No Data Center PSC Public Hearing Training

 

On Monday, July 13 at 6 p.m., the Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club will host an online workshop to help people submit or make public comments to the state's Public Service Commission regarding data center gas plants. 

While current gas plant plans are not in the Coulee Region, their climate and water effects are not bounded by borders. At a time when our ability to rein in global heating and avoid catastrophic global temperature rises, fighting these systems is imperative.

The club notes, Power- and water-hungry data centers will use enormous and unprecedented amounts of energy. Instead of saying no to these proposed data centers, or fueling them with clean energy, our utilities are recruiting Big Tech to Wisconsin and asking permission to build new gas plants to make Wisconsinites to pay for them. 

Two new proposals include: 

• Foundry Ridge Gas Plant in Darien- this 300mw gas plant proposed in southeast Wisconsin, and the Red Oak Ridge gas plant (below), already faced a lot of scrutiny because of the big public health concerns. A report by the Climate Solutions for Health Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that the plant would lead to higher particulate matter and premature deaths. 
• Red Oak Ridge Gas Plant in Kenosha- This massive 1,100mw (that’s a big plant!) proposed gas plant in Paris, Wisconsin, where there is already a lot of gas infrastructure being built. Despite concerns about the plant, the Trump Administration is fast-tracking the approval. We have filed a lawsuit to stop this fast-tracking. 

These proposals are in addition to the South Oak Creek and Paris Gas plants that are under construction in the southeastern part of the state, and another proposed 1,200 mw gas plant in Calumet. That’s almost 4GW--that’s enough electricity to power about 3 million average homes. To put that in context, Wisconsin only has 2.84 million homes. These gas plants are threatening our water, our health, and climate change in order to fuel data centers here in Wisconsin. 

73% of Wisconsin’s annual water usage already goes to fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Foundry Ridge will use up to 55,152 gallons per day, and the Red Oak Ridge will use up to 335,000 gallons/day. Fresh clean water should be reserved as drinking water for all Wisconsinites and shouldn’t be used to operate new fossil fuel plants that will already be detrimental to our health and climate. 

Learn more at https://www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/energyaction and sign up to participate in the training session at: https://tinyurl.com/WISC-pscprep726

Plastic Free July

Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation which is working toward a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011, the award-winning Plastic Free July campaign is the result of years of hard work. Read the 2025 Impact Report for more details. 

WHY PLASTIC FREE?

Most plastic is made from fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry is counting on increasing plastic production to keep itself going and growing.

Plastic production facilities are often sited in low-income communities and places where people of color live and are affected by the air and water pollution these facilites produce. 

Plastic production is directly linked to the climate crisis. 

Most plastic is discarded and degrades into smaller and smaller pieces in our land, air, and water where living creatures ingest it It never fully goes away; the pieces just get smaller and smaller.

Microplastics have been found in human placentas, umbilical blood, semen, breast milk, plankton, and agricultural crops.

Plastic is full of chemicals that are or may be hazardous to human and animal health.

Plastic pollution in oceans kills and maims thousands of fish, birds, and mammals every year.

Single use plastic foodware is one of the most common forms of plastic waste that ends up clogging waterways, leaching toxic chemicals into habitats, and creating hazards for wildlife.

Plastic food containers, packaging and wrappers may contain PFAS along with hormone disruptors and other chemicals hazardous to health.

 Bottled water is more likely than not to contain microplastics. The type of plastic used for bottled water may leach harmful chemicals, especially if stored in hot conditions or for long periods. 

Many canned products, including beverages, have plastic liners that may leach chemicals and/or microplastics into the products they surround.

Clothing made from plastic, including supposedly "green" options made from "recycled" bottles, shed millions of microplastics into our waterways every time they are laundered.  

Other household items made from "recycled" plastic, from carpets to utensils, can also shed or leach chemicals and particles into our bodies, food and air. 

Schemes to deal with plastic waste like "waste-to-energy" facilities or "chemical" recycling require fossil fuels to operate and result in toxic waste. Burning plastic to generate electricity is the same as burning fossil fuels. Emissions drive global heating.

HOW?

We are so surrounded by plastic it's impossible to completely remove it from out lives. And some use, like for medical equipment and supplies, would be almost impossible to replace. But there's plenty of plastic that we can choose to refuse, like single use foodware, textiles, household products. Start with the PLASTIC FREE PLEDGE, where you choose one single-use item to give up for one month. Then, check the many guides and websites for going further, like

• Plastic Free Guides from the Plastic Pollution Coalition 
• Room-by-room guide for going plastic free from the Sierra Club 
• Life Without Plastic Quick Start Guide 
• Viroqua Plastic Free

WHAT NEXT?

You can't unsee it. Once you know, you have to tell others. Share information and resources. Show videos. Host discussions. Recommend books. Encourage others, including your school, workplace, shopping spots, grocery stores, and community groups, to make better choices and offer plastic-free options. Help events go plastic-free or plastic-lite by offering to contribute reusable utensils or non-toxic, plastic free, compostible foodware. Don't stop.

People Programs

INDEPENDENCE WEEK TOWN HALL: THE AMERICAN IDEA AT 250 

JULY 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ONLINE

Join the National Constitution Center, in partnership with In Pursuit and More Perfect, for a special Independence Week Town Hall exploring how the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of its founding and what this milestone moment calls us to consider about our past, present, and future.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and National Constitution Center Semiquincentennial Scholar Jon Meacham, 11th Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, and Harvard University Professor Danielle Allen join Robert Costa of CBS News for a wide-ranging conversation on the shared principles at the heart of the American idea and the many ways the nation is marking this milestone anniversary. Together, they will also explore the broader challenges and opportunities facing the practice of history today, including how we tell our national story, engage across differences, and connect new generations to the enduring ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

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 On Juneteenth, Building Unity, in partnership with  the Fight For Our Lives Coalition, launched the “Fight For Our Lives Tour.” For 20 straight weekends, the UnityMobile will tour around the state, making new friends and the solidarity connections that we need to build a powerful statewide movement for People, Peace, and our Planet, protecting lives, building power, and advancing a healthy democracy. 

On Sunday, July 5, the tour will stop at the UU Fellowship in La Crosse, 401 West Ave. S. for a 2 p.m. screening of and discussion about the powerful documentary, Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism's Unholy War on Democracy. The event is free and open to all. Learn more at https://www.buildingunitywisconsin.org/ 

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COMMUNITY EVENT with La Crosse INDIVISIBLE  

Tuesday, July 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center

La Crosse Indivisible invites everyone to Black River Beach for an evening of fun, compassion, and community. We will have other area organizations, activities for adults and kids, and food! Come join us and and take part in the fun and learn about resources we have and ways 

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"We the People": A Panel Discussion Series on America 250, Part 1

July 8 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library

This is Part 1 of a moderated panel discussions addressing America’s complicated history. This event aims to reflect on the complex history, narratives, and diverse perspectives that shape our shared understanding of what “we the people” have experienced over the past 250 years since the American Revolution. 

This event will be available via livestream - Please register with an email if you would like to attend virtually.

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"We the People": A Panel Discussion Series on America 250, Part 2

July 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library

Part 2 of the moderated panel discussions addresses  America’s complicated history. This event aims to reflect on the complex history, narratives, and diverse perspectives that shape our shared understanding of what “we the people” have experienced over the past 250 years since the American Revolution. 

This event will be available via livestream - Please register with an email if you would like to attend virtually. 

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July 1 Neighborhood Revitalization Commisdion

 

On Wednesday, July 1, the Neighborhood Revitalization Commission meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall. A big chunk of the agenda is a report on the zoning code update process.

There are many zoning-related documents linked in the agenda, including Zoning 101, an explainer about what zoning is and does. It's a pain that every attachment must be downloaded separately, but at least they are available.

Members of the public may attend in person or by Zoom.

https://cityoflacrosse-org.zoom.us/j/82155464093?pwd=aGw1NWRRUE4xM1RxajJxaTM0QkNUQT09

Participate by phone: 1-312-626-6799

Meeting ID: 821 5546 4093
Passcode: 543969

EWaste Recycling Event Saturday

 

FREE E-RECYCLING EVENT at Dynamic, N5550 Dynamic Way, Onalaska on Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Household items, appliances, outdoor electronics and more will be accepted. See the list at https://facebook.com/events/s/free-electronics-recycling-for/2415335508924643/

Similar events are scheduled for September 12 and November 7.