The Truckee Climate Action Network (first called the Sierra Climate Action Network), was founded by Beth Ingalls in November 2006 during the contentious "coal debates" occuring at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District.  Ingalls, who was nearing the end of her term as Truckee's Mayor at the time, spoke out against the coal contract and saw the need for an organization working specifically on climate change issues in Truckee. In early 2007, a group of citizens interested in mobilizing the community for the Step It Up 2007 Climate action in April came together under the TCAN moniker and helped to put TCAN on the map! This diverse group of volunteer activists share the common goal of taking immediate action to slow the effects of human induced climate change.

In addition to planning the "Step It Up Event", TCAN volunteers working with the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day committee, local elementary schools and the Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships, initiated the Pledge Flag project.  The Earth Day 2007 venue at Squaw Valley was adorned with thousands of hand drawn, individual messages to the earth from local children and adults.

TCAN members then decided to start work on projects to help create an incandescent-free Truckee and soon received a grant from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation for $10,000 for that purpose.  In June, TCAN launched the Summer Light Switch program, which was led by Kris Hansen.  Over the course of six days in June and July, TCAN volunteers personally distributed 2,100 free CFL's to Truckee residents inside the Mountain Hardware store.  CFL's were also installed in the Glenshire Clubhouse's community room and at the Claire Tappan lodge on Donner Summit. 

With lots of momentum and a continuous stream of ideas for more projects to benefit the community and reduce Truckee's carbon footprint, TCAN keeps moving forward.  TCAN is collaborating with the: 

• Truckee Donner PUD's Conservation Committee to help implement and promote lighting and other energy conservation programs
• Sierra College's Institute for Sustainability on local educational events and forums
• Sierra Business Council on the Think Local First campaign
• The Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Foundation on Earth Day 2008
• Truckee Day planning committee to create a green living expo to be held in conjunction with the townwide clean up day on June 7th, 2008
• The Town of Truckee on increasing awareness about proper CFL recycling and disposal practices

• and a host of other projects currently in the works!

TCAN received a Rose Foundation Grassroots fund grant in the amount of $2,750 in June and is using these funds for basic administrative costs to build and maintain the truckeecan.com web site, for supplies, for filing fees and support to obtain tax exempt status and to further the mission of the organization and help publicize TCAN within the community. 

We need your support to survive and grow.  Please contribute today! Click here to make a secure donation online.  Thank you !

We welcome your suggestions and ideas for TCAN as well as your stories about what you are doing to help reduce carbon emissions in Truckee.  We will proudly feature you on truckeecan.com!

Contacts:

Beth Ingalls, Founding Director

email: info@truckeecan.com

phone: 530.386.3128

Kris Hansen, Associate Director

email: khansen@sierracollege.edu

phone: 530.550.9475

TCAN is focused on educating the community about global climate change and is available to make presentations to your civic or school group.  Please call or email Beth Ingalls for scheduling.