Author: Anne Havemann

Let the Clean Energy Revolution Begin

Future Hope column, Feb. 15, 2009By Ted Glick

It began with a statement by Nancy Pelosi in early January, referring to federal legislation to cap and reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions: “I’m not sure this year, because I don’t know if we’ll be ready. We won’t go before we’re ready.” Then, in late January, I heard Charles Rangel, head of the House Ways and Means Committee, speak publicly about hi s committee not holding hearings on climate legislation until “the end of the year.” Two weeks ago, Senator Barbara Boxer, head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, in announcing a set of “principles” she will use in formulating climate legislation, was noncommittal about when she expected a vote in her committee. On the same day, climate blogger and well-connected Democrat Joe Romm, wrote approvingly of the idea (the plan?) that there should be no attempt to pass climate legislation through Congress until sometime in 2010. Continue reading

renewable energy

How to Kill a Green Job

By Glenn Hurowitz

Cross-posted from Democratic Courage

While the Senate is debating whether or not to give people cash in exchange for buying a Hummer, the State of Virginia could be poised to take significant action to bolster the economy and help the climate by passing an energy efficiency bill introduced by State Senator Donald McEachin.

Here’s the catch. Doing smart, easy things like energy efficiency that create jobs and prosperity isn’t so easy in Virginia, where Dominion Power runs the statehouse. Dominion Power operates several coal-fired power plants in the state and uses the proceeds to hand out campaign donations almost as fast as it hands out asthma attacks.

The biggest single recipient of Dominion’s largesse? State Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw of Springfield (in the DC suburbs), who received a whopping $85,000 in campaign contributions between 2004 and 2009, more than any other legislator. So what’s that money getting Dominion? Seemingly, a whole lot…

Saslaw could be the poster boy for the Commonwealth’s culture of coal-fired corruption. Even though Northern Virginia is one of the most polluted areas in the country, and Saslaw’s constituents are very pro-environment, it’s unknown whether or not Saslaw will support the efficiency bill or continue to carry Dominion’s toxic ash-laden water around Richmond.

Perhaps if these were normal times, this would be just another story of polluter influence. But in these extraordinary – and extraordinarily tough – times, it’s something more. Article XI, a great new Virginia blog, reports that the bill would “save Virginians approximately $15 billion on electric bills by the year 2025,” creating thousands of jobs. Investing in energy efficiency produces more than two and a half times the number of jobs as investments in coal.

Opposing energy efficiency means killing jobs – something that Saslaw will have to take home to his constituents if he opposes this bill. The good news is, however, that this bill has a chance of passing this crucial subcomittee vote on Thursday, February 5th, if another Dominion campaign cash recipient, Todday Puller of Mount Vernon finds the strength to defy Dominion and vote for a clean environment and good jobs. You can contact Puller at (804) 698-7536.

green jobs

Moment of Change: Maryland's Environment

In the third of the BBC series, ‘Moment of Change’ Katty Kay investigates the hurdles that the Obama administration will have in implementing a successful environmental policy by focusing on global warming and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Take a boat into the Chesapeake Bay and the effects of global warming on Maryland’s 3,000 miles of coastline are everywhere. THis house used once stood back from the Bay, now the water is lapping at its foundation. This island was once connected to this island, which was connected to this island, which was connected to the mainland.”

Maryland

Extreme weather knocks the "U" off the USA Today Building.

2008 was marked by amazingly extreme weather in the Chesapeake region, culminating in a wind storm that knocked the “U” off the “USA Today” sign in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.

CCAN’s videographer spent much of 2008 documenting extreme weather events across the region. Among catching the amazing wind storm in Rosslyn, he also filmed the aftermath of a tornado near Richmond, and a 400-year-old Maryland oak tree that was felled by another wind storm.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jaytomlin/ExtremeWeatherRetrospective#slideshow

climate impacts extreme weather

Climate Action Now rally

Slideshow by Jay Tomlinson

On November 18th, nearly 300 concerned citizens joined Bill McKibben and Congressman Van Hollen in front of the US Capitol to welcome the new Congress and encourage them to make climate action a priority. Our message: Re-Engage with the international community, Re-Power America with clean energy, and Re-Build our economy by creating millions of new green jobs.

Rally

Mike Tidwell Calls for "Energy from Heaven"

On September 27th, people all across the nation held nearly 700 events calling for Green Jobs NOW! Mike Tidwell spoke at the green jobs event in Anacostia, DC and called for the United States to tap into “Energy from Heaven:

I’ve never heard energy talked about in those terms before. What do you think?

Mike Tidwell

Thank you for a great DC Green Jobs event!

The DC Get Going Go Green Green Jobs Now event that was hosted in Anacostia, Washington DC was great. As a partner of 1 Sky, Green for All, and Al Gore’s We Can Solve it’s, National Day of Action, we were able to educate, encourage and empower DC low-income residents, ex-offenders, faith-based communities as well as uniting a broad range of communities to promote the creation of a strong green economy.

We enjoyed speeches by National leaders such as Van Jones, President of Green for All, local leaders such as Councilmember Mary Cheh, Harriet Tregoing, Director of DC office of Planning, George Hawkins, Director of the DC Department of the Environment, and more. The entire community enjoyed the Green jobs Now rally, free food, Go-Go music, the art contest, free music and service project, where the community cleaned, re-mulched trees, and planted flowers at the Malcolm X Park on Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue and Malcolm X Avenue, Southeast.

Thanks to all of our participants and volunteers, because with out their help and contribution, we will not be able to create a strong green economy, which will help the planet and the people.

The Green Jobs Day of Action in Anacostia was just the beginning. Please feel free to get in touch with Nydria Humphries, the day of action organizer, and the green jobs coordinator for DC.

Nydria Brenda Humphries
Green Jobs Organizer, CCAN and GWIPL
240.396.1981 ext. 9118
nhumphries@gwipl.org

green jobs Washington DC

Make Internet History!

UPDATE: We will be posting the live streaming event right here on our blog! So, just come to chesapeakeclimate.org/blog to view the event.

van hollen

CCAN is quickly becoming a new media darling. This Thursday, CCAN will be the first group ever in this region to “e-broadcast” a local public event live over the internet. It’s sure to be a CSPAN, can’t-tear-myself-away preview to MD District 8 Candidates. New technology has allowed us to be an online pioneer, bringing you a spirited debate among local candidates who want to be your Congressional representative. So mark your calendar and turn on your computer next Thursday night, Oct. 2nd, at 7 pm to watch us “stream” a candidates forum featuring Democrat Chris Van Hollen, Republican Steve Hudson, Green Party candidate Gordon Clark, and write-in candidate Deborah Vollmer.

Find out more and sign up to get the link>>

Live streaming will be joining our suite of new media capabilities. This past year, we’ve launched:

Climate Inciter

This is in addition to:

The candidates will be discussing major issues of concern to our region, including global warming and clean energy. You can also attend the debate in person, of course, at the Rockville Library in downtown Rockville.

But if you can’t make it in person, you can enjoy the entire debate from the comfort of your own home. To sign up to watch live on your computer, simply visit:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/423/t/1906/event/index.jsp?event_KEY=45045