Nimble and responsive action committees provide teamwork for the new Conservation Committee structure. A national Sierra Club study showed that opening more leadership roles activates grassroots efforts. Illinois Chapter is building on that research and now has issue focused committees ready for your involvement.
The new Conservation Committee structure is intended to make it easier for volunteers get connected with Chapter efforts. You can contact the Committee Chairs for more information and to get involved.
Clean Cars
Will Reynolds willinois@gmail.com
States all over the country are following the lead of California and requiring that cleaner cars be sold in their states. Cars sold in twelve other states put out less pollution that causes global warming, asthma attacks and other serious health problems. Here in Illinois, 28 percent of global warming pollution comes from our transportation choices.
Why not have Illinois adopt California Clean Car standards? Great things can happen: Illinois could be the veritable tipping point in moving the Midwest to cleaner cars. Join this committee and be part of a paradigm shift which combines efforts from state government, agencies, and the grassroots.
Drive Smart!
A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gasoline, cutting pollution and saving you money at the pump. Better yet, take public transit, walk, or bicycle. Find out how much global warming pollution your car produces. Visit our calculator at www.sierraclub.org/mpg
Global Warming
Verena Owen. baumling@aol.com
Action now is essential for facing the future. While the Bush Administration scoffs at international efforts to combat climate change, Illinois has committed to cutting Illinois global warming pollution 60 to 80% by 2050, and will need to implement a number of strategies to reach this goal. Sierra Club is working with Illinois leaders to develop smart energy solutions for Illinois that will spur innovation and set an example for America to follow.
Join in efforts to educate, articulate, and influence meaningful changes from the grassroots and actions of individuals to state legislation. Make a difference where you live.
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!
Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2, that would result if the product came from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only 4 feet high will save a good-sized tree. Please help stop global warming - buy recycled products!
Cool Cities
Lonnie Morris: lonnie@herbndove.com
All over Illinois, cities and counties are launching an exciting grassroots movement to help solve global warming, by committing to reduce CO2 emissions at the local level. Local leaders aren't waiting for change in Washington, but are moving forward now with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health, and save taxpayer dollars. These mayors and local officials are leading the way toward a safer and more secure future by taking action now to curb global warming.
Is your town a Cool City? Join this committee and see that it is!
Encourage smarter energy use in public buildings.
Urge your community to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescents produce the same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long. Each switch helps clean the air, curb global warming, and saves money.
Coal Power Plants
Verena Owen: baumling@aol.com
Harnessing energy from renewable sources like wind farms that won't pollute our air or poison our water, will create jobs, save consumers money, and reduce pollution. Innovative technologies for energy efficiency will create thousands of new jobs, and dramatically reduce asthma-causing pollution now produced by such dirty sources of energy as coal, the primary source of global warming in the U.S. It's time to move forward to a cleaner, 21st century energy future.
Despite the promise of renewable clean energy sources; there's a rush to new coal power plants across Illinois. We've been monitoring permits and winning by forcing the clean up of old coal power plants.
Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances.
Replacing an old refrigerator or an air conditioner with an energy-efficient model will save you money on your electricity bill and cut global warming pollution. Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances or visit their website at www.energystar.gov to find the most energy-efficient products.
Nuclear Energy
Rudy Habben: (309) 685-5605
Consider this: if Illinois was a country, it would rank third in the world for the number of nuclear power plants, with France ranked first. Chairperson Rudy Habben presented this information tidbit at a recent Chapter meeting. Whatever your level of knowledge, if you are interested or concerned about nuclear power issues, call Rudy.
Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency
Energy Fair Guru Tom Borchard: tfborchard23@hotmail.com
Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin all have alternative energy fairs. Tom Borchard is leading the charge to have an Illinois Sierra presence at these events and to be an information sharing arm of our state Sierra. If you have an interest in other aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency, a new committee could be your calling.
Clean Water Act Enforcement
Albert Ettinger, Chapter Legal Counsel: aettinger@elpc.org
Monitoring permit applications and responding with comments is an essential part of protecting Illinois’ water. At certain points, initiating legal action may also be a necessary step. Volunteers can help with information gathering, checking local areas under permit consideration, and other monitoring steps.
Water Sentinels
Fran Caffee: fran.caffee@sierraclub.org
Eight IL. Groups are involved in Water Sentinel monitoring projects under the leadership of Clean Water Advocate Cindy Skrukrud, PhD. Projects include chemical and/or biological water monitoring as needed to address issues specific to their waterbody. Water Sentinels also work closely with the Environmental Law and Policy Center as well as Prairie Rivers Network on statewide water policy issues, permit review and permit enforcement.
Water Quantity
Lynn Rotunno: Lynn_Rotunno@yahoo.com
Who is minding the store and connecting the dots for all the water takings impacting our rivers and water resources? Join in the information gathering and education that is needed to raise awareness of this looming issue.
Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Ecoregion
Legislative alerts, notices for hearings and giving comments at hearings, are all part of the effort to keep the public informed about damage done to our rivers and restoration work that is needed. Part of the focus is the high expense both in dollars and river ecosystem health, that will be caused if locks and dams are expanded.
Illinois’ 20 Wild and Endangered Places
Chris Williamson: birdchris@aol.com
Identifying and listing twenty of the most special and threatened places in Illinois will provide momentum for having these places protected. Public awareness is a large part of the project. Outings to selected places, work to support designation and funds for land acquisition funding, may all be part of this committee’s endeavors.
Jim Bensman: jbensman1@charter.net
Illinois’ only national forest, the Shawnee, is threatened by abuse of its wilderness areas, competing interests for resource extraction, ATV and recreational horse riding damages, and invasive species. The Shawnee Committee will be looking for a window of opportunity for major legislative and conservation initiatives. All kinds of volunteers are needed.
Mining Issues
Joyce Blumenshine: joblumen@yahoo.com
Impacts of longwall mining on water resources, woods, and prime ag land are ongoing concerns for this committee. Members also are involved in fighting strip mines in several inappropriate locations. A review of Illinois mining law needs to be done. Volunteers have all kinds of opportunities, from photography to letter writing.
Environmental Justice
Verena Owen: baumling@aol.com
How do you apply environmental justice issues to your community? A wealth of information is available from Sierra sources, but grassroots volunteers are needed to bring EJ to the home front. If you are interested in outreach, research, or other avenues of being involved, opportunities abound.
Waste & Recycling
Kathy Andria: kathyandria@gmail.com
Do you have issues about toxic or hazardous waste or municipal solid waste landfills? Perhaps there is a coal combustion waste location near you. Learn how to deal with the siting process for new landfills. Monitor and report on landfills in your community and help to educate the public about minimizing the waste stream.
Chicago Olympics
Chris Williamson: birdchris@aol.com and Larry Marvet: lemarvet@gmail.com
Wouldn’t it be great if the 2016 Olympics in Chicago was a showcase for environmentally responsible planning? Protecting public lands, using environmentally sound materials, enhancing public transportation, improving Lake Michigan water quality, all are part of the list of issues this committee will pursue.