Hoosier Environmental Council to Host Visionary Attorney Lisa Evans on November 14
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Greening the Statehouse, Indiana’s largest annual gathering of environmental advocates, will be keynoted this year by Lisa Evans, viewed as America’s most influential advocate for coal ash protections. The event, which is annually organized by the Hoosier Environmental Council, will be held on Sat., Nov. 14, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University of Indianapolis.
Coal ash has special significance for Indiana, since the state leads the nation in the number of coal ash waste lagoons. There is arguably no person better in America to speak to this issue than Lisa Evans. As a coal ash expert with twenty-five years of experience in hazardous waste law, Lisa has testified before the U.S. Congress and the National Academies of Science about the risks of coal ash and federal & state policy solutions. Evans, on behalf of the public interest law firm Earthjustice and 11 public interest groups, was instrumental in pushing the federal government to adopt coal ash protections, after one billion gallons of the toxic sludge erupted from a waste dump in Tennessee and buried local homes, shore-front and miles of river.
“Lisa Evans will be an amazing keynote speaker: She is a formidable combination of intellect, knowledge, passion, and heart. We believe that hearts and minds will be changed by her remarks – so important for a state that must grapple with risks posed by having the largest number of coal ash lagoons in America,” said Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. “Lisa will help inform a great many – and, furthermore, inspire many of them to become engaged in shaping public policy.”
In addition to Lisa Evans’s keynote speech, Greening the Statehouse will be an opportunity to learn about and engage on Indiana’s most pressing environmental issues. Panel discussions will focus on the impact of food systems on the quality of our rivers and lakes, the economic impact for Indiana of taking action on climate change, and the role of Chambers of Commerce in fostering environmental sustainability. High profile panelists include ExactTarget co-founder and Tyner Pond owner Chris Baggott, Vice President of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Mark Fisher, and Purdue professor & nationally-respected water expert Dr. Jane Frankenberger.
Registration for Greening the Statehouse is $25 general admission and $10 for students. To register, visit hecweb.org/gts15. Lunch will be provided.
Hoosier Environmental Council is grateful to the following sponsors for supporting the event: Green Water Infrastructure, Inovateus Solar, Neal Brown Hospitality, Cummins, Hoosier State Train, MPI Solar, NUVO/Indiana Living Green, Rectify Solar, Indiana Public Health Association, League of Women Voters of Indiana, Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light, Institute for Green and Sustainable Science at Marian University, Earth Charter Indiana, Englewood Community Development Corporation, Green Broad Ripple, Health by Design, Carmel Green Initiative, Citizens Action Coalition, Indiana Citizens’ Alliance for Transit (ICAT), Indiana Recycling Coalition, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter, and The School of Mathematics & Sciences at Marian University.
