The Seattle Times' coverage of our efforts in support of a public vote on the deep-bore tunnel was accurate and stated our position fairly. We find no fault with the reporting – as far as it goes.

The Times is failing the public on this issue not through what it reports but what it will not. Sierra Club leaders are happy to subject ourselves to scrutiny, to confront questions as to whether we are mere “pawns” for the mayor, to explain our reasons for taking a controversial position on the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. But if the public deserves to know the motivations of groups opposing the deep-bore tunnel, it also deserves a look into the means, motives, and claims of tunnel supporters, and into the political process that concocted this project.

John Muir once said of Washington State's iconic mountain:

"Wherever I am, when Mt. Rainier rises over urban sprawl, wheat fields, trees and other mountains, my heart soars. But it is when I'm on the mountain that my heart is completely full with the wonder of its beauty. I feel privileged to be there, in its presence."

Magnificent as Mount Rainier is, it is just one of our state's many natural wonders. We've compiled some ideas for celebrating Earth Week in our special part of Planet Earth.

Next week, in honor of Earth Day, we're launching our new statewide e-newsletter, the CrestOnline. This will be a great way for Sierra Club members to find out what the Sierra Club is doing to protect the environment around our state, get involved, and stay in touch. We want to make sure all our Washington State members get a copy so here's how to sign up for the CrestOnline. Don't delay!

The Sierra Club, CoolMom, Earth Ministry, Washington Environmental Council and Climate Solutions invite you to join us for a free community Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 23, from 11am—3pm at Gasworks Park in Seattle. This event will be a great opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the tremendous environmental work that has been accomplished in Washington State and look ahead to future projects. It will also be a lot of fun with free food and great music!

At this event we'll celebrate Washington’s anticipated transition from coal-power while highlighting the need to support the E.P.A. in its efforts to protect people across America from the dangerous pollution associated with coal burning and to make sure we do not export coal to other countries where no E.P.A. exists.

Bill endorsed by environmental community, TransAlta, labor unions and governor heads back to state Senate for final passage.

April 12, 2011, OLYMPIA – The state House of Representatives today approved the Coal-Free Future for Washington bill to responsibly transition TransAlta Corp.’s Centralia, Wash., power plant off of coal. This landmark legislation – representing an historic agreement between Washington environmental leaders, TransAlta, unions and Gov. Chris Gregoire – now goes back to the Senate, which approved an earlier version of the bill last month, for final passage.

The Washington State Chapter appeals to local Sierra Club members every Spring to help support environmental activism in our home state. As a member of the Sierra Club, most of your dues go to support nationwide projects. When you make a donation to the Washington State Chapter, every dollar stays right here at home. These contributions really do make a difference and are an important part of your Chapter’s budget. Help advance our work to protect the state’s natural environment and promote healthy, sustainable ecosystems. Learn more.

For over 2 years, we've been fighting for a coal-free future for Washington. Now that dream is about to become a reality. The Washington State Senate passed a bill to phase out Washington's only coal burning plant between 2020 and 2025. This is a significant step toward a healthier, safer, coal-free Washington. We are leaving the dirty and dangerous coal-based energy resources behind as we move forward on the path to a clean energy economy. Now the bill goes to the House. Please contact your representatives to urge them to support a coal-free future for Washington.

TransAlta agrees to transition off of coal, invest in energy efficiency projects and innovative energy technologies. The deal, which must be approved by the Legislature, leads to power generation in Washington being coal-free by 2025. In the meantime, additional pollution control technology will be installed in 2013, and one of two coal-fired units will close down in 2015.

Read the full text of Governor Gregoire's press release:

 http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/wa/downloads/GovStatementAgreement.pdf

Featured Speaker: Graham Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator, Greater Puget Sound Eco-Region

Hosted at REI, Lynnwood in Alderwood Mall.

Anchored by three National Parks -- Olympic, Mt. Rainier and the North Cascades, along with adjacent National Forest wilderness areas -- the Greater Puget Sound Region is home to a stunning array of wildlife, and provides us with clean water, recreation opportunities and healthy local economies.

From snowcaps to whitecaps, the region is feeling the pressure from climate change and other activities as evidenced by receding glaciers, dangerous warming of important salmon streams, increased flooding, massive private forest land conversions to non-forest uses, and increased fire threats on the east side of the Cascades. The Resilient Habitats campaign seeks to bring attention and protection to the region's wildlife, such as orca whales and Pacific salmon, wild lands, and human communities that coexist in these unique and fragile ecosystems.

Last summer, contractors started construction on the first five miles of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project. Cranes and new bridgework can be seen where major bridges are being constructed over Gold Creek near Hyak, which will provide safe passage under the freeway for animals and restore bull trout spawning habitat in the creek. The project is ahead of schedule and under budget. Despite this, Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) can’t build the first wildlife overpass near Keechelus Dam. WSDOT has designed the project to go past the dam, but available state funding stops a mile short.