Eco Report – February 17, 2022

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HEADLINES

On February 9th Sunrise Bloomington, along with IU Student Government, Students for a Green World and other student groups, met with IU president Pamela Whitten, Vice President of Capital Planning and Facilities Tom Morrison and IU Foundation President J. T. Forbes to discuss divestment from fossil fuels among other action steps to decrease the university’s role in exacerbating the climate crisis.

—Linda Greene

Indiana legislators are putting Hoosiers on a dangerous path, refusing to listen to urgent concerns about climate change and the need for greater access to renewable energy. Instead, they are pursuing false, dangerous and expensive schemes on behalf of special interests.

—Norm Holy

A bill to ensure that Nebraska ethanol plants can qualify for state tax incentives for building carbon-capture facilities is running into opposition from a leading environmental group. The Indiana legislature is advocating a similar situation.

—Norm Holy

Judge Rudolph Contreras voided oil and gas leases on over 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico, stating that the Interior Department “acted arbitrarily and capriciously in excluding foreign consumption from their greenhouse gas emissions” and thus neglected to consider the significant climate impact of such leases. Judge Contreras said the Interior Department was required to consider those climate impacts under the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act.

—Linda Greene

CALENDAR

Spring Mill State Park will host a Full Snow Moon Hike on Friday, February 18th, from 8 to 9 pm.  Meet Anthony at the Spring Mill Inn front patio for a fun nighttime hike, and learn the history and folklore of the Full Snow Moon.  This is a one-mile hike that is partially rugged.

Learn about Snake Lore and Mythology from Around The World at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Friday, February 18th, from 2 to 3 pm.  Even though snakes are not slithering around during the winter, they are still present in our lives.  Meet at the Nature Center to find out more about the fascination people have for these mysterious creatures.  This is an indoor event.  Please wear a mask.

Brown County State Park continues its Winter Hike Series with a one-and-a-half-mile round trip hike to the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp area on Saturday, February 19th, from 11 am to 1 pm.  The trail can be rugged in places.  You will learn about the CCC and what they did and all about the Deserter’s Cave.  This is a fun hike!

The Nebo Ridge Trail Hike will be the next Winter Exploration Hike at Monroe Lake on Tuesday, February 22nd, from 10 am to noon.  This will be an exploratory, off-trail hike with no “set” path.  The terrain may be rugged, and there are no toilet facilities.  Please dress for the weather.  Register by February 20th at bit.ly/weh-feb22-2022.

It’s that time of year when the sap is starting to flow.  Take a Maple Syrup Made Easy hands-on workshop at the RCA Community Park small shelter on Saturday, February 26th, from noon to 1:30 pm.  Learn tree identification, equipment, collection and sugaring techniques.  The program is held outdoors, so dress accordingly.  Register by February 22nd at bloomington.in.gov/parks.