Legislative Update #1

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January 28, 2012
By Ken Winston, Chapter Policy Advocate

The Legislature is back in session again. I have already appeared at committee hearings on four bills and participated in meetings regarding legislation based on our policies on these issues. On January 18th I appeared before the Natural Resources Committee in support of Ken Haar’s LB 713, which would prohibit homeowner’s associations and similar  organizations from preventing homeowners from installing solar panels. This issue came to attention from a situation involving an Omaha resident who put solar panels on his home and got sued by the homeowner’s association, but there are many situations where it could apply. Although the bill is a common-sense approach to dealing with a 21st century issue, the committee does not appear to be supportive of renewable energy development, or private property rights of homeowners for that matter.  Continue reading →

“Green Building” Walk-through Tour

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When: Sat. Feb. 4 – tours starting at 10:30 (9 slots remaining) and 11:00.(15 slots remaining)
What Building: The recently renovated Roman Coin Pizza and Sports Bar (former Renier’s Piano building)
Where:  Corner of 49th and Dodge Streets
Tour Guides: Architects from Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
Sponsor:  MoValley Group – Nebraska Sierra Club
To register for a tour, click this button >>REGISTER NOW!

“Green Building” is one of the hottest trends in architecture, and has been the topic of several of our monthly programs.  In February, we’ll be expanding the topic to look at how architects use principles of sustainable design without necessarily seeking LEED or other ‘green’ certifications.

The former Renier’s Piano building, on the corner of 49th and Dodge Streets, has been renovated into a sports bar/pizzeria and office suites.  While not LEED or “green” certified, the renovations are an example of how sustainable design solutions can be incorporated into all projects.  As the phrase goes,  “The greenest building is the one already built.”

Please join us to discover how a local firm incorporates sustainable design in their daily practice.

Sierra Club programs are free and open to the public.  More information at sierranebraska.org

To register for a tour, click this button >>REGISTER NOW!

Omaha Steel Castings Moving to Wahoo

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By Carole Larson, Movalley Sierra Club (former Conservation Committee Chair)

Omaha Steel Castings Plant

Omaha Steel Castings Plant

On January 11, 2012, an Omaha World Herald article announced the steel foundry Omaha Steel Castings (OSC) will be relocating to Wahoo, NE, within 24 months.  The Missouri Valley Group of the Sierra Club and neighbors of OSC welcome this news after a long struggle to get OSC to clean up their uncontrolled air pollution emissions.

Omaha Steel Castings was founded in 1906 in the 46th & Farnam Street area, and has continued to operate there without adequate emission controls under a grandfather clause.  As of 2000, the plant was releasing over 100 tons of air pollutants a year, some hazardous, with 95 per cent of the emissions being fugitive (escaping through open doors and windows and open-ended buildings), and only 5 per cent being channeled through smoke stacks.   Since the factory is located below ground level, much of the pollution blows along the ground to be inhaled by everyone in its path.  Over 130,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the plant.  Based on Omaha Steel’s 2000 air permit, the foundry was one of only two steel foundries in the United States that is a major source of hazardous air pollutants, based on EPA criteria. Continue reading →

Great News!! Tar Sands Pipeline Permit Denied

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By Kenneth C. Winston, Nebraska Sierra Club Advocate (kwinston@inebraska.com)

Today President Obama stated that he would deny the permit for the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. This is a major victory for the environment and for the people of the State of Nebraska . Many Nebraskans deserve credit for this victory, for speaking up in opposition to the pipeline, talking about their heritage, protecting their land and water and standing up for the kind of world they want their children to inherit.

Nebraska ’s people and resources played a pivotal role in this victory. The fact that we fought to protect the Ogallala Aquifer and the Sandhills brought these issues to the attention of the State Department and President Obama. The fact that the Ogallala Aquifer is so vast and so vulnerable in the Sandhills area was an issue that resonated wherever it was presented, whether it was in town meetings, at the State Capitol or all the way to Washington DC . Continue reading →

“Pipe Dreams” Documentary Film

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Hosted by Ken Winston of the Sierra Club.
The documentary film “Pipe Dreams” will be playing at the House of Loom on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. (1012 S. 10th St.) This is a FREE event! Only people over 21 are allowed in after 9 p.m. The event is from 7-10 p.m.

https://www.facebook.com/events/335276879833240/
Pipe Dreams is the story of the greatest environmental battle in the U.S. today = The Keystone XL Pipeline. By Academy Award and Emmy-nominated director Leslie Iwerks.

- Join us for drinks, discussion, film and music.
- Performers TBA.
- Open dance to follow with The Saturday Nite Jig w/ Brent Crampton

Continue reading →

“Climate Change: Fact vs. Fiction”

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Sierra Club February Program:
Climate Change: Fact vs. Fiction  with Laura LaMarr

Thursday,  Feburary 23, 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha
(Enter north door Education Wing)

Few issues manage to stir up passionate debate more than climate change. But undoubtedly, we are already starting to see the effects of climate change in our daily lives. Gardeners know that our region in now considered “Zone 5” instead of “Zone 4”, as the USDA had to shift plant hardiness zones in the past few years as a tangible result of climate change. What are some of the other visible effects of climate change?

Our speaker, Laura LaMarr, is a sociology instructor at Metro Community College, and also a Climate Reality Project presenter. Her presentation will discuss the science behind climate change, and distinguish between the facts that are incontrovertible, and the beliefs that may or may not be true.

Additionally, we’ll look at what scientists predict will happen in the future in our area, and discuss steps individuals can take to reduce their impact on climate change.

Sierra Club programs are free and open to the public.

Communications Workshop – Saturday Morning, Jan. 7

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Communications Workshop

Communications Workshop

By Albert Lierz, Webmaster and Communications Chair

You are invited to join us on Saturday, January 7 at 9:30 a.m. The Communications Committee will have a training, brainstorming and planning session in the training room of Whole Foods, 10020 Regency Cir, Omaha. (Just south of Westroads Shopping Mall)

Training will be on WordPress (our website software), Constant Contact (our e-newsletter software), HELEN (our database software), and the email listserve system of Sierra Club, in that order.

You can help Nebraska Sierra Club with its campaigns against the Keystone XL Pipeline and moving Beyond Coal for our source of electricity. Communications is a vital part of our successful campaigns with our web site, e-newsletters, public rallies, educational programs, and tabling at events.
To preregister >>CLICK HERE

Continue reading →

Nebraska Sierra Club Website Hacked: No December MoValley Newsletter as a Result!

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Computer Hacked

Computer Hacked

By Albert Lierz, Webmaster, Nebraska Sierra Club

In late November our website (sierranebraska.org) was hacked – apparently by a hacker (or hackers) supporting Syrian protestors.

We had to pass on publishing a December MoValley E-newsletter since it is based on links to the  website. We did not want to direct readers to our website until it was sanitized and secured.

The first sign of the hack was our front page being replaced by a table that was meant to  exhibit photos of Syrian anti-government protestors. They were not able to load their photos, however, Only the table displayed with English and Arabic text asking things like: “Why does the  world stand by and not help the Syrians protestors.” Continue reading →

Sierra Club January Program: “Building Green before ‘Green Building’”

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Former Reniers Piano Bldg

Former Reniers Piano Bldg 49 & Dodge

“Building Green before ‘Green Building’” with Perry Poyner, Dan Dolezal and Chris Turner from Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture

Thursday, January 26, 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha
(Enter north door  Education Wing)

“Green Building” is one of the hottest trends in architecture, and has been the topic of several of our monthly programs.  In February, we’ll be expanding the topic to look at how architects use principles of sustainable design without necessarily seeking LEED or other ‘green’ certifications. Continue reading →

Nebraska Pipeline Routing Legislation is Success Story for Sandhills, Citizens

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2011

Contact: Ken Winston 402-212-3737 kwinston@inebraska.com
Nebraska Pipeline Routing Legislation is Success Story for Sandhills, Citizens

Lincoln, NE – The Governor today signed into law two bills today: LB 4, which provides a state Environmental Impact process for the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline project, and LB 1, which establishes a framework to determine the routing of future oil pipeline proposals. A vital element of the process was the agreement by TransCanada to re-route their proposed pipeline out of the Sandhills. The new state laws do not preempt the federal review, which was delayed by the Obama administration for a thorough reevaluation, but gives the state new authority to protect Nebraska’s resources from dangerous tar sands pipelines, including TransCanada’s Keystone XL proposal.

In response, Ken Winston, Nebraska Sierra Club Policy Advocate, issued the following statement: Continue reading →