Resisting the Atlantic Coast Pipeline: latest updates

Over 100 concerned Virginians weathered the cold and rallied in Waynesboro on November 1st to stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

Most Virginians know by now that Dominion Resources has proposed a disastrous 550-mile long mega-pipeline to carve through Virginia, carrying fracked gas for West Virginia to North Carolina. The announcement was hard to miss, especially when Governor McAuliffe stood shoulder to shoulder with Dominion CEO, Tom Farrell, to announce his support of this devastating project.
Join the thousands of Virginians who have already called on Governor McAuliffe to withdraw his support of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
After two months of public hearings, Dominion officially pre-filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on October 31st, beginning the environmental review of the project.
But just as Dominion forges ahead on building the pipeline, thousands of concerned Virginians are forging ahead to build the statewide pipeline resistance.
Just one day after Dominion pre-filed with FERC, over 100 pipeline activists gathered in Waynesboro to rally against the pipeline. We heard from numerous landowners and affected families on the ground, made connections with the dozens of local groups organizing throughout the region, and talked about next steps. Check out more  photos from the rally on the Friends of Augusta Facebook Page and Event Album here!

Erin, a VCU student against about the ACP, shares her concerns via photo petition with dozens of other activists at the Waynesboro rally.
Erin, a VCU student against about the ACP, shares her concerns via photo petition with dozens of other activists at the Waynesboro rally. Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia, and made plans for next steps.

The rally was an exciting end to months of public mobilizing, including filling Dominion Open Houses with pipeline activists, publishing dozens of Letters to the Editor, and collecting thousands of petitions.
But since the rally, we’ve only continued to escalate and build our strength. Last week, a delegation of organizers from Augusta County traveled to Washington, DC to meet with FERC’s Chairmen Cheryl A. LaFleur to discuss their concerns over the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The delegation also met with Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to illustrate the significant statewide opposition to the pipeline.
While we are hard at work making sure Virginia politicians know our power, Dominion is hard at work threatening local landowners to seize their property. Just this week, Dominion sent final notices and threat to sue to the 189 Virginia landowners along the path of the pipeline who have not issued permission for Dominion to survey their land.  If you have received a letter from Dominion and need more information, please contact: info@augustacountyalliance.org.
What can you do?
First, sign the petition to Governor McAuliffe calling on him to withdraw his support of the pipeline. CCAN is working with the Augusta Alliance, the Shenandoah Valley Network, and other local organizers to collect 10,000 petitions to deliver to the Governor. Help us reach that goal by signing and sharing with your networks.
Then, stay updated to submit your public comment to FERC on the pipeline. The next few months will have a lot of opportunities to raise your voice, join the fight, and support local residents on the path of the pipeline.
 
For now, check out the latest News Roundup:

 

Virginia will flood. Or not.

What if Virginia’s great coastal communities basically disappeared? No naval base in Norfolk. No tourism in Virginia Beach. No shipyards in Portsmouth and Newport News.
Why imagine this? Because scientists say it could happen. Six feet of sea-level rise from climate change could inundate the Virginia coastal region in coming decades, triggering a full-blown economic and human safety crisis that will affect the entire state, from Southside to Richmond to Northern Virginia.
But here’s the good news: We can fight back. This fall, CCAN is launching a brand-new campaign to pass a game-changing piece of legislation—called the Virginia Coastal Protection Act. This bill would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia while generating billions of dollars in funds to protect coastal Virginia and invest in clean energy.
Now we need you to tell your legislators in Richmond to support this common-sense, vitally important legislation.
Sign the petition: Call on your legislators to support the Virginia Coastal Protection Act, a bill that will cap statewide greenhouse gas pollution while funding vital coastal flooding solutions.
Did you know the Navy is trying to rapidly elevate its major piers in Norfolk due to rising water? Meanwhile, churches in downtown Norfolk are trying to relocate—rather than wade into Sundayservices—and engineers say the city needs $1 billion for floodgates and other measures to hold back the water.
Where will the money come from for Norfolk and other the other coastal cities and counties of Hampton Roads? Congress is in gridlock and the Virginia state budget is being squeezed.
That’s where the Virginia Coastal Protection Act comes in. The bill would direct Virginia to join a nine-state system for capping carbon pollution from power plants, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which is already in place from Maine to Maryland. By auctioning carbon pollution permits to power companies, RGGI would generate over $200 million per year for Virginia—while cutting planet-heating pollution.
No less than 50 percent of the revenues raised under the bill would fund coastal flood protection measures. The other half would be invested in other climate solutions—like solar power development statewide, as well as investments in energy efficiency and the retraining of displaced workers in areas like Southwest Virginia.
Sign the petition: Call on your state legislators to support the Virginia Coastal Protection Act, a bill that will cap statewide greenhouse gas pollution while funding coastal flooding solutions.
This bill is good for the entire state of Virginia. By reducing pollution from dirty power plants statewide, it will dramatically clean up our air. Plus, many observers believe that joining RGGI is the most cost-effective way for Virginia to comply with the new federal carbon rules issued last June, which mandate cuts in carbon emissions from power plants in all 50 states.
This is a win, win, win for Virginia. And now it’s time to make it reality.
Please help us pass the Virginia Coastal Protection Act. We’ll keep you posted as the bill advances, and we’ll let you know how you can stay involved.

Victory for Beyond Extreme Energy at FERC

“The people gonna rise like the waters,
Gonna calm this crisis down.
I hear the voice of my great granddaughter
Saying shut FERC down right now.”
Who would have thought it? On Friday morning, November 7th, for 2 ½ hours, the determined and courageous nonviolent activists of Beyond Extreme Energy shut down the DC headquarters of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC.
All three entrances to the building were successfully blockaded, and virtually no one was getting in.
By 9 am there were about 150 FERC employees massed on the sidewalks in front of FERC, waiting for the police to clear away five fracking fighters who had successfully locked down at 7 am with lock boxes across the driveway into the FERC parking garage. The driveway had been the route used by police to funnel FERC employees into the building for the four days previous when BXE activists had successfully blockaded the two pedestrian entrances.
For short periods of time during those four days, no more than for maybe 20 minutes at a time, we had been able to prevent pedestrian use of that driveway (we prevented car use for the entire week). We did so by forming a long enough line of people to prevent anyone getting through, until the cops moved in and made arrests after their required three warnings. About 70 people were arrested over the course of the week.
But Friday morning was different. And because of the successful lock box action and total blockade, it was different in a way none of the BXE organizers had even thought about.
Friday was the day for additional fracktivists and extractivists from the severely fracked-up state of Pennsylvania to join BXE. So as those 150 FERC employees waited to get into the building, we organized a teach-in on the front sidewalk, right in the midst of the employees. For fifteen or twenty minutes people like Maggie Henry and Veronica Coptis spoke from the heart, shedding tears but fighting through them, to let the silent and listening FERC employees know the human toll that their support of the gas rush has caused. There were no catcalls, no boos, no one publicly questioning the truth of what was being said.
It was a very special moment.
We had been talking with and distributing material to FERC employees and others passing by all week. The leaflet we distributed to FERC employees said, in part:
“We apologize for any disruption to your work day, but that’s what we’re here for—to disrupt the workings of FERC, which continues to approve gas infrastructure projects that threaten the health and quality of life for millions of Americans and the whole planet through increased greenhouse gas emissions.
“Many of you work at FERC because you think it does a good job of balancing the needs of industry and economic development with the health and environmental challenges of impacted communities. But the Obama Administration’s ‘all of the above’ strategy is condemning us to runaway climate chaos while condemning families in fracking’s path to a hellish existence. FERC should be prioritizing the emergence of renewable energy as a growing sources of our electrical power.”
We found surprisingly little hostility from the close to 2,000 people we distributed our flyers to. We even found, to our surprise, indications of support from some of the Federal Protective Services and DC Metro police who were doing their best to keep FERC open despite our blockading. Going into the week, our lawyer had said to us that he expected that they would get more aggressive as the week went by, but that turned out, with a few exceptions, not to be the case.
(Exceptions included a couple of people tasered on Friday after we heard talk of it earlier in the week, several people falsely charged with “assault” for standing their nonviolent ground as part of a blockade and some police assistance to a small number of aggressive FERC employees who tried to push through us.)
Central to the success of this action were the sisters and brothers from the Great March for Climate Action who were there for all, or most, of the week. The decision to do this action during election week had a lot to do with the plan of the Great March to arrive in DC on November 1, ending on that day their eight month walk across the United States. Many of us not part of that march were impressed by the depth of commitment and soulful strength and organizing smarts they collectively brought to the November 1-7 week.
We received more than a little bit of criticism about our decision to do this week during election week, and we understood why. We were not doing this to make a statement about how messed up our electoral system is and that people should forget voting—not at all. In our call to action we said, right up at the top, “vote we must, but we must also do more.” If the Great March had not been arriving on November 1, we probably would have moved things back a week or two.
But as it turns out, it was very timely that Beyond Extreme Energy did happen during election week, during a week when the Republicans took back the Senate and Democrats generally did pretty badly—in large part because of the willingness of far too many, once again, to be Republicans-lite.
It is time, in 2015 and 2016, for many, many more of us to “vote” with our whole lives through massive, serious, strategic nonviolent direct action campaigns that are as coordinated as we can make them. Investors in the fossil fuel industry, Democrats and others who want our votes, members of the mass media and the American people generally need to get it that the climate justice movement, increasingly aligned with other movements for progressive social change, refuses to accept “all of the above” and “business as usual.” We know what time it is—there is little time left—and we are the leaders we have been waiting for. Now must be, has to be, our time to rise up in large numbers and with a spirit of love, a nonviolent discipline and a willingness to sacrifice that cannot be ignored.

After Maryland's election, we're going on offense

There’s no sugarcoating it: Tuesday’s election created new obstacles in our fight for climate solutions in Maryland. Governor-elect Larry Hogan questions the basic science of global warming. He also supports fracking and opposes key state policies promoting clean energy.
So what should we do? We could all have a long cry and feel sorry for our state. OR … we could raise our voices even louder and organize even harder for climate solutions. I say we double down on what we believe in. Here’s the truth: We still have big majorities of legislators in both chambers in Annapolis who understand the science of climate change and want to do something about it.
So why go on defense? Let’s go on offense!
Let’s DOUBLE our state’s commitment to carbon-free energy with new legislation in the next six months. And let’s keep reckless fracking out of our state at the same time—no matter who is our governor.
Sign this letter to Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Mike Busch and Governor-elect Larry Hogan. Tell them to work together to enact legislation in 2015 to double our state’s use of wind and solar power, and urge them to protect our land from dangerous fracking.
Here’s another truth: Despite Larry Hogan’s election, there’s plenty of room for optimism on energy policies in Maryland. That’s because we’ve been in this exact same position before—and won transformative victories—under the last Republican governor in our state.
Nearly ten years ago, under then Gov. Bob Ehrlich, climate activists like you helped pass the Maryland Healthy Air Act to dramatically reduce power plant pollution. And you helped pass Maryland’s original clean electricity mandate (a.k.a. the “Renewable Portfolio Standard”). Governor Ehrlich, who did not embrace global warming as a priority, signed both bills into law thanks to the commitment, sweat, and passion of people like you.
So what can we do under Governor Hogan? Again, let’s pass a transformative bipartisan bill to DOUBLE the state’s commitment to wind and solar power. Right now our state—by law—will require 20% of Maryland’s electricity to come from clean sources by the year 2022. Let’s double it to 40% instead by the year 2025. Such a bill, passed now, will create thousands of jobs and save thousands of lives while dramatically reducing carbon pollution across Maryland. And we can do it.
Sign this letter to Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Mike Busch and Governor-elect Larry Hogan. Tell them to work together to enact legislation in 2015 to double our state’s use of wind and solar power, and urge them to protect our land from dangerous fracking.

The fact is that no governor can afford to veto all or even most of the important bills passed by an opposition legislature. The most popular bills, supported by the most vocal advocates, are likely to get signed. Again, witness Bob Ehrlich from 2003-2007. And remember: legislators who have shown they are willing to act on climate change—including Democrats and some Republicans alike—still control the Senate and House in Annapolis by veto-proof majorities.
In other words, game on.
Finally, as Marylanders, we simply can not allow gas companies to frack recklessly across our state—no matter who is governor. Period. It’s bad for the climate. It’s bad for communities. Some of the most inspiring news from Tuesday’s elections is that cities and counties from coast to coast passed fracking bans and other restrictions that now inspire the rest of us to fight harder with every creative tool at our disposal.
Our planet continues to warm, regardless of who won on Tuesday. The latest report from the world’s top scientists warns that we will see “irreversible” impacts from climate change unless we do our part to fight back now!
In Maryland, it’s time to speed up, not slow down. Are you with me? Sign the letter to our state leaders and stay tuned for updates from CCAN as we prepare to make history in 2015. 

Resources:

Forward with 40%: Double Maryland’s clean power by 2025.
Press Release: Wading into Baltimore’s rising waters, coalition launches campaign to pass nation-leading clean energy legislation. October 17, 2014.

Take Action:

Tell the Maryland Legislature: Let’s Double our Renewable Energy!
Sign Up to Volunteer: Fight for 40% Clean Power.

In the News:

Groups wade in to double Maryland’s ‘clean power’ goal. The Baltimore Sun. October 17, 2014.
Environmental Activists In Md. Pressing For Clean Energy. CBS Baltimore. October 17, 2014.

Beyond Extreme Energy Week of Action in DC

Starting November 1st, hundreds of people are planning to take part in a very full week of climate action in Washington, D.C., focused on FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The week will also draw connections to other very problematic institutions as far as the global warming crisis.
Over 50 organizations have endorsed this week of action, many of them local groups fighting fracking, fracking infrastructure and proposed fracked-gas export terminals. On Friday, November 7th, the last day of the week, dozens of fracktivists from the fracking-ravaged state of Pennsylvania are traveling to DC to anchor that morning’s action at FERC.
The continuing fight against the Cove Point export terminal is a central reason for this week and a major focus of the Beyond Extreme Energy (BXE) demands, which can be found at http://bit.ly/BeyondExtremeEnergy; and in summary demand:

  • A withdrawal of permits already granted by FERC at Cove Point, as well as at Myersville, Md., Minisink, NY and Seneca Lake, NY, as well as a stop to the permitting of any more fracked-gas infrastructure;
  • That FERC prioritize the rights and health of human beings and all life on Earth over private profit, address climate chaos and adhere to the precautionary principle;
  • That FERC commissioners meet with communities affected by already-approved or proposed fossil fuel infrastructure; and,
  • That Congress convene an investigation into FERC’s rubber-stamping ways.

The heart of the BXE actions is five days of nonviolent sit-ins at the entrances to FERC every morning of the November 3-7 workweek. Over 100 people have signed up and indicated their willingness to risk arrest, with many others signed up to participate in other ways.
Saturday, November 1st: BXE participants join with the Great March for Climate Action as they walk the final leg of an eight month journey across the country which began in Los Angeles in March. Hundreds of us will walk from Elm Street Park just a few blocks from the Bethesda Metro stop, gathering at 9 and beginning at 9:30 am. The 7 mile walk will end at the White House where there will be a rally. Then that evening, at 7:00 pm at St. Stephens Church, there will be a longer program where marchers reflect upon their heroic experience.
Sunday, November 2nd: Full day of training, discussion and preparation for the week of action, at Impact Hub DC at 419 7th St. NW. from 10AM-8PM
In addition to the early morning actions at FERC, there will also be actions each afternoon at other locations.
Monday, November 3rd: Afternoon demonstration outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee calling upon them to get real about the seriousness of the climate crisis. This will be followed by a “flash mob” action at FERC and at Union Station spearheaded by fracktivists coming down from New York City. For the DNC action gather at the Columbus Statue outside of Union Station at 1:30/1:45 for a march to DNC. Look for the “flash mob” group around 4:15 at the same location.
Tuesday, November 4th: A bus has been reserved to take people to Cove Point for a demonstration in support of local people who continue to fight the plans by Dominion to build a dangerous export terminal. We plan to be in Solomon’s Island on Solomon’s Island Rd. near the long bridge by 2 pm.
Wednesday, November 5th: There will be an action at the Justice Department calling for them to intervene to see that justice is done in Ferguson, Mo. and that the national scourge of police brutality, especially against black and brown youth, is seriously addressed. We say: stop disrespecting and abusing the earth and its climate, stop disrespecting and abusing the people. We plan to be at the Justice Department, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between 9th and 10th Sts., by 2 PM.
Thursday, November 6th: We will demonstrate outside the headquarters of National Public Radio, which keeps running pro-fracking ads of the oil and gas industry and just cut back its team of environmental reporters to one! NPR is at 1111 N. Capitol St. NW, near L St.
Friday, November 7th: Led by fracktivists from Pennsylvania, we will go the Dept. of Transportation to demonstrate against its policies and practices that are allowing a dramatic expansion of coal, oil and gas shipments, including exports. We should be there around 1:30 pm, and DOT is at 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, at M St.
Click here for full schedule.
There is still time to make plans to participate in this important seven days of climate action. You can find out more and sign up at http://bit.ly/BeyondExtremeEnergy. Let’s build upon the power and spirit of the People’s Climate March and say loudly and clearly that NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP IT UP ON CLIMATE!

Over 4,000 Petitions Delivered to Gov. O'Malley: NO Fracking in Maryland!

On Thursday, October 16, dozens of CCAN activists converged in Annapolis to deliver over 4,000 petitions to Governor O’Malley, urging him to keep our state’s moratorium on fracking in place.
We gathered on Lawyer’s mall, across from the State House to hear the words of Emily Blase, a student at the University of Maryland College Park working on fracking and climate issues, and Dr. Margaret Flowers, the Co-Director of PopularResistance.org, who spoke to the risks associated with fracking, the impacts it’s had on communities in Pennslyvania, and how people are coming together to further resist fracking and natural gas pipelines.  Carrying signs that highlighted the communities in Maryland at risk of fracking, we marched into the State House to deliver our petitions to Gov. O’Malley’s administration.
This is a critical time to speak out. In 2011, Gov. O’Malley, took an important first step towards protecting Maryland from drilling: he established a three year commission to investigate how fracking would impact our health, economy, and safety, and said no drilling permits would be issued in Maryland in the meantime. State agencies are scheduled to complete these studies in the next few months, even though a lack of funding, resources and time has compromised them from the start.
As the clock runs out on the review process, Maryland could be left with no protections against fracking when Gov. O’Malley leaves office in January. So we went to the Capitol to remind Gov. O’Malley of the thousands of us that are informed and upset about the threat of fracking, and remind him of the millions across the state that fracking could negatively impact.
In July, the Maryland Department of the Environment released proposed Best Management Practices (BMPs) around fracked gas drilling that they predict, if enforced, would be able to adequately protect Marylanders from the risks involved with fracking–but we know better. The best practices are suggestions, not regulations. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that they will become regulatory requirements, or that these regulations would even be enforceable. For more on the flaws of the BMPs, read “No ‘best practices’ could guarantee Maryland’s safety if fracking is allowed,” a letter in the Baltimore Sun from members of the Governor’s own Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission.
With every passing week, new studies are released on the harmful impacts of fracking, in Maryland and across the country. In August, the O’Malley administration released a study, prepared by researchers at the University of Maryland, aimed at assessing the potential public health impacts of allowing fracking in Maryland. The findings were alarming, and you can read more about the report here. 
In the coming months, CCAN will continue to educate our leaders on the dangers of fracking, and fight to keep fracking out of our state to protect the health and safety of all Marylanders.
Additional Resources
Read: Maryland Study shows that protecting our health requires keeping fracking out.
For more pictures from the action, click here.

Dominion Admits the Truth: Cove Point Plant Could Explode, Trapping Neighbors

Finally, Dominion Resources is admitting the truth: Its massive gas export facility in southern Maryland could indeed blow up and threaten innocent nearby neighbors. In fact, Dominion is now planning to build an emergency evacuation road to help some – but not all – of the potentially trapped victims.
For the last couple years, Dominion has sworn up and down on its stack of documents that its Cove Point fracked-gas export plant in southern Maryland would pose zero threat to families nearby. In fact, in a brazen open letter to the community, Dominion wrote: “As the federal safety review found, in the unlikely event of an emergency at the terminal, it would pose no threat to those outside the facility’s boundaries.”
Now, however, just a week after federal regulators signed off on this titanic project September 29th (with court challenges to come), Dominion has announced an “enhancement” to its plans: a new escape road that the company would build for some of the vulnerable nearby residents of Lusby, Maryland. Totally voluntarily, of course. Just to be good neighbors.
This little road is a de facto Dominion admission that the vapor-cloud-fireball accident that can’t possibly happen could happen after all. In addition, a few days later, Dominion submitted a Cove Point evacuation plan, listing emergencies “with the potential for offsite impact” and “that could require an evacuation of the surrounding areas.” Those emergencies include an uncontrolled leak, fire involving natural gas product, and rupture of a gas pipeline.

VIDEO: Learn why Lusby residents fear for their safety


The company has been deceiving residents since Day 1 about the safety of this facility. Because, of course, Dominion can’t possibly provide assurances to residents living nearby. It can’t guarantee that an accident will stay behind the 60-foot-high wall that will go up around much of the plant. It refuses to conduct a full safety study requested by neighbors and it certainly can’t defy the laws of physics and contain leaking and billowing gases in search of a spark.
Not that this little road will create safe passage for those living southeast of the plant, as it is still within a half-mile of Dominion’s front gate. A 2006 study done for an expansion at the existing import plant found that a flash fire could incinerate people nearly a mile away. Dominion’s behind-the-scenes purchase on Sept. 19 of a $319,000 house to create a bypass south of the plant offers only false security while simultaneously confirming the very hazard the company denies.
Lusby residents have been right all along. They have turned their lives over to research. They have pleaded for protection from elected and appointed officials. They have pointed out that Dominion documents overlook 39,732 residents living in the area, including 8,000 within 2 miles of the company gates. For their efforts, they have received only platitudes about safety. With Dominion’s revelations about this road, residents know their fears for their lives and their homes are justified.
And shame on elected officials, including Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Rep. Steny Hoyer, U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, for backing this Virginia energy company instead of Maryland residents. This little road shows that officials should have stood on the side of safety and of their citizens, just as many did in 2009. Then, Gov. O’Malley, Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Cardin were key to blocking a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import plant at Sparrows Point in Baltimore. They rebuked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for rubberstamping AES Corp.’s plans. Residents and officials alike were concerned about the risk of explosions, terrorist threats and harm to the Chesapeake Bay. AES dropped the project in 2013, just as Lusby residents were learning of Dominion’s plans for their community.
Lusby residents can be forgiven for their cynicism and sense of betrayal.
At this point, the most appropriate next step is a thorough investigation and analysis of all risks involved, something residents have long called for and FERC has so far refused to authorize. Otherwise, we will never know why Dominion, just days after FERC’s approval, is suddenly offering a limited bypass road — a gesture both distracting and utterly inadequate for an “offsite impact” from uncontrolled leaks, fires, and gas line ruptures.
Short of that, the only humane and ethical path forward is for Dominion to buy all homes within at least a mile of the plant — a solution that has precedent. Last year, Freeport LNG in Texas offered to buy, at market rate plus $25,000, all 73 homes in Quintana, a small beach town where escape is blocked by yet another FERC-approved export plant.
The Cove Point export plant is a disaster for the economy, the climate, the Chesapeake Bay, and communities in the way of fracking, pipelines and compressor stations. But the most immediate danger is to Lusby residents. This little road proves that residents have been correct and Dominion has been misleading all along.

Recap and Look Forward: Governor McAuliffe’s Energy Plan

Yesterday, Governor Terry McAuliffe formally unveiled his highly-anticipated energy plan for Virginia. The nearly 500-page document was officially released two weeks ago, but the administration presented the plan with analysis for the first time before a room of 200 interested clean energy advocates, utility representatives, business associates, and the general public.
Speaking on the plan, Governor McAuliffe spoke passionately about his desire to catch up to neighboring states in renewable development. Specifically, McAuliffe stated affirmatively that “climate change exists and humans contribute to climate change.” He also declared that “it’s time for the commonwealth to lead on solar and wind generation.” I couldn’t agree more.
The details of the Virginia Energy Plan offer some glimpses into exactly how the governor will accomplish his pledge to use renewables to “diversify and build a new Virginia economy.” Although none of the recommendations in the energy plan are binding in any way, the plan provides an opportunity to lay forth a strong vision for clean energy. On the whole, the plan is fairly strong with some notable exceptions. Without further ado, here’s a recap on the Virginia Energy Plan and a look forward into Virginia’s near future.
A Recap on Renewables
Grow. Strength. Diversity. Those three words were the self-described “hallmarks” of McAuliffe’s energy plan. McAuliffe pledged to make solar a priority and that is evident in his plan. The first set of recommendations deals mostly with solar and calls for the increase of this zero-emitting resource. Among several recommendation, the plan calls for an increase from 1% to 3% in the net-metering program cap. Tripling the total limit would be great if we were anywhere close to the existing 1% cap on net-metering.
(note: the 1% program cap refers to a limit of the percentage of customer-owned net-metering energy in Virginia. Currently, the max is 1% of peak-load from the previous year)
As you know, one of the reasons why Virginia hasn’t sniffed the 1% net-metering limit is because utilities have moved heaven and earth to stop the growth of customer-owned solar dead in its tracks. Current laws place onerous standby charges on solar homeowners and place limits on the size of systems that residents and businesses may install and net-meter on their own property.
But Governor McAuliffe has a solution to at least one of these problems. His energy plan proposes doubling the allowed maximum net-metered system size for both residential and non-residential customers, from 20 kw to 40 kw for residential and 500 kw to 1 MW for non-residential customers.
Additionally, the energy plan recommends the creation of a Solar Energy Development Authority to facilitate the development of 15 MW of solar on state and local government facilities and an additional 15 MW of solar on commercial, industrial, and residential facilities by July of 2017.
These are terrific ideas, but I would’ve taken them a few steps further. The net-metering non-residential project cap should be increased to 2 MW rather than the 1 MW proposed in the plan. Both Maryland and Florida for instance have similar project caps at 2 MW. Although our neighbors to the south, North Carolina, has a 1 MW cap similar to McAuliffe’s proposed new limit, it’s worth mentioning that North Carolina has a very generous state tax credit which is helping to drive solar in the state (Virginia was denied this opportunity by our General Assembly last year and this needed solution is not recommended in the plan). North Carolina also has a mandatory RPS with a solar carve-out (Virginia was denied this opportunity by our utilities and our General Assembly virtually every year and this needed solution is also not recommended in the plan.)
Georgia has a project cap less than Virginia, but benefits significantly due to their state Public Service Commission recently issuing an order mandating the state’s largest utility to increase its solar development by 525 MW by 2016. I can’t imagine our State Corporation Commission doing the same to Dominion Virginia Power.
And while we’re talking total megawatts installed, having an energy plan that specifically calls on 30 MW of additional solar in a state that only has about 15 MW installed may sound great if it were not for the fact that North Carolina has 627 MW of solar currently installed and Maryland has 161 MW. If the governor wants to truly play catch-up to our neighbors, we should set more ambitious goals. All that being said, the eagerness of this administration to grow solar in the state is fairly evident in the plan.
By now you may be wondering why this section summarizing renewables within the energy plan so heavily focuses on solar and not, for instance, offshore wind. Well, that’s because concrete recommendations for offshore wind in the energy plan are hard to come by. The plan mentions the need to develop offshore wind in the 112,000 acres Dominion exclusively leased in September of last year, but there’s no actionable recommendation to be found.
The administration could have, and should have, specifically recommended that Dominion develop this resource as soon as possible and include offshore wind in their 15 year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) mandated by the SCC. But the plan doesn’t go “there”.
A Recap on Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas
The plan encourages more coal exports. The plan endorses offshore oil and gas drilling. The plan doubles-down on increasing natural gas pipelines like Dominion’s behemoth 550-mile pipeline that is generating so much controversy. How can a governor, who so passionately talks about the need to address climate change, endorse the three-headed monster of coal, oil, and gas expansions?
Well, the administration will tell you that it’s a part of the governor’s “all of the above” energy strategy, although the governor assures the environmental community that he is serious about addressing climate change. For what it’s worth, I have zero doubt about Governor McAuliffe’s sincerity in fighting the climate battle, but the mixed message is tough to ignore.
I’ll let others explain how we can encourage Virginia companies to export coal products abroad so other countries can burn it there while stressing the need to address global climate change. It’s akin to a father asking his child to clean his room but allowing the child to shovel clothes under the bed. Out of sight out of mind? Unfortunately climate change doesn’t work that way.
We all know the dangers of offshore oil and gas drilling. Racing to dig deeper and burn more fossil fuels is not the answer. Nor is supporting Dominion’s gas pipeline. But the McAuliffe administration got an earful from 30 or so protesters, mostly from Nelson County, who vented their frustration about the pipeline during his speech yesterday. That’s all I have to say about that.
A Look Forward to Efficiency
What can we expect in the immediate future as a result of the energy plan? That answer has to do with energy efficiency, which aside from solar, is easily the 2nd biggest component of the energy plan and topic that Governor McAuliffe seems most excited about pursuing. Virginia currently has a goal of reducing energy consumption 10% by 2022 according to 2006 levels. Of course the goal is voluntary for Virginia loves its toothless, voluntary targets.
The energy plan states that the governor will create a new Virginia Board on Energy Efficiency through executive order whose task will be to achieve the 10% reduction target by 2020, two years earlier than the original goal. The new Board will be convened quickly – the plan states by the end of the year. Fast action is necessary as Virginia has achieved less than 1% reductions to-date.
Governor McAuliffe took things one step further in the effort to make Virginia a “leader on efficiency” by stating in the plan that he will appoint a Chief Energy Efficiency Officer in his administration to oversee the aforementioned efforts and jumpstart crucial efficiency programs in state facilities.
As the governor said himself during his speech yesterday, “the cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use.” We need to aggressively explore our efficiency options which has the added benefit of saving homeowners money and creating thousands of new jobs in the state. Here the governor deserves unquestioned praise.
Summary
Virginia has incredible untapped potential in renewables and energy efficiency. While it’s disappointing the administration supports increases in fossil fuels generation and exploration, the level to which Governor McAuliffe openly talks about the need to address climate change is encouraging, and several of the policy proposals outlined in the plan are good steps in the right direction.

The Seas are Rising, and So Are We!

CCAN ignites passion among its core volunteers during a potluck in Norfolk.
As legislators gear up for the Virginia General Assembly to begin in January, CCAN is ensuring that residents of Hampton Roads are prepared as well. Through action and upcoming events, we are working to equip volunteers and community leaders with the knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure that Virginia coastlines are protected. The time is now to begin conversations about what we want to see happen during the next legislative session. We are so thankful to everyone who continues to spearhead the important conversations about coastal protection in Hampton Roads.
On September 28th, we were able to show our appreciation for the great people of Norfolk during a Potluck event. It was a powerful evening, meeting and talking about real issues with volunteers in the Norfolk community. After moving from Baltimore, I was reminded why I decided to return to Hampton Roads and continue to fight for coastal protection…people like YOU! We had a special guest at our dinner, CCAN’s executive director, Mike Tidwell, to discuss the importance of taking action and protecting this extremely vulnerable region of Virginia. Mike is a phenomenal speaker and shared unique insight on what it will take to ensure the safety of residents, reduce fossil fuel emissions and generate funding for coastal adaptation.
CCAN is always looking for ways to impart knowledge and develop the skills it takes to make an impact in frontline communities.
What’s Next? Join the conversation.
Our next event is on Wednesday, October 15th. We will have a happy hour and training on how to tell effective stories about the impacts we deal with in Hampton Roads. Finding the best ways to articulate our personal stories will help us better communicate with others in the community as well as legislators. Can’t wait to see you there!
Here are the details:
Who: CCAN and climate activists from Hampton Roads.
What: Storytelling training and happy hour.
When: Wednesday, October 15th, 7PM.
Where: Pasha Mezze, 340 W 22nd St. Norfolk, VA 23517.

CCAN Activist Spotlight: Natalie Pien and the first-ever Loudoun Solar Tour

On Saturday September 13th, folks from all around NoVA joined neighbors and local legislators for the first ever Solar Home Tour in NoVA.  We visited a handful of Loudoun County homes with both PV and thermal solar, educating local elected officials along the way.
After the tour, we sat down with Natalie Pien, who worked to organize the tour, and hear why using resident clean energy is important to her as a climate activist.
Q: Why did you want to organize a solar tour?
A: The tour was not my idea, but it was a great one that Phil Hostetter (a CCAN activist) came up with during CCAN’s activist conference call last Spring.  It is important to promote solar energy in Loudoun. I wanted to showcase homeowners who feel so passionately about using clean, renewable sources of energy that they have installed solar despite the lack of financial incentives.  These people understand the problem with using fossil fuels as an energy source and want to do whatever they can to reduce their carbon footprint.
Q: How have you used solar and retrofitting to reduce your home fuel use?
A: The solar panels on our roof is only one part of our home designed to lower our carbon footprint.  We installed the panels when there was limited funding from VA when it received federal funds to stimulate the state economy.  The Governor decided to designate the funds for solar installations.  Without that funding, we probably would not have been able to afford the installation.
Our home has other energy efficiency/lowering carbon footprint features, including:

  • passive solar design;
  • 2 X 6 framing to allow extra insulation on exterior walls;
  • thermal mass in the form of water tubes and tiled, concrete floor;
  • ductless, mini-split heat pumps, providing true zone controlled air conditioning.
  • high energy washing machine
  • energy efficient refrigerator
  • practice composting in the kitchen and the yard
  • vegetable garden
  • hybrid car
  • occasional commuting by bike

Q: What did you hope to accomplish with this tour? And, did you accomplish those goals?
A: The tour was a success!  We had elected officials from state government and town of Leesburg government.  These officials were able to learn what their constituents have encountered with installing solar under current conditions.  Each home was different, showing that any style home can use solar panels.  Also, each homeowner had different information and experiences to share. Tour attendees gained a new level of comfort they did not have before.  They also got a sneak peak to Solarize Leesburg, a program that will make it even easier to go solar.
Q: What was your highlight of the day?
A: I really enjoyed the last stop on our tour at Sunset Hills Vineyard. Owner Mike Canney gave a really powerful speech about his solar powered vineyard that was interesting and inspiring.  It is wonderful to have small business so passionate about solar.
To see more photos from the tour, check our Facebook album here.
Interested in getting involved in our solar work at CCAN? Click here to check out our new solar campaign!