Personal perspectives | Mono Climate Action

2019: Year of Action

2019 was a year to remember. The Pioneer Solar Pavilion was well-used as a venue for birthday parties, meetings, picnics, concerts and dances. The Level 2 Electric Vehicle Car Charger was installed in front of the Pavilion in September. It is powered by the Pavilion’s solar panels. Seven students from Lee Vining High School attended the Citizen’s Climate Lobby’s Washington DC conference and Lobby Day, funded by generous donations from the community. We hope to send even more students in 2020.

The students also organized a September 20 Climate March to raise their voices for climate action with other youth from around the world.

The fourth annual Mono Basin Climate Seminar was held in June 2019 at the Scenic Area Visitor Center in Lee Vining. Date for 2020: June 18.

Deducating the new Level 2 EV Charger on June 13, 2019 with donor Lisa Rosen(left) and Kitty Adams from Adopt a Charger (center).

Seven students from Lee Vining and one from Ridgecrest lobbied in DC in June

Julia Silliker’s class from Lee Vining Elementary has adopted cleaning the Pavilion as a stewardship project.

Pioneer Solar Pavilion opens in Hess Park on August 25

The Pioneer Solar Pavilion has been completed and is open to the community. There is shade, seating, WiFi, clean energy generation from the solar panel roof and historical exhibits on the pioneer families of the Mono Basin. Volunteer labor and many small donations enabled this symbolic project to become a reality. Several community events and birthday parties have already happened at the Pavilion, as well as visits by local school children. The 5/6 grade class at Lee Vining Elementary has adopted the Pavilion and will clean it up on a regular basis. A future EV car charger is planned at the curb, powered by energy from the solar panels. See the press release, the fairy tale story read at the opening and several photos. the year of saying yes Yes article, Pioneer solar, ver 2

Video: Pioneer Solar Pavilion in Gus Hess Park

Thanks to generous support from the community, the solar pavilion in Gus Hess Park is going up and will be finished August 25! Watch the video to learn more about this awesome community project!

April 24: Confronting Climate Change Panel /Saving Snow film draws big turnout in Mammoth

A crowd of 100 people came out on the evening of April 24 to watch the new film Saving Snow, which focuses on the impacts of climate change on the ski industry and snow-based recreation economies. A panel discussion followed, moderated by Matt McClain of Mammoth Lakes Recreation, with Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron, Mammoth Mayor John Wentworth, and Mammoth/Squaw Valley/Alterra executive Ron Cohen.

An interesting discussion followed on how mountain towns can adapt, be resilient and show leadership in confronting climate change by reducing their carbon footprints as much as possible. Aspen, Colorado , has been a leader in sustainability for 20 years. Hopefully, Mammoth Lakes is ready to follow , with a Ready for 100 resolution by Town Council in the works.

350 MONO is working with the Sierra Club and the Citizen’s Climate Lobby towards a resolution pledging 100% renewable electricity in Mammoth Lakes by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050. Aspen is one of 4 completely renewable energy powered towns in the USA.

Earth Day 2018 in Bishop: a big success

April 21 & 22, 2018: Earth Day in the Park on Saturday and at the Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center on Sunday was a huge success. A series of climate-related films were shown throughout the weekend, with related activities, as well as a Friday night presentation by Ben Hatchett of the Desert Research Institute. Thank you, INYO 350 for making it all happen! Art teacher Deb Lurie’s students created Earth Day posters for display.