Author: Mike Tidwell

Here’s the truth: The fossil fuel industry wants to put us all in handcuffs. They want to lock us up inside a future of climate chaos by continuing to dump massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the sky.
Hurricane Matthew spawned great flooding in Norfolk, creating “automobile graveyards” and stranded neighborhoods. Such storms will become more frequent in a warming world, but the fossil fuel industry doesn’t care. Companies like Dominion Power and ExxonMobil want to double down with more fracked gas and more dirty oil. This will imprison us in a world of severe climate violence.
So it’s ironic that civil disobedience can help free us from this future. It was true during the civil rights movement and it’s true now.
In 2011, a total of 1,253 people got arrested at the White House to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. And it worked! Today, indigenous Sioux leaders in North Dakota are doing the same – peacefully giving up their momentary freedom in order to keep future generations free from the contaminated water and climate disruption that would come from a fracked-oil pipeline.
Now this movement and these tactics have arrived in Virginia. It’s time for us to say no – seriously no – to two massive fracked-gas pipelines that fossil fuel companies want to plow through the state.
Won’t you sign the “Pipeline Pledge of Resistance” against the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines? Join citizens across Virginia in taking a historic stand against fracked gas and for our clean water, property rights, and climate at nonewpipelines.org.
You’ll be in good company. In early October, twenty three people – ranging in age from 20 to 83 – were peacefully arrested outside Governor Terry McAuliffe’s house in Richmond. These citizens were demanding clean water, climate justice, and an end to the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines. Now, these same 23 people are asking you to join them in pledging to take a firm stance against the pipelines.
The official government review process for these two pipelines is now underway. The process so far is very troubling. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a comically inadequate draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mountain Valley Pipeline in September. A similarly insufficient EIS could be coming on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline as early as December. And Gov. McAuliffe’s administration – despite having the clear power to stop these pipelines under the Clean Water Act – is making it clear they’re ready to give rubber-stamp approval no matter how many farms are destroyed and drinking wells contaminated.
Unless we turn up the pressure, these pipelines could begin construction within the next 12 months.
Won’t you sign the “Pipeline Pledge of Resistance” against the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines? If you’re not able to risk arrest, you can pledge your support to those who are able to do so.
No one wants to have to get arrested just to keep their water safe and their air clean. But many times in American history, elected leaders and government officials just don’t listen to the pleas of voters.
So, like the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline, it’s up to citizens like you and me to make our voices heard. Again, history has shown that mass civil disobedience has repeatedly played a key role in moments of great moral import like this. Let’s pledge ourselves fully to this cause – proudly, peacefully, insistently.
I hope you’ll sign the pipeline pledge of resistance – at http://nonewpipelines.org – and share it with everyone you know.
Sincerely,

Mike Tidwell

On Wednesday, I had the honor of being arrested side-by-side with U.S. Army veteran Russell Chisholm of Newport, Virginia, taking a stand to stop fracked-gas pipelines and demand true climate solutions.
We were among 23 citizens, aged 20 to 83, who blocked the front gate to Governor Terry McAuliffe’s house in Richmond.¹ We were there to send a simple message: Governor, do your job.
Right now, people’s farms are being trampled by surveyors for fracked-gas pipelines. People’s water is being poisoned by Dominion Power’s coal ash. People’s homes are being flooded by rising seas.Yet, Governor McAuliffe continues to stand with polluters like Dominion instead of doing his job to protect citizens.
Russell, who served in the 24th Infantry Division in Desert Storm, provided the most powerful words of the day: “When called to serve, I did not shrug my shoulders and claim, ‘It’s not my job.’ I am here today to urge Governor McAuliffe to stand up for Virginians. Governor, you can stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline from destroying our springs and wells. Governor, you can do your job.”
Will you stand with citizens like Russell and help spread the word about Wednesday’s historic civil disobedience at Gov. McAuliffe’s mansion? Click here to show your support on Facebook, and show the Governor that people across Virginia stand with the “Mansion 23.”
Who else got arrested Wednesday?
Pastor Paul Wilson, 63, of Buckingham County drew a trespassing charge in order to stop the massive compressor station that Dominion wants to build next to his church community to pump gas through the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. “We refuse to be sacrificial lambs for the sake of money for private industry,” said Pastor Paul just before he was escorted away by police.
Quan Baker, 23, of Norfolk, got arrested because, “I don’t believe the Governor, or any of our other state legislators, are taking the impacts of climate change seriously,” even as flooding gets worse and worse.
And 83-year-old Marjorie Wells of Midlothian got arrested for the first time in her life because clean water is life – and the Governor clearly needs to put real people like her above the interests of polluters like Dominion.
Click here to spread the word and thank these citizens who joined Wednesday’s historic civil disobedience at Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s mansion. Show the Governor that people across Virginia stand with the “Mansion 23.”
In the course of American history, elected leaders have often supported laws and practices that are harmful and immoral in their consequences. Governor McAuliffe’s ceaseless support of fossil fuel extraction in a world that is burning up from greenhouse gas pollution has created one of those moments. And now principled people are raising their voices, joining picket lines, and getting arrested to tell the Governor loud and clear: “Yes, you can protect us!”
Stay tuned soon for more creative actions involving more and more people – especially as Dominion and other companies keep pressing forward with unacceptable pipeline construction plans.
And watch this live video from yesterday’s arrests to get a front-seat view of the action. Tell all your friends. And join the movement to keep fossil fuels in the ground while we switch to a jobs-rich economy based on wind and solar power!
P.S. You can see news coverage of the three-day picket line in front of Governor McAuliffe’s offices here, and check out coverage of yesterday’s arrests in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginian-Pilot and Common Dreams.
1. Click here to meet the group of committed citizens who took part in the civil disobedience, and learn why they joined this action in their own words.

This note is about radical polluters versus really sane Virginians who want to conserve their land. It’s about Governor Terry McAuliffe standing with Dominion Power instead of embracing the moral imperative of a “fossil fuel resistance” movement nationwide. It’s about brave and ordinary people standing up to extreme energy companies – people like the Standing Rock Sioux tribe who have fought heroically against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
This is going to be a longer note than usual from CCAN – and I hope you’ll read it to the end. But here are the questions I want to ask:
Will you come to Richmond at least once between October 3 and 5 for a citizens’ “picket line” against pipelines, coal ash, and coastal flooding? We’ll be picketing outside Governor McAuliffe’s office in the capital city. And on a separate front: What are your thoughts about the role of peaceful civil disobedience in the Virginia climate movement? Is it time? Are you interested?
First, it’s no secret that global warming now affects all of us — far beyond the dying coral reefs and faraway glaciers. From the flooding in Norfolk last week from tropical storm Hermine to the extreme heat wave across Virginia right now, this is a crisis reaching right into YOUR neighborhood. And these harmful trends are all linked to carbon and methane pollution from the burning of oil, coal and gas.
So what’s Governor Terry McAuliffe’s response to the climate crisis? You might not think of him as a pro-pollution “radical,” but his support for high-pollution energy projects actually makes him so. He wants to build two massive pipelines for fracked gas that could dramatically threaten farms, drinking water, and parkland while doubling greenhouse gas emissions on the ground. (The parallel to the Dakota Access Pipeline, opposed by indigenous leaders, is striking). McAuliffe also wants to drill for offshore oil in Virginia and bury millions of tons of coal ash next to our major rivers. It’s pretty amazing.
Meanwhile, McAuliffe’s very close friends at Dominion Power have their own radical climate ideas. One company vice president recently published a letter saying that global warming might be GOOD for us. I’m not making this up. He speculated in the Richmond Times-Dispatch that climate disruption might actually improve the world. And Dominion itself is a member of a right-wing legislative group (ever heard of ALEC?) that openly questions the scientific consensus of human-caused climate change.
Given these out-sized threats from the Governor and Dominion, what should SANE people – folks like you and me – do in response? What’s a reasonable escalation of our efforts to speak out and protect human health and human rights? Here’s one idea:
Let’s form a citizens’ lunchtime “picket line” outside Governor McAuliffe’s office in Richmond for three days in October. He’s not listening to the voices of farmers, students, and sane citizens statewide. Let’s bring those voices – peacefully but persistently – to his office October 3-5 for a lunchtime parade of signs, chanting and truth. Won’t you join for a day?
Why three days of picketing? Because we have three major battles on our hands in Virginia: Pipelines, coal ash, and coastal flooding from sea-level rise. On Day One, October 3rd, we’ll feature the voices of people across the state opposed to McAuliffe’s fracked-gas pipelines and compressor stations. Day Two, October 4th, will feature communities impacted by harmful coal ash dumping along the Potomac, James, and other rivers. And Day Three, October 5th, will feature citizens statewide concerned about climate change, sea-level rise, and the appalling flooding in coastal Virginia.
Why October 3-5? Because it’s just time. The Governor needs sustained pressure to break his ties with the extreme fossil fuel interests. And also because the whole nation will be turning its attention to Virginia that first week of October: On Tuesday, October 4th, the U.S. vice presidential candidates will come to Farmville to hold their only debate. As the national media spotlight descends on Virginia, we’ll shine a spotlight on the radical impacts of Governor McAuliffe’s support for fossil fuels.
Why focus this action on the Governor? Because he has the ability, using his executive powers, to make a difference on all three major issues of concern. During the picketing, we’ll be asking him to: 1) Reject state water permits for fracked-gas pipelines; 2) Require Dominion and other utilities to permanently protect our waterways from toxic coal ash; and 3) Commit to serious clean energy and adaptation solutions to keep our coastal communities above water.
This idea is already taking off. Many proud Virginians are already planning to take a stand with us in October. They’re people like the 86-year-old Korean War veteran whose land in Giles County, Virginia, would be substantially clear cut by the Mountain Valley Pipeline for fracked gas (supported by McAuliffe). And the Baptist pastor in Buckingham County whose church community would be polluted by an industrial compressor station for fracked gas (supported by McAuliffe). And a northern Virginia homeowner whose drinking water well has been contaminated next to a Dominion coal ash dump (that McAuliffe says is safe). And a senior citizen in Newport News who’s facing expensive flood insurance on a fixed income due to unprecedented sea-level rise.
These Virginians are locked into fights against energy companies and state policies that threaten their lives, drinking water, and land. In solidarity with them – and brave citizens nationwide fighting for safe farms, shorelines, and neighborhoods – won’t you join them?
Please come to Richmond at least once between October 3-5 for a lunchtime citizens’ “picket line” against pipelines, coal ash, and coastal flooding. We’ll be picketing outside the Governor’s office the same week the whole nation turns to Virginia during the vice presidential debate.
Since last spring, as you know, an alliance of groups has been working to get the Governor’s attention on these dirty energy issues. My friend Bill McKibben and I wrote an op-ed challenging the Governor last February. Then CCAN joined several groups in releasing an energy-and-climate “report card” for the Governor in April, giving him a D plus. (We thanked him for his support of minor solar power and efficiency projects but dinged him for the massive support of fossil fuels). Then more than 60 groups statewide issued an open letter in June asking the Governor again to abandon his 19th-century energy vision of drill it, pipe it, and burn it. Finally, on July 23rd, more than 600 people came to Richmond for the “March on the Mansion” to ask the Governor to put people’s welfare above polluters’ profits.
But remarkably, the Governor has not changed at all. He’s still not listening. He’s announced his support for a couple of inspiring Virginia solar farms that, when built, will reduce carbon pollution in Virginia by the equivalent of taking about 10,000 cars off the road. But he still supports new oil and gas drilling in Virginia and West Virginia that would be the equivalent of adding tens of millions of new cars to our roads!
So I hope you’ll join us for one, two or all three of the days we’ll be picketing at the Governor’s office. If you live in Richmond, just pop over during your lunch break and help make history in this fight. If you’re across the state, take off half a day if you can and come be with us.
Finally, there’s the issue of peaceful civil disobedience. Have you ever thought of adding your name to the long list of proud Americans who, at some point in our nation’s history, have engaged in this powerful tactic for a worthy cause? Is now the right time for you? With oceans rising worldwide and indigenous struggles peaking in the Dakotas and radical pipelines bearing down on Virginia, is it time to exercise your reasonable right to stand up against the polluters who would radically alter our world? If so:
A second group of citizens is planning a civil disobedience action on the final day of this 3-day protest, on October 5th. It will be separate from the picketing action. It will involve people from all over the state. It will be peaceful and inspiring.
Hope to see you in Richmond on October 3rd, 4th, or 5th. I can’t wait to take the next steps of this movement with you.
Onward,
Mike Tidwell

Dear CCANers,
You may have noticed solar panels popping up in tons of places these days: on a neighbor’s roof, on a street-corner utility poll, on a farm field near you. The price of solar keeps falling, moving us closer to the community-based, resilient, distributed, and sustainable energy grid we all know we need to solve climate change.
And here’s what’s also popping up everywhere you turn: grassroots energy leaders. Wherever you look in our region, there are real-life, community-based, common-sense leaders taking on local fights against extreme fossil fuels. Whether it’s fighting for a fracking ban across Maryland or to stop proposed fracked-gas pipelines in Virginia; whether it’s stopping coal-ash dumping in the Potomac River south of DC or stopping explosive crude oil trains from rolling through Baltimore – these leaders are emerging everywhere, at the same time.
People power, like solar power, is spreading in our region – and the two are related. These citizens are part of the place-based and resilient leadership we’ll need to continue our fight to keep fossil fuels in the ground as we make the final switch to “energy democracy” based largely on distributed energy that is local and clean and abundant.

Who are these new leaders? They are people like 86-year-old George Jones, a Korean War veteran whose land in Giles County, Virginia, is being confiscated for a massive proposed fracked-gas pipeline called the Mountain Valley Pipeline. George is fighting back. Though wheelchair bound due to a recent stroke, he inspired Virginians statewide when he rolled nearly a mile through summer heat with 600 other people as part of the “March on the Mansion” demonstration July 23rd. The march ended at Governor Terry McAuliffe’s (D) house with a clear message: drop your support of fracked-gas pipelines in Virginia.
They are people like Vinny and Jamie DeMarco, a father and son duo who biked 370 miles across Maryland in August in support of state legislation to boldly expand wind and solar energy in the state. Governor Larry Hogan (R) recklessly vetoed this popular bill in May. The DeMarcos are encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to override the veto. So the cyclists organized the “Ride for the Override” that spawned inspiring news stories in the Washington Post and across the state. Thanks to this people-powered support from the DeMarcos and others, it looks like the General Assembly will give final approval to the law in January.
Who else are these new leaders? They are people like DC student (and former beloved CCAN staffer) Jon Kenney, who has been fighting to protect urban neighborhoods across our region from a rise in crude-oil rail tankers from North Dakota that now roll through our communities. These increasingly frequent oil trains are a threat not just to our climate, but to households and children due to potential derailments and explosions.
Like budding solar panels, these leaders are popping up everywhere – the mountains of western Maryland, the suburbs of Virginia Beach, the row houses of Washington, DC. This people-based grid of interconnected leaders and communities is widely distributed, spreading fast, and impossible to defeat because the roots are just too wide, too deep.
Of course the major polluters in our region – like Dominion Power – continue to push for energy that is based on the concentrated power of coal and gas plants. The polluters’ political power is equally concentrated, residing in the hands of a few executives who, with big political campaign contributions, influence politicians at the top, who then force dirty energy policies on the rest of us.
But now comes the unstoppable force of Virginians like George Jones and Marylanders like the DeMarcos. I think it’s fair to say the polluters have finally met their match, and we know who’s going to win. Stay tuned and stay active. To change everything, we need everybody. That means me. That means you.
On we go,

Mike Tidwell

There were people who said it couldn’t be done. You can’t turn out over 600 people – from every region of Virginia – to march a mile through 99-degree heat to Governor Terry McAuliffe’s house.
But guess what? We did it. With drums banging, banners waving, and people chanting, “McAuliffe: We don’t want your dirty pipelines,” over 600 people rallied on Brown’s Island in downtown Richmond Saturday and then marched till our voices were cascading off the front door of McAuliffe’s mansion.
The message to the Governor was clear: We don’t want fracked-gas pipelines in our mountains or oil drilling off our coast or toxic coal ash dumped in our rivers. We want solar and wind and a real energy democracy in Virginia where no communities are sacrificed for the profits of fossil fuel polluters. We want a safe climate for our kids.
And that message made news headlines across Virginia, from NBC 29 to CBS 19 to ABC 8 to the Richmond Times-Dispatch to the Associated Press story that ran in papers from Roanoke to Norfolk to the Washington Post.
If you missed the rally, check out and share the photo highlights on Facebook. I guarantee you’ll be inspired. Also, stay tuned: There’s much more to come as we keep up the pressure on our Governor to put people over polluters, and stop reckless pipelines and coal ash dumping.

No one who attended the rally and march will ever forget what they saw and heard: the music, the buses full of activists arriving from as far away as Newport News and Blacksburg, the artwork, and the speakers defiant and full of determined hope.

 

Pastor Paul Wilson of Buckingham County spoke first, describing how Dominion Resources – with Gov. McAuliffe’s blessing – wants to build a massive compressor station for fracked gas next to two African American rural churches.
Dan Marrow of Quantico broke down in tears describing how his family has to drink bottled water because of Dominion’s coal ash pollution.
Before we hit the streets, Jane Kleeb, a leader from Nebraska who helped defeat TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, reminded us of our power: “We never had as much money as TransCanada … But what we had was our folks. What we had was putting on our boots every morning and getting into the streets. … Every single one of you is a seed of resistance.”
And this photo shows you just how many “seeds” were among us:

If you missed the rally, check out these photos and share on Facebook. Then, stay tuned for the next ways you can get involved in this growing movement across Virginia for clean energy, clean water and climate justice!
We can stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline for fracked gas. We can stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and its dirty compressor station. And offshore oil drilling. And the toxic dumping of coal ash in our rivers.
And we can move Virginia toward something better. Solar panels on a million rooftops are in our future if we fight. Huge offshore wind farms are in our future if we fight. The end of Dominion Power’s dominion over our democracy is in our power if we fight. And an end to reckless pro-pollution policies from politicians like Gov. Terry McAuliffe – that’s in our future too if…we…fight!
We’re ready. And I know you are too.
Onward!
Mike, Harrison, Drew, Monique and all of the team at CCAN

This Saturday, hundreds of people from across Virginia will converge in Richmond to march to Governor Terry McAuliffe’s doorstep. Our “March on the Mansion” is going to be the biggest rally for climate justice Virginia has ever seen.
It’s even attracting the attention of famous actor Mark Ruffalo. For real. He released a video message on Thursday to urge Virginians to join us: Click here to watch on Facebook and share!
It’s surely going to be hot — but it also couldn’t be a more important time to turn up the heat on our leaders.
As we hit the streets this Saturday, major decisions are pending on the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is about to decide on the next round of permits for Dominion’s reckless coal ash disposal plans. And, yet, our Governor continues to shrug his shoulders at fossil fuel plans that would harm our communities and worsen climate change.
So it’s time we bring our voices straight to him.
I can’t wait to see you in Richmond this Saturday at noon. Hundreds of you have been filling up bus seats, painting beautiful banners, and — I hope — exercising your chanting voices.
Now, here’s everything you need to know to join us on Saturday — please read to the end!
THE BASICS: Our rally begins on Saturday at 12 noon on Brown’s Island in downtown Richmond. Click here for a Google map. The island is accessible via pedestrian entrances at Tredegar Street & South 5th and South 7th Streets respectively, and by Richmond’s Canal Walk. (Note: a bag check is required to enter Brown’s Island, so make sure to leave knives or glass bottles at home.) The island has restrooms.
BUSES: If you signed up for a bus seat, you will have received (or will shortly get) an email, call or text directly from your bus captain. Find bus pick-up details and contact info for bus captains on the transportation page: http://marchonthemansion.org/transportation.
PARKING: If you’re driving, we have a list and map of parking garages located within a few blocks of Brown’s Island on the transportation page: http://marchonthemansion.org/transportation. (The garages are also just a few blocks from our march end-point at the Capitol.)
OUR AGENDA: Our official rally program begins at 12 noon, but the activity on Brown’s Island will kick-off earlier. Here’s a run-down of the full agenda:

• Pre-rally: Interfaith leaders are holding a prayer service at 11:15 a.m. — all are welcome! Local musicians will begin playing around 11:30 a.m.
• Rally: We’ll get fired up with great speeches from fellow Virginians on the front lines of fossil fuel impacts, and from student, faith, social justice, and climate leaders. ASL interpretation will be available!
• The march: We’ll start marching toward Capitol Square by 1 p.m., guided by marshals, and we’ll wrap up around 2:30 p.m. at the Capitol Bell Tower. If you need help making this walk, we’ll have bus shuttles to take you from the island to the Capitol.
• After the march: Buses will depart from the same block where our march will end. For those not departing on buses, join us for a post-rally debrief and issue session at St. Paul’s church at 815 E Grace St.

SPREAD THE WORD: Throughout the day, post and share updates, photos and video on social media using our march hashtag: #ReachTerry.
THE WEATHER: It will be hot on Saturday — and we’re prepared for it. We’ll have tents to provide shade, water, ice, and mister bottles — plus cooling spots along the march route. Make sure to bring: a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, umbrella, snacks, and anything else that helps keep you cool. St. Paul’s church at 815 E Grace St. (across from the Capitol) will be open from 12 noon – 4 p.m. for marchers as a cooling spot with AC and restrooms. You can also duck into air-conditioned restaurants and shops along the march route as needed.
BRING YOUR OWN DRUMS, SIGNS AND BANNERS: Let’s make this not only the biggest rally for climate justice Virginia has ever seen, but the most beautiful! Do you have a snare drum? Conga? Bass drum? Bring it! And bring your best signs and banners that show why you’re marching.
QUESTIONS? Please check out the FAQ page on our rally website: http://marchonthemansion.org/faq-details. And don’t hesitate to email us at: info@marchonthemansion.org.
We are going to have a fun, peaceful, creative and POWERFUL event this Saturday. We’re going to come together in bigger numbers than ever before to make sure our Governor puts the welfare of citizens over the profits of polluters.
As our friend Mark Ruffalo said, “We can win these fights if we choose to fight.”
Let’s hit the streets together on Saturday!
Mike Tidwell

Dear CCANers,
Everyone knows that Big Oil is the most powerful special interest on Earth. So here’s the question: Can activists in one U.S. state like Virginia really stop the oil barons from drilling off the coast of Virginia Beach?
And what about Big Gas? The frackers virtually rule America. Can two suburban counties with shale gas deposits in Maryland really send the frackers packing? And what about trash incineration? Can citizens in one Baltimore neighborhood take down a proposed mega-dirty incinerator project that everyone thought was a done deal?
Turns out, the answers to these questions are yes, yes, and again yes! Across the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia and DC, it’s been a year full of people-powered victories so far.
In Virginia, on March 15th, Obama administration announced that no oil companies will be allowed to drill off the fragile shores of coastal Virginia for at least the next five years (and perhaps forever). The decision came after thousands of Virginians submitted comments in strong opposition to offshore drilling. And leaders from the tourism, business, faith, student, and environmental communities campaigned openly and noisily against Governor Terry McAuliffe’s unacceptable support for ocean drilling. Once again: organized people can beat organized money. Go Virginia!
And on April 12th, the Prince George’s County Council – on Maryland’s border with DC — voted unanimously to ban gas companies from fracking along a gas deposit that runs under the county. The vote came after landowners, homeowners, students, businesses and others from across the county signed petitions, packed hearing rooms, and said “no!” (A year earlier, the County Council of neighboring Montgomery County did the same thing). Now CCAN and our partners are turning our attention toward passing a permanent, legislative statewide ban on fracking in the Maryland General Assembly in 2017. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, in Baltimore, a David vs. Goliath fight to stop the nation’s largest trash-burning incinerator achieved a key victory in March. Students and utterly determined neighbors in Curtis Bay succeeded in pressuring Maryland regulators to finally terminate the company’s permit. Twenty-year-old Destiny Watford, who helped lead this fight, just won the prestigious Goldman prize for her visionary work for environmental justice against a power company that wanted to soak her neighborhood in more mercury, soot, and other pollutants from the combustion of trash.
I’m happy to say that in all of these fights across the region, CCAN played a key part in building the winning coalitions that got the job done. What’s next? Well, get ready D.C. Two of the most exciting upcoming fights include passing a historic carbon “fee and dividend” bill in the District of Columbia and also getting the nation’s capital to commit to 50% clean electricity.
And, oh yeah, at the risk of burying some real headlines, the Maryland General Assembly also passed two major bills to fight climate change in its just-ended 2016 session. One, supported and signed by Republican Governor Larry Hogan, mandates a statewide 40% cut in carbon pollution by the year 2030. The other mandates that 25% of the state’s electricity come from renewable energy by the year 2020.
I get tired just writing about all of this hard-won progress. But I’m never too tired to move on to the next clean-energy campaign in our region. You are the reason we win. You are the reason we keep fighting.
On we go,

Mike Tidwell

I’m writing today above all to thank you. Why? Because, if you’ve taken action with CCAN or our allies in the Power DC coalition over the past year and a half, then you’ve been part of one of the fiercest and most effective grassroots fights against a utility merger in U.S. history.
It’s true: The D.C. Public Service Commission handed down a stunning 2-1 decision on March 23rd to greenlight Chicago-based utility Exelon’s takeover of Pepco. This decision defied the indisputable facts that Exelon’s business model relies on raising our rates and suppressing the growth of affordable clean energy. This decision defied popular will. In fact, thanks in part to your action, Exelon’s deal had lost the support of every other major party from the Mayor to the People’s Counsel.
But this is also true: Together, the Power DC coalition — including two dozen citizens’ organizations, hundreds of ordinary citizens like you, and dozens of ANC allies spanning every ward of the District — put the largest utility merger ever proposed on the ropes for two years.
Practically everyone thought this merger was a slam dunk from the outset. But our grassroots movement made it anything but. Squaring off against a volunteer-powered coalition on a shoestring budget, Exelon and Pepco were forced to spend millions to secure a final result, including conditions they would have never offered otherwise.
You can bet that legal challenges to the Public Service Commission’s decision in D.C. are coming, just as CCAN continues to partner with the Sierra Club and Earthjustice to appeal Maryland’s merger approval.
Whatever the final outcome in the courts, we will not stand down in the face of Exelon. Our grassroots coalition has many more fights to win together.
We are working with our allies to set an ambitious climate agenda in the days and weeks ahead — an agenda that will likely include a major legislative expansion of the District’s clean electricity mandate, followed by a progressive carbon fee on all fossil fuels.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to move past this merger by supporting some of the nation’s most aggressive, home-grown clean energy and climate policies.
We are bigger than Exelon. And I can’t wait to see what we will achieve together next.