DETAILS

SUSTAINABLE TENNESSEE

Many voices. Common vision. Moving Tennessee toward a healthy and sustainable future
for its people, places and economy.

SUSTAINABLE TENNESSEE AGENDA
The Sustainable Tennessee Agenda was created by a diverse group of citizens, conservation groups, environmental policy experts, students and representatives of private business and industry. The Agenda provides a roadmap for Tennessee to protect and re-vitalize our economy, our communities, and our quality of life. Click the images below to read the full 2012 Sustainable Tennessee Agenda (15 pg) and the 2012 Sustainable TN Policy & Practice Priorities document (1 pg). If you signed last year - please sign again this year. Click the links below to read and/or sign the Agenda and click here to see who has signed.

Full 2012 Agenda 2012 Agenda Priorities

Click here to SIGN Agenda Click here to SIGN Priorities

MEETINGS & EVENTS

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR WEEKLY UPDATES
For information on upcoming meetings, events, action alerts, and/or to help us distribute the Sustainable Tennessee Agenda to your state legislator CLICK HERE to join our mailing list.

MONTHLY SUSTAINABLE TN STEEERING & POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING - 12pm CST - PHONE CALL
The Steering & Policy Committee attends monthly planning calls. The committee is responsible for developing and implementing strategies & tactics to advance Sustainable TN Agenda Priority issues. Also for setting strategy and tactics for annual meetings including the: Aug Policy/Practice Mtg, Summit, Jan Press Conference, Conservation Education Day and other initiatives .  Workgroup chairs serve on this committee: Air - Mike Crosby, Land   - John Fenderson, Water   - Sandra Goss, Energy - Sam Gomberg, Transportation - Ed Cole. If you are interested in joining us on this call please email us at tec(at symbol)tectn.org with the subject line "Sustainable TN Call".

PRESS CONFERENCE TO RELEASE 2012 AGENDA, JANUARY 25, 2012, 11:30am to 12:30pm- LEGISLATIVE PLAZA - LP-30
Join us to release the 2012 Sustainable TN Agenda and Agenda priorities to the TN Legislature and media.  Over 750 people have been involved in drafting the Sustainable TN Agenda and our goal is to have 200 people sign the Agenda before Jan 25, so we can show broad support for the Agenda and issues. We will also present a copy of the petition supporting Renewable Energy found on Change.org to the TN Legislature on this same day.  Here is how you can help: 1. Please sign the Agenda by clicking the links above and click here for Petition on Change.org 2. Sign up to attend the press conference on January 25 by clicking here. You can also join us at 10:00 on January 25 as we distribute copies of the Agenda directly to State Senators and Representatives or at a House or Senate Environement Committee meeting in the afternoon.  Click here for more details.

SAVE THE DATE: FEB 21 &/or FEB 22, 2012: CONSERVATION EDUCATION DAY
Whether your issue is Green Jobs, Clean Energy, Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining, Clean Water or Clean Air - a Sustainable Tennessee means a sustainable economy and jobs. This is a great day to show a unified front at Legislative Plaza and help our legislators understand the issues.  You may come set up a table for your organization, and/or join us as we meet with key legislators and attend House and/or Senate Environment Committee meetings.

TENNESSEE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY SUMMIT -LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY - NASHVILLE

Collaboration and action were the underlying themes for the Tennessee Sustainable Economy Summit which took place October 28-29 at Lipscomb University in Nashville TN. Featured speakers include Amanda Little, author of Power Trip; Dan Beyer, Mars Petcare; Ray Coss, Nissan North America; David Hess Vanderbilt University; Shari Meghreblian TN Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC); and many more leaders and experts in the business and environmental communities.

The Summit was a collaboration of several groups who hosted separate conferences in the past, including Tennessee Environmental Council, Tennessee Conservation Voters, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Tennessee Alliance for Progress, Tennessee Higher Education Sustainability Association, and Living Well Events. Click here for more information

SUSTAINABLE TN POLICY & PRACTICE MEETING ESTABLISHED TOP ISSUES FOR THE 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Ever wonder why all the environmental groups working for the sustainability in Tennessee do not get together and speak as one voice to push for the issues that matter for Tennessee? WE DO!

This is the fifth year for Sustainable Tennessee, which drafts and implements the Sustainable Tennessee Agenda to identify the most important Policy issues (i.e. legislation) and Practice issues (things you can do at home or in your community) to help support our state.

Last year about 200 individuals and 60 organizations signed onto the Agenda. When we presented it to the Legislature at Conservation Education Day in March about 800 people showed their support for our top issue: Green Jobs in Tennessee.

The group met and established the priority Policy & Practice issues for 2012 at the Aug 17 meeting. Click here for more information.

SUSTAINABLE TENNESSEE ACTIONS
Scroll over text below to activate links:

1. Sign 2012 Sustainable Tennessee Agenda (top of page)

2. Sign Petition on Change.org asking TVA: Dont Slash Renewable Incentives for Home and Business Owners. (More info below)

3. Sign up for TN Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3)

4. Sign up for Green Power Switch Program.

5. Sign up for the TN Climate Action Campaign & Complete an In-Home Energy Evaluation

6. Sign up for Sustainable TN Facebook Page for Action Alerts, Updates and Networking

7. Sign petition to support TN Scenic Vistas Protection Act to stop mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee. Click here to read fact sheet from TN Conservation Voters.

FEATURED ACTIONS & SUCCESSES

Sign Petition on Change.org Asking TVA to Restore Funding for Job-Creating, Renewable Clean Energy
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently announced a 75% cutback in funding for their Generation Partners Program in 2011; this follows a cut of 80% in 2010. The Generation Partners program, "Supports homeowners and businesses that install small-scale renewable generating sources - solar panels or wind turbines, for example - on their property," according to TVA. The program also makes clean, renewable power available to TVA consumers and creates jobs in green power generation. Why does TVA have $5 billion for one new nuclear power plant but not $5 million for program that provides safe, clean local power and creates jobs in Tennessee? Click here to learn more and sign the petition.

Energy Efficient Schools Initiative - VICTORY
In 2011 TN Environmental Council and Sustainable TN members lobbied to help kill a bill that would have done away with the Energy Efficiency Schools Initiative. The program allows K-12 schools to apply for lottery money to carry out projects such as updating heating and cooling equipment and weatherizing buildings to cut operational costs, increase comfort levels in the schools and reduce emissions from power plants. The program has approved nearly $16 million grant applications to date and has $90 million in funding available. That is $16 million to date supporting green jobs in Tennessee.

Forever Green Tennessee - VICTORY
With bi-partisan support, in 2010 and 2011 the Tennessee Senate and House passed a budget with FULL funding for land conservation. More than $16 million was restored for: State Parks Fund: $3.1 million; Local Parks Fund: $3.7 million; Wetlands Fund: $6.5 million; and Agricultural Fund: $3.2 million. We are proud of the role Sustainable TN and the TN Environmental Council members and supporters played in this effort. For more information on the Forever Green TN initiative, click here.

2012 AGENDA PRIORITIES

LightWave Solar team poses with their own solar array in TN

2012 TOP FIVE POLICY PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR TN LEGISLATURE & GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

1. Pass the TN Scenic Vistas Bill to ban Mountaintop Removal Mining practices.
2. Support growth of clean energy markets, energy conservation and green jobs.
3. No new nuclear power plants and no nuclear waste to TN landfills.
4. Pass a resolution requiring TVA to have a renewable portfolio standard.
5. Restructure Air Control Board to improve representation of health and quality of life concerns.

Click here to read fact sheet with more info.

2012 TOP FIVE PRIORITY PRACTICES FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS & COMMUNITIES

1. Conduct home energy audit (goal is 700) then join your local Climate Action Team and/or become a Climate Protection Advocate through the TN Climate Protection Campaign.
2. Recycling, composting and waste reduction
3. Improve/increase food security/local & sustainable production.
4. Support and use state and local parks & greenways; and develop and increase awareness of blueways (water "trails" with launch access and other points of interest)
5. Join, support and promote the TVA Green Power Switch program for home, school and business.

MEDIA & NEWS

Sustainable TN responds to 2010 Middle Tennessee Flood & 2010 BP Gulf Oil Spill - The Sustainable TN coalition developed the following recommendations for actions Tennessee residents can take in response to both of these environmental disasters. 2010 TN Flood and 2010 Gulf Oil Spill

2009 Sustainable TN Summit - John McFadden speaks with Susan Shann on Earth Revolution

The Tennessean November 8, 2009

The Tennessean November 4, 2009

RESOURCES

Sustainable Tennessee Facebook Page

Find TN State Senators & Representatives

Click here for legislative Skills Briefing from Stewart Clifton

Download tips on talking to reporters and from Representative Brenda Gilmore building effective relationships with your elected officials.

Lobbying Fact Sheet for 501c3 Non-Profit Organizations

SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS

Sustainable Tennessee is a project of the Tennessee Environmental Council a 501c3 non-profit organization. Membership in the Council and/or your contributions help support our year-round efforts to develop and implement the Sustainable Tennessee Agenda. A contribution of just $25 will help offset costs for one person to attend one of our meetings or events throughouth the year. Thank you for your support!

Please click here to donate.

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE TENNESSEE
Natural resources are the backbone of our economy, our quality of life, and our Tennessee heritage. Tennessees leadership in environmental sustainability offers many benefits for our citizens. For example clean energy will create jobs, reduce health care costs, enhance national security, restore our environment, protect our children and make our state a leader in climate change solutions.

The Sustainable Tennessee coalition was founded in 2007, with the goal of developing a statewide Sustainability Agenda which includes the input of a broad group including citizens, conservation groups, environmental policy experts, elected officials, and representatives of private businesses, industry, educational institutions and more. The coalition focuses on issues related to land, air, water, and energy.

The Sustainability Agenda includes the contributions and support of over 750 participants and 250 organizations statewide since 2007. The coalition meets throughout the year to develop and implement the Agenda, and each November the group comes together for the Annual Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee.

Sustainable Tennessee is a project of the Tennessee Environmental Council a 501c3 non-profit organization in association with Tennessee Conservation Voters. For more information or to join our coalition, contact tec(atsymbol)tectn.org.

Natual resources form the backbone
of our economy, quality of life
and our Tennessee heritage.