Author Archives: Albert Lierz

Pipeline Legislative Update – Feb 17

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Ken Winston, Policy AdvocateKen Winston

By Ken Winston, Nebraska Sierra Club Advocate

There were three pipeline bills heard in the Legislature this week.

LB 1134, introduced by Senator Avery was heard on Wednesday by the Judiciary Committee. It would set out procedures that entities, including utilities, would have to go through before they could exercise eminent domain. This includes a requirement that the project be for a public purpose, that there be a public hearing and a majority vote about the use of eminent domain. It also contains a provision that makes it illegal to threaten to use eminent domain without authority. Continue reading →

Green Initiatives in Omaha

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Green Neighborhood Council’s March Community Roundtable
Facilitator: Kristi Wamstad-Evans, Omaha’s Sustainability Coordinator
When:Thursday, March 8th – 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Where:Neighborhood Center, 115 S. 49th Avenue

All GNC community events are free and open to the public.

 Ms. Wamstad-Evans was hired as the City’s first Sustainability Coordinator in September, 2009. Over the past 2-1/2 years, she has worked to establish ECO-Omaha, the Office of Sustainable Development in City Hall, has been responsible for managing over $14 million in energy efficiency projects and programs, and has established many new tools to help facilitate and catalyze sustainability in the City of Omaha. Continue reading →

Tar Sands Pipeline Update

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By Ken Winston, Chapter Policy Advocate
February 13, 2012

It is difficult to write a definitive article about the status of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline because the situation keeps changing. When President Obama denied their permit application on January 18th, it would make sense to think that the project was dead, right? Wrong! Let’s review what has happened and is currently happening.
On November 10, 2011 the US State Department decided that they needed to do further review of issues related to the Nebraska Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer. The Nebraska Sierra Club was heavily involved in helping support and develop citizen involvement and provide information that led to that decision. The State Department estimated that the review would not be completed until early 2013. Continue reading →

Legislative Update #2 – February 2012

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Ken Winston, Policy Advocate

Ken Winston

By Ken Winston, Chapter Policy Advocate
As usual I have been busy this time of year. In the last couple of weeks, I have been involved in several legislative activities. Following the hearing on Senator Haar’s LB 885, I participated in a meeting with interested parties to try to work out issues with the bill, primarily the unrealistically large fiscal note. LB 885 would require state buildings to have energy star ratings to determine their energy use ranking. The meeting went well, but it is my understanding that Governor Heineman’s administration will not permit DAS officials to continue to work on the bill. The fact that the Governor’s administration generated a fiscal note that was at least ten times larger than it should have been and their refusal to work with the introducer on the legislation creates an impression  that they do not support efforts to make state buildings more energy efficient. Continue reading →

Tour of Green Building Rescheduled

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RESCHEDULED: Tours of the former Renier’s Piano building at 4902 Dodge St. have been rescheduled for Sat. Feb. 11. Tours of up to 15 visitors will start at 10, 10:30, and 11 a.m. The tour will focus on the environmentally-friendly features that were incorporated in the renovations by the architecture team of Alley, Poyner, and Macchietto.
To register for a tour, click this button >>REGISTER NOW!

This building is being 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. This tour is a follow-up to the program: “Building Green before ‘Green Building’”

EcoKids Program Revised by MoValley

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By Albert Lierz, MoValley Membership/Communications Chair

The Sierra Club EcoKids Program has been revised locally through the MoValley Group. Helen Deffenbacher has agreed to chair the project and is accepting volunteers for the EcoKids Committee.

Helen has also agreed to maintain the Youth area of the Nebraska Sierra Club website (http://sierranebraska.org) and has already posted EcoKids projects on it for January and February 2012. Check them out through these links:

January 2012 MoValley EcoKids Project: Beyond Coal & What You Can Do to Help
February 2012 Movelly Ecokids Project: Great Backyard Bird Count and …

Each month Helen will write about a different project or projects kids can do in their home, backyard, or community. If you would like to suggest a project idea, email it to: hdeffenbacher@cox.net.

MoValley Invites All Conservationists to “The Big Event”

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By Albert Lierz, MoValley Membership Committee Chair

Movalley Sierra Club Group is attempting to pack as many separate programs as possible into a single Saturday so members can avoid multiple days and trips. “Orientation for New Members of 2011″, a workshop on “Communicating Effectively on Conservation Issues”, the first meeting of the “Under 40 Group”, a “Potluck Social for all Conservationist” are just some of the activities planned.
Don’t miss this chance to socialize, learn, and work together to save the planet.

WHEN: Saturday, February 18.
WHERE: The First Unitarian Church, 3114 Harney Street, Omaha, NE 68131-3910
To register or for more info, click here >> REGISTER

Continue reading →

EcoKids – Jan. 2012: Beyond Coal & What You Can Do To Help

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by Helen Deffenbacher, MoValley EcoKids Coordinator

Beyond Coal: The EcoKids Green Project of the Month for January, 2012

Your parents or grandparents may have told you about the Sierra Club’s Campaign called “Beyond Coal.” Our members are working with others all across the country to move America away from fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, and on to green energy.

Green energy is also called “renewable” and “sustainable” energy. It lasts forever, and it’s cleaner and healthier for humans and the environment than fossil fuels. Continue reading →

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. Continue reading →