The environmental film series held at the New Milford Public Library continues on Tuesday, June 4th at 6:00 pm with a screening of the film, Reinventing Power. This film is the story of  America’s current renewable energy boom. Much like the industrial revolution and the technical revolution of the twentieth century, the renewable energy revolution, happening today, is remaking where and how we work, what lights and fuels our homes, how we use transportation and what changes we can expect over the next decade.

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By telling the stories of people in eight states whose lives were changed by the renewable energy industry, the film explores various aspects of clean, renewable energy and underscores the notion that jobs, economic growth and innovation do not have to be sacrificed for a clean environment.

 

An industry expert will introduce the film and facilitate a Q&A following the show. That expert, Art Helmus, is a lawyer and renewable energy professional who has led teams responsible for remediating hundreds of pollution sites across the country. He currently develops commercial, industrial, nonprofit and residential solar power projects in multiple states.

 

The New Milford Public Library was selected as the only location in Connecticut where Sierra Club has the rights to screen What Lies Upstream, the first film shown in the series. What Lies Upstream is about water contamination in several regions of our country. The screenings were held in January and then again in March when the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA),  partnered with Sierra Club Connecticut to broaden the reach in the community. At both screenings, water experts introduced the documentary and answered questions following the show.

 

When more than one hundred local residents came to the library to learn about water pollution and what it might mean to our river communities, our groundwater, our public water system and our wells, we knew that the community was eager to learn more about the impact of industry in our lives.

 

Although many local residents were not familiar with the Sierra Club or its long history as a grassroots environmental organization and the work we do today, we were pleased to bring our story as well as the film to the library.

 

We look forward to the interest in continuing with the screening of Reinventing Power. The film is free and open to the public from all corners of Connecticut and New York. As at previous screenings, a light buffet will be available. Let us know if you’re interested in coming - RSVP here!

 

Any group interested in a screening of What Lies Upstream, is invited to contact

Helen Applebaum, New Milford resident and Executive Committee member, Sierra Club Connecticut. She can be reached at 860.946.9946 or ctsierraq3@gmail.com.