For immediate release
 
 
Knoxville, Tenn. – Tennessee gubernatorial candidates have submitted responses to six environment-related questions posed by social and environmental justice organizations in the state. Tennessee Clean Water Network, Tennessee Environmental Council, Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, and the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club jointly created and sent questionnaires to the two candidates for Governor of Tennessee.  Responses to the broad range of questions were received Friday.  To view their responses, visit http://tcwn.org/magubquestion or http://www.socm.org/.
 
 
The questionnaire focused on a range of environmental issues from energy efficiency to what qualifies one to head the state environmental agency.  The six questions were:
 
 

1. What specific experience, expertise and education requirements would you use as criteria for selecting the new Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation?
2. Municipal and state-backed models exist for public sector green jobs weatherization initiatives with innovative financing measures and cross-sector coordination (government, private investors, community, labor, businesses, etc.). How would you support a large-scale initiative in TN as a strategy to generate much-needed jobs, reduce peak demand for energy, provide a pipeline for our young people to stay in the state while protecting green spaces and agricultural lands in Tennessee? 
3. Almost half of Tennessee is in farmland, and agriculture provides over 200,000 jobs.  Yet Tennessee loses over 42,000 acres of farmland each year to residential, commercial, and industrial development.  What proactive measures would you take to improve the viability of Tennessee's farms?
4.  What economic development incentives do you support to make Tennessee more competitive in the recruitment of renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing industries?
5. The state is required to establish water quality rules and standards no less stringent than those established by the federal government.  Recognizing Tennessee’s diverse and unique environment, on what terms do you support water quality protections greater than the minimum established by the EPA?
6.   As Governor, what steps would you take to support efforts to reduce the amount of water and coal TVA uses to make electricity by investing more in solar, wind, energy efficiency and other water saving energy technologies?

 
TEC educates and advocates for the conservation and improvement of Tennessee’s environment, communities and public health.    
 
SOCM is a member-run organization that encourages civic involvement and collective action so that the people of Tennessee have a greater voice in determining their future. The mission of SOCM is to empower Tennesseans to protect, defend, and improve the quality of life in their communities across the state. SOCM is working for social, economic, and environmental justice for all. We are committed to the journey of becoming an anti-racist organization. Recognizing our interdependence, SOCM is committed to overcoming social and institutional racism and embracing our diverse cultures.
 
 
TCWN’s mission is to organize Tennesseans to claim our right to clean water and healthy communities by fostering civic engagement, building coalitions and advancing water policy for a sustainable future.
 
 
The TN Chapter of the Sierra Club works to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources;to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives
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