In The News
The Truth Behind Coal
Coal-fired power plants are one of our nation's largest—and dirtiest—sources of energy.
With new laws to fight global warming expected on the horizon, the coal industry is in a rush to build as many new plants as possible before pollution safeguards are in place. This is an industry motivated by the bottom line. Find out more in questions and answers and in the articles below.
Now is the time to move from our reliance on dirty fossil fuels and unsafe nuclear power, to a safer, cleaner energy future. Each of us can take steps that will reduce global warming pollution. The Sierra Club's network of activists and volunteers are working to bring about a cleaner, smarter energy future. Join us and be part of the solution!
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Top Stories from the Indiana Chapter
Sierra Club Explains Endorsement
In a recent press release, the Sierra Club explains why the Club has endorsed Barack Obama for President.
Senate Approves Off-Shore Drilling
The nearly 30-year-old ban on drilling off of America's coastlines will expire because Congress has not renewed it. While the world focused on economic woes, two startling stories emerged in the headlines: global warming emissions increased 3 percent this year (shattering scientific predictions of the worst-case scenario), and a new economic analysis reported that by investing in green energy instead of investing in Wall Street we would DOUBLE the number of jobs created.
HELP SAVE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been a safety net for animals and plants on the brink of extinction, including gray whales, grizzly bears, and bald eagles. Yet the Bush administration wants to gut these protections.
Environmentalists Remain Concerned about Alaska's Wildlife and Environmental Policies
Working to stop polar bears from being classified as threatened species, trying to block beluga whale protections under the Endangered Species Act, defending aerial hunting of wolves and bears, authorizing its own Fish and Game Department to shoot 14 one-month old wolf pups taken from dens in a remote peninsula 800 miles from Anchorage, encouraging drilling in wildlife refuges, opposing protection of salmon streams ... These are some of the reasons environmentalists fear Alaskan leaders have declared war on their magnificent wildlife and wilderness.
Assault on Endangered Species Act Continues
America's landmark law protecting endangered species is under attack. The Bush Administration revealed August 11, that it would soon publish a proposal that would eliminate independent scientific reviews and undermine species protections in favor of fast-tracking federal development projects. (These new regulations would not require approval by Congress.) Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said the changes were needed to ensure that the Endangered Species Act would not be used as a "back door" to regulate the gasses blamed for global warming.
Reprieve for Wolves
In a temporary victory for the gray wolves of the northern Rockies, a federal judge ruled to stop the wolf slaughter while the case challenging the removal of endangered species protections is heard. The suit was filed by Earthjustice, on behalf of a coalition of environmental and animal rights groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and H.S.U.S.
IDNR Moving to Stop Cruelty to Coyotes
By a unanimous vote, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission approved rules changes aimed at taking the state out of its role as a major supplier of animals for the interstate market in live coyotes. Although more could be done, this is a first step towards preventing coyotes from being sold and savagely killed by hunting dogs in a fenced enclosure.
Environmental Appeals Continue as EPA Makes No Objections to IDEM/BP Permit
When the BP Whiting (IN) Refinery submitted the project's air permit application to IDEM in October, the agency split the refinery's request into two permits: a significant source modification that would allow the project's construction, and a significant permit modification -- the operating air permit. IDEM issued BP its source modification permit on May 1, and construction began shortly afterwards when the EPA raised no objections. Environmental appeals will take at least a year.
U.S. Senate Blocks Global Warming Bill
In a 48 to 36 vote, Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster and bring the bill up for a vote to require major reductions in greenhouse gases. Democrats produced letters from six senators (including both presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain) saying they would have voted for the measure had they been there. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar voted with the GOP.
Environmentalists Want Everything Accounted for in Huge BP Expansion
In building the largest capital improvement project in the history of Indiana, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management must require BP to account for all emissions and leave no loopholes. The health of the public and the environment is at stake.
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