Welcome to Sierra Club Footnotes Online
Welcome to Volume 1, Issue 1 of Footnotes Online, the bimonthly email newsletter of the NC Sierra Club! With Footnotes Online you can look forward to staying up to date with all of NC Sierra Club's activities including: exclusive updates and analysis on the state legislature from our Chapter lobbyist, current conservation campaign reports, opportunities to take action to protect the places in North Carolina you love, Sierra Club volunteer and Group highlights, comprehensive news clips on conservation issues from across the state, upcoming outing and activity announcements and more.
That's not all. This newsletter is about you. We want to feature your stories, so please tell us about what's happening in your community. We'll highlight volunteer activities in every issue.
And if you love the printed Footnotes newsletter, don’t worry. It’ll arrive in your mailbox twice a year.
Please consider making a Gift to the Chapter
The NC Sierra Club has a lot going on in 2008, as you’ll see below. But to make significant progress on our mission to explore, enjoy and protect the planet, NC Sierra Club needs your financial support. Please consider making a gift online today and help us:
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Curb global warming pollution in our communities.
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Build support for lasting change in our state’s energy future.
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Advocate for strong solutions that address our state’s historic drought.
Thanks for your support.
Sierra Club Files Challenge to Cliffside Coal Plant
On March 27, 2008 the Sierra Club filed a challenge to the air quality permit issued to Duke Energy for the construction of an 800 megawatt coal plant at its Cliffside facility in Western North Carolina. The Sierra Club will be represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center and will join three other environmental organizations in the suit.
"Cliffside is a nationally significant coal fight," said Bruce Nilles, director of Sierra Club's National Coal Campaign. "Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers has gained national prominence with his repeated calls for action on global warming. But his green rhetoric doesn't match Duke's actions. The nation needs businesses and industry to take a leadership role in fighting global warming, but Cliffside shows that Duke is not yet ready to take on that role."
The conventional coal-fired plant is not designed to capture and sequester carbon emissions and will emit 5.5 million tons additional tons of carbon dioxide annually (the equivalent of one million automobiles). As the challenges of climate change continue to mount, one new coal plant is one too many! Read more about Cliffside.
NC Sierra Club in the News
NC Sierra Club, along with several other local organizations, recently partnered with the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University to host a forum on water issues for gubernatorial candidates. Read about the candidates' proposals to combat North Carolina's historic drought.
New Bern may become the next Cool City in North Carolina! The Cool Cities initiative is designed to reduce carbon emissions in cities of any size, with emphasis on responsible land use, reducing sprawl, and energy efficiency. Read about New Bern or other cool cities on our campaign page.
Join Us on an Outing!
Sat, Apr 5 - Join the Cypress Group for the Bear Creek Trail Paddle, a scenic 7-mile canoe/kayak paddle with the opportunity to observe and study abundant wildlife. Sign up
Sat, Apr 5 - Join the Headwaters Group on the Laurel Bluff Trail at Eno River State Park for a moderate hike. Sign up
Sun, Apr 6 - Don't miss an opportunity to paddle the middle Tar River from Dunbar Road to NC 33 with Heather Jacobs, Riverkeeper for the Tar-Pamlico River. Hosted by the Cypress Group. Sign up.
Fri, Apr 11 - Sun, Apr 13 - Celebrate spring with a backpack to the Grand Canyon of the East with the Table Rock & Shortoff Mountain Backpack, Linville Gorge Wilderness. Hosted by the Capital Group. Sign up
Check out all upcoming Chapter outings here.
Political Issues
The North Carolina primary elections are May 6th. We encourage all NC Sierrans to be civically engaged and vote. The North Carolina Sierra Club issues endorsements for local and statewide races and partners with the National Sierra Club to endorse at the federal level. Please visit our website.