In these changing times it has become so important to remain politically active, stay informed, hold our politicians and corporations accountable, and keep on top of our representatives to make sure they are representing our best interests. Please, support the actions and issues that matter to YOU. I will do my best to keep up with what is happening in our government and post the latest petitions and calls to action. Please, check in daily.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Speak Up Against APS Gas Plant Expansion
Arizona Public Service (APS) is seeking a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) to add approximately 397 megawatts (MW) of new gas to its existing 1,060-MW Redhawk gas-fired power plant in the western portion of Maricopa County. This proposed expansion will consist of 8 additional gas-fired turbines.
Why is this concerning?
The Redhawk power plant expansion project would increase air pollution in a part of Maricopa County that already has poor air quality. There is a residential neighborhood located less than two miles from the Redhawk plant, and Arlington Elementary School and its community sports fields are located less than 2.5 miles from the plant. Air pollution from the project will harm the health of nearby residents, including children. Exposure to air pollutants produced by gas-fired power plants causes increases in lung diseases, heart diseases, and premature deaths. Residents who live near power plants are generally exposed to more air pollution and therefore experience worse health impacts on average. Learn more and find talking points here.
Sign the petition here.
Monday, August 5, 2024
2024 Environmental Report Card for AZ Legislature & Governor
Session Characterized by Inaction on Key Priorities – Water, Climate, and Environmental Justice
Phoenix, AZ – Today, Sierra Club, joined by Chispa Arizona and Arizona Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) for Equity, released the 2024 Environmental Report Card for the Arizona Legislature and Governor.
“The 2024 legislative session was disappointing as legislators again missed opportunities to act on climate, environmental justice, and water, and unfortunately passed water legislation that does more harm than good, failing to address groundwater issues for rural Arizona or protect any rivers or streams,” said Sandy Bahr, director for Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. “As if that were not bad enough, legislators loaded up the ballot with referrals, including one to make it difficult to advance rules to protect our air and water, one to target immigrants, and one to hinder citizen initiatives.”
While nearly everyone seemed to agree that Arizona needed to take action on water, especially as wells in rural Arizona continued to be pumped dry by industrial agriculture and an assured water supply was no longer available in parts of the Active Management Areas. It turns out, however, that developers, big agriculture, land and water speculators, and private water companies were all interested in continuing business as usual with unsustainable sprawl development and pushing through bills that changed the rules to accommodate that. The rural water issues were left unaddressed as there was no agreement on doing something meaningful.
“How will our younger and future generations see us? To know that we continuously chose profit over one another, over our home, our water, and over the healthy future of our children and loved ones,” said Nile Bunger, climate justice director with Arizona AANHPI for Equity. “The one place they rely on to keep them safe. What will the children say? How will we respond? Will we feel confident in our responses? If we can’t fight to save our planet outside of earth day, how can we expect our children to? One of the biggest acts of love we can give to one another is protecting our water rights and environment for all; although, time and time ago we ignore the concerns that are negatively affecting our BIPOC, rural, and marginalized communities. Our youth and younger generations are learning how to be humans based on how we act as a human. The policies we create and support, the elected officials we vote into office, and if we hold them accountable or not when our voices and needs are being harmed over profit. A healthy environment and access to clean water should not be a privilege, yet it is. It is vital that we do not exclude the voices of the community and the future of Arizona’s water rights. Our rural areas and communities deserve better. And may we remember that we are all part of nature, so we must act as such.”
“The Arizona legislature holds great power and ability to make laws that impact us in our daily lives,” said Alondra Morales, climate justice program coordinator forAZ AANHPI for Equity. “This report card serves as a clear summary of which legislators have the community in mind and which legislators have other priorities. I hope this is helpful guidance to the people of Arizona to get to know their legislators!”
“It’s very clear that lawmakers who hold the majority at the legislature do not look out for the interests of the people of Arizona. Every step of the way during this legislative session we saw them ignore the will of the people and act in ways that benefit private interests,” said Vania Guevara, political and advocacy director for Chispa Arizona. “We will continue to work diligently to connect our people to their own power by showing up in this space because we belong there. We will keep partnering with legislators that are environmental justice champions to push this body to protect the air we breathe, our access to public lands, and our right to an easy and accessible democracy.”
One senator and 14 representatives earned an “A+” on the 2024 Environmental Report Card – they voted pro-environment and did not miss any votes. Unfortunately, all of the Republican caucus earned an “F” this year as they pushed a plethora of bad water legislation at a time when we desperately need strong protections for groundwater, as well as for our rivers and streams. They also voted for a large number of referrals that, if passed, would seriously harm efforts to advance clean energy, protect our air and water, and our democracy.
The 2024 Environmental Report Card is available on the website in English here and Spanish here.
The Sierra Club is one of the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the U.S., with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, representing 16,000 members, has a long history of advocacy at the Arizona Legislature.
Chispa Arizona builds the capacity of Latinx families to influence policy makers and pressure polluters to protect communities’ rights to clean air and water, healthy neighborhoods and a safe climate for generations to come.
Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) for Equity is a state-wide organization striving for equity and justice by building power through community directed organizing, increasing civic engagement, and empowering young leaders.
Monday, July 22, 2024
Trump's past actions and future plans regarding the environment
As some of you may be aware, I followed Trump's actions regarding the environment from the first day that he was in office - when he used his executive order to approve the DAPL pipeline to go through the Missouri River. Since then he and his Republican cabinet appointees (rich donors and fossil fuel execs) enacted over 100 actions that weakened environmental protections including: weakening the Air Pollution Policy; weakening the fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for passenger cars and light trucks; eliminating the methane emissions standards for oil and gas facilities; weakening the rule meant to reduce air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas; rescinding water pollution regulations for fracking on federal and Indian lands; weakening the National Environmental Policy Act (one of the country’s most significant environmental laws); ending the automatic application of full protections for ‘threatened’ plants and animals (the classification one step below ‘endangered’ in the Endangered Species Act); and scaling back pollution protections for certain tributaries and wetlands that were regulated under the Clean Water Act.
See the list of over 100 actions against the environment here:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html
If Trump is re-elected, he will do even more damage. Here are the plans if Trump gets in office.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Tucson Resilient Together Stakeholder Conversation AND volunteer opp to assemble Heat Relief Kits
Monday, June 24, 2024
Arizona Legislature session ends but not without some damage
bye bye |
Here is an update on the end of this legislative session from Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club.
Phew! The Arizona Legislature finally adjourned sine die last Saturday and we can all breathe a little bit easier. They did more than their fair share of harm before heading out, however, including a godawful budget that does little to prepare Arizona for the challenges we face, a plethora of bad water bills, and a couple more bad referrals.
I will provide a quick overview here, but look for our Environmental Report Card on the Legislature for a fuller picture.
In the last two days of the session, legislators sent nine water bills to the Governor's desk, she signed four of them and vetoed five of them. She should have vetoed them all as none of them make our water future more sustainable and none of them take the comprehensive approach she said she wanted relative to water. Read more about the bills here and here. There is some talk of a special session to address the 80 percent of the state that has no groundwater protections. Frankly, having seen what transpired during the session, I am not optimistic about a special session.
Unfortunately, the Governor also signed a bill to exempt more actions from the Arizona Power Plant and Line Siting Committee process that requires a certificate of environmental Compatibility. HB2003 replacement lines; structures; commission hearings (Griffin) allows a utility that previously received a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) to replace a cable or wire on a transmission line or an existing structure with a new structure without getting a new CEC, but it must be in compliance with the existing CEC. Unfortunately, it includes a big loophole for any lines that were sited prior to 1971. Utilities failed to provide any kind of information on what lines or how many would be affected. The bill could have been easily fixed and Senator Sundareshan offered an amendment to do so, but the proponents refused to remove the pre 1971 loophole. Those lines had no review by the Committee, no CEC, and no terms and conditions with which to comply. Modifications could have significant impacts to natural and cultural resources. This passed and was signed by the Governor.
In the good news category, the Governor vetoed HB2376 federal government; land acquisition; consent (Diaz: Hendrix). It mandated approval by the state legislature for any land sale to the U.S. Government. This was a measure to block acquisitions to protect lands around the headwaters of rivers and springs, inholdings, and to otherwise protect blocks of public lands or areas with special habitat or cultural resources.
HB2377 federal lands; state management costs (Diaz: Hendrix, McGarr) would have required the Auditor General and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to complete a cost and revenue study of the annual costs to manage all federal public land in Arizona and all current revenue generated by federal lands. This measure did not include the indirect revenues and benefits for these public lands and would provide a skewed perspective on these important lands. This failed to go to a final read in the House, so died.
Also in the good news category was that none of the bad energy and transportation referrals reached the ballot. HCR2040, HCR2049, and HCR2050 all failed to get a floor vote in the Senate.
HCR2040 public monies; prohibited expenditures (Smith: Biasiucci, Carbone, et al.) would have placed a measure on the 2024 ballot to prohibit the state or any political subdivision, including universities, to spend any public dollars to reduce global temperatures, have a climate action plan, participate in anything related to reducing meat consumption, do anything to address impacts of racism, etc. It never came to the Senate Floor.
HCR2049 had a strike-everything amendment that would have referred to the ballot a constitutional amendment to prohibit any fees based on vehicle miles traveled. As we reduce reliance on gasoline and gasoline-powered vehicles, gas tax revenues will continue to decrease and other ways to fund road maintenance are needed such as looking at vehicle miles traveled. This never came to the Senate Floor.
HCR2050 energy source; restriction; prohibition (Griffin: Biasiucci, Bliss, et al) would have put on the 2024 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit a city, town, county or any other political subdivision of the state from restricting the manufacture, use or sale of a device based on the energy source that is either used to power the device or consumed by the device. This would have made it harder to protect our air, our water, our health, and our communities. It never came to the Senate Floor.
The legislature also failed to bring HCR2056 elections; foreign contributions; donations; certification (Montenegro: Biasiucci, Bliss, et al.), across the finish line. It would have referred a ballot measure to restrict voting accessibility, create more administrative burdens to the detriment of voters, and leave election officials with little to no support. It failed to reach the Senate Floor for a Third Read.
The bad news again is they did refer several bad measures that may appear on the ballot, including the following.
SCR1041 ballot measures; challenges (Mesnard) refers a measure that allows challenges to proposed ballot measures by any person and earlier in the process. This would be hinder ballot measures as they could be challenged while people are still collecting signatures.
SCR1044 judicial retention elections (Gowan: Shamp) refers to the 2024 ballot a measure that eliminates terms of office for judges and allows them to continue to serve during “good behavior" and reduces the frequency of judicial retention elections.
HCR2060 Now: border; benefits; fentanyl; illegal entry (Toma) will be on the ballot for this fall, unless the constitutional challenge to it is successful. LUCHA is suing because the measure includes more than one subject and that is prohibited by the Arizona Constitution. This referral will make it easier for law enforcement to engage in racial profiling and to investigate and detain suspected undocumented individuals. It is very likely unconstitutional, would cost the state a lot, and, of course, is inhumane, seeking to criminalize people for seeking opportunities and reuniting with their families.
The budget, again, was not great on many levels, but certainly from an environmental perspective. Even during the best of times, environmental programs are underfunded. This budget included nothing for the State Parks Heritage Fund, no dollars for the Arizona Trail, no funding for Trees for Kids, and a lot of environmental fund diversions. It did include some funding for water quality programs at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and at least there was no funding for the Water Augmentation Fund -- that was intended for the big desalination project.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support and actions throughout this session. You make a difference! You can see more bills we tracked here and look for the report card on the Legislature in the coming weeks.
See below for an interim committee at the Legislature.
Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Water Security Friday, June 28 at 1:00 PM
Members of the public may access a livestream of the meeting here:
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2024061051
AGENDA
1. | Overview of Amended SB 1221 – Senate Research Staff
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2. | Comparison of AMAs, INAs, and BMAs – Dan Jones, Salmon Lewis & Weldon PLC
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3. | Agricultural Perspective on Groundwater Management Act Origins – Ron Rayner
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4. | Overview of Changes and Concessions Made from Introduced SB 1221 to Current SB 1221 – Stefanie Smallhouse, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
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5. | Significance and Value of Closing a Basin on Rural Economies, Groundwater Conservation, and Aquifer Protection – a. Arizona Department of Water Resources b. University of Arizona Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics c. Bas Aja, Arizona Cattle Feeder' Association
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6. | Agricultural Industry Testimony on Good Faith Negotiations – a. Phil Bashaw, Arizona Farm Bureau Federation b. Nicholas Kenney, Maricopa County Farm Bureau c. Zach Fort, United Dairymen of Arizona d. Rob VanHofwegen Jr., Paloma Irrigation & Drainage District e. Robert Meddler, Western Growers Association f. Jadee Rohner, Arizona Cotton Growers Association g. Patrick Bray, Arizona Farm & Ranch Group |
Fate of Arizona's recent environmental legislation: 25 bills introduced, one new law
Sunday, June 16, 2024
"Shape Your Transportation Future” survey
Pima Association of Governments (PAG), the greater Tucson region's metropolitan planning organization, has launched the “Shape Your Transportation Future” survey, which allows community members to share your transportation priorities and experiences, and where you believe PAG should apply its transportation funding resources for the next 30 years. Results will inform development of the 2055 Regional Mobility and Accessibility Plan, or RMAP. As the federally required metropolitan planning organization, PAG must update this long-range transportation plan every four years to annually secure millions of dollars in federal funding for essential transportation improvements in the region. Your input matters!
You can learn more and take the brief survey at www.PAGregion.com/2055. The survey, which is less than 10 minutes, is available in English and Spanish.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
New Comments Needed in Opposition to I-11 West Option!
Photo by Frank Staub |
https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1BdTweKsPZXrtPHGJiRgS_aFGKIDoDgr7jc27sTU8UAv7pBqzoDwF2qC0_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw Or call her at: 520-628-6580
For more information and talking points: https://www.sonorandesert.org/2024/06/07/action-alert-new-comments-needed-in-opposition-to-i-11/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2TPfpdGqsk2zPoxM7UNMlTylC-o3lmYXvN8UKsYIjr-lOcA3_gCWwzdYA_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw This picture shows a fraction of the many miles of wild desert that would be destroyed if the Arizona Dept of Transportation runs I-11 through AV and PR (the western route). It doesn't have to. Thanks to public outcry during the first round of comments ADOT is now giving equal consideration to combining I-11 with the existing interstates. Governor Hobbs needs to be reminded that opposition to the western route is widespread and strong on both sides of the political spectrum. She might not realize that the western route would cross designated wildlife corridors, run close between a national park and a national monument, and cut across private land that hundreds of people call home. If you would like to see galleries of additional photos that show what could be lost as well as some of the many people who would be displaced if the western I-11 route becomes a reality: https://www.frankstaub.com/Folders/Here-Today-Projects-Frank-Staub/Interstate-11-What-Would-be-Lost?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3m4cretI94T9mQArUBWvDS6wYxl_cmEa1xln4pb6-8i4J8OxA-AFQD2Fg_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Urge the ACC to stop big utilities from siting gas plants without environmental review
UNS Electric, a sister company to Tucson Electric Power, is trying to create a loophole to avoid environmental reviews and scrutiny regarding the impact of siting a large gas power plant. Currently, these larger plants must get a certificate of environmental compatibility (CEC) from the Arizona Power Plant and Line Siting Committee where they evaluate the impacts of the proposed plant versus the need.
If UNSE is successful with creating this loophole, other utilities – APS, SRP, and TEP – will follow and we could end up seeing a rush of big gas plant sitings that have no environmental review.
In April, the Arizona Power Plant and Line Siting Committee voted 9-2 to deny UNSE's request to eliminate the CEC requirement. Now, UNSE has appealed that decision to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).
Sign the petition to the ACC. Tell them to uphold the AZ Power Plant and Line Siting Committee decision and to say no to this big loophole! If you would like to submit a written comment - it is due by Friday, June 7th.
https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Arizona?actionId=AR0445282
HERE ARE 4 THINGS YOU CAN DO
1.Speak Telephonically or In Person at the June 11th ACC Open Meeting
2.Submit Individual Written Comments to the Docket by June 7th.
3.Sign a petition that we will submit to the AZ Corporation Commission
More details on the Sierra Club's Action kit:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10DUC91-1yfq1yi3E1W05iyFHtfdt98OshguoOu89LfM/edit?usp=sharing
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Sign to support creation of Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge
Sign on to support the creation of the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge that would protect the river corridor in perpetuity from the area South and North of the San Xavier District in Santa Cruz and Pima Counties.
The ecologically and culturally rich Santa Cruz River flows through the heart of Tucson. After generations of colonization and groundwater overuse, the surface flow stopped running in some areas, with flows all but drying up except during heavy seasonal rains. In 2012, Pima County approved funding to vastly improve the quality of wastewater effluent that was being released into the Santa Cruz River. By upgrading the wastewater treatment facilities—which currently release highly treated wastewater into the Santa Cruz—local leaders, alongside restoration volunteers, created over 25 miles of vibrant habitat that has been foundational to the recovery of native vegetation, wildlife, insects, and migratory bird species.
The Santa Cruz corridor offers abundant recreation opportunities, including birdwatching at Sweetwater Wetlands and cycling and walking along the beloved 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop, a popular paved recreation trail with dozens of access points that runs alongside the Santa Cruz and its major tributaries.
The vision for the urban national wildlife refuge includes an archipelago of protected properties along the Santa Cruz River that would offer permanent wildlife habitat and outdoor access. The Tucson land would anchor this “string of pearls,” offering shade, river access, and outdoor education for the neighboring communities. The Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge draws inspiration and lessons from current exemplary restoration work happening along the corridor, including the San Xavier District’s Wa:k Hikdan project.
Find the letter of support here:
https://santacruzriver.org/letter-of-support/
Note: Adding a personal note makes it even more impactful.
More information and refuge design:
https://santacruzriver.org/1469-2/
Santa Cruz named one of nation’s 10 most endangered rivers
https://azluminaria.org/2024/04/16/santa-cruz-river-is-one-of-nations-most-endangered-rivers/
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Monday, May 20, 2024
Urge your senator to oppose bad water & voting bills before Wed.
Here are two actions from the Sierra Club. In addition to a terrible water bill, there is one that weakens our ability to vote. That will make it even more difficult to advocate for environmental issues and human rights.
The Senate Elections Committee approved a strike-everything amendment on HCR2056 on Thursday. The amendment requires onsite tabulation of ballots on Election Day, limits the drop off of early ballots after 7pm on the Friday before the election, and requires identification to drop off any early ballot on Election Day. If passed, this would hinder voting, especially for Tribal and rural communities, create longer lines at the polls, and cost a great deal more than the $11 million that has been appropriated. Call your senator and ask them to vote no on HCR2056.
You can find senators' contact information here.
The Senate also tried to jam through a terrible water bill this week and unfortunately had the backing of the Governor to do it. On Tuesday, Senator Sine Kerr (R) offered a 28-page amendment on HB2201, which was already a bad bill. Her amendment made it much worse -- a Christmas Tree of bad bills written by and for developers, land speculators, private water companies, and two places -- Buckeye and Queen Creek -- that want the rules changed to get around the groundwater modeling and create big exemptions to the assured water supply program, so they can keep building the same old sprawl development. Believe me, we are not talking about affordable housing.
Thank you to Senate Democrats for standing strong against this bill. It was defeated 13-11-6, but it will be back for reconsideration next Wednesday. The development interests and the governor's office are lobbying hard to get this bill through, so we need senators to know that their constituents do not support it.
https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Arizona?actionId=AR0442640