Delaware Sierra News

A Sierra Club N ewsletter about Environmental Matters Important to Delaware Spring

March April 2008
May 2004

Letter from the Delaware Chapter Chair

by Jay Cooperson
he other evening I encountered an old friend,
T Nan Norling, who for many years served the
State of Delaware with distinction as chair of the
Public Utilities Commission. Inevitably the conversa-
tion turned to the controversy over the proposed
wind farm off the state’s Atlantic coast. She
remarked that the current struggle was the reverse of
that which has occurred in some places over the
installation of wind turbines. Here the proposal has
widespread public support, and the endorsement of
the public agencies that reviewed the plans at the
express directions of the legislature.
The New York Times on Sunday, April 6th noted
that there was a major shift in the thinking of econo-
mists and scientists that the problem of global
warming was not going to be solved only by impos-
ing caps of emissions of green house emissions, as
important as that remains. World growth in popula-
tion and the rapidly expanding economies of
developing countries, like China and India, make it
clear that of energy demand will grow. The fostering
of alternative technologies has become even more
imperative.
We understand that legislators at the state and
local level rarely make decisions under the direct
influence of international trends. But the forces of
global change do filter through the national govern-
ment and regional compacts; we see emerge agree-
ments between states to set levels for energy supplied
from alternative sources. One such source is wind
power. Competition will occur between states in this
region for such power. Locations for wind powered
turbines do not exist in Delaware and competition for
wind power from the hills of Pennsylvania, even the
Midwest and elsewhere will grow. Private property
owners frequently resist the development of wind
farms. Energy loss from transmission lines with
today’s technology remains high. These and other
factors undercut Delmarva Power’s claims that it can
now, and in the future, obtain all the wind-based
energy it wants from distant sources at a low cost.
Yet some legislators continue to place obstacles in
the path of utilizing offshore wind. They have done
so by holding hearings that have been tendentious,
even hiring counsel at public expense to engage in
hostile examination of Delaware citizens and organi-
zations and place limitations on witnesses opposed to
the position of Delmarva and the hearings chair, Sen-
ator Harris McDowell (D), Wilmington.
Sound environmental policy also requires that the
governmental process be open and that powers vest-
ed in the legislature not be delegated by them to
agencies which are not responsible to them or the cit-
izens of this state. That is exactly what will occur if
Continued on page 2

In This Issue Sierra Club - Delaware Chapter

NON-PROFIT
Letter from the Chair 1 100 West 10th Street, Suite 1107 U.S. POSTAGE
Wilmington, DE 19801 PAID
Sierra Delaware Land Use Committee 2 WILMINGTON, DE
Newark Explores “Cool Cities” 3 PERMIT NO. 740
Southern DE Group Meeting Notes 3
Annual Membership Meeting Notice 4
Delaware Chapter Events Calendar 5
Political Committee Updates 6
The Free-Trade Fly In The Ointment 7
Introducing Intern Caitlin Reese 7
Delaware Chapter And Southern
Delaware Group Leaders 8
Sierra Delaware Land Use Committee Report
by Dave Keifer, Sr.
he Land Use Committee is working to develop a
T program that will advance the policies of the
Club and the Chapter, provide a variety of projects
to match various members’ interests, and improve
the quality of life in Delaware.
The Chapter has a long history in land use issues
and existing policies and positions may be found on
the club’s web site, along with relevant policies of
the Sierra Club.
The primary focus of the Committee’s work ini-
tially will be a review of Delaware’s planning
legislation at the State and local (county and munici-
pal) levels. The original State Planning Act was
passed by the General Assembly in 1961 (Laws of
Delaware Chapter 184, pages 542 – 553). New Cas-
tle County and the municipalities had planning and
zoning authority prior to that; Kent and Sussex
Counties got enabling legislation in 1968. The State
Planning Act was repealed but various pieces of leg-
islation have restored parts of the concept. However,
there has not been a comprehensive review since the
Council of State Governments drafted the 1961 pro-
posal.
Another issue that could be developed if there is
adequate member interest is sea level rise and shore-
line erosion. There is much talk about global
warming and resultant sea level rise. Without engag-
ing in that debate one way or the other, the fact is
that the sea rises and the shoreline moves landward
and land use policy and regulatory programs need to
operate in conjunction with that knowledge, not
merely keep paying people to rebuild structures
demolished by natural forces.
There is also the matter of the required periodic
updating of local comprehensive plans and their
implementation which needs the oversight of a con-
servation-oriented organization.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this
important program, email me at scland@comcast.net
or call 302-678-2612. The Land Use Committee is
looking for members in all three Counties.

Delaware Chair Letter

Continued
Continued from page 1
the house, senate and eventually the governor were to
approve Senate Bill 228 introduced by Senator
McDowell and others. This proposed bill would
make the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) an
agency without responsibility to the legislative or
executive branches of government, rife with the
potential for conflicts of interest, and the power that
will come from revenue generated by the sale of car-
bon dioxide (CO2) emission allowances. We can look
to the current investigations in the state of Alabama
to see the result of such conflicts and, close to home,
the abuses that occurred not long ago within the
Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA).
Members of the Delaware Sierra Club have raised
serious questions about the propriety of the multi-
state sale of such allowances and this policy must be
debated, both on the local and the national level. For
the moment the SEU exists. If the SEU is to provide
any interim value while we develop long term energy
solutions, than it must be organized properly, with
transparency, full oversight and a governing board
and staff that cannot benefit directly or indirectly
from its policies and operations.
2
Newark Explores “Cool Cities” Participation
ith the federal government’s inaction on the
W issue of climate change, local governments
are taking the lead in making communities more
sustainable. In February, a group of concerned
Newarkers gathered to discuss this issue under the
framework of the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities pro-
gram.
The major goal of the Cool Cities program is to
encourage mayors and local leaders throughout the
country to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement to reduce global warming carbon dioxide
pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 lev-
els by 2012. To date, over 400 mayors have signed
the agreement, representing 61 million Americans.
Upon signing the Agreement, cities are then
charged with assessing current practices, developing
an action plan, making changes, and evaluating suc-
cess. Cities across the country have found that they
Southern Delaware Group Recent Meeting Notes
reported by Ron Zink
ick DiPasquale, club member and activist,
N brought the Southern Delaware Group up to
date on environmental issues and what is happening
at the state level at the group’s monthly meeting at
TGIF, Thursday, March 6, in Dover. Nick was filling
in for a member of Senator McDowell’s office who
canceled at the last moment and Dave Keifer, chair-
man of the newly formed Land Use Committee, who
was unable to attend.
The group has grown through the year to 30 reg-
ulars attending, along with several members of other
environmental groups that share similar interests to
ours. Other visitors to this month’s meeting were
Joyce Henderson, Julie Price, Kathleen Kent-
Scholten, Thomas, Petra and Alica Myers.
Nick’s briefing included the state’s position on
wind power development. He felt that a recommen-
dation should be coming out of the senate hearings
soon. He also tried to fill the club in on land use and
how it is being abused here in the state.
Members of the group discussed the many and
varied activities they are working on. New members
were invited to attend all meetings to learn more
about activities in which they might be interested in
participating.
Carol Taylor brought the club up to speed on the
activities of the Cool Cities program. After the meet-
3
can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but
reduce costs over the long term. Newark is a perfect
place to initiate these changes.
At the first meeting in Newark, we discussed the
overall program and future action to be taken. Cool
Cities was then presented to the Newark Conserva-
tion Advisory Commission in March to discuss the
best route for accomplishing the goals of the group.
Although the CAC has previously discussed Cool
Cities, it is looking for leadership from the Sierra
Club and will act in an advisory capacity for the
Cool Cities Committee.
Interested in finding out more? Check out sierra-
club.org/coolcities or seattle.gov/mayor/climate for
the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. More
help and support is needed! To become more
involved in the Newark effort, contact Ezra Temko
at ezra.temko@sierraclub.org.
ing, Carol Frietto, an almost-new member, when
asked if she had decided what she would like to do,
stated that Ms.Taylor has really inspired her and was
looking forward to becoming active in that group.
Ron Zink read an article from the Dover State
News, that quoted Tony DePrima, city manager, that
the city’s challenge was to meet the Cool Cities
agreement Dover recently signed. He was in refer-
ence to the building of a new library Green.
The article explained that Cool Cities is a
National Sierra Club-sponsored program in which
municipalities pledge to take steps for better envi-
ronmental and energy efficiency.
Dover’s commitment spurred Mr. DePrima to
challenge all city department heads to come up with
ways to save energy and to be more environmentally
friendly. The city goal is to reduce air pollution by 7
percent .
A member of Senator Carper’s office, Larry
Windley was scheduled to address the group at its
April 3rd meeting.
For more information on this active group, please
visit www.delaware.sierraclub.org for upcoming
event dates, meeting minutes and more.
L Visit us on the Web!
www.delaware.sierraclub.org
 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
You do not want to miss this one!
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
12 PM to 3 PM
Fellowship Hall
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark
420 Willa Road, Newark
12 PM- POTLUCK!
Bring something tasty to share!

1 PM – Keynote Speaker
Mary Anne Hitt, Executive Director of
Appalacian Voices, a nonprofit organization that brings people
together to solve the environmental problems having the greatest impact on the central
and southern Appalachian Mountains. The organization works with communities across Appalachia to tackle two
major causes of climate change: mountaintop removal coal mining and the construction of new coal-fired power
plants. Their online campaign iLoveMountains.org uses Google Earth to lift the cloak of secrecy that has allowed
coal companies to flatten almost 1 million acres, destroy 474 mountains, and bury over 1,000 miles of streams,
devastating local communities in one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Mary Anne is currently a fellow of the
Environmental Leadership Program. Her previous experience includes working as executive director of both The
Ecology Center and the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project. She was a recipient of the Len and Sandy
Sargent Environmental Advocacy Award at the University of Montana, where she received her Master's of Science
in environmental studies, and was a Whittle Scholar at the University of Tennessee and founder of the campus
organization Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville. She grew up in the mountains of east
Tennessee, just outside Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

2 PM – General Discussion
This is YOUR chapter - Review of past
year, Action Items, Discussion of
Upcoming Year, Delaware’s State of
the Environment

4
Delaware Chapter Sierra Club Events Calendar
Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Volun-
teers are needed for a Tree & Shrub Reforestation
Planting Project. The project will be at Kent County’s
Big Oak Park is located South of Smyrna, Delaware,
just East of SR 1 (or Highway 13) on Big Oak Road.
To register as a volunteer and for more information,
please call Glenn “Wayne” McCarty, Kent County
Division of Parks, 302-744-2489 or e-mail
wayne.mccarty@co.kent.de.us. Volunteers may also
register on the day of the event at the Project Site.
Delaware Nature Society’s Environmental Perspec-
tives of Gubernatorial Candidates – Tuesday, April
22, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. At the Ashland Nature Center, Barley
Mill and Brackenville Roads, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Pre-Registration required: $15 ($10 for DNS mem-
bers). Beverages provided. Send in your questions and
join us at a candidates’ debate. Please reserve early
since attendance is limited to 200. Mail reservations to
the above address and endorse your enclosed check to
“Delaware Nature Society - Candidates’ Debate.”
Questions for candidates must be in written form. They
may be submitted to DSN prior to the beginning of the
program. DNS moderators will organize the questions
and present them to candidates. We encourage you to
enclose questions with your reservation. More informa-
tion at www.delawarenaturesociety.org/locations.html.
If you have questions, contact DNS at 302-239-2334
and webpage@dnsashland.org
Annual Membership Meeting – April 26, 12 p.m.-3
p.m. At Fellowship Hall, Unitarian Universalist Fel-
lowship of Newark, 420 Willa Road, Newark. If there
is one meeting of the Sierra Club you attend all year,
make it this one! The Sierra Club will be having a
potluck, a keynote speaker – Mary Anne Hitt – execu-
tive director of Appalachian Voices, and then an update
on what we’ve been doing this past year and what our
plans are for the future. Join the discussion and the
fun! Mark your calendars now. For more information,
contact Ezra at Ezra.Temko@SierraClub.org or 302-
981-3007.
Dover Social – Thursday, May 1, 6:30 p.m.. At TGIF
at Route 13 at Lockerman Street. On the first Thurs-
day of every month, there is a social in Dover. These
have been great events for socializing with fellow Sier-
rans as well as educational. Last month in March we
had Sean Finnegan, assistant to Senator McDowell,
speak with us. We have lots more great programming
planned. For updates and more information, contact
Ron Zink at Ron_z_19904@yahoo.com or 302-735-
8896.
Political Committee Meeting – Thursday, May 8, 7
p.m. General meeting of the Political Committee Meet-
5
ing. Meet at the Corbit Calloway Library in Odessa.
For further information contact the chapter office at
302-351-2776 and leave a message or email
politics@delaware.sierraclub.org.
Trussum Pond Outing – Sunday, May 11, 11 a.m.
Rated easy. Join our Anne Arundel Maryland Group for
a paddle through the northernmost cypress forest in the
USA on this small pond near Laurel, Delaware. View
massive, old-growth cypress trees, waterfowl, beaver
and other swamp critters. Participants must supply
their own kayak or canoe; Sierra Club requires all par-
ticipants to wear a PFD while on the water. Launch
boats at 11 AM; trip should take an hour or two.
Heavy/steady rain or high wind cancels; rain date is
May 17. Leader: Dan Soeder, Djsoeder@yahoo.com,
410-969-9465.
Executive Committee Meeting – May 19. General
meeting of the Executive Committee. Meet at the
Westminster Community Center in Dover. Carpooling
is available. For further information contact Jay Coop-
erson at CoopersonArc@aol.com or 302-571-0660.
Horseshoe Crab / Shorebird Festival – Saturday,
May 24. This event is hosted by the Town of Milton &
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Visit www.his-
toricmilton.com/events.html or call 302-684-1101 for
more information.
Dover Social – Thursday, June 5, 6:30 p.m. At TGIF at
Route 13 at Lockerman Street. On the first Thursday
of every month, there is a social in Dover. These have
been great events for socializing with fellow Sierrans
as well as educational. Last month in March we had
Sean Finnegan, assistant to Senator McDowell, speak
with us. We have lots more great programming
planned. For updates and more information, contact
Ron Zink at Ron_z_19904@yahoo.com or 302-735-
8896.
Conservation Committee Meeting – Monday, June
16, 7 p.m. General meeting of the Conservation Com-
mittee. Meet at the Westminster Community Center in
Dover. Carpooling is available. For further information
contact Tim O’Connor at Tim1158@aol.com or 302-
697-746.
Gubernatorial Candidates Forum – Tuesday, August
19, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. At the Jewish Community Center
in Wilmington (101 Garden of Eden, off Rt 202). The
Sierra Club of Delaware’s Political Committee is host-
ing a gubernatorial debate on environmental issues. All
filed candidates have told us they are planning on
being there! Save the date! For further information
contact the chapter office at 302-351-2776 and leave a
message or email politics@delaware.sierraclub.org
 Political Committee Updates
Don’t forget to check our website regularly for updates, links, and political commentary from
Sierra Club. http://delaware.sierraclub.org/PoliticalComm

Gubernatorial Debate: Hold This Date

We have received confirmation from John Carney, Jack Markell, and Mike Protack that they will
participate in the Gubernatorial Candidate Debate sponsored by the Sierra Club’s Political Committee.
This debate will be hosted on Tuesday August 19th, 2008 at 7pm at the Jewish Community Center of
Wilmington. Doors open at 6:30. Please see the bottom of this page for a reminder that you can tear
off and put on your refrigerator so you won’t miss the event.

Questions for the candidates can be submitted through email (politics@delaware.sierraclub.org), calling
the chapter’s office (302-425-4911), and will also be collected at the debate.

More details to follow in the next chapter newsletter.

Voter Score Card Team is looking for Interviewers

The Political Committee is seeking volunteers to help interview candidates seeking a position in the
General Assembly. The results of this process will be used on our website to inform Delaware voters
about the environmental positions of the candidates. Volunteers from each county are needed, with the
interviewing taking place over the summer. If you would like to find out more, please email
politics@delaware.sierraclub.org.

Get Involved – Future Political Committee Meetings

All meetings start at 7pm

Wednesday April 16th, 2008 – Borders (Churchman’s Crossing)
Thursday May 8th, 2008 – Odessa Library
Wednesday June 4th, 2008 - Borders (Churchman’s Crossing)
Thursday July 10th, 2008 – Odessa Library
Wednesday August 6th, 2008 - Borders (Churchman’s Crossing) ↓CUT HERE↓
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVE THIS DATE: TUESDAY AUGUST 19TH, 2008 @ 7PM

DELAWARE SIERRA CLUB PRESENTS:

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES DEBATE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

John Carney (D) Jack Markell (D) Mike Protack(R)

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

101 Garden of Eden Rd # 102
Wilmington, DE 19803
The Free-Trade Fly in the Green Ointment
by the Sierra Club Responsible Trade Committee work more with groups such as the Apollo Alliance.
lobalization is the frame in which to address These organizations are calling for climate solutions
G climate change. It is the source of the problem,
now trying to present itself as the solution.
that create jobs, and these should be jobs that go
beyond just installing solar panels but foster the
The World Bank, World Trade Organization and development of domestic green manufacturing tech-
other multinational proselytizers of “free trade” are nologies.
seeking to use the climate crisis as a way to bring
new life to their decades-old agendas. Their priori- Introducing Caitlin Reese,
ties — subsidies, market access and export-oriented Spring Semester Intern
development — will continue to be at the top of the
niversity of Delaware student Caitlin Reese
list as they push to classify remediation of climate
impacts as a service under the General Agreement U has joined the Sierra Club-Delaware Chapter
as an intern this spring. Caitlin’s major is resource
on Trade in Services (GATS), making environmental
regulations subsidiary to trade regulations. More- economics with a minor in political science. Her
over, clean energy policies will be seen as barriers to interests lie in energy and environmental policy.
trade, subject to WTO rules. The outcome will She reports that she is passionate about the environ-
remain the same — the rich North will benefit the ment. Her knowledge and skills will be an asset to
most and give lip service to the global South, which our Chapter.
will continue to suffer under new globalization/cli-
mate policies. And the planet will suffer increasing
Sierra Club Membership
environmental degradation due to policies that put Application Coupon
corporations and profit first, this time in the name of
fighting climate change. New Member Name(s)
This is why the WTO is precisely the wrong
venue in which to make climate change policy,
handing down exactly the policy decisions we don’t
need on the planet-saving technology that countries Address 1
need access to.
Address 2
Already, the U.S. and EU are calling to eliminate
tariffs and other non-tariff trade barriers for goods City
and services that help protect the environment and
fight climate change. It is a lucrative market — the State Zip
EU states that trade in green goods and services is
growing twice as fast as global merchandise trade as Phone
a whole – and scrapping tariffs on solar panels and
wind turbines may sound like a good idea, but most E-mail
of these items will still be made in a low-wage Membership Categories (circle one)
country and need to be shipped thousands of miles INDIVIDUAL JOINT
Introductory $25 NA
via cargo ships using tons of bunker fuel. Unless
Regular $35 $43
WTO investment and patent rules that limit technol-
Supporting $50 $58
ogy transfer are changed, developing countries will
Contributing $100 $108
get no assist in developing such capacity them-
Life $1000 $1250
selves.
Senior $15 $23
As the WTO and other multilateral institutions
Student $15 $23
grab for a piece of the climate pie, the Responsible
All dues include subscription to Sierra ($7.50) and chapter
Trade Committee will include corporate globaliza-
publications ($1). Dues are not tax deductible.
tion’s aggravation of global warming as part of our
Mail to: Sierra Club, P.O. Box 52968,
educational campaign on trade and the environment. Boulder, CO 80321-2968
We will also build on the Blue Green Alliance and FrepNo: F94QW58001

7
 Delaware Chapter and Southern Delaware
Group Leaders
All phone numbers are Area Code 302 Litigation: David Keifer dkeifer@comcast.net
Membership: June Satterfield 653-6596
Chapter Office junesatterfield@comcast.net
100 West 10th Street, Suite 1107 Outings: Jennifer Egan 453-0827
Wilmington, DE 19801 jennifermegan28@msn.com
351-2776 Political: Debbie Heaton
Chapter Staff politics@delaware.sierraclub.org
Member & Community Engagement Coordinator: Pollution: Al Denio 455-0389
Ezra Temko 981-3007 Alvaldenio@aol.com
Ezra.Temko@sierraclub.org Web Master: Mike Casale mike.casale@verizon.net
Chapter Appointed Officers Additional Chapter ExCom Members
Chair: Jay Cooperson CoopersonArc@aol.com Rich Anthony 645-1732
Vice Chair: Tim O’Connor 697-7466 rha@de-enviro.net
Tim1158@aol.com Dick Bewick 736-1670
Secretary: Matt Urban 661-2050 dynaflow29@verizon.net
murban@mobiusnm.com Southern Delaware Group (SDG)
Treasurer: Lorri Fencer LorriFencer@verizon.net Appointed Officers
Conservation: Tim O’Connor 697-7466 Vice Chair: Harry Haon 656-4582
Tim1158@aol.com harryhaon@aol.com
Cool Cities: Ron Zink 735-8996 Conservation: Harry Haon 656-4582
ron_z_19904@yahoo.com harryhaon@aol.com
Energy: Chad Tolman 478-3516 Secretary: Carrie Bennett 732-3358
chadtolman@comcast.net
Land Use: David Keifer dkeifer@comcast.net Additional Southern Delaware Group (SDG)
ExCom Members
The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club publishes the Dick Bewick 736-1670
Delaware Sierra News quarterly. This publication is writ-
ten and produced entirely by volunteers. Ideas expressed dynaflow29@verizon.net
in the Delaware Sierra News are those of the columnists Steve Callanen 539-0635
and may not necessarily reflect the position of the Sierra Mable Granke
Club. Limited time constraints of an all-volunteer staff do
David Keifer dkeifer@comcast.net
not always allow for full data corroboration. Send materi-
als for submission to the Sierra Club, 100 W 10th St, Ste. Barbara Murray bemursaga@hotmail.com
1107, Wilmington, DE 19801 or by e-mail to our editor. Rich Anthony 645-1732
Summer Issue Deadline: June 30 rha@de-enviro.net
Editor: Jay LaCorte – jay.lacorte@yahoo.com Terri Usuki 436-2296
Production: Susan Oldenburg – VideoSue@aol.com tamaki@prodigy.net

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