H20

Take action today to Stop the Jenks Dam construction! Please sign this petition!

I know this is worrying some folks, me included, so I was glad to read this, from Politico:
o Politico: Biden climate chief says there isn't much spending GOP can claw back from IRA.

 “White House adviser Ali Zaidi said the Biden administration is racing to lock in the hundreds of billions of clean energy investments in its landmark climate law — a pledge that comes as former President Donald Trump is vowing to dismantle the whole effort.”

 “Zaidi’s comments come as Trump, the GOP nominee, has blasted the law as a ‘green new scam’ and promised to claw back unspent funding from the IRA if he wins the presidency. But some Republican lawmakers have said they favor preserving parts of the law, which is generating investments in battery factories and other energy projects in red states. And House Speaker Mike Johnson said last week that he’d favor using ‘a scalpel and not a sledgehammer’ when it comes to rolling back pieces of the law.”

I mean, what is not to love about building battery factories on U.S. soil and upgrading our energy system and grid?

This is Climate Week in New York City. Not sure about what we need to do? Click here!

The Global To-Do List. One year, seven actions. One year, seven global actions. “It’s time for a reality check. We can’t keep making ambitious commitments but then only half implementing them. We can’t aff...

Headline news distracts us from what we need to be paying attention to: climate change and how to protect our earth. The urgency for action on the climate crisis continues to grow: July marked the 13th consecutive month that global average temperatures set new monthly records, and the 12th consecutive month of temperatures being 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Climate change is a material risk to life as we know it and has to be factored into every investment decision.

As Climate Week in NYC approaches, I was excited to see this wonderful video from one of the giants who protects the New York State Employee's Pension plans, Tom DiNapoli. I've worked with him and his office on submitting their shareholder resolutions to Oklahoma companies. https://youtu.be/qLf1LqlLVM0?si=uR3fC24W6Wr4DnDD

Any time you get depressed about what our future looks like, just know how thousands of people and trillions of dollars are working for the common good.

Charting the Course: Q&A with Tom Dinapoli, NYS Comptroller | RFK Compass Investors The urgency for action on the climate crisis continues to grow: July marked the 13th consecutive month that global average temperatures set new monthly recor...

You might not know that this matters to you, but it does. As more citizens / investors move their money in the direction of their values, this roadblock was constructed, primarily by the fossil fuel industry. State legislatures took language provided by the energy industry (this practice began with long gone OK's Scott Pruitt) told managers of pension plans for state employees how they could, and could not, manage using factors we call ESG...or sustainable impact principles.

So, if you thought that climate change could hurt your pension, tough luck. Oil companies wanted to squash you. Recently, the Oklahoma court, Missouri court and now Texas courts have ruled that you can't let the legislature tell portfolio managers what criteria they could use.

"The American Sustainable Business Council sued Texas officials to block a law that restricts state investments with certain financial firms because of their energy policies.

The lawsuit filed Aug. 29 in federal court in Austin, argues the 2021 state law is unconstitutional and it seeks to “coerce and punish” businesses seeking to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The group — a nonprofit that represents thousands of businesses and advocates for environmentally friendly policies — sued Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton, who have been vocal supporters of the measure. In the lawsuit, it argued that the law overstepped and went against the First Amendment.

“It impermissibly infringes rights of free speech and association under a scheme of politicized viewpoint discrimination, based on no legitimate state interest,” lawyers for the group said in the lawsuit.

Representatives for the comptroller and attorney general did not respond to an email and phone call requesting comment.

Just reading Molly Bullock's 10th edition of Watershed. It made my heart race: City of Tulsa workers have been exposed to this toxic material for years. Read the full edition below.

"In an email, Matson expressed dismay at “illegal water wells ruining a multi-million dollar municipal investment.”

De Verges said it’s hard to know the potential health risks of exposure to the compromised groundwater without testing it.

“The chances of having historical impact in West Tulsa, in that area, is high, let's put it that way,” de Verges said. “Much of the contamination in West Tulsa is a soup of things that have gotten into the groundwater over the last hundred years. But a lot of them are things that individuals wouldn't notice.”

Greenish foam, oily slicks and noxious odors have been observed in this part of the Arkansas River for decades. Yet the City of Tulsa planned the Zink Dam development, sold it to voters and began working in the river without educating the public about the risks of exposing construction workers and park users to industrial contamination."

10—That's a Lot of Lead The RPA Leased Area is scheduled to reopen this Friday.

Those who have not yet read Charles Pratts’ below great, this morning’s Tulsa World letter to editor, please take the time to do so! Why, because his important message, especially the last paragraph, is what he and others like me, have been pointing out publicly for years? ... “ The public was not told the true high costs facts in voting back in 2016 for the new Zink Dam & lake package.”

Oh yes, today the Tulsa World gives Mayor Bynum high scores for his tenure? But little mention on how Tulsa taxpayers’ will be paying dearly for years, for his new Zink Dam & Lake’s incorrectly advertised low costs during the Mayor’s 2016 election for his new Zink Dam Lake!

Again, please read what Mr. Pratt a nationally recognized expert, is factually telling us?

https://tulsaworld.com/poor-zink-lake-plan/article_c37e1ca6-5a8d-5f0d-9003-55d8c2e9fa5d.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share



Bob Jackman

This is an important, well-researched document written by Charles Pratt, PE. He cares deeply about our city and our Arkansas River.
Please read this article. You will be glad you did.

Letter: Zink Lake projects can't seem to stay on task by city managers When will our city, controlled by conservative politicians, live within budget and quit conjuring up voodoo economics to justify actions? asks Tulsa resident Charles Pratt.

Arkansas River Events for Labor Day!

Zink Lake Public Meeting, Tonight at 6pm at WaterWorks Art Center, 1710 Charles Page Blvd.
sponsored by the City of Tulsa.
Learn about the opening of the Big Dam Lake events and operations.

Meet my longtime friend MARIA BARNES!

Supporters celebrated Maria Barnes 50th birthday and her burgeoning campaign for District 2 County Commissioner. Maria has been a very thoughtful and dynamic public servant in Tulsa over many years and works to get things done. She listens to everyone who needs help. Her past and continuing service includes Tulsa Human Rights Commission, Dist 4 City Councilor, President of Kendall-Whittier Neighborhood, initiated the Kendall Whittier Main Street program, AND she fosters abandoned dogs!

VOTE for Maria Barnes on your vote-by-mail ballots coming in your mailbox soon!

"I see a future with a transparent County Government and equitable representation for everyone in Tulsa County."

Main drivers of electricity rate hikes are the rising costs of maintaining and expanding grid infrastructure and spikes in fossil fuel prices.
Jeff St. John reports for Canary Media.