| Dear CCL member, Are you ready to be a catalyst for change in the Centre Region by inspiring others to electrify their homes and businesses? You can keep our momentum going in three ways. —First, Centre County businesses, churches, and nonprofits that own their buildings can get a free solar feasibility study conducted by the nonprofit PA Solar Center. They help organizations work through the decision-making process. If you know an organization interested in “kicking the tires,” please share this opportunity. The deadline to express interest in this free technical help is October 20, 2023. —Second, invite a friend or family member to join our local electrification project. We’ve never had incentives like this before and they may not last forever, so help us help our neighbors seize the moment! —And third, come hear our guest speaker, Pam Adams, at our October 17th chapter meeting. We are thrilled to have Pam, Sustainability Planner for the Centre Region Council of Government, update us on the Solar Power Purchase Agreement and the Centre Region Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Ready to make a difference? Bring your family, friends, neighbors and help us light the future on Oct, 17th, at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. —Lisa Richardson (Lisa@statecollegeccl.org) Monthly Chapter Meeting Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fellowship Hall Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 780 Waupelani Drive State College, PA 16801 CCL News Speakers for Fall Conference Announced Twice a year, Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) volunteers get together for a conference followed by lobbying our elected officials in Congress. The fall conference will be held virtually on November 4-5, providing a chance for you to catch up on what is going on in Washington and around the country without having to travel. Featured speakers will be Van Jones (a frequent political commentator on CNN) and Danny Richter (former vice-president of CCL). You can find out more and register here. It’s free!  |
Carbon pricing bill reintroduced BIG NEWS! Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) just reintroduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R.5744) in the U.S. House of Representatives. CCL is asking us to contact our representatives urging them to co-sponsor the bill. A special video training provides all the information you need about this piece of legislation and explains why it is so important. Especially for College Students Are you a college student and wondering what you can do that might be most effective? Students at William and Mary have begun a movement to promote carbon fee and dividend as the next essential step in slowing climate change. The Carbon Fee and Dividend Movement has just begun, so you have an opportunity to be one of the founding members and help shape its future direction. Their group is working with Citizens’ Climate Lobby and other organizations to magnify their potential. Here is an article with more information and a link to a radio program about it. What you can do: Recruit one or two other people. Sign up on their website. Start spreading the word about this policy and what your fellow students can do to push Congress to enact it. Let our State College CCL chapter know about your efforts so that we can help promote your activities. Send a message to Sylvia@StateCollegeCCL.org telling us what your group is doing. Electrification News A Canary Media article on heat pumps cites a study that concludes that not only do heat pumps work well in cold climates, they actually work more efficiently than fossil fuel furnaces in the cold. This helps explain why Scandinavian countries had the highest per capita adoption of heat pumps in the European Union in 2022. In the US, Maine citizens are enthusiastic adopters. See also their article entitled “A beginner’s guide to the different types of heat pumps.” Appreciations Thank you for the donation A donation of $100 was made to our CCL chapter by a friend in honor of Patrick Harris of Tennessee who has been feeling despair over the world climate situation. Lion Bash tabling. Thank you to Diane Mills, David Arleth, and Kathy Lee for tabling at the Lion Bash event on Allen Street in downtown State College on August 31. This event introduces new Penn State students to the opportunities and resources available in our community.  Diane Mills at our table at Lion Bash Bob Carline published a letter to the editor on the danger that climate change poses to fisheries in the Centre Daily Times on September 14. “Vote to Show Concern About Climate Change” “Climate Action Is Bringing Investment and Jobs to Pennsylvania” was the title of the OpEd written by Lisa Richardson of our chapter, along with Mark Reynolds, the executive director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. It appeared in the Centre Daily Times on Sept. 11. Kelly Forest’s letter to the editor entitled “Solar Makes Sense” appeared in the Centre Daily Times on Sept. 20. Volunteers Needed: Sign Up Here! Two tabling opportunities are coming up. — Punkin Chunkin – Saturday, October 21 from 10 am to 6 pm. This festival benefits the Howard Fire Company. — Sustainability Happy Hour at Boal Brewing, Oct. 11, from 4 to 6 pm. See below for more information. — Our new Electrification Initiative needs more hands on deck. If you want to help out, but cannot come to our monthly meeting, write to Sylvia@StateCollegeCCL.org to learn how to get involved. Community News Sustainability Week in PA | Oct. 2-6 The third annual Commonwealth Sustainability Week will take place from Oct. 2 to 6. You are invited to attend free daily webinars on topics related to climate and resilience. For example, Wednesday’s webinar at 10 am will focus on the Pennsylvania Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience Network. Click here to learn more and to register. Sustainability Happy Hour | October 11, 4pm-6pm The League of Women Voters of Centre County (LWVCC) and Centre Region COG cordially invite you and your members to a FREE Sustainability Happy Hour at Boal City Brewing on October 11, 2023 from 4-6pm. The first hour will be speakers on topics such as home solar power, sustainable transportation and how best to handle food waste. The second hour will feature free sustainable light refreshments provided by Brown Dog catering, a cash bar provided by Boal City Brewing, and business and nonprofit informational vendors. Everyone who attends receives a raffle ticket to win sustainable prizes. If you register in advance or walk, bike, bus or carpool, you can receive an extra raffle ticket. Come out and learn something new, enjoy the free appetizers, and experience Boal City Brewing. Centre Region Climate Action Plan | October 29, 11 am Carla Stilson, former member of the College Township Council, and Pam Adams, Sustainability Planner for the Centre Region Council of Governments, will be giving a presentation on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan for the Centre Region at the UBBC Adult Forum, 411 S. Burrowes Street, State College, at 11 a.m., Sunday, October 29. All are welcome to attend. Deadline to apply for Mail-In Ballot | October 31, 2023 Statewide and Local elections will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The deadline to apply for a mail in ballot is October 31, 2023. Check your registration status by visiting Vote.PA.Gov. Forestry Symposium | November 4, 8 am – 4pm The Pennsylvania Forestry Association is holding its annual symposium in State College on November 4. Registration deadline is Oct. 20. No Faith In Fossil Fuels | Nov 5, 1 pm – 5pm On Sunday, November 5 from 1pm-5pm, as part of PA Interfaith Power & Light’s Annual Conference, a regional workshop will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in State College. This year’s theme is “No Faith in Fossil Fuels”. Tickets are $8-$25, and all are welcome! To learn more about the virtual keynote speaker, the regional gatherings, and how to register, click here. Climate Consortium We are fortunate to have access to Penn State’s many resources. But it is hard to keep up with all of the climate related research and events they offer. Fortunately, the Institute of Energy and the Environment has created one page where you can access everything under the title “Climate Consortium.” You will also want to look at the page listing “Climate Events.” Rivers are Warming A Penn State led-study published in the journal Nature Climate Change found that “rivers are warming and losing oxygen faster than oceans. The study shows that of nearly 800 rivers, warming occurred in 87% and oxygen loss occurred in 70%.” This warming is a threat to aquatic life. Any questions about climate change policy or CCL’s initiatives? Contact Sylvia Neely at Sylvia@StateCollegeCCL.org or Lisa Richardson at Lisa@StateCollegeCCL.org |