The following letter to the editor, written by CCAN fellow Justin Klecha, was printed in the Culpeper Star-Exponent on June 30th. Read more about CCAN’s summer fellows in our June-July newsletter (written right before Justin began). Congrats, Justin!

One step forward, two steps back for Bay project
Justin Klecha, Fredericksburg
June 30, 2010

Culpeper, along with other municipalities across our state, has or is implementing cleaner wastewater technologies in an effort to reduce pollution. The June 25 article, “Cleaner Wastewater,” laid out the details of the improved treatment facilities in Culpeper, stating that the town has “modernized and sanitized its wastewater treatment process for the sake of the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

One step forward!

While at the same time REC’s parent electric cooperative is proposing a $6 billion dollar coal plant just 35 miles from the Chesapeake Bay.

If built it would be the largest coal plant in Virginia producing massive amounts of pollutants, such as mercury, lead and carbon-dioxide, which would undermine projects like the one in Culpeper.

Two steps back

1Sky
350.org
Center for Biological Diversity
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Climate Crisis Coalition
Energy Action Coalition
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace
Gulf Restoration Network
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, JPIC
Mobilization for Climate Justice West
MoveOn.org
N.C. WARN
Oil Change International
Price Carbon Campaign
Progressive Democrats of America
Public Citizen
Shalom Center

We urge local organizers to take the initiative to organize “Congress: You’ve Got Oil On Your Hands” events, to be held in front of the offices of members of the Senate or the House around the country who have taken a large amount of money from Big Oil or who have refused to support strong action on climate. You can find out about Big Oil campaign contributions at http://www.followtheoilmoney.org.

At the events, people would hold up large, black, “oil-covered” hands to represent how the target is too close to Big Oil. People could also cover their own hands in black body paint, shoe polish, chocolate syrup, or anything that would reinforce the “oily hands” imagery.

Time is short until July 20th, but there