Release date: February 20, 2015
DC Chapter Helps to Enact Amendment to DC's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard
On December 17, the Council of the District of Columbia unanimously passed the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendment Act of 2014 (Bill 20-418). A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable sources (wind, solar, biomass...). DC's RPS was created in 2005 to encourage the use of clean energy, but a loophole allowed our RPS to include “blackliquor”, a carbon-intense waste by-product of the paper milling industry. The passage of this legislation fixes our RPS by removing the dirty energy loophole and increasing the amount of clean energy we get from wind and solar.
Fixing DC’s Renewable Portfolio Standard has been a major priority for our Chapter, and is a key step in making progress towards the clean energy future our community deserves.
The passage of this bill comes after many, many months of hard work and leadership by Sierra Club members, supporters, and volunteers who have contributed unmatched enthusiasm and energy throughout the process. Together, we’ve generated hundreds of messages and calls, held a rally in front of the Wilson Building, and lobbied Councilmembers to act on this critical environmental legislation.
We are deeply grateful to the DC Council for voting to increase clean energy use in the District, to our members and volunteers for their steadfast support and efforts, and to all of our partners in the broad coalition we’ve built to make the nation’s capital a national leader for clean energy and sensible environmental policy. Congratualtions to all on a major victory for clean energy and the environment in DC!
Supporters Rally Behind Stronger Clean Air Protections at EPA Hearing in DC
On January 29 the Sierra Club and its partners mobilized supporters to testify at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Headquarters in Washington, DC on the proposed strengthening of clean air standards to limit smog (ground level ozone) pollution - and we far, far outnumbered the industry shills. We had a great turnout, with 171 supporters in attendance and 141 people testifying, and we outnumbered opponent testimony by over four to one! Among those who testified were public health experts, mothers with young children, faith leaders, and those suffering from asthma. Some came from as far away as South Carolina. The Sierra Club’s Virginia, Maryland and DC Chapters were out in full force, as well as the Sierra Student Coalition's executive committee. We also had a great showing from our partners, most notably Moms Clean Air Force, the American Lung Association, and Interfaith Power & Light, among others who showed their general support for clean air all day long.
The proposed improvements to the Clean Air Act would strengthen national air quality standards for ground-level ozone, one of the most dangerous and pervasive air pollutants. The improved standard would reduce the level of ozone within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb). The current standard, 75 ppb, has been deemed insufficient to protect human health by expert scientists and medical health professionals. In fact, scientists have continued to publish evidence that to adequately protect public health, the smog standards should be set no higher than 60 ppb. Smog pollution costs Americans billions of dollars in health care costs, lost productivity, and premature deaths. The EPA estimates that “the benefits of meeting the proposed standards will significantly outweigh the costs, preventing asthma attacks, heart attacks, missed school days and premature deaths, among other health effects.” The final smog pollution standard is set to be announced by the EPA in October 2015.
For several months now, the DC Chapter has been opposing the proposed takeover of Pepco, DC's electricity power provider, by Chicago-based energy giant, Exelon. DC's Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently considering whether or not to approve Exelon's purchase of Pepco, and is expected to decide on this issue sometime this spring. As part of a broad coalition of local organizations called Power DC, the Chapter is is opposing the merger for several reasons. Exelon is a large power generator (the country's largest owner of nuclear power plants) and so seeks the highest price possible for its electricity. In contrast, Pepco owns no generation and is quite satisfied to deliver our electricity at the lowest cost possible. The takeover would set up a direct conflict of interest.
If the takeover goes through, Exelon would provide power for more than 10 million consumers nationwide and be the largest owner of transmission and distribution lines in our wholesale market (the PJM). This would give Exelon the market (near monopoly) power they need to strengthen their ability to reduce renewable energy and efficiency because they compete with the sale of their electricity. Efficiency may be their biggest threat after renewable power. Exelon has actively worked against federal clean energy incentives, such as the production tax credit for wind energy, and has fought local renewable energy initiatives in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois and Ohio. DC has enacted good laws to promote clean energy and energy efficiency. Again, the takeover is a fundamental conflict of interest. Because Exelon's nuclear power plants are no longer competitive against cheaper wind power and natural gas fired power plants, the company's stock isn't doing well and Wall Street has down valued their bonds.
Consequently Exelon is trying to buy up power providers from Illinois to the east coast, and trying to dilute their sunk costs and buoy their business model. Why should DC choose to tie its utility to a failing business model? It is plainly not in the public interest. This merger would erode DC's progress on clean energy and hurt chances of expanding reliance on renewables and energy efficiency. Going forward, the Chapter will continue to engage in both legal and organizing strategies to oppose the merger. Because the decision ultimately lies with the PSC, we will work with the Power DC coalition to send 1,000 letters in opposition to the merger before the end of February. Because a settlement could occur with DC Government and other intervening parties to the case, we will also work to strengthen the Mayor's resolve to protect the interests of DC ratepayers. If you haven't sent in your letter of opposition yet, please send a note to "psc-commissionsecretary@psc.dc.gov" now, telling them you do not support the merger, and are concerned that it will lead to a weakening of DC's commitment to renewable energy and efficiency. Join us at next month's Energy Committee meeting on March 5th to hear about additional ways you can get involved.
As this recent ABC newcast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kARyWOOjODs) states, our campaign to fight the proposed merger is gaining momentum as residents from all over DC are writing into the PSC opposing the proposal. The public is pushing back on a bad deal that would lead to higher energy prices and send control of our energy system to Chicago. A new poll shows that only 6 percent of likely voters approve of Exelon buying Pepco, while 44 percent oppose it. Many still have no opinion or are unaware. Share your opinion with friends and neighbors. The Power DC website has lots of information on the deal and good talking points. If you have already sent a note opposing the deal to the PSC, thank you. If you haven't sent a note please do now.
Exelon executives are scrambling for cover as opposition to this bad deal keeps growing. One company spokesman said that he had “no comment” on how the proposed merger would benefit District residents, but there’s plenty of evidence that shows that it would hurt ratepayers all over the city. Exelon has a record of aggressively attacking renewable energy policies, and would try its hardest to retard and dismantle all the progress we’ve made in becoming a sustainability leader. Don’t wait: tell the Public Service Commission to reject the merger.
With your support, we can keep electric fair, and ensure that DC moves forward on developing clean energy—but only if we block this bad deal from going through. An Exelon-Pepco buy-out is not in the public interest, and it’s up to us to stop it. If you haven't already, please submit your comments to the PSC by linking here.
Council of Club Leaders Annual Meeting (Rick Nunno)
On November 20-22, I attended the annual meeting of the Sierra Club’s Council of Club Leaders (CCL) in San Francisco. Every year, each of the 64 Sierra Club chapters sends a delegate to the CCL meeting, which provides a great opportunity to learn about the national Sierra Club’s campaigns and other activities, as well as to make contacts with National staff and representatives from other chapters, and to share information about what our chapter is doing.
The mission of the CCL is to (1) build unity within the Club by facilitating open communication between national and chapter leaders; (2) represent the chapter perspectives and concerns, and assist chapters in their work; (3) provide advice and assistance to the Board of Directors and other Club entities; and (4) be knowledgeable about available resources and training programs to assist national Club entities in building Club leadership.
One of the highlights from this past year’s meeting was an inspiring pep talk from Executive Director Michael Brune to continue to forge ahead in the aftermath of the November elections and to get inspired from the recent success of the People’s Climate March in New York City in September. He also brought out the fact that climate change has become a major issue in almost every national and state level election, which gives the Sierra Club a critical role in influencing future decisions in government and business.
Sierra Club President Dave Scott also gave an encouraging talk about the recent accomplishments of the Club and the challenges that lie ahead. We were then given a financial report on the Club, a report on conservation activities, including the Beyond Coal, Beyond Oil, Beyond Natural Gas campaigns, and a briefing on how to enlist influential supporters and partners, developing new leaders, and recruiting and engaging volunteers. We heard briefings from the directors of the Club’s Outdoors program, the CCL Executive Committee, the Our Wild America campaign (working to protect federal and state lands from exploitation), the Sierra Student Coalition (organizing students at college campuses), and a comparison of the chapters in terms of their budgets, outreach activities, outings, and other metrics. We reviewed a set of Resolution proposals submitted by various chapters, and adopted seven of them, which were then considered by the Board of Directors. The CCL held a joint meeting with the Board of Directors for a day, where we saw first-hand how policies are debated and adopted for the entire Club.
There were many other activities that filled our busy three days. If any new(ish) chapter leader would like to learn more about the CCL and possibly take on the role of CCL delegate for 2015, please let us know. It would be a great chance to become more engaged with the Club and help out our chapter. Further details on the CCL can be viewed at http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/people/committees/council/.
Polar Bear Plunge a Great Success
Global Divestment Day at Dupont Circle
On Friday, February 13. members of the DC chapter joined many other groups at a rally in Dupont Circle for encouraging local governments to divest their savings from fossil fuel companies. The goal of the event was to send our local governments and universities one clear message: Stop bankrolling climate destruction with immoral and financially risky investments in fossil fuels. The message stressed that fossil fuels are history and renewables are the future. With a giant inflatable carbon bubble, large checks symbolizing the financial risk of investments in unburnable carbon, canvassing activities, and an awesome "Light Brigade" display to get everyone's attention, the event was fun and exciting for all. The event was cosponsored by DC Divest, 350 DC, Fossil Free American University, Fossil Free GWU, GU Fossil Free, 350 Montgomery County, 350 Loudoun, and other groups. Dupont Circle was taken over in the area’s biggest-ever public mobilisation on divestment, including an enormous inflatable carbon bubble, large checks symbolising DC’s current $30 million investment in extreme fossil fuel companies, and an attention-grabbing “Light Brigade” display.
Similar demonstations took place on the same day in over 450 cities and over 60 countries around the world, revealing the increasing momentum of the global Divest movement. From the Pacific Islands to South Africa, from the United States to Germany, activists stood up to demand governments, universities and financial and religious institutions stop investing in the rogue industries that are destroying our planet and to de-legitimise the fossil fuel industry.
Zero Waste Committee Updates its Priorities and Establishes New Meeting Format
After conducting a rigorous strategy session in January, the DC Chapter's Zero Waste Committee has decided to focus its efforts on the following issues/actions:
- Pass construction and demolition legislation, lead is Jim Schulman, regionalarchitect@gmail.com
- Influence standard operating procedures/regulations that will implement the Waste Management Act and Sustainable DC Act, co-leads are Jen Dickman, jendickman@gmail.com and Christa McDermott, mcdc@umich.edu
- Help jumpstart composting pilot at UDC Farm in Beltsville, MD, lead is Larry Martin, lmartindc@gmail.com
- Fight incineration RFP, lead is Mike Ewall, mike@energyjustice.net
Please email the project leads to get involved! The Committee is also looking for people interested in planning events, like field trips, speakers, volunteer opportunities, etc. to help engage people outside meetings - please email Jen Dickman to learn more. With these changes comes a new meeting format: the smaller groups will be meeting monthly (or more often) and the whole committee will meet once every two months to hear updates from those groups and discuss other issues. The next full Committee meeting will be Tuesday, March 10 (and will be the second Tuesday of every other month after that).
Energy Committee Update
DC Chapter Political Endorsements (Bob Summersgill, chair, Political Committee)
The D.C. Sierra Club endorsed almost all of the winners of the November 4, 2014 general election: Chairman: Phil Mendelson; At-Large: Anita Bonds and Elissa Silverman; Ward 1: Brianne Nadeau; Ward 3: Mary Cheh; Ward 5: Kenyan McDuffie; and Ward 6: Charles Allen. For more details, see: https://dc.sierraclub.org/content/dc-chapter-sierra-club-pleased-announce-endorsements-november-4-2014-general-election.
While we did not endorse Mayor Muriel Bowser, we look forward to working with her and former Councilmember Tommy Wells who is now the Acting Director of the D.C. Department of the Environment. We are happy to see a DDOE Director who is a firm proponent of the environment. We are evaluating the candidates for the special elections in Wards 4 and 8. No decisions have been made yet in those races. We look forward to working with all of the councilmembers and the mayor on important environmental issues.
Increasing Our Awe
In partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, the Sierra Club has launched a three-year groundbreaking research study documenting the biological and emotional effects of spending time outdoors. The project, called the “Great Outdoors Lab,” is led by Dr. Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and co-director of the Greater Good Science Center. The Center (http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/) is studying how experiencing nature can influence our health, and the Sierra Club thinks that his conclusions might help to sway public opinion about promoting and protecting nature. We know that health data is one of the best ways to influence the American public, and we know that one of the best ways to reduce our stress levels is to go outdoors, to look at a beautiful landscape, to listen to the sounds of nature.
An article was written on “The Science of Awe” in a recent issue of the Capital Sierran Magazine (http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2014-6-november-december/feature/science-awe), which discusses how scientists are learning how inspiring experiences in nature can have profoundly positive effects on people. After these experiences, “people act more generously and ethically, think more critically when encountering persuasive stimuli, like arguments or advertisements, and often feel a deeper connection to others and the world in general.” Awe prompts people to redirect concern away from the self and toward everything else, and it is usually elicited by nature. Sometimes emotions are contagious, and inspired people can make others feel awe. And sometimes, just looking at a photo is enough to inspire a touch of awe.
Staunton River Loop, Virginia | Shenandoah National Park, Virginia |
Great Allegheny Passage, Pennsylvania |
Metro's Sustainability Initiative Seeks Input from the Public
Last Spring, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, a.k.a., Metro) announced its initiative to replace 13,500 light fixtures with high-efficiency light-emitting diodes. This investment would brighten and make safer Metro’s garages while cutting energy costs by utilizing state-of-the art lighting, monitoring, motion-sensing, and remote management technology. Metro has completed the first set of installations at our Huntington garage and is rolling this technology out to the remainder of our structured parking facilities. Check out a video of the project underway at http://planitmetro.com/2015/02/09/metro-shines-a-light-on-sustainability-and-wants-your-bright-ideas/!
Metro hopes that this can be just the beginning of the journey towards innovative partnerships with the private sector. There are lots of ideas being offered for ways in which innovations can drive bottom line savings and be suitable for performance-based relationships with private firms. Metro also wants to pay attention to what its customers are saying - that investments in sustainability are the most popular ways to achieve operating cost savings in WMATA budgets. Each year the Sustainability Lab tests out new ideas for large-scale deployment and we would love to have your help in finding the next big idea like marrying wayside energy storage and regenerative braking capacity or on-board cameras that might help buses issue parking violations to illegally parked cars that keep our buses stuck in traffic instead of zipping along. To provide input into this project, Submit your ideas online or email them to planning@wmata.com.
News from Nearby Chapters
On February 12, members of the Maryland Chapter, Montgomery County Group, testified at a public hearing held by the Montgomery County Council on Bill 52-14, which proposes to restrict non-essential use of harmful lawn pesticides in Montgomery County. The bill would limit pesticide exposure by stopping the non-essential use of pesticides on lawns, but would allow the use of pesticides for agriculture, invasive species, noxious weeds, and golf courses. It aims to protect human health, pets, wildlife and waterways that feed the Chesapeake Bay.
On December 8, members of the Maryland Chapter testified at the final public hearing held by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority on a proposed designation of a portion of the Patapsco Valley State Park as a Certified Heritage Area.
Every Sunday at 8 AM, the Virginia Chapter, Mt. Vernon Group, joins Friends of Dyke Marsh for a bird walk. They meet in the south parking lot of the Belle Haven picnic area. Walks are led by experienced birders and all are welcome. For more information, contact Friends of Dyke Marsh at http://fodm.org/
On March 8, at 8 AM, the Virginia Chapter, Mt. Vernon Group, will join other bird watching enthusiasts at the 40th Anniversary Birding for Beginners at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria. Sharpen your waterfowl identification skills while birding with a park naturalist. Register now.
On February 23, 7-9 PM, at Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA, Kirk Bowers from the Virginia Chapter, Great Falls Group, will speak about the Virginia Chapter's opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline proposed to be built through central and southwest Virginia.
Upcoming Events
Following is a selection of upcoming chapter events. For complete listings and details, visit our calendar
Good Jobs/Green Jobs Conference, April 13. This year's Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference is at the Hilton in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2015, and as in years past, the Club plans to bring a strong contingent of Sierra Club leaders, activists, and staff. The conference will be focused on Energizing America. For more details on the conference, please visit: www.greenjobsconference.org (NOTE: please do not register on the website, as we will have a Sierra Club discount available). If you are interested in attending, please fill out the Sierra Club application (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zKJ4lesXhTAmC4BisKIARdXoM8FtD9IcixOyVo7uvr4/viewform?usp=send_form). If you have any questions, please contact Hillary Bright (hillary.bright@sierraclub.org) or Ali Blumenstock (ali.blumenstock@sierraclub.org).
Seize the Grid Campaign Welcome Call, February 24, 8 PM. All Sierra Club members are invited to attend the #SeizeTheGrid Campaign Welcome Webinar on Feb. 24. RSVP to join and get started organizing for 100% clean energy! Campuses and communities across the country are launching Seize the Grid Campaigns --calling on campus administrators and local governments to transition to a 100% just, localized clean energy economy by 2030. Young people have the opportunity to lead a new movement that dramatically increases clean energy in this country. Register now: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3875169722624362498
LTE Training & Communications Meeting, Wednesday, March 4, 6 - 7:30 PM, Sierra Club office, 50 F St NW, 8th Floor. All DC Sierra Club volunteers are invited to attend this training session to be provided by Mr. Seth Heald, a volunteer with the Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter. Seth and his colleagues have established a volunteer team focused on increasing the quality and quantity of letters to the editor (LTEs) submitted to Virginia newspapers on environmental topics. Their team, called the Truth Squad, has submitted hundreds of letters and op-eds to Virginia newspapers, with many being published. Seth will work with DC volunteers to help spread their success to our city dwellers and increase public awareness of the DC chapter's environmental campaigns. Come join DC volunteers to build our own Truth Squad and help make an impact in our local community's environmental issues. Join us at 6pm to mingle and learn about general DC Sierra Club communications opportunities. LTE training will begin at 6:30 PM.
Energy Committee Meeting, Thursday March 5, 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Sierra Club office, 50 F St NW, 8th Floor. For more information and to RSVP, email washingtondc.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Smart Growth Committee Meeting, Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, Sierra Club office, 50 F St. NW, 8th floor. For more information and to RSVP, email washingtondc.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Zero Waste Committee Meeting, Tuesday March 10 (second Tuesday of every other month going forward), 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Sierra Club office, 50 F St NW, 8th Floor. For more information and to RSVP, email washingtondc.chapter@sierraclub.org.
Looking for a hike or other outdoor adventure?
Click here to learn more about regional Sierra Club offerings.
Our own DC Chapter volunteer, Sankar Sitaraman, is one of the leaders of Nature Lovers Meetup group, which you can join at http://www.meetup.com/nature-lovers/. Meet other outdoors enthusiasts who are environmentally conscious and spiritually inclined. Of course you don't have to be all three! Their main purpose is to enjoy nature, whether it is hiking, biking, camping, backpacking or bird-watching. They also try to do their part to protect the environment by joining clean-ups, trail maintenance, etc., Being with nature is also great for the spirit, but when they are not outdoors they'll do meditation, book-reading, etc., or join the activities of Sierra Club, hiking and biking clubs, other outdoor and environmental groups and also meditation groups. Disclaimer: participants are responsible for their own safety during events. Upcoming outings include: Barberry, Birds, and Beer, Saturday, February 21, 2015, 12:00 PM, Fraser Preserve, 239 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, VA (map), Meet at the corner of Springvale & Allenwood; and Moe Sustainability Film Awards (National Geographic), Thursday Mar 19, 7:15 PM, RSVP, Naan and Beyond, 1710 L St NW, Washington, DC (map), part of the Environmental Film Festival, join Nature Lovers for a screening of winners and nominees of the Eric Moe Awards.
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