Eco Report – December 23, 2021

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HEADLINES

KPVI reports that Governor Eric Holcomb has appointed a top employee at the state’s environmental oversight agency to serve as its new leader. Brian Rockensuess began his tenure as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management on Dec. 13.

—Norm Holy

Southern Indiana has recently expressed the view that they don’t like solar installation anywhere close to towns. The latest casualty is in Princeton. The Princeton Commission voted not to recommend rezoning requests for 15 parcels proposed in the footprint of Arevon/Tenaska’s Gibson Solar farm.

—Norm Holy

 In a new report called Forests for Indy Urban Forest Protection Strategy, the Indiana Forest Alliance urges Indianapolis officials to take action to protect the city’s urban forests and presents  a plan for doing so.

— Linda Greene

Last year, the Trump administration approved a private, two-hundred-mile industrial mining road that would cut through Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Preserve. The Ambler Road would cross twenty-nine hundred streams and eleven major rivers and would jeopardize one of the longest land migrations on Earth, that of the Western Arctic caribou herd.

— Linda Greene

According to the New York Times, the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced strengthened limits on pollution from automobile tailpipes in a bid to reduce a major source of the carbon dioxide emissions that are heating the planet. The more stringent rule would require passenger vehicles to travel an average of 55 miles per gallon of gasoline by 2026, from just under 38 miles per gallon today.

—Norm Holy

President Biden signed an executive order last week to make the federal government’s operations carbon neutral by 2050. Under the new plan, the government would not purchase any more gas-powered vehicles, and facilities owned or leased by the federal government would be powered by wind, solar and nuclear energy. Federally owned buildings would also convert to only using green construction materials.

—Norm Holy

Two locations very distant from one another recently scored victories over fossil fuel extraction.

— Linda Greene

At least six major automakers — including Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Volvo — and 30 national governments pledged at COP26 in Glasgow to work toward phasing out sales of new gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2040 worldwide and by 2035 in “leading markets.”

—Norm Holy

An analysis of 100 major cities by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy revealed that nationwide, cities are largely not on track to meet their own greenhouse gas reduction goals, and/or they don’t collect data that would allow them to meaningfully log such emissions reductions. Cities were rated on building sustainability, renewable energy, transportation, government initiatives and community impact.

—Norm Holy

 

CALENDAR

Take a Winter Morning Hike the day after Christmas on Sunday, December 26th, from 9 to 10 am at Spring Mill State Park.  Join volunteer Anthony for a guided hike on Trail 5 around Spring Mill Lake.  Enjoy the peacefulness of nature while hearing all about Spring Mill State Park.  Meet at the Lakeview Activity Center for a one-mile, moderate hike.

Enjoy Critter Feeding at the Nature Center at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Sunday, December 26th, from 2 to 3 pm.  Did you know toads use their eyes when swallowing food?  Watch them in action at the Nature Center.  This is an indoor event; please wear a mask.

Not too far up the road, you have the opportunity to participate in the Fort Harrison 2021 Trail Challenge.  Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Fort Harrison in the form of a trail challenge.  This is a non-competitive activity to explore all the park’s trails by the end of the year.  Set your own pace.  It starts now and ends on December 31st, 2021.

The First Day Hike of 2022 will take place at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, January 1st, 2022, from 9 to 10:30 am.  Take either the long or short hike, then meet at the Spring Mill Inn for refreshments in the Lakeview Room.  The Long Hike starts at 9 am on Trail 3, which is partially rugged.  The Short Hike begins at 10 am on Trail 6, which is short, easy and paved.  While indoors you must wear a mask.

Plan now to participate in the 9th Annual First Day Trail Run and Walk at the Fairfax State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake on Saturday, January 1st, 2022, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  This is an untimed, non-competitive run/walk.  Choose from a 3.7-mile, 2.9- mile or 1.3-mile course.  Advance registration is online at bit.ly/firstdayrun2022.  You can also register the same day between 2:15 and 3:15 pm at the Bay View Shelter.  If you go indoors, you must wear a mask.