May Newsletter

 

LOCALLY GROWN, NATIONALLY KNOWN - MAY 18 at 6:30 p.m.     Have you ever tried Shroomschetta? It's just one of the mouthwatering, locally sourced goodies we'll hear about as we visit with our special guests from River Valley Ranch & Kitchens in Burlington, WI. River Valley is a sustainable mushroom farm that offers fresh mushrooms and a variety of delicious products at their farm store and regional farmers markets. Join us from the comfort of your home, as we explore the connection between climate and food systems. This promises to be a fun-filled evening celebrating local food and drink and grassroots activism. Register today to reserve your spot and we'll send a link prior to the event!

Visit www.tinyurl.com/23LocalGrown to register.

MAY 3 - KNOW YOUR RURAL UTILITY    Join us online at 6:30 p.m. on May 3 to learn more about where many of Wisconsin's Rural Electric Cooperatives get their power and what we can do to transition them to clean energy. Dairyland Power Cooperative is a generation and transmission cooperative that provides electricity for distribution co-ops across Wisconsin. From Scenic Rivers Electric Cooperative to Bayfield Electric Cooperative, Dairyland provides power to 18 Wisconsin co-ops. Dairyland is also pursuing plans to build out their fossil fuel infrastructure by constructing a large, new gas plant in Superior. Not only would this plant negatively impact climate and health, it would be expensive.

The Inflation Reduction Act provides new opportunities, specifically for rural co-ops to invest in clean energy at a discount, making it a no-brainer that Dairyland should switch their plans. Join us to learn more and take action! RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-RECs or call 608-315-2693.

TREMPEALEAU SOLAR OPEN HOUSE     Despite predicted bad weather, a full house enjoyed an informative program about the new solar panels at the Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library in Trempealeau on April 15.

Library Director Jessica Schoonover talked about the library’s journey to renewables, and how the many grants and donations received for this project have reduced the anticipated “payback period” to just four years.

Alicia Leinberger of Ethos Green Power Cooperative in Viroqua, the project installer, highlighted monitoring that helps Ethos and those with solar installations monitor their energy production. Representatives from MREA and the Couillard Foundation spoke about the Solar for Good program and other initiatives, like the Solar for Schools grants, that are speeding the transition to renewable energy.

Following the program, a Drive Electric Earth Day event in the parking lot allowed people to view and ask about a variety of EVs. 

LA CROSSE EARTH FAIR     Despite cold and rainy weather, CRSC tabled at the La Crosse Earth Fair on April 30 at Myrick Park, highlighting the club’s local work on clean water and renewable energy. CRSC also sponsored the Drive Electric Earth Day electric vehicle display.

MAY 2: ONLINE BOOK CLUB     Join fellow Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club members on Tuesday, May 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. online to discuss this month’s book club book, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture, by Wendell Berry. Learn more:   www.tinyurl.com/
WISCMay23Bk

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY    World Migratory Bird Day is an annual global awareness-raising campaign to celebrate the amazing journeys of migratory birds, and to inspire worldwide conservation of migratory bids and their habitats. World Migratory Bird Day is a time to reflect on the cyclical nature of bird migration as well as the fact that there are varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres.

The Coulee Region Audubon Society will host a WMBD event on Saturday, May 6 at Myrick Park from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m., including a 6:30 a.m. bird walk, a  family bird walk at 9:30, a bird presentation by River Valley Raptors at 10:30, and more.  Visit their web page for more information: www.couleeaudubon.org.

The Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge will host a WMBD event on Saturday, May 13 which will include guided bird hikes. bird banding, and other family-friendly activities. Learn more at www.tinyurl.com/TNWRWMBD23.

The Mississippi Valley Conservancy wiill host a guided bird hike on Saturday, May 13 at Sugar Creek Bluff near Ferryville from 7 to 9 a.m. www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/world-migratory-bird-day-hike

Other virtual events will be held during the first weeks of May including a history of WMBD on its 30th Anniversary, programs for students, a book club event, and “Dawn Chorus,” an invitation to submit recorded bird sounds. Learn more at www.migratorybirdday.org/virtual-events/

MORE MAY EVENTS    

5/ 9: Why No Mo May? a Sustainability Chat at 2 p.m. online. www.tinyurl.com/SusInst-NMM

5/13: Bumblebee Talk at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve at 10:30 a.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar 

 
5/13: Monarchs & Land Ethics talk, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, 1:30 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

5/17: Jackson County Wellness Extravaganza at Lunda Memorial Arena, Black River Falls  4-30 to 7:30 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/brfwellness0523

5/17: Citizen Scientist Monarch Monitoring, Kickapoo Valley Reserve, 6 to 7 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

5/20: Pace and Pedal Run, Walk, Bike, Black River Falls www.jacksoninaction.org/pace-and-pedal

5/25-27: Mississippi Valley Conservancy tree planting at Trempealeau Lakes. www.tinyurl.com/mvctreeplant52023

JUNE POTLUCK MEETING    Mark your calendars now for our annual June potluck gathering. We’re not yet sure about where, but we do know when: Tuesday, June 27. We may host a volunteer event along with the potluck. Watch for more details in our June newsletter. 

Energy Fair early bird tickets are available until May 15! TheEnergyFair.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April Newsletter

 

VOTE APRIL 4. Our environment depends on it. myvote.wi.gov

EARTH MONTH     Several Coulee Region communities will hold events to highlight environmental issues and actions in April. Our club will table at the La Crosse Earth Fair, on Sunday, April 30 from 11 to 5 p.m. at Myrick Park.

Please consider helping us table at the La Crosse Earth Fair. If you can help, email CRSierraClub@gmail.com OR call 608-315-2693.

On April 15, the Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library in Trempealeau will host a Solar Open House to highlight their new solar installation, funded by a RENEW Wisconsin Solar for Good grant. In addition to the solar program, the library will host a Drive Electric Earth Day event in their parking lot. Learn more about the Solar Open House at www.tinyurl.com/trempealeausolar

The Kickapoo Valley Reserve celebrates Earth Day annually with Roadside Cleanup.  New in 2023 is a week-long stewardship event - Garlic Mustard Gathering, focused on removing the invasive species, garlic mustard, from the landscape, and a Zero Waste Potluck Meal! Regular events of the April 22 event include children’s events, live music, and a twilight frog walk. Download a flyer at www.tinyurl.com/kvr23earthday

ATTENTION XCEL CUSTOMERS!     Xcel Energy has proposed constructing a 210-MW combustion turbine and 9 MW RICE (reciprocating internal combustion engine) units at the location of the existing Wheaton Generating Plant. The new units would be run primarily on methane (i.e., fossil gas), with backup fuel oil firing capacity.

Although Xcel has described this as a “repowering” project, it will entail the installation of wholly new equipment and a slight increase of nameplate capacity relative to existing facilities on the site: six 50 MW generators of which only five are operational (Total nameplate capacity at the site will increase from the current 247 MW to 255 MW). Xcel claims the new facility is required to (a) meet load requirements given a projected capacity shortfall beginning in 2026; and (b) meet Xcel’s responsibilities to maintain system reliability under extreme weather conditions.

This proposal (which anticipates a 40-year life span for the project) is not only inconsistent with an executive order signed by Governor Evers setting a 2050 goal for complete decarbonization of the Wisconsin electrical grid, it also flies in the face of Xcel's own pledge to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

The Wisconsin Sierra Club opposes all new fossil fuel infrastructure and will be exploring ways to fight this proposal - stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved!

ATTENTION DAIRYLAND POWER CO-OP MEMBERS!     The Sierra Club continues to oppose and work to stop the  Nemadji Trail Energy Center, a new fossil fuel facility planned for Superior.  Now, Dairyland Power Cooperative has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an Oregon-based nuclear power company.

The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal to Clean Energy team notes, “Despite avoiding carbon emissions, nuclear power isn’t sustainable — it still harms the environment and is too expensive. While we should safely maintain our current fleet, we shouldn’t construct any new nuclear plants.” This article, from the Environmental Working Group, discusses Why Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Help Counter the Climate Crisis (www.tinyurl.com/ewgsmallnukes)

The cheapest, cleanest, and simplest “energy” source is conservation, which not only reduces energy needs, but provides jobs, saves money, and increases individuals’ independence.

VERNON COUNTY ENERGY DISTRICT         Thank you to Al Buss for speaking to us about the Vernon County Energy District during an online program on Tuesday, March 28. The VCED is the first of its kind in Wisconsin, but they received advice and assistance from the Winneshiek Energy District. Their goal is to electrify everything and to generate all electricity locally.

Al talked about how they started and why, and what kinds of programming they offer. The group received grants from the PSC to do initial planning. In addition to home heating and cooling, they help people get a handle on and understand options for solar generation, fueling transportation, sealing and insulating, water heating, and more. Monitoring use has helped individuals save energy and the group plan future initiatives. VCED meets monthly in Viroqua. Learn more at www.VCED.energy.

This program was co-sponsored by CRSC and the Wisconsin Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Team. Visit https://youtu.be/lDXr2DbScIs to watch the video.

DRIVE ELECTRIC EARTH DAY     Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED) events, sponsored nationally by the Sierra Club, the Electric Vehicle Association, Plug-In America, and EVNoire, let neighbors learn from neighbors about electric vehicles. At DEED events, EV owners talk about their own experiences and answer questions about range, costs, charging, and more.

With transportation emissions higher than ever, a rapid transition to non-fossil fuels is critical. To be sure, we cannot simply replace all the fossil cars with electric ones. Private cars, whatever the fuel, are associated with many ills, including the cost and space needed for infrastructure, crashes and safety issues, waste, microplastic pollution, and more. But in our current built environment, where so many things are so far apart and public transit is not available, EVs can at least provide lower carbon options.

Coulee Region DEED events are scheduled for:
April 15 in Trempealeau at the Solar Open House
April 22 in Viroqua (9 a.m. to noon) at the food co-op
April 30 in La Crosse at the Earth Fair

Sign up to show and talk about your EV or to attend and learn about EVs at DriveElectricEarthDay.org. 

WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CONGRESS: APRIL 3-6 and 10-13     The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) is a board of elected delegates from each county that gives input to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and DNR on what priorities they should focus on. WCC and DNR will host an open house in each county the week of April 3 to connect with the public, answer questions about resource management, and discuss local issues of importance. The WCC will also hold elections for two of the five delegate seats in each county. All events will start at 6 p.m with elections at 7 p.m. Coulee Region open houses are shown below.

•  Crawford: 4/3, Prairie du Chien High School
•  Grant: 4/4, Grant Co Youth & Ag Building, Lancaster
•  Jackson: 4/6, Black River Falls Middle School
•  La Crosse: 4/4, Onalaska High School
•  Monroe: 4/4, Meadowview School in Sparta
•  Richland: 4/3, Richland County Courthouse, #312
•  Trempealeau: 4/6, Arcadia High School
•  Vernon: 4/4, Viroqua High School 

The following week, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and Department of Natural Resources will offer their annual opportunity for the public to provide input on a variety of natural resource related questions and proposed rule changes . The online questionnaire will be available soon at the WCC website (dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc) with online voting beginning on April 10 at noon and continuing through April 13 at noon. The State Chapter offers voting guidance and more information about how Sierra Club members can have the most impact participating in the WCC at www.tinyurl.com/wisc-23wcc

MORE APRIL EVENTS:

4/ 4, 11, 18, 25: Frog Walk at Kickapoo Valley Reserve at 7:30 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

4/ 6: Protecting Fresh Water with Native Plants 6:30 p.m. ONLINE www.tinyurl.com/WISC-Water-Plants

4/ 8: Focus on the Flyway near Stoddard, 10 a.m. www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/focus-flyway

4/11: Achieving Drawdown with Jonathan Foley, 7 p.m. at UW-La Crosse and online www.uwlax.edu/events/?e=27687

4/12: Sierra Club Volunteer Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/calendar

4/15-22: Garlic mustard gathering at Kickapoo Valley Reserve kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

4/15: Driftless Dialog - Tracking Invasive Plants in Vernon County at Kickapoo Valley Reserve 12:30 p.m. kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

4/21: Forest Friday at 8:15 a.m. at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

4/21-30: Green Goose Chase Kick-off https://www.sustaininstitute.com/greengoosechase

4/22: Tree-planting Day at Wildcat Mountain State Park from 9 a.m. to noon https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/67761

4/22: Earth Day Cleanup at Castle Mound Pine Forest near Black River Falls www.tinyurl.com/fobr042223

APRIL 29 HIGHWAY CLEANUP     Our first highway cleanup of 2023 will be on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. Meet at the pumping station near the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette. Gloves, bags, and vests provided.

APRIL 25: LOBBY DAY         Wisconsin Conservation Voters is hosting an in-person Lobby Day on April 25 in Madison. There will be four asks that emphasize support for clean water, clean energy, fair elections, and support for local communities. The day will include training, speakers, meetings with legislators, and a meal. Transportation is on your own. Learn more and register at conservationvoters.org/events/conservation-lobby-day

APRIL 26: FILM     The State Water Team will host an online screening of Kiss the Ground on Wednesday, April 26. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, the film sheds light on regenerative agriculture. Learn more and register at www.tinyurl.com/WISCKTGFilm 

HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD     The Coulee Region Sierra Club seeks to promote environmental stewardship through enduring, fair, and equitable action. Protection of air, water, land, wildlife habitats, and the climate is a primary goal. CRSC believes that all people of all ages can help protect the natural environment for present and future generations through active engagement.

CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $300 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment.

Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2024 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2023 with the award to be given in August.
For more information and an application form, visit www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/education

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. To learn more about donating, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693. 

APPLY FOR A SOLAR GRANT NOW!     RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative, through a generous partnership with the Couillard Solar Foundation, awards grant-funding or solar panels to mission-based nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin. Apply April 1 through May 1 at www.renewwisconsin.org/solarforgood.

ACHIEVING DRAWDOWN - A HOPEFUL SCIENCE-BASED PLAN TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE      Rescheduled from February this program features Jonathan Foley, Ph.D., a world-renowned environmental scientist, sustainability expert, author, and public speaker, and Executive Director of Project Drawdown. This will be in person and online. Learn more at www.uwlax.edu/events/?e=27687

NATIONAL BOARD ENDORSEMENTS     The Wisconsin Chapter recommends a vote for Rita Harris, David Holtz, and Shruti Bhatnagar in the upcoming election for the Sierra Club’s Board of Directors. Learn more about how to vote and read the candidate backgrounds here: www.sierraclub.org/board-directors-election-2023  E-votes and paper ballots must be received by 11 a.m. Central Time on April 26th. 

THE ENERGY FAIR     This year's Energy Fair will be held in Custer from Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25. Early bird tickets go on sale starting April 1. Learn more:
TheEnergyFair.org  

APRIL 15 - ANNUAL MIDWEST CRANE COUNT     www.tinyurl.com/23cranes

Rural Power! March 28

 

Join us online on Tuesday, March 28 to learn more about how communities can take power, helping and educating themselves and their neighbors to save money, be more environmentally responsible, increase resilience, and reduce carbon emissions. 

You must register at tinyurl.com/CRSC-032823 in order to receive the link to join.

DIY Home Energy Makeover - in person and online

 

March Newsletter

TUESDAY, March 28, 7 p.m.: Vernon County Energy District - A Community Approach to the Energy Transition with Alan Buss, President, VCED   Inspired by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts formed in the 1930s, an Energy District is a non-profit organization that serves a specific county. It fosters the development of locally tailored energy solutions that account for the demographic, geographic, and regulatory factors in that county. An Energy District empowers local energy users to make change, facilitates cooperation between diverse public and private stakeholders, and stimulates the local economy by promoting investment in energy projects and jobs. Through education and community outreach, an Energy District increases adoption of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy production, thereby reducing carbon emissions and other pollution. Finally, an Energy District improves community resiliency through distributed energy generation and storage. Learn about the Vernon County Energy District from its president, Alan Buss, and why this is an important movement at the dawn of a new energy reality. Please register for the link at www.tinyurl.com/CRSC-032823 or by calling 608-315-2693. The event is co-sponsored by Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter Moving Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Team.

LEOPOLD DAY ON MARCH 4     Aldo Leopold’s essays in “A Sand County Almanac” will be featured in a series of events in the La Crosse area for the state’s annual Leopold observance held each year on the first weekend in March. Leopold, a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast, is considered by many as the father of wildlife management and of the United States wilderness system. He died in 1948 fighting a neighbor's grass fire at “the shack,” his family getaway near Portage.

Since 2004 the state has honored Leopold and his conservation legacy, “to inform and inspire us to see the natural world as a community to which we belong.” The La Crosse event is planned each year by representatives of local environmental and conservation groups.

There is no charge and no registration is required for these events.

On Saturday, March 4 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Myrick Park Center in La Crosse. The Leopold observance will be the theme of WisCorps’ “Nature Saturday.” The family activities will include crafts, scavenger hunts, and live animals.

At 11 a.m., the Friends of the Marsh will hold a family-friendly hike around the marsh starting from the Myrick Park Center. The theme will be Aldo Leopold’s “Marshland Elegy,” from A Sand County Almanac. Hikers should dress for conditions.

From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitor Center on Brice Prairie will host events including a talk by retired  UW-L professor Steve Simpson, author of  “Essays to My Daughter on Our Relationship With the Natural World,” and a walk and talk led by Jay Fernholz, retired landscape architect. Refuge staff will be available to answer questions, and volunteers from the Friends of the Refuge Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8 will provide hot cocoa after the walk. Please dress for winter weather!   

Learn more at www.tinyurl.com/LaXLeopold23

OUTINGS LEADER TRAINING     If you love to hike and explore places around Wisconsin and want to share those experiences with others, consider becoming a Sierra Club Outings leader.

New leaders or leaders needing to renew their certification can complete online training modules at their own pace. To complete the training (be certified) they will need to attend an online discussion/review of the modules, one on March 16 and the other on March 23.

All outings leaders need to have at least basic First Aid/CPR training. The club will offer training at a central location in March.

If you sign up for Outings Leader training, you will also get the date for the First Aid/CPR training. Register at www.tinyurl.com/23WISCLdrTraining

For more information or questions, contact Liz Wessel, lizard59sc@yahoo.com. 

BOOK CLUB     The Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter’s book club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday evening of every other month and everyone is welcome to participate.

On March 7, the book will be As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environ-mental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock by  Dina Gilio-Whitaker. This nonfiction book details the history of Native Americans in the United States since European colonization, including criticisms of the modern conservation movement as exclusionary to indigenous concepts of land and environmental stewardship, and coverage of the 2010s Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock. Register at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-0323Book and learn more about the book club at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-23Books

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY     The Federal Communications Commission offers two programs  to help low-income individuals access afford internet and phone service.

Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on qualifying monthly telephone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating wireline or wireless providers. To qualify, a household’s Adjusted  Gross Income (AGI--line 11 on the 2021 1040 form ) must be at or below 135% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. For a one-person household, that is $18,347.  Learn more at www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers

The Affordable Connectivity Program offers a discount of up to $30 per month for eligible households (up to $75 for those on eligible Tribal lands). In addition, eligible households can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop, or tablet. To qualify for this program, a household must have an AGI at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. For one person, that is $27.180. Learn more about this program at www.fcc.gov/acp

MORE MARCH EVENTS

3/ 2: MVC volunteer for the wild at Tunnelville Cliffs State Natural Area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/MVCMarch23

3/ 8: Sierra Club Virtual Volunteer Night at 6:30 p.m.

www.tinyurl.com/WISC-030823Vol

3/ 9: Urban Prairie Gardens at 6 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library. www.tinyurl.com/LPL-PrGard

3/ 9: MVC volunteer for the wild at Sugar Creek Bluff from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/MVCMarch23

3/14: MVC volunteer for the wild at Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/MVCMarch23

3/18: Wisconsin Waters talk at Kickapoo Valley Reserve 10:30 a.m. www.kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

3/18: Black River Falls Book Club - Braiding Sweetgrass at the Meditation Station at 2 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/BRF-BookClub0

3/20: Sierra Club program - Rights of Nature and Indigenous Activism at 6:30 p.m. online. www.tinyurl.com/WISC-RoN

3/23: MVC volunteer for the wild at Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/MVCMarch23

3/28: MVC volunteer for the wild at Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/MVCMarch23

 

RURAL POWER     The passage of the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, changed rural America. The revolutionary legislation allowed the federal government to provide low-cost loans to cooperatives formed by farmers for rural electricity distribution. Cooperatives provide services and benefits to owner-members who democratically control operations.

Rural electric cooperatives (RECs) are still operating. In Wisconsin, there are 24 distribution co-ops and one generation and transmission co-op, Dairyland Power.

As climate concerns dictate a rapid transition to zero-carbon fuels and renewable energy offers new opportunities for rural landowners, RECs are on the front lines of the power debate.

A January 2022 article by Minnesota Public Radio notes that Connexus, Minnesota’s largest REC, is building solar-plus-battery storage facilities in response to owner-members’ interest in greener electricity and lower costs.

On the other hand, in Wisconsin, Dairyland Power is planning a new fossil gas facility which will be responsible for high carbon emissions and may leave owner-member co-ops with high “stranded asset” costs.

Around the country, REC owner-members are waking up to their potential power. The Institute for Local Self Reliance estimated, in 2016, that, “more than 70 percent of cooperatives have voter turnouts of less than 10 percent.”  Factors that keep member involvement low include members who don’t understand how cooperatives work, members who just don’t vote, and bad or bad-faith policies that co-op boards use to retain control while blocking members from making changes.

Co-op owner-members concerned about the environment have the power to make a difference. 

+ + +

COOPERATE by Dena Eackles (from her blog, Let Kindness Win)

The definition of cooperate is, “to work jointly toward the same end.” You remember the saying and probably have experienced, “Many hands make light work.” In the early 1900s, it was a necessity to help one another, especially rurally. And it was that joint effort of neighbors that built electric transmission lines and created distribution cooperatives like Vernon Electric and twenty-four more coops in our state.

The fact that cooperatives have remained solvent through the years is a testament to core principles: they are member owned and democratically run. That means members elect Delegates and the Board who in turn hire the CEO to run the day-to-day business of the cooperative. That business should be of concern to every member since it is our monies that feed the system and allow it to run.

What causes a cooperative to fail? Apathy of the membership is a major contributor to the detriment of a coop; conflicting goals is another. Misinformation or lack of transparency can cause conflict and can upend the cooperative spirit. Competition from outside might also influence a cooperative negatively.

Remember Vernon Electric Cooperative is a distribution co-op. Dairyland Power is the generator, supplying electric energy to co-ops through coal power plants and other means. And, while that has been a working relationship, there are environmental factors influencing our need for locally-generated renewable energy. Drive through the Driftless and you’ll see solar panels on homes. Most, like the ones I own, are grid-tied. That means when extra energy is produced it goes back into the pool of electricity that Vernon Electric transmits. Over time, local panels will reduce costs for all if allowed to continue.

Times are changing. This is not a time for apathy. Get in the know or stay in the dark. The next VEC annual meeting is Saturday, March 25, Bylaws, rate increases and other important issues will be raised. Your vote matters.

Program link and Project Drawdown

 If you were not able to attend our January 31 program on Transit Equity and Climate Action with Susan Gaeddert of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, the program was recorded and is now available to view at our Facebook page! It was an excellent program with thought-provoking information and discussion. Please watch and share the link!

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CANCELED DUE TO COMING STORM: On Wednesday, February 22, Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, will speak as part of the UWL Prairie Springs Lecture Series at 7 p.m. in UW-La Crosse's Hesprich Auditorium, Graff Main Hall, 1725 State St. Admission is free. The program will also be available via Zoom.

UWL Sustainability Program Manager Andrew Ericson, describes Foley as a "Sustainability Superstar." Ericson says his lecture, titled “Achieving Drawdown — A Hopeful, Science-based Plan to Address Climate Change,” will cover topics including climate change, sustainability, climate solutions, ecosystems, natural resources and more.

“Hopefully, when you leave the lecture, you will feel cautiously optimistic about the world’s ability to respond to climate change,” says Ericson.

Foley received his doctorate from the UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences. From 1993-2008 he worked at UW–Madison where he launched the Climate, People and Environment Program, founded the Center for Sustainability and Global Environment, and served as the first Gaylord Nelson Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies.

From 2008-14 Foley served as the founding director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, while also serving as the McKnight Presidential Chair of Global Environment and Sustainability. Then between 2014-18, he worked as executive director of the California Academy of Sciences. Since 2018 he has served as the executive director of Project Drawdown, “The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions.”

Foley’s presentation is part of the fourth annual Prairie Springs Lecture Series, funded by The Paul Fleckenstein Trust, which brings speakers to campus to discuss environmental issues. This year's lecture is also sponsored by the UWL College of Science and Health, UWL Green Fund, UWL Department of Geography & Earth Science, and Western Technical College Sustainability.

February newsletter

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21  Spring Primary Election
On the ballot: Supreme Court Justice primary, local school board and other local non-partisan primaries where necessary  MyVote.WI.Gov

EDUCATION GRANTS AWARDED    The Coulee Region Sierra Club will award two projects with environmental education grants for the spring 2023 semester.

Alysa Remsburg, Josh Shively, and Mariah Bigelow, representing Solar on La Crosse Schools and Coulee Montessori in La Crosse will use their grant to print two large lobby banners with information about the solar panels installed there in 2022. The banners will help remind students, staff, and visitors about the project and will provide more educational information. In addition, the grant will help pay for worksheet handouts for each teacher to help them teach about solar power.

Jennifer Speckeen, a teacher at Hamilton Elementary School in La Crosse, will use a grant to document, with pictures and writing, students’ experiences during a field trip to Hixon Forest. She will also print pictures of the field trip and post them in the school’s common area to remind students about the experience and spur conversations about the environment.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT     Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days, people  spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and report them to organizers. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. This year’s dates are Feb. 17-20. Learn more at: www.birdcount.org

SAVING WILD PLACES    The mission of the Sierra Club includes, “To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth.” The Wisconsin Chapter has several initiatives to protect sensitive areas and habitats. This is another critically important year for action. Here’s how you can help.

WOLVES:  The state’s new draft Wolf Management Plan centers science, public input, and Tribal engagement - the core tenets of the best way to protect, conserve, and sustain natural resources. Comments on the plan are accepted through the end of February, and the club has other opportunities to engage and educate about this important issue. Please visit the web page to learn more: https://tinyurl.com/WISC-WolfAction

LAKE SUPERIOR:  There are many reasons to oppose the Nemadji Trail Energy Center being planned by Minnesota Power and Dairyland Power Cooperative. One is the effect this new fossil gas plant would have on Lake Superior and the surrounding area. Construction would destroy surrounding wetlands and use millions of gallons of water. Learn more about the plant plans: https://tinyurl.com/WISCNoNTEC

LINE 5  Enbridge's proposal for a new Line 5 segment jeopardizes our water and wetlands, violates treaty rights, and contradicts the Task Force on Climate Change recommendation to avoid new fossil fuel infrastructure. Learn more about this issue and how you can make a difference: https://tinyurl.com/wisc-noline5  

Seeking one or two people to help with the newsletter. Report on environmental events and initiatives in your community, help proofread, or be the backup publisher. Call or text 608-315-2693 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com for details.

FINANCING YOUR TRANSITION     Those planning to start taking advantage of Inflation Reduction Act and other incentives to “go renewable,” may wonder how they will pay for it. Some banks and credit unions are marketing “green” or “energy smart” loans and other special financing for solar installations, weatherization, heat pumps, and EVs. Some areas offer “on-bill financing” through a utility - you finance your green update through the utility and pay it back over a long time on your utility bill, assuming that, in some cases, the energy savings will pay for the upgrades.

If you can’t find such a program at a local institution and don’t have the on-bill option, you may be interested in the Clean Energy Credit Union, a small, online only credit union solely focused on providing loans that help people afford clean energy products and services.

Greenpenny, is another online only institution whose mission is,“a form of crowdfunding for the advancement of clean and renewable energy, Greenpenny’s parent bank is Decorah Bank and Trust, head-quartered in Decorah, Iowa, and with its own history of prioritizing clean energy.

NerdWallet rated both institutions among the “9 Best Socially Responsible Banks” in April 2022. Both get good reviews, too, from sources as diverse as Business Insider and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

There are Coulee Region movements to push for more options. A new group in the Vernon Electric Co-op territory is working to strengthen member control. One  priority is on-bill financing for member renewable installations.  Some individuals are also pressing their financial institution to create special loan programs to support increasing efficiency and the transition to non-fossil heating, cooking, and transportation.

LA CROSSE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN     The City of La Crosse Common Council passed an ambitious climate action plan unanimously at its Jan. 12 meeting. This is the result of a years’ long process in which the Coulee Region Sierra Club played a major role.
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Under the guidance of Lewis Kuhlman, the city’s sustainability planner, and with the help of consulting firm, paleBLUEdot, llc., a team of 50 community residents from broadly varied backgrounds worked for about a year on the plan. Extensive public input and outreach sessions ensured a variety of voice and ideas were included.
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The plan will help the city fulfill its 2019 pledge to reduce carbon emissions to zero, community-wide, by 2050. To do this, the plan suggests dozens of action steps in nine broad categories: Transportation and Mobility; Land Use and Housing,; Buildings and Energy; Waste Management; Water and Wastewater; Local Food and Agriculture; Green Space, Trees, and Ecosystems; Health and Safety; and Economy.

Read more about the plan and process, and download a copy at lacrosseclimateactionplan.org

MORE FEBRUARY EVENTS

2/ 4: Black River State Forest Candlelight Ski/Hike from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. https://tinyurl.com/brf24hike

2/ 4: Full Moon Ice Hike at Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR) 5:30 p.m. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

2/ 7, 8, 14, 15: Volunteer for the Wild with Mississippi Valley Conservancy at Sugar Creek Bluff at 10 a.m. each day. www.tinyurl.com/MVC-SCBFeb

2/ 8: Wisconsin Sierra Club Virtual Volunteer NIght ONLINE at 6:30 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/WISC-VolNite0223

2/ 9: Wisconsin’s Conservation Congress from a member’s view ONLINE at 7 p.m.   www.tinyurl.com/WISC-ConsCon

2/11: MVC Valentine Snowshoe Hike, 1 to 3 p.m. at the La Crosse River Conservancy in Onalaska. www.tinyurl.com/mvc21123

2/11: Adult (21+) Ice Hike at KVR at 1 p.m. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

2/12: Family Ice Exploration at KVR from 12:30-3:30.  http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

2/17-19: Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge at Skyline Golf Course in Black River Falls. www.jacksonin action.org/winterwonderland

2/22: Plants in Space - Driftless Dialog at KVR Visitors Center at 5:30 p.m. http://kvr.state.wi.us/Events/Calendar

Seeking EV owners (car/bike) for two April EV events in the Coulee Region. If you’d like to help others learn about electric vehicles, please email cvmaren@mwt.net or call 608-315-2693.