Tuesday, February 17, 2026

February Newsletter

 

February 20 at 5:30 p.m. CRSC Action Gathering Join together to make a difference! 401 West Avenue South, La Crosse     Are you looking to get more involved in 2026? Join us 
to learn about an important environmental issue and then take meaningful action together. 
This month we'll be exploring changes you can make at home or in your everyday life to reduce your environmental footprint. All are welcome, whether you're new to environmental activism or a seasoned campaigner! Enter at the back door. RSVP (optional) by calling 608-315-2693 or at https://forms.gle/34yPvEL5putiuUtR7 to help us know how much pizza to have on hand. BYO non-alcoholic beverage and your energy to make change!

FEB. 4 & 6 - TRANSIT EQUITY DAYS     Public transit is the primary means of transportation for one-third or more of Americans. Public transit is often overlooked and usually underfunded, meaning transit riders have longer travel times, harder connections, missing service, and less access to their lives than car drivers. Transit Equity Day, on February 4, Rosa Parks’ birthday, recognizes that transit is a civil right and a key strategy to confront climate change. Sierra Club goals of increasing transportation access and equity, working for cleaner air and water, and taking climate action are all wrapped up in transit equity. Learn more about this issue and how you can be involved at https://tinyurl.com/TED-LaCrosse-2026

DATA CENTERS     The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) will decide how much data centers in We Energies & WPS territory will pay for their electricity and infrastructure. We must ensure that Wisconsinites don’t subsidize Big Tech billionaires through higher energy bills. Big data centers could more than double electricity demand. The PSC must take action. 
Learn more at a Feb. 4 6 p.m. webinar about No Discounts for Data Centers and attend the PSC hearings online on Feb. 10 and 24 at 1 or 6 p.m. to give your opinion OR submit written comments by Feb. 17. Learn more about how you can take action at https://tinyurl.com/WISC-PSC210 

SPECIAL EARTH MONTH GRANTS!     The Coulee Region Sierra Club will provide grants of up to $200 each for teachers or others who work with K-8 students to help fund Earth Month projects or lessons! Please apply by February 28 at https://sierraclub.org/Wisconsin/Coulee/Education (use the Environmental Education Grant application). If you have questions, please call 608-315-2693 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

FEB. 13-16 BACKYARD BIRD COUNT     Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. People all over the world count as many birds as they can and report them to help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.Learn how to participate at https://www.birdcount.org

FEBRUARY 17 - SPRING PRIMARY ELECTION DAY if needed. myvote.wi.gov 

COULEE REGION YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION     by Aditi Muduganti, Grade 12, Onalaska High School

As we ring in the new year, students from across La Crosse County are taking a stand for climate action. Currently at Onalaska High School, the lead plaintiff in the Our Children’s Trust case is present.

"The bluffs on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin brought my ancestors to this great state in the 1860s because of its beauty. However, as a result of the climate crisis in Wisconsin, the bluff where my family and I lived became unstable and dangerous, and we were forced to move,” said plaintiff Kaarina D. “Having lived this trauma in my home state was almost unthinkable and is directly linked to climate change. This fight to protect my right to life and liberty, to a stable climate system, and to access and enjoy our waters does not end with my actions, but begins with my state doing its job: protecting my fellow youth plaintiffs.” 

Aditi Muduganti, a fellow student at Onalaska High School, said, “Moving from California, where students with asthma were constantly threatened by poor air quality, we were forced to stay indoors most days, depriving us of our rights. Moving to Wisconsin, I noticed a lack of climate education in schools, which led me to create a Miyawaki Forest that now serves as an outdoor classroom for students at Summit Elementary School and write a sustainable technology children’s book and read it to kids across Wisconsin. It is really amazing to see these students feel inspired, which is why I got involved with the case as well to bring the efforts and impact to the legislative level.”

Students from Onalaska High School have attended meetings with senior policy advisors from Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office and representatives from Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s office.

Plans are also underway for students to visit Madison, Wisconsin, in February to meet with Representative Jill Billings and Midwest Environmental Advocates to discuss climate policy and youth-led initiatives. 

At the La Crosse Citizens Climate Lobby meetings, students are urged to continue emailing their local representatives about climate policy, especially since this winter storm, hitting Wisconsin hard, is a direct effect of climate change.

Additionally, students in Onalaska High School’s Green Council continue their work on weekly recycling, a long-standing tradition that reduces the school’s plastic and bottle waste while promoting environmental awareness among peers.

At the Youth Climate Action Fund Awards, organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies, students were recognized for their dedication to sustainability and their creative approaches to environmental challenges.

Through these efforts, students in La Crosse County are proving that meaningful climate action can start at any age. From school projects and recycling programs to meetings with lawmakers and statewide advocacy, their work shows that youth leadership can drive real change and inspire the community to take action for a sustainable future.  

MORE FEBRUARY EVENTS

 

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