Footnotes Issue #50: December 13th, 2011
We Win! Longleaf Coal Plant Cancelled
Were you one of the 250 people who made a call to LS Power CEO Mike Segal in June? If so, pat yourself on the back, buy yourself a festive beverage, do a little happy dance, or all of the above because IT WORKED! LS Power announced yesterday that they are pulling the plug on the Longleaf project.
Not only is this the 160th coal-fired power plant that the Sierra Club has stopped since it committed to beating the Dick Cheney coal rush, but it was the longest running battle in the country, originally starting nearly 12 years ago in 2001.
Stopping this plant prevents about 9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year – more than all the cars in Atlanta combined – and keeps 20 million gallons of water flowing down the Chattahoochee and 88 pounds of mercury out of it. This victory was Sierra Club at its best: the confluence of great legal minds at GreenLaw, good media and outreach tools, and grassroots power.
Our local allies Friends of the Chattahoochee had no idea that they were in for the marathon of their lives. But as Bobby Mclendon explains, "when we found out the impact that this plant would have on our lives, we had no choice but to oppose it. We were just regular people who want our grandchildren to breathe clean air. Helping to stop this plant is probably the most important thing I have ever done for my family, my community and the Earth."
Quick Links
The Georgia Chapter is sponsoring this year's Atlanta Green Drinks holiday party: A Year in Green! Please join us on Thursday, December 15, from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Click here for more information and to RSVP!
Sierra Club Meetings
RAIL Committee Meeting, Monday, December 19, 7:00 p.m., David Emory - Chair, david.emory@gmail.com Smart Energy Team Meeting, Monday, January 9, 7:00 p.m., Mike Walls - Chair, mwalls@ellijay.com Beyond Factory Farming, Monday, January 16, 7:30 p.m., Leah Garces - Chair, Leah.Garces@ciwf.org Wildlands and Wildlife Committee Meeting, Tuesday, January 17, 7:00 p.m., Mike Murdock - Chair, murdock1@mindspring.com Atlanta Inner City Outings (ICO), Tuesday, January 24, 7:30 p.m., Naomi Bock, atlantaico@gmail.com |
Upcoming Events
Southface's Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable - January 6
A recent wave of change has resulted in a number of new faces at a host of environmental organizations in Atlanta and in Georgia. These new leaders bring fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and a rolodex of new connections.
Join us as we turn our focus to a gathering of environmental leaders as part of a "town hall meeting" format. Veteran journalist Maria Saporta will serve as moderator, guiding us through a discussion that explores this opportunity to build community and advance sustainability in our city, region and state.
Support Freshwater Turtle Regulations - January 5
A public hearing will be held on January 5, at 7:00 p.m., at the Georgia Forestry Commission Auditorium, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, GA near Macon about the draft rule to protect the unlimited taking freshwater turtles. The turtles are sold in Asian markets and their population has consequently been depleted in recent years. Read more about it on our website or check out the recent article on Saporta Report.
Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference Coming to Atlanta - February 23-24
Now in its fifth year, the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference -- the nation's leading forum for sharing ideas and strategies to build a green economy and create good, green jobs -- is headed to Atlanta! The conference will feature two days of exciting speakers and informative workshops, bringing together community leaders, union members, environmentalists, business leaders and elected officials to discuss how each region is, block by block, building the foundation for a green economy.
Interested in reading more?
If you have missed an issue of Footnotes Online you can view them in our archive by clicking here. You can also sign up for alerts in order to take action at times when we need decision makers to hear from you. We need your help!