Governor Fallin Chooses Foreign Oil Over Oklahoma Property Owners’ Rights 

Jan 11, 2012 - The Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club is disappointed in Governor Fallin’s letter to the President urging him to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.  This approval would give a foreign company the ability to use eminent domain to take land from farmers and ranchers along its path, including in Oklahoma.  These farmers and ranchers would then run the risk of ruin if this pipeline developed a leak or fracture, as the original Keystone pipeline has already done twelve times its first year of existence, even though the foreign oil company stated it would leak at most once every seven years. “With such a broad coalition of opponents, including leaders of the Tea Party and environmental leaders, it astonishes me that Governor Fallin would chose to side with a foreign oil company over hard working Oklahoman farmers and rachers,” says Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club Director David Ocamb. Click here to read the complete Press Release

Oklahoma Chapter Response EPA Regional Haze Plan

Statement from Charles Wesner, Chair of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club:
EPA’s new Regional Haze plan for Oklahoma will help the state move beyond dirty coal-fired electricity and toward a clean energy economy that promotes the health and prosperity of our citizens. It’s time for utility companies to take responsibility for the mess they are creating across the state and clean it up. Oklahomans have been paying the cost of coal-fired electricity with their health, medical bills, and missed work and school days for far too long. Nearly 80,000 children and more than 230,000 adults are currently living with asthma in Oklahoma. In 2007, hospitalizations from asthma cost our citizens $57.9 million. The EPA’s plan will reduce smog pollution, which triggers asthma attacks and other serious respiratory health problems.

This new EPA safeguard is one of several new rules that will help move us beyond coal-fired electricity and toward a clean energy economy that promotes the health and prosperity of our citizens.

It’s time for Oklahomans to demand electricity from cleaner, homegrown resources such as wind and encourage our utilities to do the right thing and retire their outdated, polluting coal plants.

Statement from Whitney Pearson, Associate Organizing Representative with the Sierra Club:
Today, US EPA announced a final implementation plan for Oklahoma to address Regional Haze under the Clean Air Act. Sierra Club applauds EPA’s strong, forward-looking rule that will take significant steps to reduce air pollution that threatens the health of all Oklahomans.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma Gas & Electric continues to fight to stick with the dirty and increasingly expensive status quo. OG&E is asking for a rate increase at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission that fails to account for the EPA’s Regional Haze plan as well as the upcoming, long-awaited mercury pollution safeguard. Burning coal is getting more expensive because the utilities no longer have a free pass to make us sick. Oklahoma ratepayers and the Corporation Commission should pay close attention to ensure that proper planning and accounting has been done, and should consider retiring Oklahoma’s oldest and dirtiest coal plants which is a better option than retrofitting them with pollution controls that won’t entirely rid the plants of dangerous emissions.

Oklahoma is blessed with abundant, homegrown, clean energy resources that we should pursue proactively, for the benefit of our economy and our health.  For more information or questions, contact Whitney Pearson: whitney.pearson@sierraclub.org  

Oklahoma Chapter Response to Governor Fallin's Energy Plan

Statement from Charles Wesner, Chair of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club:  The Governor’s “Oklahoma First Energy Plan” creates a pathway for Oklahoma to move beyond coal and toward energy efficiency, renewable energy, and responsible natural gas generation. Sierra Club recognizes that this plan is a good starting point for complying with the much-needed US EPA pollution safeguards that protect human health and the environment. We applaud Governor Fallin and Secretary Ming for providing leadership in developing this comprehensive plan. We look forward to working with Oklahoma leaders to strengthen the plan and achieve the goal of a clean energy future for our state. For more information, contact Oklahoma Chapter Director David Ocamb at david.ocamb@sierraclub.org

Oklahoma Chapter moves to new office

The Oklahoma Chapter office has moved to 4900 Richmond square, ste 203, Oklahoma City 73118 
(click map icon at right to open up Google Maps view of the new location)

Oklahoma Chapter welcomes new director

David Ocamb is joining the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club as its new Chapter Director. A native Oklahoman, David most recently served as the Political Director for a national political action committee focused on electing American Indian candidates to office, including work on numerous races in Oklahoma.

David’s passion for environmental issues began in high school where he belonged to his high school’s environmental club. It extended to his time at Baylor, where he graduated with his undergraduate degree as well as graduating top in his class with his Masters in Political Science.

Prior to joining the club, David served as Policy Director overseeing the Policy and Communications departments for a gubernatorial campaign in Texas. Additionally, David has worked with a national political messaging and consulting firm, including extensive work on numerous statewide and State Senate races in Oklahoma as well as extensive issue advocacy and grassroots lobbying work with the Environmental Defense Fund and League of Conservation Voters.

Each year the Oklahoma Chapter works at the Oklahoma State House and Senate to suggest legislation and provide input on the bills introduced.  As the only environmental lobbyist there for the entire session, we cover a lot of ground.  Check out our most recent legislative report and our environmental scorecard on our legislative page.

The Coal Free Oklahoma Campaign will not only ensure that no new coal plants or expansions will be permitted in this state, but also focus on the need to phase out existing coal plants to protect the health and safety of our citizens.   There's a lot going on and several ways you can help keep our air clean.  Click to learn more about Beyond Coal