O 50 Years: C e - Sierra Club David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected] Fundraising:...

Our 50 Years: COnserving energY

Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet

http://sierraclub.org/arizona Grand Canyon Chapter Summer 2015

A Brief Arizona Solar HistoryBy Michael Neary Sign Up for the

Electronic Newsletter!Help save resources and money by signing up for the electronic newsletter! Send an email with your full name and membership ID (8-digit number on your mailing label) to [email protected] or fill out the short form at http://bit.ly/e-echo. You will receive an email when issues are available online.

In the mid-1990s, a small group of us met with newly elected Representative Andy Nichols. Andy had contacted us about

his desire to see a new era of solar energy leg-islation at the Arizona Legislature. He made it clear that he did not expect the group to have much initial success; after all, it gener-ally takes at least three sessions for legislation to actually get passed, and he was a freshman Democrat in a Republican-controlled Leg-islature. He advised us to ask Republicans

interested in the economic development as-pects of solar and renewable energy to join our efforts.

We had just formed the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) and had been looking into what other states had done to help jumpstart their solar in-dustry. Our group also included local solar

activists, Sierra Club members, and others interested in clean energy in Arizona.

After a couple of meetings, we decided that two bills would be introduced: a tax credit for solar devices and energy-efficient products, and another for energy efficient homes. One bill had to be amended, but we got both bills through the House and sent to the Senate – where we hit a roadblock: the Finance Committee chair. Despite our best efforts, the bills would not budge.

But a bill is not dead until the session ends, and through the hard work of Rep. Nichols, Senator Ed Phillips, and others, we pulled off a late night victory in the wan-ing hours of the session by getting one bill attached to some high priority legislation: tax credits for Intel’s Chandler chip manu-facturing facility. The legislation was signed

late that night by Governor Syming-ton. I often say that if we had known what we were doing, we would never have been successful.

This success led to a more com-prehensive legisla-tive agenda and, of course, additional stakeholders came out of the wood-

work. All of a sudden, we were around the table with utilities, homebuilders, local gov-ernments, and a host of others who wanted their say on energy legislation. With varying degrees of support – and at times opposi-tion – we were able to pass legislation that laid the groundwork for the solar industry in Arizona. Over the years, in addition to

our residential tax credit, we were able to pass a commercial tax credit and property tax exemptions and were able to pass our energy-efficient-homes credit. We also had a long-term goal to strengthen the rights of homeowners to install solar in planned com-munities. After numerous attempts, we were able to pass the strongest solar rights act in the nation – virtually eliminating the ability of homeowner associations (HOAs) to deny the right to install solar in Arizona.

Through adoption of Arizona’s Re-newable Portfolio standards by the Arizona Corporation Commission and passage of the federal Investment Tax Credit, Arizona finally had a developing solar industry. As a longtime Sierra Club member, I am happy that Sierra Club was there all the way fight-ing for greater use of solar energy in Arizona.

Michael founded and was Executive Director of AriSEIA.

Solar on the Florman home. Photo by Kurt Florman.

2 Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter

http://sierraclub.org/arizona

Canyon EchoSummer 2015 Vol. 51 No. 3

Canyon Echo © 2015. Canyon Echo (ISSN 0164-7024) is published quarterly for Sierra Club mem-bers by the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, 514 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone: 602-253-8633. Printed at Valley Newspapers.

Front page banner designed by Erika Gronek.

Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy ink.

EDITOR: Tiffany Sprague602-253-9140, [email protected]

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERSOutings Editor: Jerry Nelson

602-279-4668, [email protected]

Mailing Organizer: Jerry Nelson

Publications Committee: Priscilla Benbrook, Jon Findley, Kurt Florman, Chris Gehlker,

Tricia Gerrodette, Renée Guillory, Tyler Kokjohn, Jerry Nelson,

Carole Piszczek-Sheffield, Mike Smith

Publications Chair: Keith Bagwell520-623-0269, [email protected]

Webmaster: John Sheffield [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual dues to the Sierra Club are $39 (including $1 for Canyon Echo). Subscription rate for non-members is $10. Send check payable to Sierra Club - Canyon Echo, 514 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85003.

ADVERTISING: Advertising is sold on a first-come, space-available basis. The editor reserves the right to refuse any advertisements, and inclusion of advertisements does not imply endorsement by the Sierra Club. All interactions between advertisers and consumers are solely the responsi-bilities of those parties.

SUBMISSIONS: Send electronic or hard copies to the editor (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of hard copies). Indicate copyright or Creative Commons preference. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. Writer’s guidelines can be obtained by contacting the editor. All rights to publication of articles in this issue are reserved. The deadline is the first day of the month preceding the issue. Opinions expressed in Canyon Echo are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of Sierra Club.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes and postage due to Sierra Club Member Services, c/o Canyon Echo, P.O. Box 421041, Palm Coast, FL 32142-6417. Periodi-cals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ.

Arizona Chapter Action DirectoryChapter Director Sandy Bahr 602-253-8633 [email protected] Chapter CoordinatorTiffany Sprague 602-253-9140 [email protected] Canyon Conservation Program CoordinatorAlicyn Gitlin 928-774-6514 [email protected] Conservation Program Coordinator and Coal to Clean EnergyDan Millis 520-620-6401 [email protected] Water Sentinels Program CoordinatorJennifer Martin 602-254-8362 [email protected]

(xc) 2015 Chapter Executive Committee (ExCom) members

2015 Group Voting Representatives to Chapter Ex-Com (see pp. 12–13 for contact information):Palo Verde: Mike Brady Plateau: Joe Shannon Rincon: Meg WeesnerSaguaro: Lynne Cockrum-Murphy Sedona/Verde Valley: Brian Myers Yavapai: Tom Slaback

CHAPTER OFFICES & COMMITTEE CHAIRSChairperson: Elna Otter (xc) 520-212-9736 [email protected]: Keith Bagwell (xc) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Harry Lumley 480-474-4993 [email protected]: David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected]: John Beshears 602-502-3990 [email protected]: Don Steuter (xc) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Mark Coryell (xc) 480-219-8673 [email protected]: Lynn DeMuth (xc) 480-345-2626 [email protected]: Bev Full 480-221-2554 [email protected]: Thom Hulen (xc) 480-730-5218 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (xc) 602-553-8208 [email protected] (At-Large): Ken Langton (xc) 520-749-3829 [email protected]

Chapter AnnouncementsJUL 28, SEP 22 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Energy Committee gatherings. Discussions, programs, and field trips encompass renewable energy and energy efficiency campaigns nationally and locally. Everyone is invited to participate, no matter how much or how little you know about energy issues. Specific times and locations will be announced online or via email. To be added to our list or to get more information, please contact our chapter office at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

AUG 5 (WED) 5:30 p.m. Publications Committee meeting. Have an idea? Help plan future issues of Canyon Echo! Contact Keith Bagwell at 520-623-0269 or [email protected] or Tiffany Sprague at 602-253-9140 or [email protected].

AUG 12 (WED) 6:30 p.m. Wildlife Activist Group meeting. Are you interested in learning more about the wildlife that calls our state home and in working for species’ protection? Join us to learn more about what’s happening with Arizona’s wildlife, upcoming projects and opportunities, and how you can get involved. For more information, contact our chapter office at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

SEP 1 (TUE) Copy deadline for Fall 2015 Canyon Echo. Theme of “Our 50 Years: Protecting Arizona’s Communities.” Articles, art, photographs, poetry, essays, and brief epiphanies are welcome. Contact the editor before submitting at 602-253-9140 or [email protected] to discuss word count, photos to include, licensing, issue topics, and to request submission guidelines.

SEP 14 (MON) 6:30 p.m. Political Committee meetings. Help us elect more environmentally-friendly candidates! If you are interested in helping improve the political climate in Arizona, consider being part of our Political Committee! For information, contact Thom Hulen at 602-619-9717 or [email protected].

SEP 30 (WED) 1–5 p.m. (stop by anytime) Canyon Echo Mailing Party. Volunteers save the Chapter hundreds of dollars by preparing Canyon Echo for mailing. Thank you! The job is easy to learn, and we all have a great time. Any amount of time that you’re available is appreciated. Contact Jerry Nelson at 602-279-4668 or [email protected] for details.

OCT 3–4 (SAT–SUN) Chapter Conservation (SAT) and Executive Committee (SUN) meetings. Club leaders meet to consider matters related to statewide conservation efforts, share experiences across groups, and coordinate strategy to align our Chapter mission and goals with that of national Sierra Club. For more information, contact Don Steuter at 602-956-5057 or [email protected] or Elna Otter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected]. Meetings will be located in Flagstaff.

Tucson

Prescott

Flagstaff

PALO VERDE

YAVAPAI

SEDONA/ VERDE VALLEY

Phoenix

PLATEAU

SAGUARO

RINCONGRAND

CANYONCHAPTER

mailto:[email protected]




Summer 2015 Canyon Echo 3


I WANT YOU! YOU Are SIerrA ClUb

Volunteer leadership positions within the Grand Canyon Chapter are an ideal way to deepen your in-volvement in the issues important to you. Your club needs committed people who will give their time

and energy to further its mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.Become a candidate to serve on your group or chapter executive committee! No experience is

necessary. If you want to help create a vision, make policy, execute plans to protect and preserve our environment, and have fun while doing it, please nominate yourself. If you know of another good person, let us know.

If you would like to learn more about what would be involved, please contact one of the following leaders: Nominations Chair Lynn DeMuth at 480-345-2626 or [email protected], Chapter Chair Elna Otter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected], or your group chair (see pp. 12–13).

Guidelines for chapter and group executive committee elections: 1) To be listed on the ballot, candidates must submit their names and membership num-

bers. If you aren’t sure what your membership number is, see your Canyon Echo label or contact the chapter office at 602-253-9140. Be sure to include contact information along with your sub-

mission.2) Submit a candidate statement (recommended but not required), indicating the chapter or group

executive committee for which you are running, to the Nominations Committee at [email protected] by no later than August 15, 2015. Candidate statements are limited to 200 words and must be submitted by email. You will receive acknowl-edgement within a few days of submission. (Because much of the executive committee’s business is done by email, candidates must have email capability.)

The official ballot will appear in the Fall 2015 Canyon Echo. So, go ahead, nominate yourself or someone else you think would be a good leader. Thank you for stepping forward!

Grand Canyon Chapter – What’s Going On?

Palo Verde: Mike Brady Plateau: Joe Shannon Rincon: Meg WeesnerSaguaro: Lynne Cockrum-Murphy Sedona/Verde Valley: Brian Myers Yavapai: Tom Slaback

2 Chapter Announcements

4 Book Review

5 Thank You!

6 State of Rooftop Solar

7 Solar Stories

8 Clean Power Plan

9 Energy Efficiency

10 Wind Energy and Birds

11 Legislative Report Card

12 Group Happenings

14 Hikes and Outings

16 Service Outings

Water Sentinels Benefit Concert Arizona’s rivers need you! And you can help just by hearing some great music in a great venue!

Saturday, August 297:45–10 p.m.

Fiddler’s Dream 1702 E. Glendale Ave., Phoenix

Starting donation: $25

Water is life in the desert. The Arizona Water Sentinels Program does hands-on conservation work to protect Arizona’s precious rivers and streams. We need you to help make our program successful!

Fiddler’s Dream Acoustic Music Showcase is an all-volunteer, non-profit organi-zation whose mission is to provide a venue for, and to perpetuate the appreciation of, acoustic music. This is Phoenix’s only smoke-free, alcohol-free small performance venue – the traditional coffeehouse, where it’s all about the music.

Jennifer Martin and friends will kick off the lineup, which will include Pick and Holler, The Strand, and De Mairt Coel. Good times, good music, and good cause. Don’t miss this event!

For more information, please contact Jennifer Martin at 602-254-8362 or [email protected].

Join Our Chapter Energy Team!Energized and Ready for Action

The chapter’s energy team is a network of activists who want to stop utility attacks on roof-top solar and help Arizona transition to a clean and equitable energy future. We seek to educate ourselves and the public regarding energy issues and also help inform energy decisions in Arizona.

During the first quarter of 2015, our monthly meetings focused on strategies for stop-ping utilities’ attacks on distributed solar and advancing clean energy. Included in these dis-cussions was an effort to engage and coordinate folks aroused to action by Salt River Project’s

outrageous pricing proposal, which raised rates on all customers and attached onerous changes for residential solar customers. We are now working to dissuade other utility companies from penalizing solar rooftop customers.

Please join us! You are welcome to join an Energy Team meeting and find out more about our efforts. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Don Cassano Community Room of the Tempe Transit Center. Contact San-dy Bahr at (602) 253-8633 or [email protected] or Jan Bush at [email protected] for more information.

We also encourage you to sign up to receive monthly energy updates! You can sign up at http://bit.ly/energy_signup.





Joe ShannonPark Protector

Cast of Characters

Joe Shannon and Moona explore the San Juan River. Photo by Emma Benenati.

Joe Shannon met his wife, Emma Benenati, at an outdoors leadership school back in the 1980s. During that first encoun-ter, Joe backed his car over Emma’s Sierra Club mug. That was his first encoun-ter with the Club.

But Joe always was an outdoors enthusiast, camping and hiking since his youth, and he had col-lege coursework on pub-lic lands and recreation. Emma has been a Sierra Club member since 1983, so it was a natural move for Joe soon to join her as a Club member.

An assistant North-ern Arizona University re-search professor in aquatic ecology since 1990, Joe now also is Chair of the Grand Canyon Chapter’s Plateau Group.

Joe has a wide breadth of environmental con-cerns. But his primary fo-cus, as a Flagstaff resident and river-running enthusiast, is on ensuring that the Colora-do River maintains healthy flows through Grand Canyon National Park.

“Grand Canyon water rights are a big issue,” he says. “We need to know how much water is needed for the Park and what are the impacts [on water flows] of nearby developments and of the exercise of Native American water rights.”

A proposal to massively expand the size and population of Tusayan on the edge of the park, which the Grand Canyon Chapter and the Plateau Group oppose vigorously, is probably the most threatening of several existing or potential impacts on Colorado River flows through the canyon.

Joe also is looking forward to working on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service, part of the Organic Act of 1916. He says the threats and challenges Grand Canyon Na-tional Park faces are a microcosm of those that many of the nation’s parks face.

In addition to his Sierra Club activities and teaching students about environmental issues, Joe is a member of the Grand Canyon River Guides and donates to the Center for Biological Diversity and other worthy envi-ronmental causes.

Joe is an avid biker, hiker, and boater, primarily river running when he is in a boat.

You’re Invited!

Sunset, Desserts, and Photo PresentationSunday, September 27

6:30 p.m.North Scottsdale home (RSVP for directions)

Suggested donation: $20

We need your help to keep our Water Sentinels program alive and well! Water Sentinels moni-tor water quality, clean up areas around the state, and advocate for protection of Arizona’s waters.

Please join us to enjoy an Arizona sunset, desserts, and inspiring photos of Arizona landscapes and wildlife by photographer Dianne Leis. We will also have a silent auction of photography, paintings, canoe trips, food, and more!

RSVP to Dianne Leis at [email protected].

Needle Rock. Photo by Dianne Leis.

This book lays out the path we need to take to reach a clean-energy future. Activist and au-thor Lester Brown has been advocating envi-ronmentally-sustainable development for more than 40 years. He and three co-authors detail the rejection and de-cline in the use of coal and nuclear power gen-eration and the rise of renewables around the world. They credit in-creased cost of extract-ing fossil fuels and the resulting air pollution and excessive water use, as well as the sheer economic advantage of renewables as their cost goes down with advances in technol-ogy and the advantage of economies of scale. The authors mention Sierra Club and its Be-yond Coal Campaign, along with 100 other groups, in a major effort to defeat proposals for 183 new coal plants and the potential re-

THE GREAT TRANSITION. By Lester Brown with Janet Larsen, J. Matthew Roney, and Emily E. Adams. W. W. Norton & Company. 2015. 192 pp.

Reviewed by Jon Findley

Grand Canyon Chapter’s Book Corner

tirement of 180 existing ones.

While devoting whole chapters to solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal, they give only passing mention to energy efficiency, tidal and wave power, bio-fuels, and other still-de-veloping technologies. Little is said about stor-age and delivery systems such as compressed air and hydrogen.

The authors’ con-clusions point out that the long-term effects of our current environ-

mentally-unfriendly power generation are still to be known. But they paint a fairly op-timistic picture of the strides we are taking to avert a potentially catastrophic future for the Earth and the progress we are making in the transition to a stable, livable climate.

Jon is active with the Chapter Energy Team.



Thank You to Our Donors!The Morning Stars Sing Together (500+)Donald BegalkeL. & B. DandurandDavid McCalebJanet Witzeman

Make the Mountains Glad ($100–499)Jeffery P. AugustineKeith BagwellP. BaynhamJan BellT. & R. BerringerGary & Molly BeverlyBrian BlanchardEdward BonsallThomas BrennanZach BrooksLoring CannonRoger & Barbara CarterBeverly CohoonEric CoonsGerald D. CoxBarbara & Don DeMuthLynn DeMuth & Eugene MertzMarion ElliottRoy & Frances EmrickVicky & Mark FosterCraig FriesnerBeverly FullCatharine GarmanyHelene D. GayMichael Vicars HarrisKathleen M. HaunJoseph R. HellerTim HoganJohn Houlette, Jr.Corliss Jenkins-SherryDeana KatzBarbara KellyPeter KohlTyler KokjohnScott LoganMr. & Mrs. David MannJohn & Catherine MatthewsJames MatthewsH. McCrum & K. HendersonJ. M. Edwards & W. EdwardsJim McPherson & Elna OtterHarry MitchellJanice E. MyersJames NafzigerJerry NelsonTim OBrien

David OvermanJeff PeltzCarole Piszczek-SheffieldMichael QuinlanEdgar H. RawlBob RiehleSally & Esther RingsMarty RuppKaren L. SchroederSandra & P. M. SmithDon SteuterF. Stoller & W. GrabeRoz SwitzerMichael TamarackWilliam ThorntonDale & Christine VolzRic WatkinsRobert WistBeth WoodinTom & Sally Woods

Keep Close to Nature’s Heart ($50–99)Stuart & Cindy AltSteve ArthurErnst BauerSusanna BeattyMarjorie BernardiKenneth J. BiermanJeffery BlackburnJan BushDavid CardinaliElizabeth ClarkJean ClarkHerschel CollinsLetha ConradM. A. CookDennis & Sevren CoonMark CoryellEdward CouryAmy CrownGeorge CunninghamJonae DeLongTam DeWittR. A. “Bob” DittbernerJohn DotyPhilip & Marilyn DownumRoslyn DrakeLinda Gale DrewDavid DuffeeRay EcklundJanet Gore & James WebbSally GreenleafGloria GuilloryDr. & Mrs. Norman P Hanson

Mickey HoustonGary & Yvonne HuckleberryJudy A. HudekRichard HuesbyAlice HutchisonFrank IorioAndrew KuscsikP. LundPaul MackeseyBeverly V. McConnellGary McCormickSharon McDonough-MeansMatt McWenieHector MendezDan MillisWilliam Parker & Betty SaylerGary PetersenDonald Louis PiersonRuth & Tom ReeseCynthia RileyJeanette G. RobinsonLinda B. & Martin G. RosenthalJim RutherfordRobin & Robert SalthouseCharles SchulzJ. Michael SheltonLinda SmithRussell A. SmollJeff StantonPatsy E. StewartJeanne StricklandKent UrsyFred & Sheryl VrbaEdgar WalterLinda WhiteheadCathy Williams

Hitched to Everything Else in the Universe ($1–49)Fareed Abou-HaidarDavid AldenJanice R. AllenSylvia BarrettDeron BealRose Marie BeetcherSusan Bendix & Andy HallJeff & Keesha BestBettina BickelRobert BlairDave A. BoltGail BornfieldChristopher BradleyJohn R. & Jill BradyRichard BranderJoan S. BriggsMarvin BrownCarolynn BryanJan BuckwalterElaine M. CarlsonTeri CarnicelliMargaret ChanlerDonald D. ChaseRonald CohenLyman ColemanWill Collins

NOTE: This list includes donations received through June 3.

Marcie D. ColpasJoanna CoronaGeorge CzeczykW. David & Virginia DotsonLorraine EwbankLuise FaberBarbara FieldSamuel & Lila FlaglerPatricia FlandersJo Ann ForristalRichard H. FoxGrace GallianoMr. & Mrs. Gene GaviganCharles GeoffrionMichael & Sue GeorgeLori B. GirshickKim & Sandi GravesLois GrotewoldMelissa S. HarrisLynne A. HarrisonClaude D. HaynesRegina HeckKathryn HeidepriemJeff & Bonny HeidtBeth L. HenselJanice HerdeyDavid HoernerRaena HonanElizabeth HunterCarl JacobsRuth E. JagolinzerFrank JentsB. Johnston & M. Galilee-BelferLenore KesterJules KetchamJay KilmurrayKay Marie KingKathleen KloppMichael KnappBernard W KobesCarl KueltzoDavid LangebartelDaniel LanghorstDirk A. LehewKathy LeighRalph M. Mahkovec, Jr.Patricia MastorisFelicia & Warren May

Terry MccallDotty MeyerNorma A. MillerJanet MolandRose MolinJanos MolnarSusan MorrisD. W. Mount & J. D. HallCarroll MunzLeo NistasLaura NixJoann OlmsteadSimone OssipovJeanne B. PachecoRobert & Jeanne PetersonJan PetersonJoan PrefontaineAnne ReevesCas RifkinM. RoosenMorris RozarLouis SavenelliFred ShaftMike ShefferMicki ShulmanDiane ShultzNancy SieferJanet & Thomas SlivaGordon StuartAnn Tear ThompsonJane Van HornCharles VentalaGrace WagnerGary WalshDoug WattierMelinda Weisser-LeeCarolyn WhiteJames WilkeyStephen WilliamsFrank WinzelerDustin WolkisCarolyn YoungRobert ZaccariaGabriel P. Zinsli

Thank you to the following for donating in honor/memory

of the person(s) listed.

Thank you to Janet Witzeman for donating in memory of Bob Witzeman.

Thank you to Kent and Suzanne Walker for donating in honor of the marriage of Darshan and Libby Brown Jhaveri.

Thank you to Jim and Pat Murlless for donating in memory of Joy Marie Watson.

Thank you to our monthly donors!

Tom BrysaczLinda CrouseDavid DeansRoxane GeorgeAnntoinette & John Gurvin

Elizabeth HarrisonMark MulliganKathryn J. & David SchwarzJohn Seamon



A Timeline of Key Grand Canyon Chapter Energy Actions 1956–1966: Sierra Club does not object to Glen Canyon Dam in order to focus on op-

posing dams in Dinosaur National Monument. Decision is later regretted by Club Executive Director, David Brower. Construction completed in 1966.

1963–1966: Sierra Club objects to dams at Marble Gorge and Bridge Canyon. Suc-cessful campaign results in formation of Grand Canyon Chapter in December 1965 and loss of Sierra Club tax-deductible status with the Internal Revenue Ser-vice in 1966.

1970s to present: Sierra Club promotes solar energy and opposes measures to penalize those who invest in both solar hot water and solar photovoltaic.

1973: Grand Canyon Chapter issues a formal policy statement opposing Central Ari-zona Project (CAP) because of the “irreparable damage to the environment of the state.” CAP is the biggest single electricity user in Arizona, fueled by coal-fired Navajo Generating Station.

1980s to present: Sierra Club works to address global climate change, makes it the number one priority in 2005.

1990s to present: Sierra Club supports legislation to provide tax credits for solar and energy efficiency, appliance standards, and other measures to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Fights bills to undermine these programs.

1996–1999: Sierra Club supports Solar Portfolio Standard.2001: Sierra Club supports adoption of Environmental Portfolio Standard.2002–2003: Sierra Club participates in the Cost Evaluation Working Group to recom-

mend that the Environmental Portfolio Standard continue.2004–2006: Sierra Club supports Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff of 15% re-

newable energy by 2025, successfully keeps trash burning and burning big trees out of the definition of renewable.

2005–2006: Sierra Club is part of Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Group, which recommends 49 policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including a Clean Car Standard, a higher Renewable Energy Standard, and establishing energy efficiency standards, among others.

2006: Sierra Club intervenes to stop Devers–Palo Verde 2 Transmission Line from be-ing sited through the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Arizona Corporation Com-mission denies approval of line. Southern California Edison eventually withdraws the Arizona portion of the line.

2006–2008: Sierra Club advocates for Clean Car Standard for Arizona; standard ad-opted in 2008 by Governor Napolitano and repealed in 2012 by Governor Brewer. Meanwhile, state adoption of Clean Car Standards helps result in higher fuel ef-ficiency standards at the federal level.

2008: Sierra Club intervenes to support the proposed Solana Generating Station, a solar thermal plant that is now operating just outside Gila Bend.

2008–2010: Sierra Club supports and works to win passage of a strong Energy Effi-ciency Standard for electric utilities – 22% energy savings by 2020!

2009 to present: Sierra Club fights to keep the SunZia Transmission Line out of the Lower San Pedro River Valley and away from the Aravaipa Wilderness complex.

2011 to present: Sierra Club intervenes and files litigations to stop electricity from a trash incinerator from being considered as a renewable energy resource (currently before the Arizona Court of Appeals).

2015: Sierra Club is advocating for a strong Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pol-lution from existing power plants and to clean-up emissions that contribute to regional haze, is working to fend off utility attacks on solar, and is continuing to work for implementation of the state’s Energy Efficiency Standards.

The State of Rooftop Solar in ArizonaBy Robert Longoni, Jr.

Robert is active with the Chapter Energy Team.

Stop the Attack on Solar!Send a message to the Arizona Corporation Commission at http://bit.ly/solar_attack.

As reported in two of Arizona’s major newspapers – Arizona Republic and Arizona Daily Star – Arizona residents understand the benefits of solar and have been taking advantage of installation opportunities. The following information is according to ar-ticles in these papers: More than 30,000 Ari-zona Public Service (APS) customers have installed solar on their properties; 7,800 of these systems were installed last year. As of late 2014, more than 600 Salt River Project (SRP) customers were installing solar per month with approximately 15,000 systems installed by December 8, 2014. The number of Tucson Electric Power (TEP) customers with solar on their property has grown more than tenfold, to 7,900, from 2008 to early 2015. However, recent and proposed chang-es in pricing for solar customers in Arizona may soon dampen customers’ enthusiasm for installing solar, if it hasn’t already.

Last year, APS instituted a $5 per month fee on solar rooftop customers. The utility has recently asked the Arizona Corpo-ration Commission (ACC) for a more than fourfold increase in this fee. However, this may not be the end of the fee increases –the ACC is planning on dealing with “broader rate changes” for APS in 2016, in light of what is happening with solar technology and in the solar market.

In late February of this year, SRP’s board passed a new price plan for residential cus-

tomers who install solar technologies. This new plan increases solar customers’ electric bills by about $50 per month, on average.

TEP has a proposal before the ACC which, if approved, would mean that the typical new solar customer would see an in-crease in his/her electric bill of nearly 150% to $37.00 per month. UNS Electric has a rate case that includes penalties for solar, as well.

As if this weren’t enough, now a pair of Southern Arizona electric utility coopera-tives, Trico and Sulphur Springs, have come up with proposals that will add new costs for rooftop solar customers.

With all of these penalties and pending penalties for solar customers, the question is what is the future for rooftop solar? The number of new solar installations in SRP’s territory is already down dramatically to only three installations in the last three months, far less than the 600 per month reported last year. This number is not a good sign. It may be a temporary setback while customers sort out their options. However, the present rate changes for prospective solar customers in Arizona are not a good thing for customers who are considering installing solar. Future costs added to those who would like to in-stall solar could mean the end of future solar installations in Arizona that are not done at the behest of electric utilities.

Please Take a Brief Survey

Help us understand how you use Canyon Echo. Take a one-question survey at http://bitly.com/Echosurvey or call 602-253-9140 with your response.

I download the online version of Canyon Echo.

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Doug is an active member.

When my wife, Lynne, and I first saw the advertisement for solar power by Sun-gevity, we were obvi-ously interested. Who wouldn’t be? The promise was a dona-tion to Sierra Club by Sungevity, reduced power bills and even a gift card for us with no money down.

Being the skeptic that I am, I wondered if it was too good to be true. Three years later, I can say that solar power is all they promised and more.

Our power bills were running about $225 a month three years ago when we contacted Sungevity.

The company looked at our east/west fac-ing Phoenix home and pointed out that the south-facing roof was perfect: no trees or two-story neighbors to block the sun. We could buy the system, but we chose to lease with no money down and payments start-ing at around $110 a month and going up a couple percent every couple of years. For me, the lease looked like a good deal because power inverters (turning the direct current of the solar panels into the alternating cur-rent that our household appliances and lights use) can go out and are very expensive. Leasing instead of buying the system meant that Sungevity takes care of maintaining the system, including checking the productivity of each solar panel and replacing anything that breaks.

In the end, getting all the papers signed and sealed for our utility company took longer than the actual installation. Our first

Solar Power is Easy!By Doug Murphy

month, in February, we got our lease bill of $110 combined with our new, reduced pow-er bill from APS of $2. Today, we pay $120 for the lease, and APS gets us for around $14 in taxes and transmission fees, saving us at least $100 a month compared to what we were paying APS three years ago.

And the savings aren’t just in dollars for us. By increasing solar in Arizona, we cut down on power-generating costs during the busy summer season, reduce transmission costs, and are part of the shift from the old business model of large power-generating plants with long transmission lines to local-ly-produced power augmented by the power company when needed.

Now, Lynne and I love reading the pow-er bill as we bank power in winter and try to guess how small our bill will be in summer.

Do you ever wonder if your letters make a difference? As a retired sociologist, I often reflect on how and why things change – what is the spark? The Grand Canyon Chapter of Sierra Club has a 50-year record of promot-ing clean energy resources and energy con-servation. I joined the club in the ’80s but was not actively involved in environmental issues until later.

In 2008, I read an article in Canyon Echo from a Prescott member, whose name has escaped me, recommending the benefits of rooftop solar. I had already installed a solar water heater, thinking it was the most I could do for climate change, but called a pro-solar friend who took a look at my house and said rooftop solar was feasible for a reasonable cost. (When you have just retired and most of your income is social se-curity, what is reasonable?) I had investigated financial retirement plans and learned that my house could be mortgaged – a horrible

Letters Make a DifferenceBy Jeanne Devine

idea – but it gave me the idea to use equity in my house to buy solar panels to cover future energy expenses – a logical investment plan. Now, about 70% of my electric usage is free – thanks to the sun!

But success doesn’t stop there. The so-lar company asked me to host a solar party. I did, and invited Nancy LaPlaca and Will Greene to talk about the Arizona Corpora-tion Commission (ACC). From this “party,” eight people invested in solar systems, a non-profit got a cash reward, and, later, one of the organization’s members donated solar panels for its building. All of these situations reduced the CO2 emissions from fossil fuels polluting our air and water.

But don’t stop reading. In 2013, I joined the Arizona Beyond Coal Campaign, through which I began to learn about the logistics of solar energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and Navajo Generating Station, the impact of coal, the politics of

the ACC and local utility companies, and more – way beyond my original inquiry about rooftop solar. Thanks to many well-informed solar “players,” I continue to learn and build momentum for clean energy with the Sierra Club Energy Team.

Conclusion? It was a letter in Canyon Echo that got me thinking about solar. One

Jeanne says, “Serendipity – my path to solar.”

letter or idea can be the spark! Keep up the good work, Sierra Club, and thanks to ev-eryone from John Muir to Sandy Bahr for a huge contribution to energy conservation in our world.

Go Solar through Sierra Club!

How does this sound: saving money on your electricity bills, helping to protect our environment, earning funding for our chapter’s work in Arizona...and getting paid to do it?

By signing up to go solar through our Solar Homes Partnership, you will receive a $750 incentive, our chapter will also receive $750, and you’ll have the benefit of a solar-powered home. It’s a win-win-win!

Learn more and sign up at http://bit.ly/SCsolar_homes.

Note: We encourage you to get at least three quotes to determine which option best suits your needs. We also encourage you to implement energy efficiency measures and to take action to reduce energy use, in addition to using clean sources of energy such as solar.

Solar on the Murphy home. Photo by Doug Murphy.



Arizona to Write a Clean Power Plan!By Jan C. Bush

Jan is Chair of the Chapter Energy Team.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will publish its final rule for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants sometime this summer. Known as the Clean Power Plan, the rule will provide a first-ever national framework for transitioning from fossil to clean fuels over the next 15 years. That’s a huge step forward for climate con-servation.

The EPA’s rule will establish emissions reductions goals for each state based on a federal assessment of the state’s existing en-ergy sources and available pathways for re-ducing carbon emissions economically. Each state is to develop a plan to achieve the goal by Summer 2016. If states work collabora-tively and develop more of a regional plan, the deadline will be put off by a year. If a state declines to submit a plan, the EPA will develop a federal plan for it.

The EPA’s intent is to allow states sig-nificant flexibility in how they contribute to reducing the national burden of carbon emissions on our changing climate. Surpris-ingly, our state legislature authorized the Ari-zona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to adopt and enforce a state plan to reduce carbon emissions from existing pow-er plants (SB 1007). While ADEQ waits for the final rule, it is conducting a set of meet-

ings with stakeholders to explore op-tions for Arizona’s compliance.

At a May meeting for stake-holders, staff with ADEQ admitted a preference for rule-making that “influences” rather than “imposes” carbon emissions reductions. To understand that distinction, staff recommended a white paper from Western Resource Advocates on an approach called Carbon Reduction Credit (see http://bit.ly/WRA_car-bonreduction).

ADEQ sees Arizona’s options as being bounded by three param-eters. Depending on how stakehold-ers (including the technical working group and the Legislature) see their interests, planners will choose a state-wide emissions reduction goal that is mass-based or rate-based. Further, planners will need to determine whether the goal applies to a utility’s fleet of electrical generation units (EGUs) or to in-dividual power plants. The Grand Canyon Chapter’s role in this planning process is a natural step in its 50-year effort to protect Arizona’s natural resources. It’s vital that our chapter press state officials to take maximum advantage of the opportunity for improving

our state’s commitment to clean energy re-sources, improving our energy security, and increasing our economic competitiveness.

Specifically, we want to strengthen the plan to retire as much coal as possible and to ensure that public resources are available to Arizona workers and communities in

the transition. We also want to see greater reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy in Arizona’s plan. Arizona can and should lead the way to a clean and equitable national energy economy!

Navajo Generating Station, near Page, Arizona, is one of the most polluting coal-fired power plants in our state and will need to be cleaned up under the Clean Power Plan. Photo by J. Brew.

http://bit.ly/WRA_carbonreduction

http://bit.ly/WRA_carbonreduction



Russell is Energy Chair for the Rincon Group.

Blast from the PastFeeling Warmer These Days? CO2 – The Forgotten Toxic

By Alex Dely

Graph of U.S. economic output per energy output. Created by Russell Lowes.

Smokestacks. Photo by Dori.

See CO2 continued on p. 10.

Energy Efficiency Improves Year After Year in the U.S.By Russell Lowes

In 1973, an international group called Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to up the price on oil and restrict the flow. This move re-sulted in long lines at the gas stations. It also brought to focus our energy reliance problems. We had begun to import oil far beyond our domestic oil production output.

Many consequences flowed from this major ongoing news. It was perhaps the is-sue of the year, or even of multiple years.

These days, energy analysts look back to 1973 often when comparing how we have done since this first major energy wake-up call for the U.S.

In 1973, we used about 76 units of energy, called quads or quadrillion British thermal units (Btu). A Btu is equal to the amount of heat an old English wooden match released, roughly the amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of a pound of room-temperature water by one degree Fahrenheit.

Today, we use about 97 quads per year. You might ask something like, “Wait a min-ute! How could we have only gone from 76

to 97 quads (a 28% increase)? Our economy has expanded much more than that!” You would be right in your observation that our economy has grown much faster than our energy growth. In 2009 dollars adjusted for inflation, we have gone from a $5.4 tril-lion economy (in gross domestic product [GDP]) to $15.7 trillion in 2013. In 2013, our economy grew to 2.9 times the size of the 1973 economy, with only a 28% increase in energy. A small part of this slow energy growth is due to shifting somewhat from manufacturing (which is energy-intensive) to other less energy-intensive uses. However, the vast majority of this slow energy growth is due to using our energy more efficiently.

For example, we might buy a radio to-day that weighs a fraction of the weight of one in 1973. We buy all sorts of things that use less energy to make. Companies of all types have focused on improving profits by reducing energy costs.

The following graph maps our GDP dollars per quad of energy use. It starts in fuve-year increments and progresses to one-year increments.

As you can see, we have relentlessly in-creased our economic output per dollar. This is a good thing. We would be producing far more pollution if we had not. We would be more reliant on energy developed outside

our country, and we would be spending well over $2.2 trillion on energy per year, instead of the $1.1 trillion we currently spend.

Since the start of the industrial revolu-tion, man has released increasingly large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas into the atmosphere, either directly through the combustion of coal, gas, or oil or indirectly through deforestation, fertilizers, freons in aerosol sprays, etc. The rate of CO2 injection is today comparable to the fixation of CO2 in plants through photosynthesis. Once this rate outstrips plant capacity to absorb CO2, man will be performing a global experiment with his environment, one that will have ef-fects which are irreversible for several genera-tions.

An example is the greenhouse effect. The earth absorbs 70% of the sun’s radia-tion. In order for the earth’s surface to keep

NOTE: The following article appeared in the March 1981 issue of Canyon Echo.

a constant temperature, it radiates some of this energy back. The rate of re-emission, however, critically depends on the interplay between heat redistribution phenomena in winds, ocean currents, etc. Any interference with such processes dramatically affects our climate. By far the most drastic disturbance is caused by the release of gases that absorb the infra-red radiation emitted by the earth’s surface. CO2 is such a gas and effectively prevents this energy re-radiation; as a result, the energy remains stored in the atmosphere where it increases the temperature and traps further re-radiation by the earth’s surface.

Several elements in our models of cli-mate remain uncertain, however the follow-ing data is known:

1) From United Nations information, it is clear that between 1958 and 1976, there has been a worldwide increase in at-mospheric CO2 release from 316 to 338 parts per million.2) Fossil fuel combustion (oil, gas, coal) has in the same time interval under-gone an almost exponen-tial increase. Furthermore, most less developed countries are using less than 10% of world fossil fuels as of now. As they develop over the next five decades, the global use will dramatically increase. (Inno-vations in technology usually take about 50 years to achieve large market penetration.)

3) Model calculations of CO2 rate increases show that at our current usage rate, the glob-al CO2 concentration will double by 2050. More significantly, once present, this level



Fossil and Nuclear Plants Kill More Birds than Wind TurbinesBy Russell Lowes

Over recent years, solar energy, wind energy (which can be considered another form of solar energy, as the sun drives the wind), and energy efficiency have emerged as the most desirable energy options. Polls have put solar far above other energy op-tions – far above coal energy and far above nuclear energy. Wind is also heavily favored. As with any energy production shift, there will be winners and losers. The losers in this case are the fossil fuel and nuclear industries.

The objective price and ecology-promoting win-ners are solar, wind, and energy efficiency.

Fossil fuel and nucle-ar promoters present op-positional tactics because they want to protect their financial interests. Exam-ples include these: claims that solar is too expen-sive, even though new solar is now cheaper than new nuclear or fossil fuel

energy per kilowatt-hour; claims that wind and solar are too intermittent; and claims that wind kills too many birds.

For the last few years, the public has been barraged by anti-wind forces. These forces are largely pro-fossil fuel and pro-nuclear in my book. They are even still saying wind is too expensive. This is while the newest wind turbines are cranking out unsubsidized electricity at five cents per kilo-watt-hour – even lower in some cases. Five

cents is roughly the same price of electricity produced from most unregulated old coal plants in the U.S. This is without measuring expenses that never appear on your bill, like

mercury poisoning from coal emissions or methane leakage from the entire “pipeline” of fracked and natural gas, from the fields to the electrical generating stations.

Their latest tactic is to claim that wind turbines kill birds like you wouldn’t believe. This is while they offer no documentation for their claim, other than anecdotal cases.

So what are the facts on bird deaths from wind? A great service has been pro-vided by Benjamin K. Sovacool in his study, with occasional updates, “Contextualizing Russell is Energy Chair for the Rincon Group.

Fuel Source Avian Mortalities in the U.S. Total per Year (per million

kilowatt-hours)

Total Bird Fatalities (per gigawatt-hours)

Wind 7,193 0.269Fossil fuels 14.5 million 5.18 (19 times that of wind)Nuclear 327,483 0.416 (1.55 times that of wind)

Avian Mortality: A Preliminary Appraisal of Bird and Bat Fatalities from Wind, Fossil-Fuel, and Nuclear Electricity.” Results are summarized in the table below.

Next time you hear about how wind is not a viable energy option because it kills too many birds, you can respond by saying the average fossil fuel plant kills 19 times that of wind turbines per unit of energy produced. Based on Sovacool’s study, we could reduce bird kills by replacing fossil fuel and nuclear energy with wind turbines. Solar photovol-taics and energy efficiency could reduce bird deaths even more.

Turbine at Dry Lake Wind Farm. Photo by Kent Knudson.

will drop to half its value only within 1,000 years.4) The 338 parts per million level of 1976 will produce a temperature increase on the earth’s surface of between one and three de-grees [F], which will significantly affect pre-cipitation patterns, ocean currents, and cli-mate in general. It will cause increased acid rain and decreased fertility of agricultural land, and it could cause a rise in sea level of 10 yards, which could destroy many U.S. coastal regions.5) Thorough studies have shown that plants have reached or are reaching their maximum CO2 uptake levels in many areas. That leaves oceans and the atmosphere. If stored in the oceans, CO2 will cause increased acidity and decreased solubility so that, soon, the capac-ity of the oceans to absorb CO2 will dras-tically diminish, thus unleashing the effects described in #4 more rapidly.What can we do?1) We must lobby all utilities, local, state, and federal government agencies not to employ

fossil fuels for energy production. Instead, we must encourage very rapid deployment of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy which would use only the radiation already absorbed by the earth’s surface with-out starting irreversible secondary processes.2) We must discourage, as much as is eco-nomically feasible, deforestation, as it takes away our only natural sink for CO2 absorp-tion which is without harmful side effects.3) We must encourage our government agencies, in dealing with the states or in for-eign aid, not to export technologies based on fossil fuels which will worsen the global CO2 problem.

These are just three immediate solutions among many that we should work for. The problem is worldwide, and acid rain is al-ready causing major problems in our north-eastern states.

Some steps of action include the famil-iar writing to our legislators. Our effects and efforts will be more widely felt, however, if we inform ourselves on all aspects of the tox-

ic waste issue and then present our findings, through publications and through speakers,

In 1981, when this was published, Alex Dely was with the Physics Department at University of Arizona.

What’s Changed Since 1981?1) According to NOAA data, atmospheric CO2 release has increased to 403.7 parts per million (as of May 2015).

2) Projections from Climate Central (http://climatecentral.org) indicate that global energy-related CO2 emissions will rise from 31.2 billion metric tons in 2010 to 45.5 billion metric tons in 2040. Energy use in developing countries is expected to increase by 90% by 2040; industrialized nations will see an increase of 17%. Fossil fuels are expected to supply almost 80% of world energy use through 2040.

3) NOAA data shows that the annual rate of increase in CO2 concentration is more than double the rate in the 1960s. It’s projected that atmospheric CO2 concentration will reach 882.87 parts per million by 2100.

4) Current projections for global temperature change show an increase of 3–9°F by 2100 and an associated 2–7 foot rise in sea level (http://climatecentral.org).

5) Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean acidity has increased by 30%. At current emission rates, ocean pH is expected to drop to its lowest level in the past 100 million years (http://climatecentral.org).

CO2 continued from p. 9.

in our schools, before school boards, at local hearings, etc.



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D Governor Ducey

Legislature Moving Arizona Backwards, One Bill at a TimeBy Sandy Bahr

Sandy is Chapter Director.

You can view the full report card at http://bit.ly/2015SCreportcard.

The first regular session of the 52nd Ari-zona Legislature wrapped up quickly – in only 81 days – which was a good thing as the session focused on taking Arizona back-wards, one bill at a time.

Legislators trashed local control by pro-hibiting ordinances to limit plastic bags and other “auxiliary containers” and banned cit-ies from implementing energy-saving bench-marking, too – all in one bill. This makes Arizona the first state in the nation to ban plastic bag bans, a dubious distinction. To take the Grand Canyon state backwards fur-ther still, legislators passed four bills to seek control of federal public lands through vari-ous means and passed a memorial opposing protection of public lands around Grand Canyon through establishment of Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument.

Despite the anti-environmental bills that advanced, some really harmful legisla-tion failed to pass both houses. Legislators tried to prohibit native plant salvage require-ments and tried to pass legislation to remove Clean Water Act protections from most of our rivers and streams, but those bills did not have the votes to advance. They also did not pass a bill to specifically fund litigation to hinder wolf recovery. A bill that included a repeal of pesticide spraying notification re-quirements in schools did not advance; nei-ther did a proposed repeal of the Clean Elec-tions Act and a measure to include nuclear power in the definition of renewable energy.

The closest the Legislature came to do-ing something positive for environmental

protection is that it specifically authorized the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to adopt and enforce a plan to re-duce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants pursuant to the Clean Air Act. While it is a plus to make sure the state has this authority, legislators did it primarily to keep the Environmental Protection Agency from developing Arizona’s plan for us; ironi-cally, at the same time, legislators passed a memorial to oppose the Clean Power Plan.

In Sierra Club’s report card, all but one Republican in the Senate and House received failing grades, meaning they voted pro-environment on two or fewer bills. On a positive note, four senators and 11 repre-sentatives earned an “A+,” which means they voted 100% for environmental protection and also did not miss a vote on the key bills we scored. Three senators and 10 House members also received an “A.”

Governor Doug Ducey earned a “D.” Although we appreciate him vetoing two of the public lands grab bills, he did sign the ban on banning plastic bags and other dis-posable containers that litter the landscape and fill up landfills. He also signed a bill to restrict Arizonans’ ability to refer measures to the ballot or to engage in the successful recall of an elected official. Governor Ducey was graded on seven bills.

Everyone was graded on a curve. The bills focused on public lands, a plastic bag and energy benchmarking ban, Mexican gray wolves, citizen referenda, and elections.

Thank You!Thank you to everyone who helped with legislative actions in the 2015 session. This session, we conducted four Citizen Lobby Workshops with more than 100 par-ticipants. We worked with our partner groups to organize Environmental Day at the Capitol in which more than 150 people participated. We sent 12 legislative updates that went to more than 1,200 people. The action alerts (on more than 20 bills) in-cluded in these updates resulted in more than 8,000 actions. You made a difference!





Happenings Around the StateSix groups make up the Grand Canyon Chapter. All the events and meetings listed below are open to members interested in learning more about the Sierra Club. You can find out more at our website: http://arizona.sierraclub.org/meetings_events.asp. Schedules are subject to change. (x) Group ExCom members

Rincon Group (Tucson)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/rincon

Chair: vacantConservation: Keith Bagwell (x) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Roy Emrick (x) 520-326-7883 [email protected]: Ken Bierman 520-882-2708 [email protected]: Russell Lowes (x) 520-321-3670 [email protected]: Mitch Stevens 520-647-3823 [email protected]: Judy Rubin 520-891-3310 [email protected]: Lee Oler 520-791-9246 [email protected] (At-Large): Michelle Crow (x) 520-743-9958 [email protected]

Randy Serraglio (x) 520-784-1504 [email protected] Tuell (x) 520-404-0920 [email protected] Weesner (x) 520-290-1723 [email protected]

Palo Verde Group (Phoenix)https://sites.google.com/site/paloverdegroup

Chair/Programs: Michael Brady (x) 480-250-4054 [email protected]: Fareed Abou-Haidar (x) 480-345-1779 [email protected]: Jerry Nelson (x) 602-279-4668 [email protected]: Blair McLaughlin (x) 602-618-8591 [email protected]: Don Steuter (x) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (x) 602-553-8208 [email protected]: Lisa Vaaler 602-468-4158 [email protected] (At-Large): Bettina Bickel (x) [email protected]

Gary Kraemer (x) 602-373-6301 [email protected] Lund (x) 480-664-1069 [email protected]

Saguaro Group (North Maricopa County)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/saguaro

Chair: Bev Full (x) 480-221-2554 [email protected]/Website: Harry Lumley (x) 480-474-4993 [email protected]: Dianne Leis (x) 480-432-9181 [email protected]: Sally Howland 602-663-2889 [email protected]: Urb Weidner 602-595-3301 [email protected]: Peter Weinelt (x) 623-388-2209 [email protected] Outings: Doug Murphy (x) 602-329-3690 [email protected]: Jim Wilkey (x) 480-649-2836 [email protected] (At-Large): Lynne Cockrum-Murphy (x) 602-569-6078 [email protected]

SEP 3 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Conservation Committee meetings. Contact Don Steuter. SEP 10 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Contact Mike Brady. Located at Rollover Donuts Living Space, 10 W. Vernon, Phoenix.

SEP 17 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Free monthly program. The Palo Verde Group offers monthly programs on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30–8 p.m. Located at Rollover Donuts Living Space, 10 W. Vernon, Phoenix. Monthly programs are open to the public. Visit https://sites.google.com/site/paloverdegroup or call 480-990-9165 for more information.

Contact Bev Full for information about the following.

AUG 26 (WED) 5:30 p.m. Saguaro Group Executive Committee meeting and potluck. Located at the home of Doug Murphy and Lynne Cockrum-Murphy.

SEP 27 (SUN) 6:30 p.m. Water Sentinels fundraiser. Sunset and desserts with landscape photographer Dianne Leis. See announcement on p. 4 for details.

AUG 27, SEP 24 (THU) Conservation Committee (6 p.m.) and Executive Committee (7:15 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are open to the public. Sierra Club members, in particular, are urged to attend and to participate. Hope you see you there! Located in the first floor conference room of the Historic YWCA, 738 N. Fifth Ave., Tucson.

The following programs are located at SEIU, 439 N. 6th Ave., Tucson (follow signs to Room 153). Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Keith Bagwell.

SEP 10 (THU) 7 p.m. Arizona’s Legislature – Failing Our Environment, Failing Our Future. Join us for a briefing by Sandy Bahr, Grand Canyon Chapter Director, and for discussion on the 2015 Arizona legislative session and key environmental bills. Find out who made the grade and who failed miserably relative to conserving our land, protecting our wildlife, and addressing key environmental challenges that face our state. There will be a presentation with plenty of time for questions and discussion. Copies of the 2015 Environmental Report Card will be available (also available at http://bit.ly/2015SCreportcard).

Canyon Echo encourages contributors to use Creative Commons licensing.This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCom-mercial-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5 or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105.

All other contributions, including photos, cartoons, and written work, fall under standard copyright restrictions.

Thank you to our Political Action Committee donors!

Sandy BahrRichard FeeJohn M. & Patricia FranklinPaul HirtThomas HulenLauren KubyKathy RoedigerSheila ScanlanPenny SchneckPeter SinclairDon SteuterElizabeth StewartL. K. StromwallFrank & Barbara Welsh

http://sierraclub.org/arizona/club-supported



Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter thanks and very much appreciates Edwards Mother Earth Foundation for its support of our energy efficiency work. Mil gracias!

For information about activities in the Sedona/Verde Valley area, contact Brian Myers.

Sedona/Verde Valley Grouphttp://www.reliablescribe.com/svvg

Chair: Brian Myers (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]: Anne Crosman (x) 928-284-9252 [email protected]: Carole Piszczek-Sheffield (x) 928-204-1517 [email protected]: vacantConservation: Tina Choate (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]: John Sheffield 928-204-1517 [email protected] (At-Large): Paul Rauch (x) [email protected]

Plateau Group (Flagstaff)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/plateau

Chair: Joe Shannon (x) 928-380-9537 [email protected]: Richard Resnick (x) [email protected]: Joan Stoner 928-853-9827 [email protected] (At-Large): Roxane George (x) 928-607-7369 [email protected]

Al White (x) 928-527-8567 [email protected]

Contact Joe Shannon for information about the following.

AUG 13 (THU) 6 p.m. Executive Committee meeting. We will discuss group business. All Sierra Club members are welcome to attend. Located at Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center, 245 N. Thorpe Rd., Flagstaff.

SEP 10 (THU) 6 p.m. Northern Arizona’s Water. Join us for a program on water in Arizona. More information announced soon. Located at Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center, 245 N. Thorpe Rd., Flagstaff.

Yavapai Group (Prescott)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/yavapai

Chair: Gary Beverly (x) 928-308-1003 [email protected]/Conservation: Tom Slaback (x) 928-778-4233 [email protected]/Treasurer: Sandy Geiger (x) 928-710-7691 [email protected]

Contact Gary Beverly for information about the following.

JUL 1, AUG 5, SEP 2 (WED) 6 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Members are welcome and urged to participate in our monthly Executive Committee meetings. These are where we choose the issues we are involved with and do our strategic planning. Located at Yavapai Title Agency, 1235 E. Gurley St., Prescott.

Dear Publications Committee, Save the planet: one forkful at a time!Adopting a plant-based diet is the sim-

plest and cheapest way to combat global warming, reduce water pollution, and even save the rainforests.

In light of mounting evidence that the raising of cows, pigs, and chickens in facto-ries generates enormous amounts of green-house gases, we are calling for a Meat-Free Monday Campaign. A 2010 United Na-tions report concluded that a shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The recent shutdown of drinking water for the entire city of Toledo, Ohio, raises a huge red flag. Manure run off from factory raised animals and fertilizers used to grow feed-crops can cause algae-excreting deadly cyanobacteria. Rather than spending our hard earned dollars to upgrade sewer sys-tems, there is another way. People can take personal responsibility and choose what they put on their dinner plates.

Water depletion from the immense amount of water required to raise animals and feed-crops is depleting a crucial re-source: water. If we continue pumping out the Ogallala Aquifer at current rates, it’s only a matter of time before most of the wells in the midwest and southwest will go dry.

Letter to the PubComDo you have something to say about Canyon Echo or something in it? Share your thoughts with the Publications Committee! Send your letter to [email protected]. (Note: Not all letters will be printed in the newsletter.)

That’s not all. Livestock production is responsible for 70% of deforestation in the Amazon region of Latin America, where rainforests are being cleared to create new pastures and crop production.

We encouraged the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to pass a resolution calling for resi-dents to refrain from eating animal products one day per week. It recognizes the benefits of a diet consisting of nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables to improve personal health and the health of the planet.

We encourage families, schools and res-taurants to go meat-free (at least) one day per week.

To read our fact sheet, actions to take, resources, meal ideas, and sample city resolu-tion, please visit http://www.neosierragroup.org/meat-free-mondays.

You can join the Grassroot Network at https://content.sierraclub.org/grassrootsnet-work/teams/meat-free-monday-campaign.

(Note: Sierra Club’s updated Agricul-ture policy includes this statement: “Per-sonal dietary choices that minimize or eliminate meat and animal products should be encouraged, due to their many benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas impacts, water pollution, and inhumane treatment of animals.”)

–Laurel Hopwood

National Drive Electric WeekSeptember 12–20

National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today’s widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and to highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles. Events will be held across the nation, including right here in Arizona!

To find a celebration near you, please visit https://driveelectricweek.org.

http://www.neosierragroup.org/meat-free-mondays

http://www.neosierragroup.org/meat-free-mondays

https://content.sierraclub.org/grassrootsnetwork/teams/meat-free-monday-campaign



Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFind more events and opportunities on our online calendar at http://www.sierraclub.org/arizona/outings.

ATTENTION, CURRENT AND POTENTIAL OUTINGS LEADERS!

Are you interested in leading outings for Sierra Club? Or are you a current leader who needs to update your first aid or outings leader certification?

Outing Leader Training 101 and First Aid Certification Saturday, July 25

9 a.m. (first aid) and 1 p.m. (OLT) Desert Broom Library meeting room 29710 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix

Cost for first aid is $25; scholarships are available. OLT 101 is free. These courses are required of all Sierra Club outing leaders. First aid training is required every three years, and OLT 101 is required every four years.

RSVP required by July 23. To sign up or for more information, please contact Sandy Bahr at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

JUL 20–21 (MON–TUE) “B” Kendrick Peak Hike and Campout (9.2 mi. RT, 2700’ EC). Camp in a yurt or basic cabin near Kendrick Peak northwest of Flagstaff on Monday, hike the peak Tuesday morning. This is a very well-liked hike for its scenic and well-graded trail up the forested slopes to the fire tower lookout at the top with great scenic views. RSVP as early as you can so we can secure needed yurt and cabin reservations. Cost: $45 per person includes camp fees, Monday’s dinner, Tuesday’s breakfast, and a packed lunch. Contact Pete Weinelt at 623-388-2209 or [email protected].

JUL 26 (SUN) “C” San Pedro River Trail, Sierra Vista (2.5–3.5 mi., <500’ EC). Join us for this moderate early morning hike in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, which is beautiful. Expect to see lots of birds and small wildlife. Summer is amazing here! Don’t expect a high-speed hike as we will pause for photography and observing birds, insects, and plants. Limit 10. Contact Beth Ann Krueger at [email protected] (preferred) or 520-405-5470 or sign up at http://www.meetup.com/Sierra-Adventure-Meet-up. Tucson

AUG 7–9 (FRI–SUN) “C” Car Camping and Hiking in the Pinaleños/Mt. Graham. Various hikes possible. Spend a weekend (or a day) in the high country around Mt. Graham. Enjoy the cool air and beautiful views of this highest of southern Arizona’s Sky Islands. We will camp in a group campsite on Friday and Saturday nights and take hikes during the day. Saturday’s dinner will be a potluck, with everyone contributing some camp cooking. We will talk about wilderness around the state and the Mt. Graham Wilderness Study Area, specifically. Contact Meg Weesner at 520-290-1723 or [email protected].

AUG 10–16 (MON–SUN) “C” Raft the Green River-Flaming Gorge and Browns Canyon. Carpool to Arches National Park to hike and attend a ranger talk. Drive to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to camp and explore Flaming Gorge Lake. Launch rafts at the Flaming Gorge Dam, float through easy rapids in clear water and beautiful canyons. Camp along the Green River three nights in improved campgrounds to hike and swim. We will encounter very few people, visit historical landmarks, and

celebrate a new National Monument in Browns Canyon. Return shuttle on the 15th and drive to Moab to stay at a campground. Cost: $300, includes raft rentals, shuttles, campground fees, and food in camp. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

AUG 22 (SAT) “C” Upper Sabino Box (6.3 mi. RT, 1600’ EC). The hike will start at the Box Camp Trailhead in the cool at the top of Mt. Lemmon. Our route will follow the Box Camp and Box Springs trails to upper Sabino Canyon and wade down-canyon to the upper Sabino Box. There are several beautiful waterfalls, a slot that is deep enough to swim, and a natural waterslide to enjoy. The off-trail return trip will take us up canyon to the Sunset Trail parking area and from there we will hike back to the Box Camp Trailhead. Participants should have off-trail hiking experience in wet canyons. Contact Donald Smith at 520-591-9938 or [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 6 (SUN) “B” Chiricahua Crest Trail (11 mi. RT). Join us for an enjoyable and moderate hike in the lush and cool high country of Chiricahua Wilderness. Wildflowers and new vegetation have taken over many of the slopes where the fires of 2011 once raged. If the monsoon is productive this year, the wildflower show should be prolific. The

highlights of the day will include Centella Point (beautiful panoramas) and Winn Falls, a thundering waterfall at this time of the year. We will observe and discuss the diverse ecology and fascinating geology of this beautiful sky island range in southeastern Arizona. This hike will be set up as a car shuttle so we may drive out the evening before and car camp. We will start at Rustler Park and culminate the hike at Herb Martyr Campground. Contact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 7 (MON) “C” Labor Day on Mt. Lemmon, Aspen Loop Trail (4 mi., 800’ EC). We will start early and drive to Marshall Gulch high in the Santa Catalina Mountains. During a snack break, we will discuss the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, the effects of the Bullock and Aspen Fires (2002 and 2003), and the role of natural fire in southern Arizona’s Sky Islands. Limit 15. Contact Meg Weesner at 520-290-1723 or [email protected]. Tucson

SEP 11–19 (FRI–SAT) Section Hike the John Muir Trail; South Lake to Mount Whitney (96 mi.). Backpack a section of the beautiful John Muir Trail. Seven days/six nights of backpacking, averaging 13.5 mi. per day and elevations ranging from

8000–14505’. Must be an experienced backpacker. Temperatures could be below freezing at night, and bear canisters are required. We will leave our cars at Whitney Portal and arrange for a shuttle service to transport us to South Lake. For the complete itinerary and other details, see the Meetup post at http://www.meetup.com/Sierra-Club-Grand-Canyon-Chapter or contact Sam Hunt at [email protected].

SEP 14–17 (MON–THU) “C” North Rim Hikes and Camping. Multiple hikes along the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Camping three nights at a group campsite inside the park. Enjoy the beauty and early fall colors at the 8000’ elevation, along with awesome canyon vistas and viewpoints. Cost: $85 per person includes campground fees, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts, and 2 days’ lunch fixings. RSVP soon so we can secure campground reservation. Contact Pete Weinelt at 623-388-2209 or [email protected].

SEP 28–30 (MON-WED) “C” Visit Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Camp at public campground on beach near Lake Powell Resort. Take the ferry across Lake Powell to the monument to spend time exploring this natural wonder. Swim in Lake Powell and/or rent a kayak for fun in the clean warm lake. Meals will be provided in the campground. The shuttle cost is $125, and the meals and campground fee are $40 per person. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

OCT 8–13 (THU–TUE) “C” Labyrinth Canyon Canoe and Kayak. Join the annual Columbus Day weekend canoe and kayak outing. This stretch of the Green River is relatively undisturbed, but it is seriously threatened by nearby oil and gas development. Sierra Club and other groups are working to preserve this treasure as a national monument or wilderness area. Cost: $225, includes canoe rentals and equipment, shuttles and campground fees, and meals along the river. Dinners are on our own in the fun Moab restaurants. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].











The Sierra Club is a nationwide organization with active local outings for members and non-members. Please join us as we make friends and explore life-enriching interests. Simply find an outing by date and contact the leader for directions, reservations, time, and additional information. RESTRICTIONS: NO FIREARMS, RADIOS, OR PETS (unless noted otherwise). Outings are by reservation. Call early (group limit 20). Each hike is rated for degree of difficulty and risk by the leader.

“A” >16 miles or >3,000 ft. elevation change (EC)“B” 8–16 miles and 1,500–3,000 ft. EC“C” 3–8 miles, 500–1,500 ft. EC RT Round Trip“D” <3 miles and 500 ft. EC OW One Way

The trip leader has absolute authority to question trip participants as to their equipment, conditioning, and experience before and during the trip. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate in an outing, please go to http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/local-outdoors/resources or contact the Na-tional Outings Dept. at 415-977-5528 for a printed version. Sierra Club liability covers leaders only. Each person is responsible for his/her own first aid equipment. If you are injured, notify the leader immediately. If you leave the trip, with our without the leader’s permission, you are considered to be on your own until you rejoin the group. Hikers are encouraged to carpool and share the driver’s fuel expense. Donations are accepted from all participants at $1 (member) and $3 (nonmember). Money is collected by the leader and deposited with the group treasurer. For more information, contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554. Hikes and outings are also listed online and in the Sierra Singles newsletters. CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Hiking Guidelines

Grand Canyon Escalade – Save the ConfluenceBy Stu Williams

It’s a Navajo tradition to bury a new-born child’s umbilical cord in his or her birthplace, connecting them permanently to Dinétah, the Navajo homeland. Renae Yellowhorse, public face of the broad-based Navajo grassroots community organization Save the Confluence, is similarly connected to this sparsely-populated part of the reserva-tion known as the Bodaway-Gap Chapter.

After college, Renae returned home to Bodaway-Gap. The red-soil sagebrush land down-cuts dramatically, from mesa top to the Little Colorado River Gorge. The “Con-fluence” is where the Little Colorado flows into the Colorado River.

It’s a shared landscape. To the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni the Confluence marks the emergence into this world and sustains their cultural identities. A midair commercial jet collision in 1956 killed 128 people at the promontory at the Confluence, which is now a National Historic Landmark. The Confluence is the geographic beginning of Grand Canyon, America’s second-most-vis-ited national park.

Bodaway-Gap was in a “deep freeze” to all development for almost 50 years until a Hopi-Navajo land dispute was adjudicated in 2009. Abruptly, a resort hotel, shopping

center, and rim-to-river “Escalade” project was proposed by a Scottsdale-based devel-oper. An aerial gondola would move hun-dreds or thousands of visitors a day to the bottom of the canyon, forever altering a na-tional landmark that has avoided such past schemes as railroads and serial dams. Light and noise pollution, visual blight, power lines, paved roads, and tour buses – not to mention adverse water impacts – would dis-place traditional sheepherding and sustain-able ranching on land used by a scattered group of Navajos who’ve lived there for gen-erations.

“My grandparents lived their whole lives here, into their 80s. I still have many relatives here,” says Yellowhorse. “Tokeniz-ing a place with such a development is utter-ly disrespectful to my clans and to the Diné [Navajo] people.”

Confluence Partners LLC, the devel-oper, pursued and obtained support from former Navajo tribal officials, including former President Ben Shelly. The project was most certainly dealt a setback as a result of the April 21 presidential election, which resulted in a lopsided victory by opponents Russell Begaye and Jonathan Nez over then President Joe Shirley.

Other obstacles to the project remain. David Uberuaga, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent, is adamantly opposed to it. The Hopi cultural resources office is vocal in its opposition. American Rivers listed the Colorado River as Most Endan-gered for 2015, citing the project as one of the river’s chief threats. Major media have featured the project’s pros and cons. Should the project advance, despite Begaye recently restating his opposition, a legal solution may be needed, as riverfront access is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

“They can take this decision to the Supreme Court,” says Yellowhorse, “if it takes that to defeat this proposed project.”

For now, what’s a concerned non-Nava-jo citizen to do? “Write letters to the Navajo Nation Parks office expressing dislike for the project,” says Sarana Riggs, a community or-ganizer. “Be sure to ‘Like’ Save the Conflu-ence on Facebook and support that organi-zation however you possibly can.”

Stu first visited the Confluence by river in 2012.

Colorado River downstream from the confluence. Photo by Stu Williams.

Jennifer Martin takes the plunge into Fossil Creek. Photo courtesy of Chuck Necker.



Sierra Service OpportunitiesGet involved and make a difference! Join us for these exciting service outings!

Water Sentinels Monitoring San Pedro River: Thursday, July 16, August 13, September 24

Verde River: Saturday, July 11, August 22, September 19 Contact: Jennifer Martin, 602-254-8362, [email protected]

Get your feet muddy and your hands wet with the Arizona Water Sentinels! These are great opportunities to help protect our important rivers. Volunteers are needed to take water samples and to make field observations. A group also monitors shallow groundwater levels in wells in the Murray Springs Clovis Site and near the San Pedro River near Sierra Vista. These data help track impacts to the rivers and to advocate for their protection. What could be better than spending a day in gorgeous scenery while working to make a difference?

Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Sunday, July 26, September 20

Contact: Jennifer Martin, 602-254-8362, [email protected] us restore habitat! Join us for an invasive weed pull and clean-up at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, just south of downtown Phoenix. Once a dump site, the area is now a lush riparian corridor that supports a variety of wildlife and recreation opportunities. We need help removing trash and buffelgrass, a non-native, invasive species that alters habitat and increases fire risk. Snacks, drinks, gloves, and tools provided.

Protecting Wild Places Near and FarBy Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida

Last month, I went to a workshop at Ar-izona State University (ASU) that included a talk about Oak Flat. I am worried about the social justice and environmental problems at Oak Flat. There are two issues, besides the fact that my future children may never get to see Apache Leap and Oak Flat, that bother me the most. They are the destruction of beautiful, sacred land that the San Carlos Apache are culturally tied to and the plan to manage the tailings pile by keeping it wet.

If, for some reason, the tailings pile can’t be kept wet all the time, a dust storm will blow into Phoenix from the tailings site. The wind will pick up chemicals from the tailings that make people sick. All that toxic dust will cover everything in the Phoenix area. Does Rio Tinto not understand that we live in a desert, that we are in the middle of a huge drought, and that the climate crisis will more than likely make it worse?

The workshop at ASU was led by Ilka Blue, an ecologist and artist from Australia. Ilka talked about two things that give me

hope that we can save Oak Flat. The first is that the community of Kimberley, Austra-lia, faced something similar to our Oak Flat situation. The community stood up against a fracking proposal, which would have killed wildlife and destroyed beauty. Together, the people of Kimberley protested and demon-strated, and they stopped the fracking plans!

The second inspiring subject Ilka talked about is that the Whanganui River in New Zealand was recently granted the legal rights of Personhood. The Whanganui River is now a protected entity and the Whanganui Iwi and national government have been named the legal custodians in charge of making decisions in the river’s best interests. The river was given Personhood because the Whanganui iwi fought for this in court. The Whanganui iwi have spiritual connection to their river, just like the Apache’s cultural ties to Oak Flat.

Oak Flat and Apache Leap are beautiful places that deserve similar love, honor, and respect as what the Whanganui iwi show

Anna Rose is a youth climate crisis activist in Mesa and an active member of Sierra Club. Visit her blog at https://kidsclimateactionnetwork.wordpress.com to connect.

(From left) Ehrick Howland, Sally Howland, Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida, Trey Miller, and Staci Kutzler help with a river clean-up. Photo courtesy of Kathy Mohr-Almeida.

their river and actions like what the people of Kimberley took to protect their beautiful place. If we join together, protest, demon-

strate, hope, and pray together, we will be successful together in saving one of Arizona’s most threatened beautiful places.

Volunteers monitor groundwater levels near San Pedro River. Photo by Jennifer Martin.

O 50 Years: C e - Sierra Club David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected] Fundraising:...

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