Sierra Club WA Chapter

Right now we have not one, but two, BIG opportunities to choose clean, renewable, and affordable energy ⚡️☀️💨 But we gotta show up!!!

Join us on Tue., 9/22 at 4pm for our Energy Crossroads Webinar where we’ll break down exactly what’s at stake and show you the specific ways you can weigh in so you have everything you need to make your voice heard.

👉 Register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po000029UPZCIA4&mapLinkHref=

The Sierra Club is raising serious concerns following reports that a Labor Day weekend family camping trip ended with five men taken away by immigration agents as their loved ones and young children watched.

According to local media, five western Washington families were camping together when people identified by the families as Forest Service rangers approached them and photographed campers’ IDs. Hours later, immigration agents allegedly shook the families’ tents and arrested five men while children as young as one were present. The Forest Service and ICE have yet to publicly acknowledge or explain the operation.

In response, Jackie Ostfeld, director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, released the following statement:

“The Forest Service owes the public an immediate explanation of what role it is playing in ICE operations and why it is using limited agency resources to help immigration agents target families on public lands. Actions like this will cause families to think twice about taking their children camping if they believe those responsible for protecting the campground could potentially turn them over to immigration authorities.”

Ben Avery, Director of the Washington State Sierra Club chapter said:

“Washington is facing wildfires, closed trails, and campgrounds in urgent need of repairs, while Trump’s budget cuts leave the Forest Service with fewer people and fewer resources. Spending scarce Forest Service time and money to help immigration agents harass families who are simply trying to enjoy the outdoors is a disgrace.”

The reported operation comes less than six weeks after ICE and Forest Service Law Enforcement participated in an operation at the Wilson Creek Recreation Area in Pisgah National Forest that resulted in 13 arrests. The Sierra Club and its North Carolina Chapter condemned that operation, warning that bringing immigration enforcement into public recreation areas could discourage people from visiting national forests and other outdoor spaces.

The Northwest is at an energy crossroads—and your voice can help shape what comes next.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is finalizing its Ninth Power Plan, a regional blueprint for how we’ll meet our energy needs through 2046.

And it comes at a pivotal time as demand is surging ⚡ Our region could need enough additional electricity to power up to 18 times as many customers as Seattle City Light serves today. 🤯

The choices we make now will determine whether we meet that demand with clean, affordable energy that protects our climate and local ecosystems… or commit to even more fossil fuel infrastructure 👎🏼

The draft plan is out. Now it’s our chance to speak up.

📣 Join us for the Portland public hearing on Wednesday, September 9! Public testimony is one of the most meaningful ways to influence the plan.

New to public testimony? We’ve got you covered. Join our Zoom prep session on Tuesday, September 8, to learn about the Ninth Power Plan, our priorities, and how to deliver effective testimony.

🔗 RSVP for the testimony prep session + Portland public hearing via the links in our bio.

This Saturday, brunch is on us! Join Sierra Club WA and Save Our Wild Salmon for the next SW Environmental Advocacy Brunch, bringing together community members who care about conservation, climate, wildlife, and public policy.

📅 Sat., 8/29
⌚️11:00am
📍 Scratch Breakfast, 1300 Washington St., Vancouver

An informal gathering focused on relationship building, the goal is to create space for connection and collaboration whilst enjoying a delicious brunch!

Free and open to all, please RSVP at the link in our bio.

The Northwest is at an energy crossroads. The question isn’t whether we’ll need more power—it’s who pays for it, and how we get it.

As electricity use surges, decisions being made this fall could determine whether our region meets growing demand with clean energy and smart conservation or locks itself into decades of costly new fossil fuel infrastructure.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC)—made up of members from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana—is finalizing its Ninth Power Plan, a once-a-decade blueprint for the region’s energy future.

For roughly 20 years, regional electricity demand stayed relatively steady, thanks in part to energy efficiency and conservation programs that helped offset population and economic growth. Now, demand could grow 50–100% by 2046, driven largely by massive data centers and the electrification of buildings and transportation.

The draft plan is now out and we have a chance to shape what comes next. Public hearings will be held throughout the region in the coming weeks, giving us an opportunity to speak up for clean energy, conservation, and a power system that works for people and planet.

Stay tuned for hearing dates, locations, and details on how to make your voice heard!

🥞Join us for our next Environmental Advocacy Brunch, bringing together community members across SW Washington who care about conservation, climate, wildlife, and public policy.🌲

📆 Saturday, August 29th
⌚️11:00am
📍 Scratch Breakfast, 1300 Washington St., Vancouver
RSVP at https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po000024HogDIAS&emci=91f915af-4497-f111-9b33-000d3a11fa30&emdi=42dee0a0-ec97-f111-9b33-000d3a11fa30&ceid=6745982

An informal gathering focused on relationship building, the goal is to create space for connection and collaboration whilst enjoying a delicious brunch!

Free and open to all! See you there!☕

Today, the USDA Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, with a 30-day public comment period opening Aug. 20. During this time, the public can urge the Forest Service to maintain the rule that protects undeveloped roadless areas across the country, including parts of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Olympic National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

The USDA’s proposed rule would rescind the Roadless Rule in its entirety, removing protections from nearly two million acres of roadless areas in Washington, opening them to road building, mining, drilling, and logging.

📢 It’s time to get loud, we need your voice!
sc.org/RoadlessRule