Hurricane Helene Mutual Aid Resources

Our hearts are with the people of Appalachia, who are currently suffering brutal devastation from climate change-supercharged Hurricane Helene. Those affected need support now more than ever – click the link below to find out how you can lend a hand. 

Then, take action: Tell Congress: Strengthen FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Helene recovery

If you know of more resources that we have missed, email info@chesapeakeclimate.org

Offshore Wind Continues to Grow Exponentially on the East Coast

Offshore Wind Continues to Grow Exponentially on the East Coast

Even as individual projects have repositioned themselves in order to get to market, new commercial offshore wind projects are moving ahead and coming online up and down the East Coast.  

 

ANNAPOLIS, MD —On January 2, 2024, Vineyard Wind, the first commercial offshore wind project in Massachusetts, started delivering electricity to the grid. In December of 2023, SouthFork Wind, the first offshore wind project in New York, started selling electricity to the grid. In Virginia, Dominion Energy has offshore wind turbines selling electricity to the grid, and is currently building the nation’s largest offshore wind farm. In Maryland, US Wind is plowing ahead with their plans to build an offshore wind farm and deliver clean electricity to the state.

Up and down the East Coast, offshore wind infrastructure is being built and coming online more than ever before. Offshore wind energy can reduce air pollution, improve health outcomes, create good union jobs, and help the state meet its climate mandates. There has never been a better time for offshore wind in America.

Amid this boom in offshore wind, some individual companies and projects have hit speed bumps. On January 25, Orsted announced that it is repositioning its offshore wind projects Skipjack 1 and 2. Those projects are no longer planning to provide the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits to help Maryland meet its clean energy goals. However, Orsted says that it does still plan to build the offshore wind projects. The company is simply looking for a different mechanism to get to market. This announcement is different from Orsted’s announcement in New Jersey where the projects were canceled entirely.

Jamie DeMarco, Maryland Director at CCAN, stated:

“Anytime a new technology is deployed at scale there will be individual projects that face challenges, but the overall trend in the offshore wind industry in the United States is exponential growth.

“Maryland’s Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023 provided the Department of General Services the authority to purchase up to 5 million megawatt hours of offshore wind energy. Maryland should make full use of this new authority.”

Contact:
Jamie DeMarco, CCAN, Jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org , 443-845-5601
KC Chartrand, CCAN, kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state and national level to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement towards clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.

VA State Corporation Commission Hearing Examiner Calls for Rejection of Dominion’s Energy Plan

Report corroborates what activists and residents have been saying all along… Dominion does not need to build new fossil-fuel plants to meet demand.

RICHMOND, VA —On December 8, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) Hearing Examiner recommended the state agency reject Dominion Energy’s energy plan known as the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Senior Hearing Examiner A. Ann Berkebile stated that she does “not recommend the Commission find the 2023 IRP to be reasonable and in the public interest.”

Victoria Higgins, Virginia director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated: 

“The Hearing Examiner’s report corroborates what the environmental community and residents around the proposed methane gas plant in Chesterfield have been saying all along: there is no evidence to suggest that Dominion must build new fossil fuel plants to meet demand. 

“On top of that, the report underscores how Dominion has utterly failed to plan for an energy future that ensures environmental justice for all. 

“Finally, the report also notes that it is incumbent upon Dominion to account for the extraordinary health and economic costs we bear as a Virginia community when the company continues to build and use polluting infrastructure. It is self-evidently unreasonable and against the public interest to double down on fossil fuels with just six years left to cut U.S. emissions in half.” 

The news comes shortly after CCAN’s advocacy arm, the CCAN Action Fund, commissioned a report from Gabel Associates finding that Dominion’s proposed plan to build new fossil fuel plants imposes enormous economic and social risks on Virginians, and that Dominion can meet electricity demand with clean energy instead. Read the report here.

It also comes amid months of opposition to Dominion’s proposal to build a massive new methane gas plant in Chesterfield, which is in line with the utility’s fossil fuel-friendly plan and Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2022 Energy Plan. The proposal is not in line, however, with Virginia’s state law to phase out fossil fuels per the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

Contact: 
Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director, vhiggins@chesapeakeclimate.org, 201-937-7017
KC Chartrand, Communications Director, kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change  in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

President Biden Further Slashes Offshore Wind Lease Areas in Central Atlantic 

CCAN responds: Final offshore wind maps are insufficient for regional offshore wind goals

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Biden Administration announced that it is slashing a major portion of the areas in the Central Atlantic that may be leased for offshore wind development. This decision will undercut the ability of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to achieve their renewable energy goals and set back progress towards America’s clean energy transformation.  

To achieve their combined offshore wind goals, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina must build 11 gigawatts of offshore wind in new lease areas. In July 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) put out a map of three proposed new lease areas — areas A-2, B-1, and C-1 — that would have collectively allowed between 4 and 8 gigawatts of offshore wind to be built. 

Maryland supporters of offshore wind urged President Biden to expand this map to allow the Central Atlantic states to hit their offshore wind goals. Rather than expand the areas being leased, today BOEM announced that they would be cutting lease area B-1 entirely. 

“The Biden Administration had the opportunity to provide all the lease area needed to allow Maryland to achieve our goal of building 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind, but they opted not to,” said Jamie DeMarco, Maryland Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “No one fought harder for Maryland in this process than Senator Chris Van Hollen and Governor Wes Moore. Their efforts helped secure commitments for future offshore wind lease sales, and we are very grateful for their work.”

While all the area outlined in black on the map above was originally identified as potential offshore wind locations, only area C and a portion of area A will be granted for offshore wind use. 

CCAN is committed to ensuring the existing lease areas in the Central Atlantic are filled to capacity as quickly as possible through implementation of the Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019 and the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act of 2023. 

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Contact: 
Jamie DeMarco, Maryland Director, jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org, 201-937-7017
KC Chartrand, Communications Director, kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change in the Chesapeake Bay region. For over 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and beyond.

CCAN In Solidarity with UAW for Good Jobs, Union Rights, and Auto Industry’s Clean Energy Revolution

Washington, DC — Over the past decade, Ford, GM, and Stellantis-Chrysler have raked in a staggering quarter-trillion dollars in North America profits, yet members of The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) never received their fair share. As the Big Three invest in the essential shift towards electrification in the automotive industry, including Electric Vehicles (EVs), the UAW stands firm in asserting that the transition to a clean energy future presents a monumental opportunity to elevate autoworker standards rather than diminishing them. 

Statement from Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director:

“At CCAN, we champion a just transition to a clean energy future. Insufficient wages, job insecurity, and substandard working conditions have left both workers and their communities behind. As we move away from fossil fuels, there is a golden opportunity for American workers and their families to thrive through the electrification of the automotive and transportation sector, a vital component of the green energy revolution. Our unwavering commitment to supporting workers and communities fuels our solidarity with the UAW and all those at the forefront of the climate crisis and this imperative transition.”

Contact:
Quentin Scott, 310-465-6943, quentin@chesapeakeclimate.org
KC Chartrand, 240-620-7144, kc@chessapeakeclimate.org

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.chesapeakeclimate.org

New Documents Shed Light on Dominion’s Misleading “Peaker Plant” Plan

Documents Suggest Dominion Plans to Run Chesterfield Power Plant Far More Than “Peaker” Status Would Imply

Proposal Aligns with Youngkin Energy Plan, Undercutting VA Climate Goals

RICHMOND, VA—Dominion Energy recently submitted an air pollution permit application for its proposed “Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center” (CERC) that includes information suggesting it would generate far more emissions than its supposed “peaker plant” status would suggest. Environmental groups say that the company is taking advantage of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Energy Plan in order to build unnecessary new fossil-fuel infrastructure that will burden ratepayers for years and contribute to the escalating climate crisis. 

Dominion Energy’s proposed plant would build four new gas generators totaling 1,000 MW of nameplate capacity, even as they are beholden to state law that mandates a move to 100% clean electricity. The company claims that it will be necessary as the state transitions to renewable energy, repeatedly referring to the project as a “peaker” plant.

Yet this may be a misnomer. Peaker plants are commonly defined as power plants that run less than 10% of the time. They are intended to turn on and off quickly to meet spikes in electricity demand. Yet Dominion’s permit calls for plans to operate each of the four turbines for 3240 hours — which is the equivalent of 135 full 24-hour days, or 37% of the year.

The Youngkin Administration’s Department of Environmental Quality will report on the Chesterfield plant to the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board on September 13.

“The proposal for this plant makes clear that Dominion has thrown their weight behind Governor Youngkin’s regressive energy plan, and they have intentionally or unintentionally misled the communities closest to the pollution,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “The Chesterfield plant is nothing more than an excuse to build another expensive capital-intensive fossil fuel project. Dominion’s ratepayers, who will be on the hook for this project, deserve the truth about this massive polluter.”

Governor Youngkin is also continuing forward on his agenda to illegally remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a highly popular program to reduce climate pollution and fund climate adaptation. Youngkin’s move was approved by the Air Board earlier this year.

The proposed pollution output will be 2,213,100 tons of CO2 equivalent, a full 13% increase in Dominion’s total emissions in its entire service territory—including North Carolina. Such a plan is in line with Governor Youngkin’s backwards Energy Plan for Virginia at the same time as it undercuts President Biden’s national climate goals of reducing greenhouse gasses 50% by 2030.

“This community has endured close to 80 years of air and water pollution associated with Dominion’s recently retired coal plant,” said Nicole Martin, President of the Chesterfield NAACP.  “They don’t deserve to be burdened with another polluting fossil fuel power plant in their backyard when alternatives exist.”

“We just experienced the hottest summer in human history, and Dominion Energy is proposing to double its climate pollution over the next 25 years,” said Glen Besa, a resident of Chesterfield County.  “This methane gas power plant is Dominion’s down payment on an investment in climate chaos. Dominion Energy’s CEO, Bob Blue, is clearly putting greed and short term corporate profits over the well being of our children, of future generations.”

The key section, from the Project Emissions Summary of the permit application (page 3-1):

Potential emissions for the SCCTs [Simple-Cycle Combustion Turbine] are presented for each annual operating scenario based on each SCCT operating for 3,240 hours per year of normal operation including 750 hours per year firing fuel oil. The SCCTs will be equipped with SCR and oxidation catalyst to control NOx, CO, and VOC emissions. Additionally, potential emissions include emissions based on each SCCT operating for 500 SUSD events which equates to an additional 1,500 hr/yr of operation for all four SCCTs during SUSD events.

Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a cornerstone of Biden’s climate strategy, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 through investments into renewable energy technologies, comprising the majority of his climate goals. In fact, the IRA provides a new tax credit for stand-alone battery storage, which, when paired with utility-scale wind and solar, leads to electricity 2.5 times less expensive than that provided by “best case” peaker plant.

The Chesterfield Gas Plant proposal not only flies in the face of Biden’s climate objectives but also contradicts the trajectory of progress needed to combat climate change effectively. This plant is emblematic of Governor Youngkin’s misguided pro-fossil fuel energy policies, which appear to have been crafted to cater to a national Republican base but are out of step with Virginia voters, who are calling for climate solutions. Polling shows an overwhelming majority of Virginia voters support staying in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, including a plurality of Republicans. Governor Youngkin has attempted to pull the state out of the program, a move that is currently being challenged in court.

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change in the Chesapeake Bay region. For over 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and beyond.

Contact
Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director, victoria@chesapeakeclimate.org, 201-937-7017
KC Chartrand, Communications Director, kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

All your questions about going electric in DC — answered! 

DC residents can lower their utility bills and make their homes safer and cleaner! 

The Inflation Reduction Act act provides money to states to pay for home electrification. Starting as soon as fall 2023, DC will be using this money to pay for complete home electrification for low income homeowners, provide some assistance to those with higher incomes, and to provide renters with rebates for electric appliances. Beyond this, DC has additional funding available through “Solar For All” and the “Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program” (LIHEAP). 

The most important thing you can do right now is sign up with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network to be contacted about free home electrification programs as soon as they become available. 

Have questions about how you can go electric in DC for less? We have the answers! While some solutions listed below are income-dependent, others are for all income levels, so read on to see what works for you. 

Q: I already have trouble affording my electric and gas bills. How can I start saving money right now? 

A: Once you apply for LIHEAP (Low income home energy assistance program) it will opt you in to Solar for All community solar, which acts as a discount on your electric bill. You can also apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program and/or the Emergency Mechanical Assistance Program. These won’t make your home electric, but they can help save you money. Weatherization will also help the environment. 

Q: Are there any other programs you would recommend to improve my home? 

A: The DC Partnership for Healthy Homes can help you fix in-home health hazards if you income qualify. Check their web page for the specific problems they can help with.

Eligible households include:

  • Children with severe and poorly controlled asthma;
  • Children less than 6 years old with a blood lead level of concern; and
  • District residents with a child less than 6 or a pregnant household member, whose home contains health and safety threats.

Q: How can I sign up to save money using solar energy? 

A: The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)’s Community Solar or Solar for All programs may be able to reduce your utility bills and help the environment at no cost to you. Fill out their form and their expert customer service staff will contact you. [something about community solar for renters?

If qualified, you will be able to upgrade your natural gas HVAC system to energy-efficient equipment that will save you energy and money, including a smart thermostat, electric heat pump, and electric heat pump water heater, where applicable. All who qualify must be District homeowners or renters living in single-family homes with 4 units or less, meet the same income limits above for the Solar for All Program, and your home must have an existing natural gas heating or water heating system.

I don’t qualify for Solar for All. Can I still get solar panels? 

Of course. Find a list of contractors at the bottom of this page.  

DC offers Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for solar energy generation. These can be traded or sold, in effect earning you dividends for providing green energy. Because of this, private companies may offer to install solar panels for free (and take the SRECs) or,if you purchase the panels yourself, you will likely get a monthly SREC payment. Please consult this guide for more detailed information. 

Remember, companies get paid by the panel, and may try to see you panels that are not situated to optimally generate electricity.  A reputable company will recommend the panels that can make electricity effectively, not just cover any available space with panels. 

Q: I want to electrify my home as soon as possible! What can I do using my own money? 

A: There are three first steps you can choose from: 

  • Use the energy star website to find a home energy audit contractor. The contractor will assess your home energy usage and can recommend next electrification steps.
  • Have an electrician come to your house and install plugs that can handle an electric stove, water heater, dryer, and most importantly, heat pump. That way, when your appliances break, you can quickly install electric ones.
  • If your appliances are not likely to break soon, finance a purchase of solar panels, and use the money you save to pay for home electrification. 
What are some useful guides to the entire home electrification process? 

Federal court stays Mountain Valley Pipeline’s biological opinion again

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit issued a stay of the biological opinion and incidental take statement under the Endangered Species Act for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The court’s order staying these authorizations means that construction should not move forward along any portion of the 304-mile pipeline route. The federal appeals court has already twice rejected the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s prior authorizations for the pipeline project, finding that the agency failed to adequately analyze the project’s environmental context when assessing the detrimental impacts to the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter, a species on the brink of extinction.

Yesterday, the federal court also granted a stay of the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to allow the pipeline to be constructed through the Jefferson National Forest while the court considers The Wilderness Society’s challenge to that decision. The Wilderness Society is represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The motion to stay the biological opinion was filed by lawyers from the Sierra Club, Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Center for Biological Diversity on behalf of Appalachian Voices, Wild Virginia, Indian Creek Watershed Association, Preserve Bent Mountain, Preserve Giles County, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity. Mountain Valley Pipeline and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service argued to the court that it lacked jurisdiction to issue the stay under provisions inserted into the Fiscal Responsibility Act about the pipeline. In issuing the stay, the 4th Circuit appears to have rejected that argument.

The following are statements from the petitioners:

Statement by Virginia Policy Director Peter Anderson of Appalachian Voices:
“This stay is necessary to prevent the irreparable harm that would be caused by allowing Mountain Valley Pipeline to resume construction while important legal issues are decided. We are pleased that the 4th Circuit seems to recognize that Congress overreached with its Mountain Valley Pipeline provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.”

Statement by Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous:
“Congress’s unprecedented end run around the courts attempted to forgo proper checks and balances and declare the sinking ship that is the MVP a winner. This, as we know, was wrong from the start. Congress cannot mandate that federal regulators throw caution to the wind — environmental laws are more than just mere suggestions, and must be adhered to. We expect MVP to halt all construction along the entire route.”

Statement of Anne Havemann, General Counsel, Chesapeake Climate Action Network:
“This ill-conceived pipeline poses serious threats to animals, plants, and people. This is the third time this court has found fatal flaws in Mountain Valley’s Endangered Species Act permit. Regulators that are supposed to protect the environment have once again failed and construction should be halted along the entire route.”

Statement of David Sligh, Wild Virginia’s Conservation Director:
“All we’ve ever asked is that our basic environmental protection laws, including the Endangered Species Act, be enforced. Federal officials have not yet lived up to that basic requirement on this project and the courts have had to step in. Construction on this harmful project must be ended now. ”

Statement of Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity:
“This decision shows that corporations with deep pockets and political influence aren’t above the law. The court stepped up to protect imperiled wildlife and sensitive streams from a disastrous project that should never be built.”

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.chesapeakeclimate.org

Environmental and Community Groups Challenge Effort to Throw Out Mountain Valley Pipeline Lawsuit

RICHMOND, VA — Late Monday, environmental and community organizations filed a response opposing efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, to dismiss the environmental groups’ pending challenge to the latest biological opinion and incidental take statement under the Endangered Species Act for the ill-advised Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Also on Monday, the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of The Wilderness Society filed a response in another MVP case opposing motions to dismiss a challenge to authorizations for the project to cross the Jefferson National Forest.

The motions to dismiss the groups’ challenges follow the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which seeks to expedite the nonessential Mountain Valley Pipeline, enshrining congressional overreach over the courts and setting a dangerous precedent that could encourage future congressional action to force through other controversial fossil fuel projects.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has already twice rejected the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s prior authorizations for the pipeline project, finding that the agency failed to adequately analyze the project’s environmental context when assessing the detrimental impacts to the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter, a species on the brink of extinction.

The FRA has led MVP to gear up to resume construction along the pipeline’s route.

The response was filed by lawyers from the Sierra Club, Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Center for Biological Diversity on behalf of Wild Virginia, Appalachian Voices, Indian Creek Watershed Association, Preserve Bent Mountain, Preserve Giles County, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity.

“Appalachian communities, water resources, and species should not be subject to political whims and unprecedented congressional interference,” said Peter Anderson, Virginia policy director for Appalachian Voices. “Courts must retain their power and responsibility to review our environmental protections from dangerous projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline.”

“Whatever happened to checks and balances?” asked Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Caroline Hansley. “Congress should never have overextended its powers to try to tell the courts how to do their jobs. When communities, climate, and habitats are at risk, there is just too much at stake.”

“In essence, Congress and the president have attempted to nullify the Endangered Species Act and the rights of Americans to be involved in their own government decisions — all to give a special deal to profit-making corporations,” said David Sligh, Wild Virginia’s conservation director. “This does violence to the Constitution, and we cannot accept it without challenge.”

“This is not a problem of Congress putting its thumb on the scale in favor of the government; instead Congress is attempting to throw out the scale entirely and unilaterally declare the government the winner,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Together, we have been fighting MVP for eight years and we won’t stop now.”

“Speaking on behalf of the endangered candy darter that once thrived in our creeks, something just smells fishy (and unconstitutional) about Congress passing a law that attempts to snuff out a valid lawsuit against a government agency simply by declaring the government the winner,” said Indian Creek Watershed Association President Howdy Henritz.

“Mountain Valley Pipeline is an environmental disaster that’s already caused significant harm to sensitive streams and imperiled wildlife,” said Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “There’s no way this pipeline could ever comply with bedrock environmental laws. Cronies in Congress are attempting to force this project through, ignoring the harms and giving a free ride to corporate interests. Congress should never have tried to undermine the court’s authority, and the pipeline should not be built.”

“Legislators seemed to forget that front and center of our ‘national interest’ is the social, physical and economic well being of our people — many of whom are environmental justice communities in the path of MVP’s aging pipe,” Roberta Bondurant of Preserve Bent Mountain, a local member group of the POWHR Coalition, said, “If ushered forward, MVP will continue to threaten our drinking water, our ever more fragile environment, and will pose sure and continuing risks to Appalachian life, limb and property — and this doesn’t speak to the global impacts of MVP methane. We refuse to be governed by the gas industry. We hold fast to our constitutional right to be heard.”

“From the beginning, MVP was rammed through, with federal agencies bowing to political pressure,” said SELC President and Executive Director DJ Gerken. “Now Congress has bowed to the developer’s interest too and tried to force the courts to get in line. With this challenge we, along with The Wilderness Society and other environmental and community groups, are standing up for our communities, our forests, and our right to seek justice from an independent court system. No one is above the law and the independent court system is the essential protector of our democracy. We continue to fight because it’s too dangerous not to.”

“Mountain Valley could not build their pipeline in compliance with the law, so they appealed to Congress to interfere with the courts, skirting both our legal system and Constitution,” said Chase Huntley, VP of Strategy and Policy at The Wilderness Society. “The MVP rider buried in the Fiscal Responsibility Act attempts to ram through the pipeline, forcing it onto communities who have spoken out against its devastating impacts for nearly a decade. Because bedrock environmental laws stood in the pipeline’s path, Mountain Valley convinced Congress to reach beyond its powers and decide in Mountain Valley’s favor, circumventing the courts. We’re fighting to make sure our challenge to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management’s approvals for the pipeline to cross the Jefferson National Forest has its rightful day in court.”

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The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.chesapeakeclimate.org

CCAN Calls Out Biden Administration’s Missed Opportunity for Climate Change Migrants

CCAN Calls Out Biden Administration’s Missed Opportunity for Climate Change Migrants

Washington, DC Last week, the Biden Administration did the bare minimum for climate change-affected migrant families, announcing the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador, Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Today, as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals holds a final hearing on Ramos v. Mayorkas, countless families affected by natural disasters fueled by climate change will remain in the shadows without legal protections from deportation. 

Statement from Quentin Scott, Federal Director for CCAN: 

“While the Biden Administration’s decision allows hundreds of thousands of TPS holders to breathe a sigh of relief, CCAN is disappointed in the Administration for not re-designating El Salvador, Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and excluding Guatemala, Pakistan, and other countries affected by climate change-impacted natural disasters. By linking climate change to Temporary Protected Status, we acknowledge the interdependence of environmental challenges and the humanitarian assistance required for affected communities. 

More than 15,000 CCAN supporters and other concerned residents nationwide stood up in support of protecting climate change migrants. The Administration passed up a moment to show real leadership and courage for climate change migrants –and now the fight for #TPSJustice and comprehensive immigration reform continues. TPS provides essential protection and support to climate change migrants, enabling them to rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities.”
Quentin Scott
Federal Director, CCAN

Climate change migration is commonly associated with the future submergence of coastal cities; however, the truth is, people are already being forced to abandon their homes due to climate change. Thousands of Pakistani migrants displaced by recent deadly floods, which have left a third of the country underwater and nearly half a million people displaced, did not receive a TPS designation. 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) provides vital protection for climate change migrants, granting them temporary legal status while residing in the U.S. However, the recent decision only benefits 337,000 climate migrant families who arrived by 2018, disregarding those who fled more recent climate disasters. 

By excluding these individuals, the Biden administration exposes them to the same crises that TPS recipients are shielded from, which is illogical. This missed opportunity highlights a lack of true leadership and courage. The pursuit for #TPSJustice persists, and President Biden can still take action by redesignating today.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.chesapeakeclimate.org