Fossil Fools Day in Indiana!

Over 100 actions planned to confront dirty energy, demand a just green energy future.

Who: The actions have been called for by the international Rising Tide network, students, the Energy Action Coalition, Rainforest Action Network, and are being joined by other state and local organizations including the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana and Valley Watch.

What: Fossil fools day is an international day of action focused on climate change and energy issues.

When: April Fools Day, April 1st 2008

Where: Protests are planned in over 100 locations through out the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In Indiana, protests are being planned on the eastside front steps of the Indiana Statehouse from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and in Evansville outside Vectren headquarters.

Why: Leading climate scientists warn that dramatic reductions in green house gas emissions must begin immediately to avoid catastrophic climatic shifts, yet most policy proposals consist primarily of plans that are decades away.

In Indiana, Governor Mitch Daniels, along with Duke Energy are promoting a new $2-3 billion dollar polluting coal gasification plant, which will add more than 3.5 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. Governor Daniels along with Vectren and Nisource are also proposing a polluting coal to gas plant in Rockport.
Neither plant includes carbon capture and sequestration technology, which is currently still in the research stage and remains unproven technology.

The Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana along with other groups, are calling for a moratorium on new coal plants unless and until the technology can be proven to work and is affordable to ratepayers. Indiana is among the most polluting states in the country because of our heavy reliance on coal fired power. Instead of more coal plants, the Governor and utilities should support significant new investment in energy efficiency and cleaner cheaper alternatives such as wind energy, which will enjoy a growing competitive advantage as future carbon regulation and rising coal prices undermine coal’s future viability.

For more information contact Dave Menzer at 1-317-205-3535 or dmenzer@citact.org.

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