By Mike Tidwell
Fact: Virginia gets less than 1 percent of its electricity from “green” sources such as the wind or the sun. Fact: Virginia ranks 38th among U.S. states in energy efficiency. Fact: Climate change is real, and fossil fuel substitutes are needed, according to President Bush’s State of the Union address last year. So how would Dominion Virginia Power respond to these facts?
Where are you NoVa? I am currently sitting here at the at the lovely Holiday Inn on Eisenhower Ave, at a public Air Pollution Control Board hearing — one of the first of these types of hearings — and it is me, Kayti from the Sierra Club, Ernie from NOTICe, a few other activists and a room full of Dominion suits. The front row is literally comprised solely of Dominion “experts” who are working the podium, seemingly in a rotation, in an effort to deflect criticism and offer non-answers to serious questions. We have to be outnumbered… or at least that is the feeling that I am getting…
Dominion is talking the talk about how the proposed Wise County CFB coal fired power plant is going to be the best thing since sliced bread — how they their plant can use waste coal and biomass like wood-chips, how their plant will have lower SOx and NOx emissions than an IGCC coal plant. Yes, there are lots of wonky terms at a hearing like this (PSM, public health, environment, endanger), that not everyone will understand, but the feeling of deceit is palpable and accessible to everyone in attendance.
For example:
The presentation from Dominion to the Board included a large section about CCS, carbon capture and sequestration, and how compatible the Wise County plant may be, if the technology one day becomes available at a cost-effective price, with CCS and how that should mean that Virginians should not worry about this plant’s estimated 5.4 million tons of annual CO2 emissions. When asked when we could expect the plant to start to turn CCS compatibility into CCS reality, the Dominion speaker said, “decades.” Continue reading
On Thursday, January 17th, hundreds of activists gathered in Annapolis chanting and waving banners in support of the Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act. Below is a short 2-minute video from the rally.
Video by Jay Tomlinson
We attended the Virginia Conservation Network-Va. League of Conservation Voters-Va. Garden Club training, Legislative Lobby Day 2008. The hall was crowded; about 300 people with a variety of conservation interests from all over the state attended, including half a dozen of our friends from up the road at the Williamsburg CAN.
(BTW, look beyond the roses before you pooh-pooh the Va. Garden Clubs; they are formidable–an extremely large, active, effective, and well-connected conservation group who are take quite seriously by the General Assembly.)
During the day we met with six Hampton Roads legislators or their legislative assistants during the day to express our support for many pending acts:(a complete list can be found on our site http://www.twcan.org/docs.cfm, ga2008.pdf ) 
Yesterday morning, in the middle of a snowstorm, hundreds of activists gathered in Annapolis, chanting and waving banners in support of the Maryland Global Warming Solutions Act. As one of the folks who has spent the past few months organizing it and getting people to come out, it was such an amazing experience to see all of these committed activists in one place, calling for the passage of this landmark legislation.
WBAL was one of the many media sources there, and included a great video:
There was also great coverage in the Annapolis Capital, the Baltimore Sun, and the Baltimore Examiner.
You may be wondering, “Now that we’ve had this awesome rally with all sorts of buzz around it, what are the next steps? What can I do to make sure that this momentum keeps going?”
First of all, write a letter to your newspaper. Were you at the rally? Tell your local paper your story – why are Global Warming Solutions so important to you as a citizen of Maryland that you braved wintry weather to show your support? Weren’t able to make it? No worries! You can still write a letter to the editor showing support for the Global Warming Soluitons Act, and calling on your elected officials to support this legislation.
Which brings me to next step #2: write a letter to Mike Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates, calling on him to support the Global Warming Solutions Act.
And if you’re *really* excited about everything that’s happening, put the next Annapolis convergence on your calendar: Monday, February 18th is Environmental Action Day. Learn about environmental issues (include the Global Warming Solutions Act, the energy efficiency bill, and critical areas), get trained on lobbying, and then go talk to your legislators!
In an obvious move to blunt the effects of the Virginia Conservation Network’s Lobby Day on Monday the 21st, the Senate has bumped up the vote on SB423, the Citizen Board Abolition Bill, to 9:30 am Monday morning, well before our people arrive at the capitol.
SB423, a Citizen Board Abolition Bill in the Senate, is set for a vote THIS MONDAY at 9:30AM. This bill, if passed would make it far harder for us to fight the
What You Can DO:
In my seven years as a full-time climate activist in this region I’ve never been more inspired than at the snowy “Flood Annapolis” rally on Thursday, January 17th. At least 350 people from age two to 82 came from all over Maryland to gather on a weekday morning in a heavy snowstorm! You KNOW there’s deep, deep concern about an issue when that happens. What other grassroots issue in Maryland
It’s the 2008 legislative session in Virginia. Do you know where your Governor is?
Well, on climate, he’s nowhere to be found. Speaking before the Senate Finance Committee, Preston Bryant (Va Secretary of Natural Resources) confirmed what we’ve all been noticing – environment isn’t high on the Governor’s list this legislative session. Thus far, the Governor has not made public statements or lent his support to any climate/energy initiatives. And Mr. Bryant noted that the Governor has ONE environmental/energy initiative this session.
Perhaps he’s referring to the Governor’s attempt to dismantle our citizen pollution boards, which give us a voice in permitting of polluting industries. Legislators report that they’ve been hit up all week by administration staff.
So, instead of supporting great initiatives like the Clean Energy Future Act Governor Kaine is trying to take away our voice with the Department of Environmental Quality. Earlier today, Governor Kaine took questions on a Washington Post live forum to discuss important issues in Virginia for 2008. Climate and energy weren’t mentioned once.
There should be an outcry at the Governor’s inaction – letters to the editor, calls, emails. The Governor’s # is (804) 786-2211. Let him know that climate should be a priority.
OK, he’s got an energy plan. We’ve got a Climate Commission. Governor Kaine testified before Congress on the impacts of global warming on the Chesapeake Bay. Where is the solution. Where is the plan??? This is unacceptable.
If the Governor doesn’t have a plan, at least he should support the Clean Energy Future Act. Or in the least, don’t take away the Citizen Boards. No pollution without representation.
As of today, I have nine names for you. Nine champions for the environment. Nine brave legislatures have already co-patroned the Clean Energy Future Act, Senator Chap Petersen’s bold plan for Virginia.
CO-PATRONS OF SB446, The Clean Energy Future Act
* Senators Chap Petersen, Roscoe Reynolds, and Patsy Ticer
* Delegates Adam Ebbin, David Englin, David Poisson, Joe Bouchard, David Toscano, Margaret Vanderhyde
Is your legislator one of them? If not, ask your legislator to co-patron the Clean Energy Future Act.
Now, this ain’t bad for one day of grueling work walking the capitol. I enjoyed it. But it would be a lot more fun if I had company. So come on down and join the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and VCN for Clean Energy Lobby Day. Its this Monday, January 21st. Yes, I know its MLK day – what better way to celebrate you day off them to join with other concerned citizens to try to save the climate. Register today.
Have any more updates on this great bill? Write to josh[at]chesapeakeclimate.org. The climate needs all the help it can get, and so do we.
BWT – This bill will go through the Commerce and Labor Committee in the Senate. None of them are currently co-sponsors. If you know them, show them some love.
Mark Herring, Don McEachin, Chuck Colgan, John Edwards, Yvonne Miller, Toddy Puller , Phil Puckett, Frank Wagner, John C. Watkins, Tommy Norment, William Wampler, Steve Newman, Walter Stosch, Ken Stolle.
This just in from the Earth Policy Institute
Northern Hemisphere Temperature Highest Ever
With the record for 2007 now complete, it is clear that temperatures around the world are continuing their upward climb. The global average in 2007 was 14.73 degrees Celsius (58.5 degrees Fahrenheit) Continue reading