Energy in the news

The growth in renewable energy has been in the news quite a bit lately, and the expansion of wind energy has gotten some attention in Minnesota's own Star Tribune. More growth is expected in the wind industry thanks to a recent 5-year extension of federal tax credits. Xcel Energy is the nation's leading wind-power utility (if only nearly all of the rest of their energy didn't come from coal...). Xcel customers, did you know that you can pay a little extra each month to get some or all of your energy from wind power?? Get more information here.

More good news - apparently low prices for bitumen (a heavy type of oil) may cause producing the bitumen to cost more than it can be sold for. If this happens, oilsands producers may have to cut production!

Lastly, the U.S. Senate has started debating the first comprehensive energy bill since 2007. According to the New York Times, the bill has some benefits for the fossil fuel industry but would also help renewable energy producers and programs to improve energy efficiency. Look for more on this debate process in the coming weeks!

Legal Right to Pollute - STOP TPP!

The twelve TPP nations are planning a ceremonial signing of that agreement on FEBRUARY 4 in New Zealand. Anti-TPP activists from around the world are stepping up efforts to stop this trade bill before it's too late. We failed to stop fast track authority so now the US Congress may not amend the bill - only vote yes or no. A coalition of environmental groups anticipates the bill will come for a vote sometime this spring, possibly May but maybe earlier. Time is short to stop this bill!

Why are so many environmental groups and leaders so opposed to this bill? Listen to this short interview with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, environmental attorney and president of Waterkeepers Alliance.

“It essentially hands state sovereignty over to corporations,” Kennedy says. Kennedy says there is no legal right to pollute. “But the TPP suddenly creates that right. It’s as if every polluter has a right to pollute and that the only way to stop them is to pay them all of their expected profits forever from polluting,” says Kennedy. “It’s really kind of an insane giveaway of American sovereignty.”

And now, even before the original deal is inked, they are talking about expanding the TPP trade authority to other nations.

If you haven't yet taken action, please do it now.
1. CONTACT REP. RON KIND (his La Crosse office: 608 782-2558 or use the form at link) who is one of the co-leaders of the "Friends of TPP" caucus in Congress, OR your congressional representative. You can learn more about who donates to their campaigns at opensecrets.org.

2. Contact the White House (switchboard: 202 456-1111)

3. Sign one or more of the petitions being circulated by groups you belong to and/or groups shown below.

4. Write a letter to the editor, present a program at your place of worship or social organization, talk to others.

Learn more about why groups as diverse as the Communication Workers of America, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Sierra Club, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Physicians for a National Health Care Program, 350.org, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, the National Familly Farm Coalition, The Teamsters, and thousands more are doing everything they can to stop the TPP.                                                                                                            - cathy

In the news, national and regional

Many climate change skeptics will use the recent East Coast blizzard as an opportunity to say global warming isn't happening, but as this article shows, global warming likely made the storm bigger. Warmer air holds more moisture than colder air, allowing for more precipitation (hence the upper Midwest saying, "it's too cold to snow!"). Warming temperatures could also lead to more "lake effect" snow in areas where this occurs. When temperatures are low, large lakes like the Great Lakes freeze over and their water isn't available to the atmosphere. But when temperatures are warmer and lakes don't freeze over, that water is available to be picked up by the atmosphere and then dropped over land as snow. Closer to home, protesters gathered outside two Enbridge offices in Superior, WI yesterday to speak out against the company's plans to expand and build pipelines across Wisconsin and Minnesota. In response, Enbridge released a statement saying that "This opposition to Enbridge projects is the vocal minority. And the information they offer is largely false. The fact is that support for Enbridge projects continues to grow as people understand the benefits of moving oil by pipeline." Wow - in the sports world, I think this is what they would call "bulletin-board material"! Statements like this should motivate more of us to speak up and show Enbridge (and company's like them) that these protestors are NOT a minority!

Earth Fair Poster Contest

The sponsors of the La Crosse Earth Fair are holding a kids' poster contest for grades 3-5. Entry forms are available at any La Crosse Public Library or County Library location, La Crosse and Onalaska YMCAs, and People’s Food Co-op. The theme is “A Green Routine for 2016”. Entries are due Feb. 26. This would be a great opportunity for kids to learn about sustainable choices that could help combat climate change!

DON'T SIGN THE TPP!

Don't Sign the TPP 

Decision-makers are pushing to sign the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the next two weeks.1

If this happens, it starts the final countdown to push the agreement into law. And if it becomes law, it will censor the Web, criminalize our online activities, and cost Internet users money.

They want people to think it’s inevitable, but we haven’t even been consulted yet. That’s why we need to show just how many people oppose this costly and irresponsible deal. Tell Trade Ministers: “Do not sign the TPP!” by sending the letter at this site.

We’re on the verge of the biggest TPP tipping point yet. With less than two weeks before the 12 TPP countries meet to sign the agreement in New Zealand on February 4th, we need to act quickly.2

This is not an agreement – because we don’t agree to it. Some countries have already said they plan to sign, but they need our consent to push this into law. We’ve heard over and over again that there is ‘no re-negotiating the TPP’: it’s a take-it-or-leave-it package.3

So why would we accept an agreement that restricts innovation, raises the cost of accessing our culture, and locks us into rules designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many?4

It’s simple: if we sign the agreement, we’ll be slow-walked into ratifying over the next two years – most people won’t even notice it’s happening. So, if we don’t sign, we don’t ratify, which means this is our best chance to kill the TPP once and for all. Signing the TPP is the green light decision-makers need to turn this agreement into law – let’s not give them that.

Tell decision-makers today: do NOT sign the TPP. 

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 Here's a letter to the editor from today's La Crosse Tribune about the Ron Kind listening session in Onalaska last week. The top (by frequency) issue raised at this meeting was the TPP - at least five different people talked about it.  

Here are some links to back up points made in the letter:

Trans-Canada lawsuit filed under NAFTA rules: http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/675184ec96a440d6afdd2660c28f472f/transcanada-file-2-legal-challenges-keystone-rejection

Sierra Club and others say TPP environmental protections weak and unenforcable:  http://www.sierraclub.org/tpp-text-release-enviros

TPP negotiations close out people's representatives: https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/blogs/130-members-of-congress-speak-out-against-secrecy-in-tpp-negotiations

and http://www.citizen.org/documents/press-release-dallas-round-4-10-12.pdf

TPP negotiators received millions from big banks: http://billmoyers.com/2014/02/20/obama-admins-tpp-trade-officials-received-hefty-bonuses-from-big-banks/

Anti-climate:  http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/11/05/tpp-text-confirms-handout-fossil-fuels

TPP will lead to job losses and lower wages: http://www.epi.org/blog/whats-wrong-with-the-tpp-this-deal-will-lead-to-more-job-loss-and-downward-pressures-on-the-wages-of-most-working-americans/

 

This week - what you can do!

Tonight, a Democratic candidate "town hall" forum will be broadcast on CNN (and streamed at go.cnn.com). While questions about the environment are few and far between in these presidential forums, it's possible candidates may have a chance to give their views and plans on climate change. The event begins at 8 p.m. Central time. In the mean time, if you haven't setttled on a candidate to support, try the site isidewith.com.

Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. the City of La Crosse will have an Open House and Public Input Session on the redesign of Clinton Street at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center. The plans call for increased bicycle infrastructure. More details here. This is a good chance to show support for multi-modal transportation options in our city.


Tuesday night at 7 p.m. the local Sierra Club chapter will hold a brainstorming and planning meeting (7 p.m. at the Ho-Chunk Three Rivers House (8th and Main)). If you are a member of the Sierra Club, please attend to help steer the local club's projects and actions during this year. If you are not a member but would like to be, you can join online and come to the meeting. New energy and ideas are welcome and this is a great vehicle for those wishing to support and make real change.

Wednesday night at Central High School (1807 Losey Blvd S) from 5 to 7 p.m. the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Coulee Region Transportation Study will be presented to the public. Despite months of public input at these meetings, we seem to always end up at the same place - new road through the marsh. But it's not inevitable! Please show up and express your opinions! If you can't make this meeting, there will be another public input session on

Thursday night at the Onalaksa City Hall (415 Main Street) from 5 to 7 p.m. More information about this project can be found at the Wisconsin DOT website. At both meetings, the presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Saving the Planet?

This article from Grist and video by Vox raise an excellent and often overlooked point - as environmentalists, we may say we're out to "save the planet", but the planet will survive without our "help". It's ourselves we need to save!

So much to read...

A number of good articles came out yesterday and today.

First, it's official that 2015 was the warmest year on record, shattering previous records.

In an interview about her book "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right", author Jane Meyer said of the Koch brothers: ""their largest political group is Americans for Prosperity. They have a pledge that says that if you want to get money from this—from their donors, you have to sign a pledge saying that, if elected, you will do nothing about climate change that requires spending any money on the problem. And 156 members of Congress currently have signed that pledge. So, it sort of is a recipe for how to tie the hands of the country from doing anything on this."

Also, there's an opinion piece from a NASA climate scientist recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. He asks himself if continuing to think about climate change is worth the bother.

Lastly, and on a local front, Western Technical College will be hosting the New Directions & The Sustainability Institute Luncheon, with a presentation on how the 2015 MPower Business Champions were able to make sustainable and money saving changes within their businesses. "The MPower Champions Program is developed to engage, inspire and network businesses working towards sustainability in the 7 Rivers Region of southwestern Wisconsin... Over the period of one year, the MPower Champions Program moves businesses from intention to implementation; reducing their use of energy, water, transportation and waste through completed projects they choose." The event is February 16, 11:30-1:00, and tickets are $20.

ALERT! 1/20 RON KIND IN ONALASKA

Many environmentalists and environmental groups say that stopping the TPP is one of the most important things we can do to combat climate change. The Sierra Club has made this one of its top issues of 2016, going so far as hosting a Stop the TPP phone conference earlier this month to thousands of members around the country.

In a follow up email, they say,

"As we discussed last night, the Trans-Pacific Partnership would make the climate problem worse: empowering corporate polluters to challenge environmental standards and clearing the way for unlimited exports of fracked natural gas."

Our Congressman, Ron Kind, has been called the administration's point person on the TPP, supporting and pushing it no matter what his constituents want.

If you are available on WEDNESDAY - TODAY! - TO ATTEND HIS (often NOT) listening session, please go. We need to take every opportunity to work against this no good very bad fast-tracked bill!

Congressman Kind's La Crosse County Listening Session

Wednesday, January 20th, 2016

1:30 - 3:00 PM

Onalaska Public Library 

741 Oak Ave S

Onalaska, WI

A recording is available on YouTube of a recent presentation titled "CLIMATE CHANGE AND WISCONSIN NORTHWOODS FORESTS: What We Know, What We Expect, and What We Can Do to Adapt." The presenter is Stephen Handler, Climate Change Specialist, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science. The video is a bit long (one hour), but has good information on how climate is changing and is predicted to continue changing in Wisconsin and how it will impact our north woods. He also mentions many free resources that are available online. Thanks to Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) for the link!

Transportation is key

A great article in Sunday's La Crosse Tribune highlights the lowlights of the Wisconsin DOT's new planning process which, after months of public meetings, has come to the same point - they want to build a new road through the marsh and we don't want a new road through the marsh.

Several La Crosse area groups' and local government opposition to a new road were noted in the article. The new plan (same as the old plan) will be unveiled at yet another round of (not) listening sessions coming up next week. Please plan to attend.

We already know that building more infrastructure (whether new roads or new transit) does not decrease congestion. Now a new study confirms that building more PARKING actually increases driving. So, in addition to fighting more roads, we should also be lobbying against more expensive parking.

In 2016, finally, according to City Hall sources, the City of La Crosse is planning to "develop a transportation demand management policy and ordinance so that the large employers have to take action on efforts like staggering shift times, car/van pool programs, participation in MTU employer sponsored transit and potential park-and-ride bus service." 

We need to continue pressing on this issue. Private auto driving is one of the greatest causes of greenhouse gas emissions. We can make a difference here.
                                                                                  - cathy

This continues to change everything

from the This Changes Everything team:

Paris is over. But our efforts are not.  We closed out a huge year on the road with This Changes Everything in Paris for the climate talks and associated mobilizations. It was of course an intense period on the backdrop of the terror attacks and the French government’s ban on protest, but ultimately very inspiring as organizers and activists held marches and actions across the world calling for climate justice.   For an overview of what took place and the agreement itself you can take a look at this smart critique of mainstream media coverage of Paris from our team members Avi and Rajiv or Tyndall Centre’s Kevin Anderson and his take on Paris. There is a great summary of the enormous December 12th actions and if you really want to dig in John Foran has compiled a list of ‘33 of the best pieces on Paris COP21’ here. We always knew that the road to climate justice didn’t end in Paris and we encourage you to keep organising in 2016. You might find it useful to screen our film as a way to galvanize your community. You can book a screening via This Changes Everything website. We’re excited to let teachers and educators know we have released our official This Changes Everything study guide. The comprehensive guide comes with clips from the film and excerpts from the book, as well as hand out activities for each lesson. For full access please visit Ro*Co, our educational distributor. There are of course many more events and actions around the world to plug into - here are just a few; Climate Rising London: January 30 Climate Rising is the perfect opportunity to come together after the Paris climate talks and get energised to build a bigger and more diverse climate movement in 2016. Beyond Coal & Gas Australia Australia: April 8-16 Beyond Coal and Gas is the national gathering of communities from across Australia working to move beyond coal and gas. Break Free from Fossil Fuels Global: May 2016 Grassroots coordinated direct action against fossil fuel infrastructure around the world. Next System Project United States: starting April 22 Teach-Ins are practical, participatory, and action-oriented events that provide space for study, debate and organizing around pressing social, political and economic issues. Click to learn more.

This is Unacceptable

The burning of fossil fuels isn't only contributing to climate change, it's making people sick! A recent study found that the number of annual deaths caused by air pollution around the world is now greater than malaria and HIV combined, and fatalities could reach 6 million a year by 2050. And this is only from air pollution - how many more people are made sick by the contamination of water and lands from fossil fuel extraction activities? Read more in this article from The Guardian.

Why can't we do this?

[UPDATE - LOCATION IS NEARBY!]

Bill K. forwarded an announcement about a program coming up in the Decorah area as the south central Iowa City of Bloomfield unveils their plans to become energy independent. The city already produces its own electricity using diesel and purchased power. As the city says, "By maintaining our own generators, residents are protected against extended outages that could result from ice, wind, or tornado damage."

Municpal electricity utilities often boast lower and more stable prices. And, as we are seeing around the country, they are able to more easily move to renewable generation.

If anyone is interested in going, here are the details:

On Tuesday January 19th, Chris Ball from the City of Bloomfield, Iowa will present Bloomfield's plans for community-wide energy independence, the economic opportunity, and the challenges they face. He will likely be accompanied by team members from Bloomfield, and this is an excellent opportunity to learn lessons and share experience with a kindred-spirit Iowa community. Sign up here.

Event and action announcements from MN350.org:

Feast and March in Duluth/Superior to Resist Pipelines and Protect Water

• Join us in Duluth and Superior for two days of action! First, in collaboration with many allies, we’ll hold a traditional Anishinaabe feast with drum and singers, and Round dance to honor our "Life Givers" Earth, Water & Women. We will also have a direct action training. We ask for a sliding scale ($5-$20) contribution to cover the costs of the food, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
• The following day, community members will come together for a march and rally in Superior, WI to protect our water and say no to reckless Enbridge pipeline expansion. We want a future free from toxic pipeline expansions carrying the world's dirtiest oil through the Great Lakes region. Join us and bring your friends.
  When:
      Feast: Sunday, Jan. 24, 5-8pm;
      March: Monday, Jan. 25, noon
  Where:
      Feast: Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 N 11th Ave E, Duluth, MN 55805
      March: Superior, WI -- exact location TBD
  More info: Join a carpool to Duluth or request overnight housing;  see Facebook event for feast and Facebook event for march

• Save the date!  U.S. Bank Divest from Fossil Fuels Action January 26 @ 10am in Minneapolis.  Join MN350 and friends for a fun, creative action calling on U.S. Bank to take seriously their climate change policy and stop financing extreme fossil fuel projects such as Enbridge Energy's tar sands oil pipeline and coal.  Stay tuned for more details!

2)  Support our Partners and Allies!

• Building a Movement with Energy Solutions - the UN Climate Change Talkback. You are invited to a one-day event sponsored by Northland Sustainable Solutions and many other groups, including MN350, featuring a panel discussion of the Paris talks attendees, including Tom Goldtooth of Indigenous Environmental Network. Community members who are resources for local renewable energy choices will also be hosting a resource fair. Come together in a unified purpose with diverse leaders of business, government, and organizations focused globally and acting locally for carbon emission reduction!

When: Saturday Jan. 30   9:30 AM - 4 PM

Where: Carondelet Center, 1890 Randolph Ave Saint Paul, MN 55105

Register and purchase tickets here  Recommended cost is $55 as Carondelet Center requires lunch through their supplier, but scholarships and sliding scale fees are available!

3) Take Action!

Sign the petition to divest Minnesota from fossil fuels! Almost $4 billion of our $84 billion state pension funds are invested in fossil fuels.  Divest Invest Minnesota aims to divest our state pension fund to protect the pensions of hard working Minnesotans from the declining profitability of the fossil fuel industry and to make sure our state stops funding fossil fuels and instead funds a renewable energy economy.

What: Divest Invest MN Petition!

• Pledge to Move Your Money from U.S. Bank! MN350 and partners have been asking U.S. Bank to meet with us regarding their financing practices of tar sands pipelines, mountaintop removal and fracking despite their climate change policy.  Pledge to Move Your Money from U.S. Bank if they refuse to engage with us by Valentine’s Day.  It’s time for U.S. Bank to put its business practices where it’s mouth is and invest the well-being and health of our communities and climate…or we will break up with them.  Learn more about the campaign here.

Recommended: Local climate change education

[Republishing to keep this important event at the top of the blog!]

Coulee Partners for Sustainability is offering a Northwest Earth Institute discussion course titled "Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions". Discussions will be held at the People's Food Co-op in La Crosse on Thursday evenings from Feb. 11 through March 10. For more information, email info@cpslax.org.

More action/education opportunities

Mark your calendar. Planning is continuing on our local sustainable climate involvement fair. It will be on Saturday, March 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the First Congregational Church (corner of Main Street and Losey Boulevard). Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, please plan to attend and if your group or organization would like to have a booth, please contact us using the form on this page.

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Yesterday's National Sierra Club conference call in coordination with the Communication Workers of America focussed on what we can do to stop approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) "free" trade legislation that is on a fast track to make it harder for American workers and those of us concerned about global warming. Called NAFTA on steroids, the legislation would give multinational corporations power over local, state and federal laws. As we have seen, a similar "free" trade law, NAFTA, pushed by and signed by President Bill Clinton, is being used by Trans-Canada to sue the US for not permitting their Keystone XL Pipeline.

To learn more about the bill, why it's important that we all get involved immediately, and what we can do locally RIGHT NOW, please head over to sierraclub.org/trade/trans-pacific-partnership. First suggestion - you can do it RIGHT NOW - pick up your keyboard or pad and paper, and write a letter to the editor about this legislation and why it's terrible for the environment and why you will not support it or anyone who does. (Please read this article, "Ron Kind is Obama's Point Man on TPP," )

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  Speaking of letters to the editor, there were a few good ones in today's La Crosse Tribune. A short, but direct, letter about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (your letter could focus on a specific point in the bill); a longer, detailed explanation of why state Republicans' plans to end Wisconsin's moratorium on nuclear power plants is a very bad idea; and an educational letter from Minnesota about what happens when local government goes bad.

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Thursday, January 21 marks RENEW Wisconsin’s fifth annual summit, “Shaping the Utility of the Future.” Among the speakers:

We will hear from one of the nation’s utility leaders, CEO Mary Powell of Green Mountain Power in Vermont, who is seven years into creating what she calls the “Energy Company of the Future.” Mary’s formula includes solar on rooftops, solar on old landfills, wind power, “cow power” and clean lakes initiatives, electric vehicles, a smarter grid, partnering with Tesla to offer home battery storage, and offering financing to customers to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes and appliances. Along the way, her company has decreased electric rates twice in the past three years.

More info and registration information.                                                        - cathy

Coulee Partners for Sustainability is offering a Northwest Earth Institute discussion course titled "Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions". Discussions will be held at the People's Food Co-op in La Crosse on Thursday evenings from Feb. 11 through March 10. For more information, email info@cpslax.org.

A mine declined

Donna forwarded a report that Buffalo County, MN has turned down a conditional use permit for an industrial sand mine near Wabasha. The Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on Jan. 12 that included a visit to the site of the proposed mining operation.

Donna's correspondent notes that a view of the three valleys that would be destroyed by mining may have swayed some votes. Apparently, two Golden Eagles also showed up to skydance their opposition.

Donna notes, "A CUP for the Lindstrom mine would have meant 200 trucks a day going through Wabasha, 100 filled with sand and another 100 on the return trip. Victory can happen."

The vote was 3 to 0.