What good is having a blog if I can't post my published letters to the editor. The Illinois Times published my response to a column they ran last week.
GREENER THAN YOU THINK
I appreciate James Krohe Jr.’s effort in his column encouraging Springfield residents and city government to be more ambitious about clean energy programs [see “Greener than thou,” Sept. 16]. However, I’m disappointed that he did so by belittling the actions of numerous community groups and ignoring much of what’s already happening in Springfield.
Mayor Tim Davlin deserves credit for showing leadership on energy issues, but it’s a mistake to call this a one-man movement. Over a year ago, for example, a dozen local organizations submitted petitions to the city council with 500 signatures in support of Springfield becoming a Cool City. Additionally, CWLP has conducted an energy audit of the city that will help guide a climate action plan, and it’s being done with the help of citizen members representing the environmental community. If Mr. Krohe peruses back issues of Illinois Times he’ll find many excellent articles about local citizens organizing to promote clean energy.
There are several aspects of the city’s agreement with the Sierra Club that the column did not mention, such as a mechanism to fund new energy efficiency projects, which have the potential to reduce our global warming emissions even more than the wind power purchase. The agreement called for CWLP to hold quarterly public forums to provide updates on progress and seek feedback. The next forum is Nov. 30. The public is also invited to learn more about the growth of green jobs in central Illinois at a panel discussion hosted by the Sierra Club Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln Library.
There’s no need for anyone to remain nostalgic about past glory days of environmental activism with so many current opportunities to be involved. The environmental movement is stronger and more diverse than it has ever been.
Will Reynolds
Chair, Sierra Club Sangamon Valley Group
Springfield