Photo credit: National Park Service

We’re excited to share that we’re very close to reaching our Earth Day Challenge goal of raising $41,000 which CLF board members have agreed to match dollar-for-dollar, making your gift work twice as hard! We’d like to extend an enormous thank you to all of you who reached for your credit cards and checkbooks– and for those of you who haven’t, to announce that you’re not too late! Just to be absolutely sure that we meet our goal, we’re extending our Earth Day Challenge deadline until midnight on April 30. You can help push us over the finish line by making a new or increased gift today!

Today, 41 years after Earth Day’s founding, its purpose of shining a spotlight on environmental issues is more poignant than ever. In the past few weeks alone, we have watched with terror as a nuclear disaster unfolded in Japan and, just two days ago, solemnly observed the one year anniversary of the BP oil disaster. Yet, in the current political climate, our national resolve to avert disasters like these and protect our environment is weak. That’s why every day is Earth Day at CLF.

Whether it’s working to ensure that appropriate caution is taken with the proposed Northern Pass transmission project in New Hampshire, or fighting to prevent Vermont’s state lands from being ravaged by ATVs, we shine a spotlight every day on the issues that concern you.

Tackling these challenges – and turning them into victories – is not possible without your help. Thank you in advance for all you do to help CLF protect our New England, today and every day.

In honor of the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, CLF Board members from across New England have banded together to make an extraordinary $41,000 investment in CLF’s – and our region’s – future. Every new or increased gift you make now through Earth Day – April 22– can be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $41,000.

Your gift today will go toward solving the region’s toughest environmental problems, and help us ensure a healthy, thriving New England for generations to come. From Maine to Rhode Island, CLF stands up for your favorite places, for the health of your families and your communities, and for the prosperity of our region. Since the last Earth Day, we:

• Cleaned up the air in Somerset, MA by closing the doors on an old, polluting coal plant
• Won tougher standards for phosphorus pollution in Lake Champlain, VT
• Preserved the fragile ecosystem of Great Salt Pond on Block Island, RI
• Saved Mainers millions of dollars on electricity infrastructure
• Helped NH cities and towns save energy and money by increasing energy efficiency

As Earth Day approaches, we are reminded that around the world and right here in New England, our land, our oceans and our air are in peril. On the heels of the 2010 elections, many in the new Congress are pursuing a clear anti-environment agenda, one that cuts directly to the core of the most fundamental protections for our health, safety and well-being. With leadership in Washington sorely lacking, CLF is uniquely poised to take the reins in protecting New England.

Today, we are asking you to help us continue our progress by taking part in our Earth Day Challenge. Your commitment enables CLF to safeguard our oceans, clean up our lakes, rivers and forests, promote clean energy innovations and build healthy, livable communities. We hope you will take part in our Earth Day Challenge by making a donation today to help CLF protect our small but mighty corner of the world.

CLF’s supporters are our greatest and most powerful asset. Because of you, we were able to achieve important victories in New England and beyond. This past year, we fought for and secured new regulations to ensure a sustainable groundfish fishery, led the region in advocating for transportation solutions and made concrete progress towards improving water quality across the region. Thank you for making all of this (and so much more) possible.

At CLF, our advocates are already gearing up for a busy and productive new year. And today, I invite you to boost CLF’s impact in 2011 by making a tax-deductible gift to our most crucial work.

In 2011, CLF will:

• Address the proposed billion-dollar Northern Pass project, which would transmit 1,200 megawatts of hydro-generated power from Quebec. The proposal stands to dramatically re-shape the energy landscape throughout New England. CLF will be closely evaluating this project and taking actions necessary to ensure that it proceeds in an environmentally responsible way and results in significant reductions of greenhouse gas pollution.
• Continue our work promoting sustainable ocean management, resulting in healthy fishing communities, protection of areas of particular biodiversity and a promising source of renewable energy. CLF has made real progress in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and now we need to consolidate and expand that progress to all of New England’s oceans.
• Bring legal and community pressure on water polluters across the region, whether that pollution is caused by excess nutrients, stormwater or industrial sites. From reducing pollution from wastewater treatment facilities to promoting solutions for New England’s watersheds, CLF has the strength and persistence to protect our shared environment.

2010 was CLF’s most productive year to date. But let’s raise the bar and do even better in 2011. We’re going to need your support to accomplish our ambitious agenda. Please make a tax-deductible contribution today to maximize our impact in 2011.

Amidst the rush of the holiday season, thank you in advance for taking the time to protect your New England.

On this 40th anniversary of Earth Day, I’m going to cut right to the chase. Earlier in the month, a generous donor issued CLF a challenge: If we reach 400 donations by Midnight on Earth Day, he will donate $40,000 to our most vital work—like climate change and clean energy.

Here’s the clincher: We are exactly 38 donations short of our goal, and only a few hours remain until our deadline.

That is why we need you to act now—your donation of just $10, or whatever you can afford, will bring us one huge step closer to our goal. How else can you turn a gift as small as $10 into $40,000 for New England’s environment?

Here’s what we’ll do with your gift:

• Hold Dominion Energy responsible for cleaning up Salem Harbor Station and paying millions of dollars in penalties retroactively.
• Advocate for renewable energy initiatives, like the 130-turbine Cape Wind project.
• Continue to put pressure New England’s on dirtiest coal plants—and hold polluters accountable for violations of the federal Clean Air Act and state environmental standards
• Push for policies that support greater energy efficiency through a process known as decoupling, lowering energy demands and CO2 emissions in New England.
• Reduce our region’s carbon footprint. CLF will advocate for the adoption and implementation of a Northeast and Mid-Atlantic “Low Carbon Fuel Standard”— potentially cutting our region’s carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 29 million metric tons annually.
• Defend the precedent-setting California Low Carbon Fuel Standard from attacks in federal litigation.
• Ensure that New England continues to lead the country. Fighting alongside congressional staff, senators and representatives to prevent federal legislation that undermines the ability of New England states to lead in clean car standards.

But we can’t accomplish any of this without you.

On this Earth Day, secure a giant victory for New England’s environment by helping us win $40,000! 38 donations are needed—please help us close the gap!