By Cyrus Reed
What does it all mean?
As I sit here contemplating one million COVID-19 cases, and nearly 60,000 deaths in the U.S., and more than 200,000 deaths worldwide, I admit it’s hard to understand what it all means for me personally, for our country, and for the work of the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Chapter.
March and April are normally the time of spring and rebirth for me -- spring break, our March fund appeal, Earth Day (50 years!), flowers, Passover, Easter, big soccer matches -- but 2020 has been very different.
Painting by Sierra Club Volunteer and Supporter Mary Beth Maher!
Does our work still matter? Do I matter? I am not a nurse or doctor (of the medical variety), I do not run a foodbank. As a husband and father, my first priority is my spouse and children, but what is my role as an individual and as a leader in the Sierra Club?
The answer is… our work matters more than ever.
First, I, and the Sierra Club, must lead by example. I am proud that even as our Governor starts to “reopen” Texas this week, our national Sierra Club leaders have given us crystal clear guidance during the pandemic: work from home, but take care of yourself and your family first, and no in-person meetings at least until mid-June (Yes, that means the local volunteer-led Sierra Club groups are also operating under those same guidelines).
Second, it turns out our mission --To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet -- is of vital importance in this chaotic and scary time, because, well, open spaces, clean air, water, and energy save lives!
Clean Environment = Better Health
Recent COVID-19-related studies show what we already knew -- pollution weakens the immune system, and communities subject to higher levels of pollution are impacted more than communities that have a cleaner environment. And guess what? The people most impacted by pollution are disproportionately people of color. Why? Environmental racism. Polluting industries that affect people’s health tend to be located near communities of color. In addition, it’s because of an economic and social history which has meant those frontline communities of color tend to have less access to healthy foods, adequate insurance, and access to healthcare. Which means... fighting for clean air, clean water, and clean energy is in fact a form of fighting against racism of all types, including environmental racism.
You want proof? See this amazing study from some pretty smart people at Harvard about the connection between high levels of particulate matter and higher risk of death from COVID-19. The counties in Texas with the highest average daily density of fine particulate matter in micrograms per cubic meter (PM2.5) -- the particulate matter that can get directly into your lungs -- occurs in the Harris-Brazoria-Fort Bend Counties surrounding Houston, Jefferson and Orange Counties where Beaumont-Port Arthur lie, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Collin, Tarrant and Dallas counties) and in El Paso County. Again, high particulate matter means higher death rates from COVID-19. And an even more recent study about levels of nitrogen dioxide -- largely from diesel fuels -- and its link to higher risk of death from COVID-19. It turns out if we reduce pollution, we reduce deaths from COVID-19 and other fatal health issues.
Science Matters
The novel coronavirus has shown us… again… that science matters (See studies above). In the same way we are learning that epidemiologists can teach us that social distancing, testing, and treatment are all needed to “flatten the curve,” we can also learn from climate scientists who have been saying for decades: we have to flatten the greenhouse gas emissions curve by reducing emissions now.
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions, even as we adjust to climate disruption already occurring, is a message that the public understands more in the face of the current pandemic.
Bad Leadership Has Disastrous Consequences
Decision-makers are important no matter what, but we are witnessing how bad leadership endangers people’s lives and even gets people killed. As an example, the current occupant in the White House and his underling -- EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler -- has during the course of this pandemic decided to:
- Make enforcement of many environmental laws be discretionary during this period
- Accept the argument of the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality that its loophole to allow industry, particularly along the Gulf Coast, to be able to pollute through its rules on SSM
- Approve a new rule on emissions and fuel standards for cars and trucks that undermines the progress made under the Obama Administration;
- Allowed oil companies to sell winter-time dirtier grades of gasoline at least through May 20, meaning more health-damaging pollution;
- Weaken toxic mercury and other standards for coal plants EVEN THOUGH the coal plants have already made changes to their production process to meet those health-based standards
- Attempt to approve a variety of fossil fuel infrastructure projects like Keystone XL, the Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) in southeast Texas, and the Brownsville LNG facilities despite the limitations on public participation evident during the COVID-19 crisis
- Waive (for the 28th time) environmental and other laws to attempt to build more border walls -- this time in South Texas including a section through the Lower Rio Grande Valley Wildlife Management Area -- by stealing money through executive order.
Within Texas, the three elected commissioners of the ill-named Railroad Commission of Texas just approved another 16 “exceptions” to allow oil and gas companies to flare off methane rather than capture the product even as they debated whether to reduce oil production to boost prices (see link).
What is the Texas Sierra Club doing right now?
We are fighting these proposals through legal means, public pressure, and rulemaking. Just last week, our crack legal team (our Environmental Law Program) filed FOIA requests to the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding some of Texas’s biggest polluters to make sure that EPA is not actually failing to enforce the law (blog). And earlier this week, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to require Texas to crack down on excessive and unsafe air pollution in the communities around the coal-burning Martin Lake power plant in Rusk and Panola Counties in northeast Texas.
On a local level, we are also working to influence state and local elected officials. In March, we joined allies like the Texas Legal Service Center, Texas Appleseed, and Public Citizen in asking the Public Utilities Commission of Texas to take action to provide relief to electric and water customers faced with high bills as they adjusted to life at home, and often little means to pay those bills. Our advocacy helped to put pressure on the PUCT for the first time in its history to rule that disconnections would not be allowed for several months, and for the creation of a temporary relief fund to help Texans who have lost their jobs to have reduced electric bills, at least through May 15. While the PUCT order wasn’t perfect (it did not cover customers served by electric cooperatives and municipal utilities, and there has been considerable confusion about how to apply for rate relief) it was a good first step and showed the importance of working in collaboration with other organizations.
We also turned our attention to the Governor, asking him to step in and cover all utilities, as we simultaneously put pressure on those cities with municipal utilities to do the right thing. We are still waiting. We have seen cities like Austin and Brownsville step up and provide relief from disconnection and some rate relief and we have played a part in that discussion. Clearly we must continue that effort. Environmental justice, clean energy,economic justice, and affordable rates must go hand-in-hand.
Another new area of engagement for us is the federal stimulus packages -- both current and future. Recently, Congress, and the President came together to approve the largest federal stimulus package in our history. Known as CARES, the act included critical funds that will flow to state governments, including over $10 billion to the State of Texas. Some of these important funds should go to LIHEAP (which can be used for payment assistance and home weatherization), Community Development Block Grants (which can be used for many community projects), Election Security Money, and money for improved transit access. In fact, we just spoke on April 23 at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs board meeting about the need to make sure there is public input into how the LIHEAP and CDBG monies are spent. Look for more information from us about how to advocate that this money is spent wisely to help those most in need.
Another cause for concern? When I wrote these words, Texas was one of a handful of states that had yet to apply for funding for election security, even though we could get some $24.4 million from the federal government to help make sure our votes are secure (link).
What’s Next?
In the next few weeks, Congress will be working on additional CARES-type acts, and we will be working with our federal policy team to advocate for helping workers -- not oil executives -- get back on their feet, while also bolstering clean energy, water infrastructure, and other Sierra Club priorities that can be found here and here.
So if our decision-makers matter, what can we do to change their minds on important issues?
Well we must engage them and hold them responsible.
We are already beginning to develop our legislative priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session, and in the coming months we will be letting you know how you can begin to talk to your state representatives and senators about seeing those priorities come to fruition next session.
Along those lines, there are elections coming up in Texas, both in July, but also of course in November. And right here in Travis County an important legal issue has implications for all our members planning to vote in July and November (and we hope you are!).
Earlier this month, the Travis County District Court, the Honorable Tom Sulak, presiding, released an important injunction that appears to affect mail-in voting for the rest of 2020 in Texas. According to State Law, there are three reasons that someone may request a mail-in ballot:
- If you are over the age of 65,
- If you will be out-of-state during the election, or
- If you are disabled.
Judge Sulak's injunction allows an eligible Texas voter to request a mail-in ballot for the July 14 run-off election and the November Presidential election, because voters would be "...reasonable to conclude that voting while the virus that causes COVID-19 is still in circulation presents a likelihood of injuring their health, and any voters without established immunity meet the plain language definition of disability thereby entitling them to a mailed ballot..." This injunction was opposed by the State of Texas, which will likely appeal to overturn the injunction. Until that happens, Judge Sulak's order is apparently in effect.
So according to State Law, you may request a mail-in ballot for a disability from your local County Clerk. The quickest way to do this is to go to your County Clerk's website, download and print the request, and mail it back to your County Clerk. Since it is impossible to know what the final legal outcome will be, doing this as soon as possible may be important to your ability to vote by mail. Below is a link to the list of County Clerk's offices of Texas:
www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml
Here is a link to Judge Sulak’s injunction.
Another thing you can do? Be counted. All Texans need to be counted in the census. It’s super easy and important to make sure Texans get the resources we deserve and to increase our voting power. Fill out the #2020Census online (My2020Census.gov) or by phone (844-330-2020) to reduce your carbon footprint and keep an enumerator from knocking at your door.
Folks, stay home if you can, support your local community food banks, allied frontline organizations, nurses and doctors, but don’t stop advocating for clean air, clean water and clean energy, do vote - in person or through mail -- keep your decision-makers honest, be counted in the Census, and stay involved with the Sierra Club. And do get outdoors - safely! Our work is more important than ever!