Sierra's Energy Resources Policy

I. Context

II. Global Climate Change and Energy Resource Depletion 

III. Findings

IV. Transition to a Clean Energy Future

V. The Essential Role of Energy Conservation 

VI. Consideration for Special Designations

VII. Resources for the Transition to a Clean Energy Future 

      A. Energy Efficiency 

          1. Clean, Efficient Vehicles 

          2. More Efficient Transportation Modes

          3. Clean Energy Funding 

          4. Building Efficient Communities 

          5. Building and Appliance Efficiency Standards

          6. Distributed Clean Energy

      B. Resources Preferred by the Sierra Club

          1. Onshore and Offshore Wind

          2. On-Site Solar

          3. Central Station Solar

          4. Combined Heat and Power 

          5. Low-Temperature Geothermal

      C. Resources Generally Acceptable to the Sierra Club

          1. New Small Hydroelectric Plants

          2. Ocean Energy Resources 

          3. High Temperature Geothermal 

          4. Biodiesel 

          5. Cellulosic Ethanol

      D. Resources Considered Transitional by the Sierra Club 

          1. Existing Oil Fields; Advanced Oil Recovery

          2. Existing Natural Gas Fields 

          3. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

          4. Ethanol from Starch and Sugar 

      E. Resources Opposed by the Sierra Club 

          1. Combustion Coal Power Plants 

          2. Coal-to-Liquids, Oil Shale, Bitumen and Tar Sands 

          3. New Oil Production

          4. New Onshore Natural Gas

          5. New Offshore Natural Gas

          6. Nuclear Power Plants

          7. New Large Hydroelectric Plants

          8. Forest Biomass

          9. Incineration of Municipal Solid Waste

VIII. Direction to Sierra Club Entities on Implementation of this Policy