemic response policies can be found here.

Federally Funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This federal program provides federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with: home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs.

Read about other local events in Tennessee in our Chapter e-newsletters.

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Events and Actions

Get Out the Vote Phonebank for Knoxville City Council
428 E Scott Ave, Knoxville
Now - November 2
Saturdays   10 AM - 1 PM
Sundays   12 PM. - 5 PM
Tuesdays   5 PM - 7 PM
Wednesdays   5 PM - 7 PM
 
Help make phone calls to reach potential voters before the general election. And don’t forget to vote on November 2nd! Find your polling place here.

HBG Outing: Bald River Gorge Wilderness Backpack
October 2nd - 3rd


Bald River Falls. Image credit John Getchel Photography CC BY-NC 2.0 (edited)

Just up the Tellico River from Tellico Plains, TN, is the wonderful 90-foot Bald River Falls, one of the most impressive in the Southeast. And upstream of the falls is an equally wonderful wild area that was designated by the US Congress as the 3,721-acre Bald River Gorge Wilderness in 1984 (and upstream of that is the more recently protected 9,038-acre Upper Bald River Wilderness). The most outstanding feature of the Gorge is the Bald River as it cascades and flows through the steep sided valley. A 5.6-mile trail follows the river through the gorge, and we will hike a portion of that trail to one of many campsites along the river (with an opportunity to day hike up the rest of the gorge). Backpacking hiking mileage from the trailhead to camp is around 2.5 miles and the backpack is rated Easy. Pre-register with Will Skelton: H 523-2272; C 742-2327; whshome@bellsouth.net

Public Comment Opportunity: Air Tours in the Smokies


Helicopter image credit USDA CC PDM 1.0 (edited)

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are seeking public feedback on a draft Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) that is being proposed for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The agencies encourage anyone with an interest in or concern about air tours over Great Smoky Mountains National Park to review and comment on the draft ATMP. The proposed plan would authorize up to 946 air tours per year on defined routes. There were on average 946 air tours per year conducted by two air tour operators reported at Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 2017 – 2019.
Public feedback can be provided through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website from Friday, September 3 through Sunday, October 3. The NPS and FAA will consider comments to help inform the final ATMP for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Click here for the project website.

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Environmental Newsflash

*** Note to readers about accessing these articles

California wildfires: weather conditions worsen threat to giant sequoia trees.

Hot and dry weather extends threat of rapid spread as firefighters seek to protect celebrated trees. Associated Press via The Guardian, Sept. 20.


Sequoia grove. Image credit henryalien via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 2.0 (edited)

“Hot and dry weather on Sunday added to the challenges facing California firefighters battling to keep flames from driving further into a grove of ancient sequoias, where the base of the world’s tallest tree has been wrapped in protective foil.
"The fire reached Long Meadow Grove, where the Trail of 100 Giant Sequoias is a national monument. Fire officials had not been able to determine how much damage was done to the groves, which are in remote areas. However, an Associated Press photographer saw active flames burning up a trunk, with the forest floor ablaze below.
“Historic drought tied to the climate crisis is making wildfires harder to fight and has killed millions of trees in California alone. Scientists say climate change has made the west much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.

The companies polluting the planet have spent millions to make you think carpooling and recycling will save us.

Morgan McFall-Johnsen, Business Insider, Sept. 18.

McFall-Johnsen quotes Naomi Oreskes, Michael Mann, Greenpeace’s Janet Redman, and others. "’Riding our bikes is important. And turning off the lights, not cranking the AC with a window open, all that stuff is really important, for sure,’ Redman said. ‘But it pales in comparison to political activity to change the rules about how our energy system is structured, who the actors are, who benefits, who pays.’"

The Birth of Climate Disinformation.

On the Media, WNYC Studios, Sept. 17.

Fossil fuel companies have been lying to the public for decades; it's well-documented that almost as soon as climate change became a scientific reality, they actively downplayed the crisis. But to keep Americans unaware of the growing urgency of our environmental problem, those same companies needed a way to paint themselves as heroes. Advertising allowed fossil fuel companies to sell themselves, not their products, as the good guys. The depictions of billion-dollar companies were often folksy, innovative, innocent, and brazenly, stereotypically American. The strategy was genius. It’s also now the subject of congressional scrutiny. This week, the House Oversight Committee officially launched an investigation into the fossil fuel industry's disinformation efforts and their impact on the climate crisis. Journalist and podcast host Amy Westervelt wanted to go back to the beginning — to find out how advertising, the media, and the fossil fuel industry became so intertwined. Her podcast, Drilled, profiled several of the men who invented the public relations business we know today — starting with a man named Herb Schmertz.

Dems’ clean electricity plan could leave out big utilities.

Kristi E. Swartz, Edward Klump, E&E Energywire, Sept. 17.

TVA Kingston Fossil Plant. Image credit Appalachian Voices CC BY 2.0 (edited)

The Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) exempts utilities like TVA that don’t directly deliver power to homes and businesses. But if TVA’s local power companies, which do directly deliver power, don’t meet the CEPP’s goal of a 4 percent annual increase in clean electricity resources, they could be liable for large fines.

Not a single G20 country is in line with the Paris Agreement on climate, analysis shows.

Ivana Kottasová, CNN website, Sept. 16.

We're careening into Hell with our foot on the gas:
“According to UN Climate Change, just over 130 countries have pledged to cut emissions to net-zero so far. The new analysis by CAT found that even if all of them followed up on their plans, warming would still reach 2 degrees.
“If they stick with the policies they have in place, temperatures will likely be 2.4 degrees higher by the end of the century.”

DOE Announces $16 Million to Support Community-Driven Pathways to Clean Energy.

Energy.gov, Department of Energy website, Sept. 15.

“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched the Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP)—an initiative designed to help environmental justice communities and communities with historical ties to fossil fuel industries take direct control of their clean energy future. The Communities LEAP pilot program provides supportive services valued at up to $16 million to help communities develop locally-driven energy plans to more effectively leverage public and private sector resources to reduce local air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs and energy burdens, and create good-paying jobs.
“‘Clean energy is a doorway to a healthier and more prosperous future, but for too long those doors have been closed to many of our nation’s communities,’ said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.”

Climate change: Young people very worried - survey.

Roger Harrabin, BBC News website, Sept. 13.

“Many of those questioned perceive that they have no future, that humanity is doomed, and that governments are failing to respond adequately.
“Many feel betrayed, ignored and abandoned by politicians and adults…
“The researchers said they were moved by the scale of distress. One young person said: ‘I don't want to die, but I don't want to live in a world that doesn't care for children and animals.’"

Source Paper (Preprint):
Young People's Voices on Climate Anxiety, Government Betrayal and Moral Injury: A Global Phenomenon. Elizabeth Marks and Caroline Hickman, Lancet Planetary Health, posted Sept. 7.

World Faces Growing Risk of Food Shortages Due to Climate Change.

Aine Quinn, Bloomberg Green, Sept. 13.

“Yields of staple crops could decline by almost a third by 2050 unless emissions are drastically reduced in the next decade, while farmers will need to grow nearly 50% more food to meet global demand, the think tank said. The Chatham House report was drawn up for heads of state before next month’s pivotal United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow…
"Major crops from wheat to soy and rice 'are likely to see big yield declines' due to drought, and shorter growing periods, [lead author Daniel] Quiggin said. Severe climate impacts will be “locked in” by 2040 if countries do not reduce emissions, according to the report."

Joe Manchin’s Dirty Empire: The West Virginia Senator Reaps Financial Rewards From a Network of Coal Companies With a Grim Record of Pollution, Safety Violations, and Death.

Daniel Bugoslaw, The Intercept, Sept. 3.

“In the early hours of August 11, the Senate voted to approve a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that would mark the nation’s most significant investment in the fight against climate change ever undertaken in the United States. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., cast the tie-breaking vote.
“The resolution’s approval kicked off a legislative process likely to last months, all of it hinging on Manchin’s continued support. Not long after casting his vote, he issued a public statement warning the bill’s backers not to take him for granted.
“For decades, Manchin has profited from a series of coal companies that he founded during the 1980s. His son, Joe Manchin IV, has since assumed leadership roles in the firms, and the senator says his ownership is held in a blind trust. Yet between the time he joined the Senate and today, Manchin has personally grossed more than $4.5 million from those firms, according to financial disclosures. He also holds stock options in Enersystems Inc., the larger of the two firms, valued between $1 and $5 million.”

Related - This Powerful Democrat Linked to Fossil Fuels Will Craft the U.S. Climate Plan: Senator Joe Manchin is already a crucial swing vote in the Democrats’ sweeping budget bill.

But he will also write the details of its climate change program.

Coral Davenport, The New York Times, Sept. 19.

Read about other events in Tennessee in our Chapter e-newsletters.

*** A democracy with informed citizens requires the professionalism that we have historically expected of credible news sources. Most “local" newspapers today are asking folks who access their online news stories to purchase a subscription to their paper. This is understandable generally, and reminds us that we should do our part to pay for the resources that result in publication of local news. Those of us who use summaries of published print news, as we do, are no exception, and we ask the same of our readers. However, we also believe that a person who only wants to see an occasional article published in a newspaper should not be required to subscribe. So if you believe that you are in the latter category - only an occasional reader - you may be able to read an article without a subscription if you "browse anonymously" or clear your browser cache before activating a link to an article. This may help you avoid many "pay walls" at these news sources (some sources restrict access even with anonymous settings). Another approach is to search for alternate source on the particular news item. But we recommend that our readers who find themselves accessing an online news source on a regular basis subscribe to an online version of the paper, which is generally much cheaper than a  print version.

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Can't donate now? Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards. Kroger donates a portion of what you spend to the Harvey Broome Group as long as you designate HBG as your preferred charity.

Here's how:

1. Go to the Kroger Community Rewards web page
2. Register (or Sign In if you already have an account.)
3. Enroll in Community Rewards (or Edit if you're already enrolled.)
4. Enter HBG's Community Rewards Number 27874.

That's it. Swipe your Kroger Card when you shop and know that you're helping protect your environment.

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Who We Are