Eco Report – July 23, 2020

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Morton Solar held a ribbon cutting July 15 after donating two solar energy systems to Community Action Program of Evansville for two homes located near downtown Evansville.

Three Indiana environmental organizations—the Hoosier Environmental Council, Friends of Lake Monroe and Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter—collaborated to demand that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, review its policies after the July fourth racist assault on black Bloomingtonian Vauhxx Booker at Lake Monroe.

James Shulmeister is a professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He recently wrote a brief summary of the state of the climate the last time the carbon dioxide level exceeded 400 parts per million.

On May 13, nine states sued the Trump administration over the EPA’s decision to temporarily relax various environmental regulations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently Trump signed an illegal proclamation to open the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. Trump has thereby gutted crucial science-based protections in spite of overwhelming public opposition.

Two grassroots environmental activists, Anne Rolfes and Kate McIntosh, both members of the group Louisiana Bucket Brigade, have been arrested and charged with the felony of terrorizing after they left a box of plastic pellets, called “nurdles”, at the front door of the home of a petrochemical industry lobbyist to protest the proposed construction of a Formosa Plastics plant in Saint James Parish, Louisiana.

It’s bad news for TC Energy, the company building the Keystone XL pipeline, but good news for the pipeline’s indigenous and environmental opponents. The US Supreme Court has announced a ruling halting construction of the pipeline. On the basis of the Endangered Species Act, the court upheld a lower court order preventing the pipeline from crossing domestic waterways.

A Missouri state appeals court ruled in favor of a controversial wind electricity project, putting the Grain Belt Express transmission line another step closer to construction.

The Paycheck Protection Program is part of the CARES Act, and Congress intended it to be a loan program to help small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic and keep their workers on the payroll. However, it appears that large fossil fuel companies have sucked in more than their share of the government loans, leaving clean energy companies behind.

CALENDAR

• Come to Spring Mill State Park on Friday, July 24th, from 11 to 11:30 am to learn What Trees Are Used For.  Find out all about their uses on a guided hike around Trail 6 for an easy, half-mile hike.  Meet at the Grissom Memorial.  This hike is limited to 20 people, so reserve your spot by calling 812-849-3534.
• Beginner Kayaking at Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake will take place on Sunday, July 26th, from 10 am to Noon.  If you love seeing wildlife or just enjoy exploring, kayaking is for you!  Learn basic skills with supervised paddling time.  Go to [email protected] to register.
• A Volunteer Opportunity is coming up at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Wednesday, July 29th, from 10 to 11 am.  Help folks from Sweet Owen Woodlands Network remove invasive species in the park.  Meet at the Canyon Inn with gloves and water.
• Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area is hosting a Wildflower Walk on Saturday, August 1st, from 10 am to Noon.  Meet at the Visitors Center to learn how to identify native wildflowers and their importance to the wildlife at Goose Pond before you head out on your own to explore.   Bring water, and wear appropriate clothing.  Registration is required.  Go to the IN DNR website to register.