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In this Edition of "What the HEC is Happening in the Statehouse?"
1.) Urge family and friends to defend Indiana rooftop solar before make-or-break vote
2.) Call your State Senator to support increased funding for drinking water & forests
3.) Attend one of several upcoming town hall meetings
4.) Join us at several fun events across Indiana as we kickoff Aveda Earth Month!
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1.) Urge Your Friends to Defend Rooftop Solar in Indiana: Only a Few Days Left to Try to Defeat Anti-Solar SB 309
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Despite overwhelming opposition from the public, the Indiana House Utilities Committee, on Wed. March 29th, voted 8 to 5 to support the utility lobby-backed, anti-rooftop solar bill, SB 309.
The silver lining in this vote is that committee opposition was bi-partisan, which would not have been possible without your outreach!
We're now just a few days away from an "up or down" vote on SB 309. If enough people contact their legislators in opposition, we could defeat SB 309!
Even with all amendments considered, SB 309 would still:
a.
Eliminate "net metering" -- the bedrock of Indiana rooftop solar policy -- for anyone who seeks to plug into the grid after July 1, 2022; new solar owners after that date would be credited at a rate that is about
70% lower than the current credit.
b. Prohibit third-party ownership of rooftop solar, which would make rooftop solar much less accessible and affordable to countless schools, congregations, small businesses, and homes.
c.
Enable investor-owned utilities to potentially impose a new monthly fee on customer-owned solar energy generators (on top of one that all customers already pay)!
SB 309, due to the above measures, would greatly harm the future of customer-owned solar energy in Indiana. This is not only bad for the countless Hoosiers who seek "energy freedom" but it is bad for Indiana's rooftop solar entrepreneurs, who provide well-paying jobs in Indiana, often in communities that need these the most.
TAKE ACTION:
A.) Please
call your state representative today (even on the weekend, when you can leave a voicemail) to express your opposition to SB 309; it's always better to call than to email, based on legislator feedback.
B.) Tell family & friends to contact their state representatives to say "No" to SB 309.
We can defeat the anti-rooftop solar bill, SB 309, with sufficient grassroots opposition from friends like you!
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2.)
Call Your State Senator Today to Support Greater Funding for Drinking Water, Forests, and More!
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted its version of HB 1001, the state budget bill. The Senate committee did not increase or otherwise change the funding for IDEM, DNR, the Harrison Conservation Trust, or Clean Water Indiana, from the funding levels in the House-passed budget.
Public transit funding got a modest $1 million increase in the second year of the two year budget, and the $3 million annual appropriation for the Hoosier State Rail line remained in the Senate Committee's budget bill.
The budget bill will be considered on the Senate floor as soon as next week. After that, the bill is expected to end up in Conference Committee where environmental and conservation funding could still be increased.
Please continue
contacting your State Senator today and urge that IDEM and DNR funding be "restored to pre-recession levels, and that $3 million be appropriated for the Harrison Conservation Trust"!
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3.) Get More Involved by Attending Upcoming Events
And Consider Joining Our Volunteer Program!
A. ATTEND A TOWN HALL MEETING
Talk with your legislators by attending town hall meetings (called "Third House" events); these are happening across Indiana in the coming days!
B. LEARN MORE
If you would like to learn more about the bills moving through the legislature and talking points for conversing with your representative and senator, please visit our
Bill Watch 2017 page.
C. BECOME AN HEC ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE
If you want to become even more involved in advocacy both in the Statehouse and across the state consider joining our volunteer program!
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4.) Support HEC During Aveda Earth Month!
Help us kick off our partnership with Aveda by bidding on our Aveda Earth Month Online Silent Auction featuring Indiana Aveda salons, HEC Green Businesses and other fantastic prize packages! The auction is live now through the end of April and we'll be adding new items throughout the month.
You may also visit an Aveda salon or find HEC at an upcoming event to participate in our Indiana Getaway Raffle (more details can be found here).
Upcoming Salon Events:
Eat at Chipotle in Plainfield (350 S. Perry Rd.) TODAY (Sat., April 1st) between noon and 4 pm and tell the cashier you are supporting the cause. HEC will receive 50% of the proceeds for our clean water initiatives. Thank you to Pure Concepts Plainfield for hosting Eat for Change!
Shoe Drive - now through April 30, drop-off gently-worn, used, and new shoes at Guys & Gals Quarters in Batesville, Sundance SalonSpa in Zionsville, or HEC in Indianapolis.
Aqua and Pearl Gala, featuring the Doctors Band - Saturday, April 8, 6-9pm at Old Market on Main in Madison, IN.
Aveda salons statewide are hosting fundraisers, including bake sales, plant sales, silent auctions, special services, and more. Visit
your local salon to support their efforts to protect our waterways!
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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