Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
Sierra Club Currents -- Save Teshekpuk Lake! Quote of Note: "Prophesies of a new wave of coal-fired generation have vaporized, while clean coal technologies… remain a decade away, or more." -- Citigroup coal analysts report downgrading stocks of coal companies across the board, as reported in the Washington Post (1) Take Action: Save Teshekpuk Lake! (2) Take Action: Fight Logging Road Subsidies (3) Ethanol: Corn Hype Cooling (4) Coal: The Tipping Point (1) Take Action: Save Teshekpuk Lake! The Teshekpuk lake area is one of the most important wetland complexes in the entire circumpolar Arctic, supporting millions of migratory birds and important subsistence resources. Despite continued bipartisan opposition from scientists, sportsmen, native communities, members of Congress and conservation groups, a new plan from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released last month will open this wildlife-rich network of coastal lagoons, deep-water lakes and wet sedge grass to oil and gas drilling. Save Alaska's Teshekpuk Lake! Photo courtesy Subhankar Banerjee (2) Take Action: Fight Logging Road Subsidies In June the House of Representatives took decisive action against more destructive, expensive logging subsidies -- subsidies that cost taxpayers about $40 million each year. While the House voted overwhelmingly for wild forest protection, Alaska's senators are working hard to overturn the House vote and keep these flawed logging road schemes in place. We need Congress to stand firm and oppose logging road subsidies in the Tongass National Forest. Protect the Tongass, Fight Logging Subsidies (3) Ethanol: Corn Hype Cooling Chinese officials are the latest to join agribusiness groups, sportsmen and environmentalists in advocating better alternatives to corn-based ethanol. China announced yesterday that it would significantly increase its use of biofuels by 2020 -- without using corn ethanol. The U.S. has the potential to do the same. By looking to the next generation of biofuels -- cellulosic ethanol we can meet our energy needs, while actually reducing global warming and protecting important conservation programs that support outdoor traditions. See how cellulosic ethanol stacks up. (4) Coal: The Tipping Point The rush to build over 150 new coal-fired power plants has slowed to a walk. Growing concerns about global warming, rising costs and future carbon regulations have stalled efforts to build plants across the country and utilities are increasingly investing in cleaner energy alternatives like wind and solar. But many companies are still pushing ahead, determined to build new plants before tighter pollution controls and higher health standards go into effect. The country is at a tipping point. It's more important than ever to increase our investment in renewable energy and reduce our dependence on dirty coal. Read more about the Coal Rush Reversal. Learn the truth about coal. |
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Currents is the Sierra Club's weekly e-mail update providing you with facts, stories, quotes, and "take action" features. |