Sierra Club, Niagara Group
Minutes of Monthly meeting - June 28, 2005

United Methodist Church Community Room, Main Street, Williamsville, 7 PM

Art Klein, Chair, Presiding

Present: Art Klein*, Steve Burns - Treasurer, Mike Stroh*, Robert Ciesielski*, Larry Beahan*, Charles Lamb*, Ginger Ursitti*, Richard Lippes*, Jean Palas, Marian Owczarczak, Rich Magyar, Cindy Magyar, Matthew Buettgens, Jane Sheldon, Walter Simpson, Patrick Igrassia, Susan Kalfas, Carl deVyver
(*Indicates member of Exec. Committee)

1) JAMESTOWN POWER PLANT - W. Simpson: Walter Simpson requests that he represent the Niagara Group as a private citizen in opposing a proposed coal power plant in Jamestown, NY. Susan Kalfas from Jamestown, also spoke. The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) of Jamestown is attempting to replace their old coal power plant with a new plant. There is opposition to this for a number of reasons: new power plant to use "clean" coal technology but will still produce substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, a green house gas; the Jamestown area already receives substantial amounts of inexpensive hydropower from NYS and because of this they have neglected conservation and efficiency over the years; BPU proposes to sell any excess power over 20 megawatts, thus attempting to make money with the coal produced power while being subsidized with clean power; the coal plant will required a number of unnecessary BPU high paying jobs, former employees are investigating this as a waste of taxpayer money; the natural gas generator currently in place would probably be able to produce sufficient power for the area without any new additional plant. Motion made by C. Lamb, seconded by L. Beahan: 1) to appoint Walter Simpson as Group representative opposing the power plant, 2) authorize Walter Simpson to make a freedom of information request concerning the power plant, 3) authorize chairperson Jane Jontz to sign a letter to Sierra Club Group members in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties requesting their involvement in opposing the power plant, 4) adopt resolution, attached to these minutes to seek environmentally responsible solution to Jamestown's power needs. Motion unanimously approved.

2) DAVID ORR - W. Simpson: Motion made by L. Beahan, seconded by M. Stroh to endorse presentation of David Orr, professor of Environmental Studies, "Earth in Mind-Patriotism, Politics in the Environment in Age of Terror," scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 8 p.m. at Slee Hall, UB North Campus. Unanimously approved.

3) MAY 2005 MINUTES - R. Ciesielski: Minutes adopted as amended.

4) GREAT LAKES COMMITTEE - A. Klein: Group committee awaiting directions for involvement.

5) TREASURER REPORT - S. Burns: Balance in treasury of $879.00. National has reimbursed treasury for two issues of Trailblazer. Several donations made to group. Trailblazer cost approximately $450.00 per issue.

6) MEMBERSHIP REPORT - S. Burns: Membership is 2,330 households and 2,378 individuals. Jean Palas will mail Trailblazer survey issue to new members.

7) TRAILBLAZER - C. Lamb: Copies of Trailblazer survey issue distributed. Biographies of candidates requested for newsletter.

8) RESIDENTS FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT (RRG) - C. Lamb: The State Senate and Assembly have passed legislation requiring that a geographically equitable siting plan for toxic waste sites be developed by the DEC before any further DEC permits for the disposal of toxics be issued. Governor has not yet signed bill, and is being lobbied to do so. Excellent article in Niagara Gazette by Sr. Rosalie Bertell, PhD, environmentalist, and Dr. Sherman, formerly of EPA, and advisor to National Cancer Institute, about safety of water. Mentions toxic and plutonium pollution at CWM. PCB's have already been found draining into lake from same site.

Motion to direct Charles Lamb to write letter to Governor urging signing of waste site legislation, made by R. Ciesielski, seconded M. Stroh. Unanimously approved.

9) NOMINATING COMMITTEE - R. Ciesielski: All incumbents on Exec. Comm. will run for re-election. Article in Trailblazer about election.

10) ATLANTIC CHAPTER MEETING - G. Ursitti: Group hosted Chapter meeting in Buffalo June 17-19, 2005. A. Klein and G.Ursitti arranged for housing and meeting space at Buffalo State College and for tours. Chapter discussed Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). Group and at-large delegates to the Summit in San Francisco approved. M. Stroh will represent Niagara Group. Don Young in charge of at -large delegates. Marilyn Reeves to be contacted as to whether she will attend. Chapter chose priorities to address at the Summit. Summit to be a grass-roots meeting with agenda items that are set by Chapters and Groups. After Chapter meeting J. Gardella organized a tour of toxic sites in area-well received. Sunday G. Urisitti and others led the Zoar Valley hike for Chapter participants. G. Ursitti, J. Gardella, and A. Klein complimented for organizing arrangements.

11) ATLANTIC CHAPTER - L. Beahan: Our Group volunteered to run Atlantic Chapter elections. Our Chapter established revolving fund of $5,000 of (C) (4) money to be reimbursed by National Sierra Club. Chapter and National are discussing availability of monies for regional use among several Chapters. Some (C) (3) monies will be used to defray costs to Summit for several delegates.

12) EPEC - S. Burns: National has established Environmental Public Education Grants (EPEC) program for the support of several large scale environmental programs. S. Burns will look into availability of monies from funds for Group's conservation priority items, urban sprawl/wetlands and toxic/ great lakes protection.

13) PERRYSBURG - L. Beahan: ADK had given David Franczyk an award for his involvement with protection of Perrysburg property. Governor being requested to support open space designation. Ruth Pierpoint, involved in historical preservation for State, appears to support open space for Perrysburg and buildings. The City of Buffalo was sued by private developer Melford for breach of contract of sale of Perrysburg. R. Lippes has volunteered to aid City defense. Meeting of those involved in Perrysburg project set for Bullfeathers on Monday July 11, 2005.

14) NIAGARA POWER PROJECT, GREENWAY COMMISSION - L. Beahan: Members have been appointed to Greenway Commission. Paul Dyster and Paul Leuchner environmentally friendly appointees. Niagara Power Project personal stated their willingness to work with the community developing their licensing proposal for presentation to the Federal Energy Licensing Commission (FELC). The City of Buffalo has not yet signed on to the re-licensing procedure as they are requesting approximately $10,000,000 from available monies, instead of $3,000,000. Niagara University has also not signed on, proposing removal of the Roberts Moses Parkway. The environmental coalition has also not yet signed on.

16) SIERRA SUMMIT IN SAN FRANCISCO - M. Stroh: Group completed "From Our Roots to the Summit" direction setting process. Process designed to give all Groups and their members input into setting priorities for the future of the National Sierra Club. M. Stroh will mail the results to National where they will be discussed at the Sierra Summit in September. Group felt the three most important Conservation Approaches were: Protect People and Planet from Pollution; build a New Energy Future; and Invest in Building Sustainable Economies and Business.

17) COMMUNITY ENERGY - Jane Sheldon: Jane mentioned the usefulness of community energy and urged support by Group.


Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Ciesielski


Attached Resolution on Jamestown Power Plant Issue:

Proposed Sierra Club Niagara Group Resolution on the Jamestown Power Plant Issue

Whereas, one of the greatest environmental threats we face is that of global warming and climate change,
Whereas, global warming and climate change are caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity and the most significant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide caused by the burning of fossil fuels
Whereas, coal is the most carbon-intensive of fossil fuels, and burning coal produces twice as much carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than does burning natural gas,
Whereas, the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is planning to build a $140 million coal-burning electricity generating power plant to replace older coal-fired generating units,
Whereas, while Jamestown's BPU's proposed new power plant would produce less acid-rain producing emissions, the proposed plant would still emit large volumes of carbon dioxide,
Whereas, the Jamestown's use of the term "clean coal" to describe its proposed coal burning power plant is inappropriate and misleading because the plant would not sequester carbon dioxide and therefore would contribute to global warming and climate change,
Whereas, the Jamestown BPU has not seriously explored opportunities for reducing its customer's electricity demand through energy efficiency and conservation,
Whereas, the Jamestown BPU already owns a new 40 megawatt natural gas turbine which it hardly uses,
Whereas, the Jamestown BPU Scoping Report and other documents pertaining to this project demonstrate that the BPU has not considered energy efficiency and conservation, possibly coupled with natural gas and/ or wind enerfy generation, as an option o be evaluated,
Whereas, the anticipated $ 140 million cost of the proposed Jamestown BPU coal burning power plant appears likely to cause substantial electric rate increases, causing economic hardship to the Jamestown region and possible an exodus of business and jobs - further damaging Jamestown's fragile economy,
Now, therefore let it be resolved that The Sierra Club of Niagara Group calls upon the Jamestown BPU and the City of Jamestown to stop ignoring the problem of global warming, to re-consider plans for a coal burning power plant, and to identify environmentally and economically responsible strategies for meeting Jamestown's electric needs, namely:

Energy efficiency and conservation programs to encourage rate payers to reduce their demand for and use of electricity

Renewable energy generation through the use of technologies such as properly sited wind turbines

Natural gas fired generation, perhaps using the 40 megawatt natural gas turbine already owned by Jamestown BPU
Now, therefore be it resolved that The Sierra Club Niagara Group calls upon the Governor George Pataki, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Public Service Commission, the New York Power Authority and NYSERDA to intervene and insist that Jamestown participate in the New York state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission from power plants
Now, therefore be it resolved that the Sierra Club Niagara Group will work with local citizens and citizen groups in the Jamestown area, including the BPUWatch, to oppose the coal burning power plant option and insist on environmentally responsible solution to Jamestown's electric power needs,
Now, therefore be it resolved that the Sierra Club Niagara Group calls upon the statewide Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club and the national office of Sierra Club to lend support to this campaign.