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GET ON BOARD TODAY! Mass Transit Decisions Ahead!
Attend key hearing on Oct. 10th; Vote "Yes" on Nov. 8th
Momentum is building for the Marion County transit plan and ballot referendum this November 8th. HEC is involved with "Transit Drives Indy", a grassroots coalition which is hosting a series of community conversations leading up to Election Day to talk about the benefits of improved transit and to urge support for Question 2 -- the transit question -- on the November ballot. Here's how you can help:
- Signal your formal support for better transit -- as an individual or as a group representative -- at transitdrivesindy.org.
- Come to the Indianapolis City-County Council meeting -- 7 pm at the City-County building-- this coming Monday evening, October 10th, to join others in supporting adoption of the IndyGo budget for 2017. We need a strong grassroots presence to send a powerful message that Indy residents support IndyGo and a robust transit system in Marion County.
- Display a Transit Drives Indy yard sign at your home or business.
To get involved in HEC's transit efforts,
contact us!
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Register for Greening the Statehouse!
Our Nov. 19th Event to be Headlined by Famed Environmental Justice Advocate
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Melissa Mays, mother & founder of WaterYouFightingFor.
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Join us for the largest gathering of environmental-minded Hoosiers in the state -- and learn from the experience of Melissa Mays, a nationally-recognized environmental justice advocate from Flint, Michigan!
Greening the Statehouse will be held on Saturday, November 19th at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about our state's leading environmental issues and key solutions to the environmental and public health threats Hoosier face across our state.
A huge thank you to our GTS Green Business Sponsors (see below) and our growing list of nonprofit sponsors!
Sky is the Limit:
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HEC Working to Safeguard Families from Dirty Smoke
Outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) are often used in rural areas for home heating and hot water needs. Unfortunately, the design and/or operation of many of these OWBs can cause fuel to burn incompletely, which results in thick smoke & high particulate emissions - the same as produced by 4 idling heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Not surprisingly, air quality and living conditions can be greatly diminished for people who live near OWBs - people like Gary and Mable Bowling, an elderly Rush County couple. In 2010, their neighbor installed one of the most polluting OWBs on the market just 50 feet and upwind of the Bowlings' home.
Although that polluting model that is now illegal in some states, IDEM and local officials turned a blind eye to the Bowlings' extreme suffering -- because their situation is allowed under Indiana's OWB rule. Given this regulatory failure, HEC took legal action on behalf of the Bowlings and obtained a preliminary injunction which prohibits the neighbor's further use of the OWB while we pursue the case. We're now fighting to make that injunction
permanent. Learn more about this case
here
.
In addition to our legally representing the Bowlings, HEC has been working with the American Lung Association of the Midwest (ALAUM) to help bring about the replacement of some of Indiana's dirtiest OWBs with renewable energy systems. This fall, ALAUM has facilitated the replacement of fifteen dirty OWBs with geothermal-only or geothermal/solar systems. The ALAUM-HEC OWB collaboration, which replaces OWBs exclusively with renewables, is -- to the best of our knowledge -- the first of its kind in the nation. To learn more, contact us.
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Join the Next HEC Volunteer Training!
HEC's "Environmental Advocates" volunteer program is continuing to grow and we need you to make this the most successful and active group of volunteers in the state! Our next training is coming up!
WHEN: Wednesday, October 12th
7:00 PM
WHERE: HEC Conference Room
3951 N Meridian, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46208
(Park on the lower level of the NUVO building)
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HEC Engages National Colleagues on Clean Energy
A coalition of groups, with strong engagement by HEC, worked tremendously to prevent the elimination of the "Energizing Indiana" energy savings program in 2014. While we did not prevail in our quest, the public interest community has not given up on our determination for Indiana to be a leader in energy efficiency -- which is so key to creating jobs that cannot be exported, saving Hoosier homes and businesses money, and reducing Indiana's enormous carbon footprint.
HEC's Executive Director had the opportunity to share the story of Indiana's resilience at an ACEEE/Energy Foundation conference in Atlanta: Indiana advocates are continuing to advance the energy efficiency cause through advocating for the Clean Power Plan, for PACE financing legislation, and for meaningful, utility-run energy efficiency programs.
If you'd like to get involved in Clean Power Plan advocacy, be sure to sign up for our "Environmental Advocates" training program; our next training is this Wednesday! (See article below.)
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Thanks for Joining Us on the Ride for Mounds 2016!
Nearly 60 riders enjoyed a glorious September Saturday as they toured back roads and trails between Muncie and Anderson. Afterwards they feasted on pizza and many walked away with some great raffle prizes.
The Ride for the Mounds serves to raise awareness about the Mounds Greenway proposal -- a linear park and trail system that would fill in a missing link to complete a 100-plus mile regional trail network in east central Indiana, conserve the free-flowing White River, and create new opportunities in a region of our state that could use an economic boost.
Stay informed on future Greenway events and activities by signing up for our Mounds Greenway e-newsletter; contact HEC's Michael Popa to receive our dedicated email.
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