Dec. E-news: Oppose Damaging Legislation; Attend a House Party; Cut Greenhouse Gases; & More

Invironment

In This Issue

We need your help to continue our work on Green Energy, Sustainable Agriculture and 21st Century Transportation legislation. Donate Now!

Give to HEC: Your Support Will Be Doubled

Looking back on 2014, HEC can celebrate several significant successes. HEC can only accomplish all its important work through the generous support of people and businesses across Indiana - supporters just like you!

And, during the entire month of December, every dollar donated to HEC will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a local family foundation with a long-standing commitment to protecting Indiana's environment. Give to HEC by December 31 and your donation will be doubled, helping HEC accomplish twice the efforts towards cleaner air, land and water across the state.

Together, HEC and its supporters will work for a greener Indiana in the new year. Thank you so very much for your continued support!

Write to Your Legislators to Oppose Efforts to Weaken Environmental Protection

The prospects for reintroduction of bills to handcuff Indiana's environmental agency professionals - while seeming less certain based on the latest information from key legislators and the Governor's office - remain a serious concern.

The "Regulatory Moratorium" would, with few exceptions, tie the hands of Indiana's regulators from enacting any new or modified safeguards to protect our environment. "No More Stringent Than" legislation would bar Indiana's regulators from acting on their own to enact environmental safeguards stronger than the federal government. Taken together, these two policies if adopted would prevent our state from acting to prevent environmental disasters like those that occurred in Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina earlier this year.

Even with the bills' fate in question, HEC and our supporters must continue to discourage their introduction to ensure that these harmful policies don't become law.

Learn more about these bills on our Billwatch 2015 page, and send a message to your legislators today by visiting our action center.

Join a "Greening Your Community" Event in Your Area

Barbara Sha Cox speaking at a recent GYC event.

Are you interested in getting more involved in advocating for good environmental policy? Then attend one of our Greening Your Community house parties!

Greening Your Community is a state-wide initiative focused on developing a network of advocates for environmental causes, that will run through the 2015 legislative session.

A GYC house party will involve networking and viewing of three short videos covering big issues coming up in the 2015 legislative session. These events will also include discussion on getting motivated and prepared for the upcoming session. Of greatest concern is a renewed effort to tie the hands of regulators. If this were to happen, Indiana's scientifically-trained officials, charged with protecting our environment, could be blockaded in doing anything to systematically address major environmental threats.

If there is not an event in your area, please contact Amanda Shepherd and we will try to make arrangements for a party closer to you!

Working to Advance Clean Energy Solutions, Despite the Obstacles

Earlier this month, the EPA closed the

comment period for its historic

proposed policy pertaining to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the largest source of carbon emissions. HEC joined comments by our partner ELPC in support of this rule. We also collaborated with Sierra Club and CAC in weighing in with IDEM about the realistic nature of this plan for Indiana, given Indiana's substantial, untapped resources in renewables and efficiency.

While the Governor and other politicians in Indiana have regrettably tried, for several years, to undermine constructive steps to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, HEC will continue to champion new clean energy solutions for Indiana.

Stay tuned for a new policy paper that HEC will soon release on an innovative, underutilized clean energy strategy for Indiana.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you signed up for our e-newsletter or expressed an interest in the Hoosier Environmental Council through a meeting or event. We hope that you'll appreciate staying in touch with us through monthly e-newsletters, and occasional calls to action. In return, we promise to keep you informed about the environmental happenings in Indiana. Rest assured, we're protective of your personal information and your time. Be sure to add comments@hecweb.org to your address book so we'll land in your inbox!