Our national parks are one of our most valuable resources. For decades, democrats and republicans have worked together to keep them protected but in the face of big money and corporate lobbyists, they may be sold off for development and lost forever.

The Department of Natural Resources in Indiana is proposing the re-model of a landmark building to put in a restaurant and bar. They are leasing this building for $1500.00 a month, plus 2% of the net gross. They are also allowing a building to be built that would be used for weddings, meetings etc., and possibly in the future a Hotel. This park was just named the 7th best state park in the nation. They have been working on this deal for over 3 years, while telling the public they were working just on getting the building renovated. They told the public last week the contracts have been signed. This lease is for 30 years. Who gets to rent an existing two story building on Lake Michigan for 1500.00 a month? The parking lots are there for the people who come to the Dunes and the beach to use, not private enterprise. No alcohol is allowed in any state park, but it will be in this bar. Now the question is who owed who a political payback to reap this sweet deal. Stop the DNR from destroying this beautiful park.

If we don't act now, we will continue to wreak havoc on our food supply by destroying the micro-organisms and worms in the soil, eliminating milkweed (monarch's food supply) and potentially losing our pollinators through poisoning of our soils in general. There has been extensive research now which is available to everyone that may not realize the importance of this.

Continuing the issuance of tax credits for installation of solar systems for transforming the sun's rays into electricity is a good idea. I have done considerable research on this and feel that it is beneficial for our environment. I am now installing solar panels and want others to have the same opportunity to choose this avenue without penalty from the legislature.

This bill will make Illinois a front-runner in clean energy; it would dramatically improve energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions plaguing our environment, and create an estimated 30,000 jobs annually. In the words of bill sponsor Senator Dan Harmon: “This bill benefits people in every part of Illinois, in our biggest cities, in suburbs, in farming communities — anywhere where people would gain from new jobs, better health and a cleaner environment." Urge your local representatives to sign onto this bill and for Governor Rauner to support this path to job creation and clean, renewable energy.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission will soon be deciding whether to grant a new permit for TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline. But the PUC has said it will not allow the public to testify at the hearing on May 5th -- The SD PUC is attempting to limit the testimony to a few written submissions. They are refusing to hear the people. Let's remind them they work for the people, and that means allowing their voices to be heard. Stand in support of Tribal Nations, farmers and ranchers in South Dakota who are fighting Keystone XL, and join their call on the Public Utilities Commission to let all of the voices be heard at the hearing on May 5. South Dakota Tribes along with Dakota Rural Action have filed official objections to TransCanada's permit application for Keystone with the SD PUC, and will be among those parties allowed to testify at the hearing on May 5. But there are many voices of those who stand in solidarity to protect the land and water that won't be heard, unless we convince the PUC to change course and add a public comment portion to the hearing, so the wide range of voices with concerns about this massive threat to our heartland, climate and the well being of women and children are heard. Sign the petition: Let the people's voices be heard on Keystone XL.

We've been asked to reduce the water we use. No one should be exempt, especially the highest users of water in California.

Once home to the CA grizzly and CA condor, the Santa Ana Mountain range is severely threatened by urban sprawl, pollution, altered fire regime, abuse and neglect. Currently, there are multiple landowners, including US Forest Service, OC Parks, Riverside County Parks, Rancho Mission Viejo, CA State Parks, military, NGOs, private individuals and investment groups. The US Forest Service owns one of the largest portions, but lacks the budget and staff to adequately manage for natural and cultural resource value.

Established in 2005, the Washington Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Program (CRP) provides an annual payment of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity from qualifying wind electric systems – as currently enacted – until June 2020. Several factors have limited distributed wind in Washington State, and the incentive is now being revamped primarily to benefit solar electric systems. The existing incentive rate for wind has not been sufficient to motivate consumers to act. Even though the capital costs are higher for distributed wind, the incentive rates for solar have been much higher, particularly for numerous adders not available for wind. In addition, the $5,000 annual cap on payments per participant limits the size of wind turbines that can be cost-effectively installed. Current proposed legislation, including HB 2045 and SB 5892, will either treat wind and solar technologies the same despite wind's higher capital costs, or eliminate the wind incentive entirely in 2016. Alongside efforts to revamp and extend Washington's Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Program for solar, we're urging legislators to consider wind as an important emerging source of distributed generation, jobs, and wealth for Washingtonians. Please contact your legislators and ask them to strengthen and extend the state incentive for distributed wind!

We in California are obviously suffering from a severe drought, and everyone in the state needs to do something significant. As agriculture, industry, and mining--including oil and gas drilling--use by far the most water, they need to do the most. Reduced showers, lawn irrigation and the like can only alleviate a small part of the water shortage. Governor Brown needs to require actual reduction of water use by those who use the most water and can reduce their use without undue hardship, by using watering fields at times least likely to result in evaporation and installing drip systems on an expedited basis.

DWEA is supporting a rural small business, land-owner and farmer refundable tax credit of 30% or $50,000, whichever is less, for capital and installation costs of small scale renewable energy projects (small wind, micro-hydro and biomass) for rural electric co-operative and municipal utility customers. ● The installation must meet the requirements of Colorado's net-metering laws and interconnection standards for the type of utility that serves the customer. This credit is available to a variety of technologies – including small wind, micro-hydro, biomass, geothermal and more. ● Tax credit is available for taxable years beginning in 2015 through December 31, 2018. ● Refundable Income Tax Credit is up to $50,000 or 30%, whichever is less. ● Program is capped at $1 million/yr and is available to Coloradans on a first/come – first/serve basis.

Dear Friends, We in New York City have an amazing opportunity to substantially reduce the use of the world's most widely used throwaway product--the single-use shopping bag. New Yorkers currently use 10 billion carryout bags a year, which costs the city $12.5 million annually to dispose of. Reducing bag use is the low hanging fruit in transforming the throwaway-economy that is wrecking our habitat. The great news is that the City Council has introduced a bill to reduce the amount of single-use bags in New York City by mandating that stores charge a small 10-cent fee for each carryout bag provided to a customer. Customers can avoid this fee simply by refusing a carryout bag or bringing their own bag. Last month, over 70 environmental and community organizations sent letters to the Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito urging them to pass the bag bill by Earth Day. Now we need your help: Sign the petition below to let the Mayor and Speaker know that you support this initiative! We've all seen plastic bags caught in trees in our neighborhoods and littering the sidewalks, and it has to stop. This bill will have a positive impact on our environment and is fair to all New Yorkers. We need your support now to make sure the bill is passed by Earth Day. Spread the word: #byobag by #earthday!