Sleeping Giant Citizens Council
An affiliate of Northern Plains Resource Council, Sleeping Giant Citizens Council advocates for healthy, inviting, and sustainable communities by educating, mobilizing, and testifying to ensure citizens’ voices are heard in the decision-making process. Sleeping Giant is improving local access to renewable energy options in Helena, and working to protect our clean air and clean water from carbon-intensive energy sources.
Energy Democracy
The clean energy committee was formed as a positive response to concerns about coal and oil train traffic. The committee lobbies for less restrictive clean energy legislation, and works with local businesses to exemplify the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy for other communities across the state.
Coal Export
The fossil fuel export committee works to educate and organize Helena-area citizens on proposals to export millions of tons of coal from the Powder River Basin to Asia. This would mean a dramatic increase in coal train traffic, resulting in increased health concerns from coal dust and diesel fumes, public safety risks, noise, toxic air pollution, traffic delays, financial costs to taxpayers, and accelerated climate change. Many of these concerns can also be applied to oil by rail.
Local Foods
Sleeping Giant initially began its local foods movement around farm-to-school work. In the past, it has been active in meeting with key decision makers, performing research, and holding events to build support for more healthy, local foods in the area communities and building relationships between growers and consumers.
Leadership
Chair
Hugh Zackheim
Vice-Chair
Joel Harris
Secretary
Marianne Schomaker
Treasurer
Paul Jacquay
Northern Plains Board Representatives
Norane Freistadt
Mic Smith
Northern Plains Field Organizer
Makenna Sellers (406) 248-1154
makenna@northernplains.org