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.
‘
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.
‘
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.

January 31 - Transit Equity & Climate Action

Join the Coulee Region Sierra Club in a conversation about

Transit Equity and Climate Action

with guest Susan Gaeddert
Community Programs Director, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin

Tuesday, January 31 at 7 p.m.
- Online (Zoom) -

Access to life should not depend on your age, location, health, wealth, or ability to drive. Ensuring that everyone has fair and equal access, through affordable, accessible, sustainable public transportation, is transit equity. At the same time, reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions will require a rapid switch from our current fossil fuel-powered private vehicle system to clean, renewably-powered public transportation.

With our guest, Susan Gaeddert, of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, we’ll look at the intersection of transit equity and climate action and why it’s important. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions and answers. This program is free and open to all.

Register by January 30 at

www.tinyurl.com/CRSC-013123
or call 608-315-2693

Susan Gaeddert earned a Masters of Science in Urban/Regional Planning in 2020 from UW-Madison where she specialized in transportation, land use, and recreational trail planning. She has experience working in the affordable housing sector, comprehensive plan development, and community engagement.

Before her urban planning career, Susan earned a Doctorate in Music Performance at UW-Madison and toured and performed as a soloist, accompanist, educator, and performance coach.

In February, Susan will lead Wisconsin’s first Community Transportation Academy at UW-La Crosse, a ten-week program designed to help community transportation advocates learn about all aspects of municipal transportation planning so they can more effectively advocates for better active transportation.

This program is part of La Crosse area Transit Equity Days events.

Learn more at www.tinyurl.com/LaXTED2023.

January newsletter

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 at 7 p.m.  Transit Equity and Climate Action with Susan Gaeddert, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. ONLINE and by phone. Register: tinyurl.com/CRSC-013123.

Transit Equity - the right of all people to affordably and sustainably get to school, work, events, appointments, services, and a full life regardless of their age, income, race, health, or ability - is key to reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. How and why transit equity and climate action are intimately related will be the topic of our January 31 online program.

Our guest will be Susan Gaeddert, Community Programs Director at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that specializes in land use planning and transportation policy. Susan works on active transportation issues with communities across the state and manages the Active Wisconsin program and will facilitate the Community Transportation Academy in La Crosse this spring.

This program is part of La Crosse area Transit Equity Days, one of dozens of events around the country hosted nationally by the Labor Network for Sustainability.  Register at: www.tinyurl.com/CRSC-013123 or by calling 608-315-2693. 

EDUCATION GRANT DEADLINE JANUARY 6     CRSC offers grants of up to $200 each for environ-mental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Mon-roe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2023. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or www.tinyurl.com/CRSC-Education

To learn more about these grants and how you can contribute, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

OUR 2023 BOARD!     Congratulations Dorothy Lenard, Carol Miller, and Avery Van Gaard who were elected to serve on the Coulee Region Sierra Club Board of Directors for 2023-2025! Also, thanks to the state chapter for helping facilitate online voting.

We are sorry to lose Nancy Hartje, our excellent treasurer, who was instrumental in creating our new high school environmental stewardship award. Thank you for your club service, Nancy!

The new board will meet in January to elect officers and set priorities for the coming year. If you have suggestions, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.  

TRANSIT EQUITY DAYS     The Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) has sponsored Transit Equity Day on February 4, Rosa Parks’ birthday, since 2018 to highlight the need to recognize affordable, accessible, sustainable public transportation as a civil right.

In the La Crosse area, Transit Equity Days will be celebrated from Monday, January 30 through Saturday, February 4 with free fares on the MTU, displays at the Grand River Station Transit Center and La Crosse Public Library, riders’ stories, Office Hours on the Bus with local elected and community leaders, and more. See www.tinyurl.com/LaXTED2023 for updates.

Many Coulee Region communities are served by the SMRT Regional Transit system and/or shared ride taxi services offered by Running, Inc., including Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Richland Center, Prairie du Chien, Platteville, Sparta, Tomah, Viroqua, and Westby. In addition, counties offer transit services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. While these are vital services for workers, students, employers, patients, and families, funding for public transportation is minimal, as outlined in the Wisconsin Sierra Club publication, Arrive Together: Transportation Access and Equity in Wisconsin. Read the report at www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/arrive-together-transportation-access-and-equity-wisconsin  If your community is without public transit, use this event to educate your local and state elected officials about why you need it.

If your community benefits from public transit, consider hosting a local event or joining the LNS live stream on YouTube. For help, resources, and more information, see www.labor4sustainability.org/transit-equity-2023

I-94 COMMENTS DUE JANUARY 31     The effort to push back on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) decision to more forward with costly, ineffective, and harmful expansion of a short section of I-94 in Milwaukee continues. Hundreds submitted testimony in person or online during two days of public hearings in Milwaukee. Many more phoned and emailed Governor Evers’ office or contacted him about the issue during his budget listening sessions.

WisDOT will accept comments through January 31, so if you haven’t yet weighed in, please do. The main goal of our effort is to urge WisDOT to adopt the “Fix At Six” solution a coalition of community leaders and transportation advocates presented in 2020 in response to WisDOT’s published options. The Fix At Six solution would promote repairing and upgrading existing pavement within its current footprint and enhancing other transportation options, including public transit, which would benefit the communities and neighborhoods bearing the brunt of I-94 harms like air pollution, noise, and safety issues.

Read more about the issue and how you can comment at www.fixatsix.org.

2023 SIERRA CLUB TEAMS KICKOFF     Sierra Club Teams are the backbone of our club’s activism. Volunteers from around the state meet regularly online to share information and ideas and work together on campaigns to address their teams’ issues.

As part of a Sierra Club team, you can amplify your voice and effect on your most important priorities. Most teams meet monthly for about an hour, but their impact can help protect a waterway or challenge a destructive policy.

Join us at the 2023 Teams Kickoff on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. online where we’ll greet new team members, agree how teams will operate, get an overview of issues, and set up the year’s meetings and priorities.

Teams include: Beyond Coal (clean energy), Transportation, Tar Sands, Lands and Forests, Wildlife, and Water. Anyone, of any ability, experience, or expertise, is welcome to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity to network and build skills.

Register for the January 11 meeting at www.tinyurl.com/WISC-23Teams or contact Cassie Steiner at cassandra.steiner@sierraclub.org or by calling 608-256-0565.

PLASTIC!     A new bill, the Protecting Communities from Plastics Act, has been introduced in Congress by Senator Cory Booker (NJ), Senator Jeff Merkley (OR), and Representative Jared Huffman (CA). The legislation addresses the plastic production crisis that is fueling climate change and perpetuating environmental injustice.

With plastic production and consumption on track to double in the next decade, the resulting greenhouse gas emissions threaten to put our climate goals further out of reach, while expanded plastic production will drive more pollution in environmental justice communities around the United States. Petrochemical, plastic production, and waste incineration facilities, which are disproportionately located in or near Black, Brown, and low-wealth communities, release harmful air and water pollution that cause increased incidences of asthma, cancers, endocrine disruption, development disorders, and heart disease. Transitioning off of fossil fuels only to replace that demand with more fossil-based plastic production is not a sustainable solution, and will continue to perpetuate existing climate and environmental justice impacts.

The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act would directly tackle the plastic pollution crisis by cracking down on the plastic production process, building on key provisions from the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act to address the harmful environmental justice impacts of this growing sector, and moving our economy away from an overreliance on single-use plastic. It establishes stricter rules for petrochemical plants to safeguard the health of American communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions fueling the climate crisis. The bill would also begin to shift the U.S. economy away from its dependence on certain single-use plastics, creating new nationwide targets for plastic source reduction and reuse in the packaging and food service sectors. These targets are paired with federal incentives to spur expansion of reusable and refillable systems, with an emphasis on ensuring benefits are realized in environmental justice communities.

Learn more at www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-huffman-merkley-lowenthal-introduce-legislation-to-address-plastic-production-crisis

KUDOS!     Congratulations to CRSC member Diane Cain who received the state chapter’s  Wildflower Award given to a club member who exemplifies, “all that is wonderful in the environment and in the club.” Diane and her husband own Cain’s Orchard in Hixton.

MORE JANUARY EVENTS
1/ 3: Wisconsin Sierra Club Book Club - Diet for a Small Planet 50th Anniversary at 7 p.m. online. www.tinyurl.com/WISC-DietBook

1/ 5: Volunteer at Tunnelville Cliffs State Natural Area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.   www.mississippivalley conservancy.org/events/volunteer-wild-5

1/ 7: Wisconsin Chapter River Touring Section Annual Meeting 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Baraboo. www.tinyurl.com/WIRTS-JanMtg

1/ 7: Kickapoo Valley Reserve Winter Festival at 10 a.m. http://kickapoovalley.wi.gov/Events/Annual-Events/Winter-Festival

1/10: Imbalance of Power - How Shifts in State Government Undermine Wisconsin's Conservation Legacy from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. online https://www.lwvlacrosse.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=484247&item_id=1842515

1/13-15: Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge at Wazee Lake Recreation Area. www.jacksonin action.org/winterwonderland

1/16: MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

1/16: Midwest Environmental Advocates - Recent Victories and the Road Ahead at 6:30 p.m. online. www.tinyurl.com/MEAJan16

1/18: Coulee Audubon Member Meeting 7 p.m. www.couleeaudubon.org/html/events.html
 
1/27-29: Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge at Lunda Community Park. www.jacksoninaction.org/winterwonderland

2/ 1: Sustainability Chat: Public Transportation in the Coulee Region at 2 p.m. www.sustaininstitute.com/event-details/sustainability-chats-local-public-transportation

Find the schedule of Wisconsin Sierra Club water outings at www.tinyurl.com/WISCWater

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call the Governor! Stop the I-94 expansion

TELL GOVERNOR EVERS TO STOP THE I-94 EXPANSION IN MILWAUKEE!

For more than a decade, environmental, social justice, and transportation equity groups have been fighting an expansion to I-94 in Milwaukee first proposed during the Walker administration. After years of citizen action, including a law suit, Scott Walker pulled the plug. 

Inexplicably, Governor Evers resurrected the project in 2020 and the fight is on again. Read the history of the I-94 expansion here.https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2020/07/stop-zombiehighway

Pushing back on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) plans to expand the highway, a coalition of groups produced a "Fix at Six" alternative, prioritizing fixing the existing roadway, retaining the six lanes, and offering other ways to improve transportation in the area, including support for public transit.

Late last month, WisDOT announced that it still plans to expand the higway to eight lanes and increase the footprint of the project. This is not an acceptable answer. 

Expanding highways does NOT alleviate congestion. In fact, in many cases, congestion increases as more people try to drive on the roadway. 

The I-94 has already caused harm to communities of color by cutting through neighborhoods and business areas, increasing noise and air pollution, and making local transportation more difficult.

With a price tag of more than $1 billion, this project is too expensive, will not solve identified problems, and will make things worse for the people who live in the community. 

This is a concern for everyone in our state. A climate governor would not be proposing even more highway expansions. That money could be better spent on improving public transportation, especially regional and rural transportation, that will seriously address the climate crisis. 

Be aware that WisDOT is not being clear about its latest plan, which incorporates a few of the Fix at Six ideas but is NOT Fix at Six.

CALL GOVERNOR EVERS TODAY AND TELL HIM NO!

The Wisconsin Sierra Club, as part of the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation, has created a call script. We are asking everyone - especially climate and transit activists - to call the Governor's office on Wednesday and strongly urge him to stop the expansion of the highway and back the Fix at Six proposal that was produced by the people of the state.

When you are finished calling, please report your call the Sierra Club using the link below.

===

Call Governor Evers' office about the I-94 expansion project in Milwaukee that his administration is pushing forward.

Phone number to call: (608) 266-1212

Sample script to use:

Hello, this is [NAME]. I am a Wisconsin resident in [CITY]. I'm calling because I was disappointed to see the Governor's Department of Transportation continue with the I-94 expansion in Milwaukee. 

I'm concerned about this project because [PICK ONE OR MORE POINTS BELOW]:

• Transportation is a leading cause of carbon emissions, and studies like Transportation 4 America's Congestion Con report demonstrate that adding lanes increases car use and traffic congestion. Continuing to invest in high-emitting infrastructure is not something that a climate champion would do. 
  
  
• Highway expansion projects have harmed Communities of Color and Low Income Communities. Federal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has called for tax dollars to be used to right the wrongs of racist infrastructure policy decisions. He said "we've also seen countless cases around the country where a piece of infrastructure cuts off a neighborhood or a community because of how it was built." I expect Governor Evers to align with the Biden administration in making racially just decisions on infrastructure in our state.
  
  
• [SHARE YOUR OWN CONCERN OR PERSONAL STORY]

I hope that Governor Evers will right this error by pushing for WISDOT to study a new alternative that actually addresses the concerns of the community and that repairs the highway in its current footprint, with 6 lanes and an interchange that is not overbuilt, and minimizes air and water pollution and negative impacts to community resources like Valley Park. Additionally, I hope that Governor Evers will prioritize transit, walking and biking funding moving forward.

After you've made your call, please fill out the form! And consider writing comments to submit to WisDOT by January 1.

 

Here's more information from the 2020 Wisconsin Sierra Club blog about the project:

The I-94 expansion project was and still is a bad idea for so many reasons:

1. It would worsen the climate crisis. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Expanding highway infrastructure that caters to single passenger traffic will increase carbon emissions. This project is in direct conflict with the expressed goals of the Governor’s Climate Task Force.  Here’s the bottom line: climate-friendly governors do not expand highways.
   

2. It would negatively impact public health. Because highway expansion almost always increases the number of cars on the road, air pollution increases with these projects. Traffic pollution causes asthma, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Entertaining the idea of expanding a highway during a pandemic is inexcusable.
   

3. It would exacerbate racial injustice. Wisconsin’s decades-long focus on highway transportation investments has worsened the region’s racial and economic segregation. Not only are highways a physical barrier, but they also increase air pollution in the surrounding communities - which are Communities of Color.  In 2014, the federal government found that the Zoo Interchange caused “irreparable harm,” to minority communities. This project on the same corridor is no different. Members of low-income and minority communities often lack reliable transportation options. Yet, this project is being reconsidered even at a time of heightened awareness about structural racism in Wisconsin.

4. It would be costly. Spending money (an estimated $1 billion) on this project at the expense of fixing our local roads and repairing our existing road and transit infrastructure is a big price to pay for a mere 3.5 miles of interstate. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s public transportation system and local road system are languishing due to lack of investment.
   
   

5. It would not fix congestion as proponents of the project suggest; in fact - highway expansions often make congestion worse shortly after construction is complete! This is because of induced demand -- essentially “if you build it, they will come.” Why should a damaging project move forward to make the very thing proponents of the project want to solve even worse?

December newsletter

 

DECEMBER 1 AT 6:30 p.m. CHAPTER AWARDS CELEBRATION     Join us on Thursday, December 1st for the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter Award Celebration! So much of the Sierra Club’s work is done by dedicated volunteers, recognizing our award recipients is one of the best parts of our year. This virtual ceremony will celebrate these environmental leaders from across the state. Two CRSC members are being honored! Board president Kathy Allen will receive the Merit Award and veteran board member Pat Wilson will receive the JJ and Pat Werner Award! Register at: www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/blog/2022/11/2022-chapter-awards-winners. 

NO WINTER GATHERING         COVID and other serious illnesses are still causing problems in our community, so we will not have our annual winter gathering this year. We will try to schedule an in-person event as soon as conditions permit. In the meantime, please  enjoy every minute we have on this beautiful planet.

EDUCATION GRANT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 6     CRSC offers grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2023. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Education.

Funding for our environmental grants 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 to help support environmental education, please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

SALT!     The Wisconsin DNR’s Salt Wise initiative (www.wisaltwise.com) notes that we rely on salt to keep our roads safe in the winter and to soften water in our homes year-round but using more salt than is needed comes with a heavy price. In Wisconsin and much of the United States, chloride from salt is infiltrating into our lakes, streams and groundwater.

Often missed in the discussion is home water softening. According to the Salt Wise site, “Most wastewater treatment plants are not able to remove salt from wastewater, so every bag of salt that goes into your water softener passes through the treatment plant and into a local lake or stream. If you are on a private septic system, softener salt is infiltrating into groundwater. Increasing your softener’s efficiency protects our freshwater resources.”

Salt Awareness week is in late January, but we can always look for alternatives and best practices. For example, there are water softening systems that use no salt. And there are salt-free options for taming icy driveways and sidewalks. In the City of La Crosse, residents who participate in a “Salting Smart” survey can get a free salt cup to use with a city-provided sand/salt mix.

NO NTEC!     On Wednesday, November 16, several members of the Wisconsin Sierra Club gathered at headquarters of Dairyland Power Cooperative in La Crosse to highlight the problems with Dairyland’s plans to build a new power plant fueled by fracked gas, the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC).

Jadine Sonoda, campaign coordinator for the Wisconsin Chapter, noted that the plant would be uneconomical and not do enough to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Rather, the Sierra Club and others are urging Dairyland to invest in clean energy production from wind and solar as well as programs that will reduce energy need and investments in storage.

In addition to Jadine, CRSC board president Kathy Allen also spoke at the press event, and read comments from a CRSC member who is also a Dairyland Power customer.

Kathy also wrote a letter to the La Crosse Tribune editor, published on November 16, which included conclusions by Rocky Mountain Institute that 90 percent of proposed U.S,.gas plants, including NTEC, will ultimately cost more than if investments were made in renewables and efficiency.

In many cases, the cost of renewables is now lower than that of fossil fuels, with the gap expected to widen in coming years. Climate economists warn that fossil fuel investors and customers face growing financial risks from potential “stranded assets.” Economics and the climate crisis support an immediate shift to renewables.

According to Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the U.N. Environmental Programme. “This [UNEP Emissions  Gap Report 2022] report tells us in cold scientific terms  what nature has been telling us, all year, through deadly floods, storms and raging fires. We had our chance to
make incremental changes, but that time is over.”

STOP I-94 EXPANSION!     Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the state has selected an eight-lane expansion as the preferred alternative for their I-94 East-West project. This project will exacerbate climate change, racial disparities, and water pollution, and more.

For months, transportation, social justice, and environ-mental groups have strongly urged the DOT to choose a “Fix At Six” solution (http://fixatsix.org), which would be more equitable, less costly, and more climate conscious. Expanding highways to fix congestion only induces more traffic. To slow global heating, we must prioritize systems that require less fossil fuels. The cost of this project is projected to be more than $1 billion.

* Submit comments by January 17 (tinyurl.com/WISC-FixAt6)
* Attend the December 6 Volunteer Night (tinyurl.com/WISC-Vol1206)
* Participate in the December 7 Fix at Six call day (details will be posted at this blog when available.
* Sign the petition to support the Fix at Six solution (fixatsix.org/supporter)
* Join the Wisconsin Sierra Club Transportation Equity team (email cassie.steiner@sierraclub.org)

TREMPEALEAU SOLAR TOUR     Every year in October, the American Solar Energy Society sponsors community Solar Tours around the country to help people connect with those who have installed solar systems and learn how they can join the solar movement.

The Trempealeau Villagers’ Solar Tour was part of this national effort. Organized
by Lois Taylor, RN, MA, a wellness professional and long-time solar advocate,
the tour featured five homes and the Trempealeau Hotel. See
wellnessbranch.com/spotlight/solar_tour

Homeowners told about their own journeys to the sun. Attendees learned that even if you don’t have the perfect solar site, you can still benefit from installing solar panels. One homeowner noted that his system reduced his whole utility bill when solar production was high because Trempealeau Municipal Utility includes electricity along with water and sewer.  Lois’s installation included a pole-mounted system and panels on her garage. She talked about her system and also provided handouts about the coming incentives in the IRA and other programs and incentives.

The Inflation Reduction Act will expand tax credits for those who install solar through 2032. Unfortunately, you must have a tax liability in order to take advantage of the credit and, if the credit is more than your tax liability, you will not receive a refund for the difference. But, you may carry the unused credit to following years.

If you are considering solar, now is the time to get your  assessment and get on the list for an installation. Electricity costs will not be going down and every bit of solar that replaces coal or gas helps with the struggle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And, more solar installations will mean more places for others to tour next October!

MORE DECEMBER EVENTS    
12/ 6: Virtual Volunteer Night to stop I-94 expansion 6:30 p.m. online tinyurl.com/WISC-Vol94

12/ 6: Peter Allen - Creating Healthy Ecosystems 7:00 p.m. The Historic Fortney, 100 N. Main St., Viroqua  valleystewardshipnetwork.org

12/ 7: Call-In Day for FixAtSix (see details at cr-sierra.blogspot.com by December 5)
 
12/ 7: Saving money with planning and electrification 6:30 p.m. ONLINE or in person at the Vernon County Historical Society www.vced.energy

12/14: Author Joseph Bruchac reads from his book "A Year of Moons." 6:30 p.m. Pearl Street Books. tinyurl.com/PSB-Bruchac

12/15: Virtual Volunteer Night to protect Wisconsin wolves 6:30  p.m. tinyurl.com/WISC-VolWolves

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE     The Wisconsin DNR is developing a regional master plan for properties it manages in the “Western Coulees and Ridges Ecological Landscape,” which includes all or portions of all eight counties of the Coulee Region Group area. Public input is needed as part of the scoping phase.

Please use this opportunity to share your thoughts. What would you like to see for the management of habitats, species and other natural resources on over 167,800 acres of DNR property in the region, including parks, natural areas, wildlife areas, fishery areas, and other properties. See the list of properties at widnr.widen.net/s/ghnsct6b9s/fl_mp_wcr_full-property-list

The public input is open through December 23 for the Scoping Phase of the project. Learn more and  provide your input at tinyurl.com/DNRInputForm

REGIONAL CONSERVATION PLANNING     The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is organizing a group of conservation partners in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area to make a plan. Together, they’re determining the top priorities for protecting the region’s unique features and biodiversity.

They state that the unique landscape of the Driftless Area is one of the most biodiverse places in Wisconsin, featuring rare and unique natural communities that provide habitat for numerous wildlife species. With a grant from the Eddie Schwartz Conservation Fund of the Windward Fund, the Natural Resources Foundation is creating a collaborative conservation plan to preserver the Driftless Area’s biodiversity within its rarest habitats: barrens, oak savannas, prairies, and grasslands.

Other partners in the planning effort are Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Landmark Conservancy, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Conservation measures identified to date include prescribed burns, invasive species control, conservation easements, financial incentives to landowners for conservation, and continued land management and restoration efforts. We hope coordinated efforts will increase conservation success in the Driftless Area.

For more information, see www.wisconservation.org/driftless-area-conservation-planning

GRANT WILL HELP PRESERVE PRAIRIE     Hixon Forest’s Lookout Prairie will receive a boost thanks to a $2,000 grant from the C.D. Besadny Conservation Fund of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, with $2,000 of matching funding from the City of La Crosse. The funding supports the efforts of Friends of the Blufflands to preserve and protect this remnant bluff prairie.

According to Friends of the Blufflands Board President Pat Wilson, “With this grant and the City’s matching funds, Friends has been able to hire a professional contractor to continue the restoration of this prairie ecosystem with its globally unique flora and fauna.” The contractor will eliminate invasive trees and plants.

Lookout Prairie is one of several remnant hill prairies in Hixon Forest and the surrounding bluffs. Removing trees and brush and then maintaining the open prairie with prescribed burns helps preserve this important habitat for the many native species of plants and animals.

The majority of the threatened species and species of special concern in Hixon Forest reside in the prairie habitat. The prairies are estimated to support over 1,000 insect species.

Friends of the Blufflands works in cooperation with the City of La Crosse, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts and other area conservation groups to restore and maintain natural resources for the benefit of all area residents and nature lovers. Friends of the Blufflands is a member of the regional Bluffland Coalition.  

COULEE REGION SIERRA CLUB BOARD ELECTION AND BALLOT

Thank you for participating in the democratic process of electing your local Sierra Club representatives!  Just enter your member number and then vote for up to four candidates, to begin two-year terms in January 2023 The candidate bios are below. Please complete one ballot per member (both members in a Joint membership may cast ballots). You will receive a link to the online ballot and your member number in an email OR via postcard. Your member number is required so your membership can be verified by the Election Committee. Please vote either with the online ballot OR by printing, completing, and mailing the ballot show below.

** All ballots must be received by midnight December 30, 2022. **
If you choose to use the ballot shown below, please mail it by December 20 to
1815 Cameron Ave. La Crosse, WI  54601

Dorothy Lenard - Dorothy recently retired from her role as an Administrator for the School of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Math at Viterbo University. She has a degree from Michigan Technological University in Forest Hydrology and a Master’s in Servant Leadership from Viterbo. She and her husband Rich grew up in a small bay town on Lake Michigan surrounded mostly by State land. Yes, she loves and misses the lake effect snowfalls and outdoor saunas in the winter. Having lived in all regions of the United States, they eventually chose the Driftless area to settle down in and raise their three children. She has been active in numerous community activities and boards. Her passion is studying the environment, especially water protection. While on the La Crosse City Council, she worked with others to pass in 2009 the City of La Crosse and County of La Crosse Strategic Plan for Sustainability. In the summer, her family has a huge community garden in their yard where their specialties are garlic and perennials. Preparing and sharing sustainable food with family and friends is her favorite hobby.

Carol Miller - Carol is a professor of sociology at UW-La Crosse.  She teaches Sociology of Gender, Rural and Urban Sociology, Policy & Society and other courses on global issues while conducting research on globalization, poverty, food insecurity and agritourism in Wisconsin. Carol has assisted local organizations like CouleeCap and Habitat for Humanity with data analysis projects and has been a member of the Holmen Area Historical Society for 24+ years, often serving on their Executive Committee. She also volunteers with the cats at Coulee Region Humane Society and has been a member of Sierra Club for seven years.

Avery Van Gaard - Avery was born and raised in La Crosse, as well as rural Vernon County. She is a crew lead at Coulee Region Ecoscapes, a local landscaping business that centers planting native plants, installing rain gardens, and other ecologically beneficial practices. She has served on the board of the Coulee Region Sierra Club group for several years and was previously a representative of the group to the Executive Committee. When she is not working, Avery has assisted in the group's campaigns and events - from the 2017 Water Quality Forum to the current "Ready for 100" campaign. 

Members may vote by printing the ballot in the emailed newsletter OR the newsletter available at SierraClub.org/Wisconsin/Coulee/Newsletters OR by writing the names of up to three people (these three candidates and/or one or more write-ins) on a card along with your member number and mailing it to to the address shown above.

Film in Gays Mills