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Home My WebLink About073025 - Director’s Notes_ From Loren Blackford_ July 2025ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. <http://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe9b13727661047e75/m/1/SCLogo_HorizWebBlack_200x72pxforCM.png> Dear John, As you might have heard, Ben Jealous has gone on leave. While he is on leave, as is Sierra Club standard protocol, I am serving as Acting Executive Director. Having previously served as Interim Executive Director, and as Sierra Club Board President and Sierra Club Foundation Board Chair, I bring deep familiarity with our strategies, our team, and the communities we serve. Our leadership team, our board, and the entire organization remain committed to our mission and strategic vision, and we will continue to propel the Sierra Club forward without wavering in that commitment. We started this month with the passage of the single most anti-environment bill in American history. There is no sugarcoating it. But our fight against the bill did yield some victories. Before the final passage of Trump's tax and budget "megabill," we were successful in mobilizing public pressure to beat back some particularly extreme provisions in the bill – including the forced sale of millions of acres of public lands and a new excise tax on wind and solar. Closing out this month, Trump’s EPA proposed the evisceration of emissions standards <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac503180ddcde3261d15d6f8094790783eac48f3843866def6f05982e26 ce586c17e88690d4c398a12ae30659e64ccd75e> for cars and trucks, and rescission of the Endangerment Finding <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfacd66fe43e8c3d26894172bf0fff9c22bd9f28 e9c38f759ee5bbf6a6934d8af47790359df74632b86e5b53cc3942a0b015> – EPA’s landmark finding in 2009 that carbon pollution endangers public health and welfare, which is the foundation of federal climate action. The Sierra Club will fight the Trump administration’s efforts to undo these life-saving protections every step of the way. Our coalition has been preparing for this unlawful action – and we’ll plan to see the Trump administration in court. More highlights from our successful legal and grassroots actions you support are enclosed below. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. If you have any questions, I welcome the opportunity to connect directly; please don’t hesitate to contact me at loren.blackford@sierraclub.org <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac4803c6a37e634a96538fcedf3fc781aedd 3241b603b86b429243164883a55fb0f689c92b1f22b17c9f10ae3c20e50e8a> or reach out to Shabina Bahl, our Chief Advancement Officer, at shabina.bahl@sierraclub.org <mailto:shabina.bahl@sierraclub.org?subjec t=> . Loren <https://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe9b13727661047e75/m/1/e5d61d8b-4302-49b5-ad85-db5c22063da7.jpg> ________________________________ SPOTLIGHT: Sierra Club Racks Up Legal Wins * Sierra Club helped secure a victory in California when a federal court upheld <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac49741f0a61d58ddffa47391cb87e4352019abbc76be16621be7f304486d817 55a8171b7f2a4a80509fd4e65bf0813f4e> the South Coast Air Quality Management District's zero-emission boiler rules against a challenge brought by anti-electrification industry groups. Sierra Club, the People's Collective for Environmental Justice, and Industrious Labs, with representation from Earthjustice, intervened to help defend the standards in court. * An administrative law judge sided with consumers and the environment <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac97e588c11f0112ab60538c8d4a8c067901f15d5c452902ed32edd6f3d59aadedff56dbd a16476ccb2b62fe08ee40fb1c> , and slammed a proposed BlackRock buyout of Minnesota Power, finding that the equity acquisition of the public utility would result in “net harm.” * The Boise City Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance as part of a settlement with the Sierra Club, represented by Wrest Collective, resolving a lawsuit <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfaca80f9b27947aa82ef3b7cf47ed1b6d725918682863a85227373fbbb059f1ae65578a7fe5f33e90678abdee1d61660421> over an outdated city statute that violated the First Amendment. Chapter Highlights <https://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe9b13727661047e75/m/1/73ac8f60-97c5-43a1-9bfd-9e2bffecac0f.jpg> <https://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe9b13727661047e75/m/1/7c6458e6-04c5-493f-8cf3-f074600179a6.jpg> Photo Credit: Devon Young Cupery * Wisconsin: Thanks to an incredible wave of creativity and action, the Wisconsin Chapter’s Fish for the Future campaign shattered a world record with 86,262 origami fish sent in from across the globe! What began as a bold idea grew into a nationwide movement uniting students, families, faith groups, and activists to demand the shutdown of Enbridge’s dangerous Line 5 pipeline and protect the Great Lakes we all cherish. The campaign has sparked hope, connection, and lasting momentum. The fish will continue to travel and amplify calls for climate justice and tribal sovereignty. The origami fish, received from all 50 states and even a handful of other countries, included handwritten notes of solidarity and love for the Great Lakes and our planet. One message read: “Because of people like you I believe we will be ok, and our children and their children will have a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature.” That’s why we do what we do. Read the full story, see photos, watch press conferences, and learn how you can keep the movement swimming forward here. >> <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a6 24448be9bfac319520ccd6d01db9c0e54b2fc4490614aa8a2cc1b7b1a2be7850eb7683014e04e2a1b64cb4beaf725c8b57c91a767c9a> Thank you for everything! Again, please reach out to me at loren.blackford@sierraclub.org <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac4803c6a37e634a96538fcedf3fc781aedd3241b603b86b429243 164883a55fb0f689c92b1f22b17c9f10ae3c20e50e8a> or Shabina Bahl, our Chief Advancement Officer, at shabina.bahl@sierraclub.org <mailto:shabina.bahl@sierraclub.org?subject=> . <https://image.emails.sierraclub.org/lib/fe9b13727661047e75/m/1/8c7e7c3f-4879-4901-a344-c1648c1618b4.jpg> This email was sent to: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us This email was sent by the Sierra Club 2101 Webster St Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612 Unsubscribe <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac84807ca2102ccd601c80f2d39ed68e7141edc08340d87fb84303b96cd681b83cf76baae4b42e8a747162bfdb6a822117bcf39b60a0a06460> | Manage Preferences <https://click.emails.sierraclub.org/?qs=24a624448be9bfac0fc6e8f7193878dd3c86a878bf0ebaf4c8833b8ac3144397001fd4d8220f0c8362bc79abc333a8ffdef3a1023501d5f588976f0a8005f03a> | View as web page 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