On Wednesday we were out in Curtis Bay, Maryland, home to the CSX Coal Facility. CSX is a coal export facility whose huge coal piles are visible when you’re standing on a hill in the neighborhood.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been out there. Four other CCAN fellows and I have been out in Curtis Bay multiple times the past few weeks: knocking on doors and talking to local residents about the effects coal pollution has on their day-to-day lives. We’ve heard stories from coal dust coating peoples’ homes and pools, to worries about fishing in local waters, to concerns about kids playing outside.
These issues became critically important leading up to today, because CSX is up for a new water pollution permit – one that needs to be a lot stronger. For example, the current permit doesn’t limit levels of heavy metals that can be dumped right into the harbor.
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Obama’s climate plan an important step, MD activists say
By Daniel Leaderman
Maryland environmental activists are praising President Barack Obama’s new plan to mitigate the impact of climate change, calling it good news for the Chesapeake Bay region.
Obama’s plan, announced Tuesday, calls for limiting carbon pollution from power plants — for which there are currently no federal standards in place — doubling renewable energy generation by 2020, and setting a variety of new standards for fuel efficiency in vehicles and energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
June 2013 D.C. and National
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June 2013 | Issue #65 FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
When CCAN was founded in 2002, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 373 parts per million. Now, despite a growing clean-energy movement worldwide, scientists reported last month that the carbon level had reached a whole new stage of danger: 400 parts per million. There hasn’t been this much heat-trapping CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere in at least 3 million years. The result has been a marked increase in extreme and destructive weather. Listen to my NPR radio commentary concerning DC’s decision to spend $1 billion to put more power lines underground due to bigger storms. Imagine a world where we trap heat in the atmosphere equal to the energy of 400,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding every day. That’s what we are doing right now. So despite the best efforts of CCAN and groups like us worldwide, we have much more work to do to fight dirty energy and promote clean power. In DC, here are two ways you can help right now… Camp David to DC: See you on the trail to stop Keystone XL? DC needs wind and solar power not black liquor! Tell Governor O’Malley: Keep your promise to get the facts on fracking! Want the full update on how Maryland state agencies are carrying out the Governor’s order? Check out Megan’s blog post. Dirty coal’s new scheme to keep afloat and keep polluting We’re fighting back by challenging the export companies as they apply for pollution permits needed to expand their operations. We have our first opportunity to take action in Baltimore: Submit a public comment urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to strengthen water pollution controls at the CSX coal export piers on Baltimore’s Harbor. Dominion’s new solar program — Is it for you? Chasing Ice Coming to Virginia Greet VP Biden with a big “No Keystone XL!” message Success! Climate wake-up call reaches Dominion shareholders Ready…set…register for Power Shift 2013!
Meet Maryland community activist Ann Marie Nau Ann is a resident of Myersville, a small community in Maryland fighting a huge natural gas compressor station that Dominion Transmission wants to build in the heart of their town. Fights like these are happening more and more across our region, as fracking increases the need for gas infrastructure like pipelines and compressor stations. Learn how Ann is pushing back with her neighbors and CCAN… Your age: 46 Where you live: Myersville, MD Your profession: Self-employed (transcriber) and stay-at-home Mom Why are you a CCAN volunteer? I became aware of CCAN while researching organizations to help with our local fight against Dominion Transmission’s proposal to build a16,000 natural gas compressor station within the town limits of our rural community and have been inspired by CCAN’s mission, hard work and the dedication of their wonderful staff. What has inspired you most working with CCAN? CCAN staff and volunteers are tireless! I have seen them in Western Maryland fighting fracking, in Annapolis working on various environmental and energy bills, in Frederick fighting the incinerator and compressor stations, in Baltimore hosting conferences, and throughout the state working on climate issues. They have marched on D.C. and are active in Virginia. Being a member of Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community and seeing first hand how hard it can be to build coalitions, I have always been impressed with CCAN’s willingness to work with other environmental groups. What are the impacts of climate change and/or the fossil fuel industry that hit closest to home for you? As unconventional drilling expands, the infrastructure needed to support it also increases. My beautiful rural community nestled in the scenic Middletown Valley is being bull dozed by big business and the federal government via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place a huge natural gas compressor station in our town and within one mile of our elementary school. Despite the Town Council denying zoning approval, Dominion has been granted approval to proceed by FERC. If fracking proceeds in Western Maryland and if Dominion is granted the authority to export natural gas via the Cove Point facility, I am afraid Maryland will be faced with the same infrastructure development seen in Pennsylvania, which has turned much of the rural landscape into industrialized areas, polluting the land, water and air. What do you hope to see happen to address climate change in the next year? On a local level, I am very concerned about the proposed Frederick incinerator and the prospect of fracking in Western Maryland as well as the proposed Cove Point Export Project. What do you like to do when you’re not working on climate change? I enjoy bird watching, or nature watching in general. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades (and master of none) so whatever project I currently have going, whether it be cupcake decorating for a party, sewing curtains, or working in my (mostly) native flower garden. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews! Who would you high five? I would most like to high five those people on the front lines who are negatively impacted by the coal and gas industry and who continue to fight, who continue to “speak truth to power,” and who refuse to be intimidated. It is their struggles that motivate me and remind me that I can no longer be silent. |
–DC– Tell the EPA: Protect Our Water from Power Plant Pollution Walk for Our Grandchildren Walk for Our Grandchildren: White House rally –VIRGINIA– Loudoun: Wake up to climate change Rally to tell VP Biden: No KXL! –MARYLAND– Water Pollution Permit Citizen Comment Delivery An Explosion of Fracking and the TPP Triple Divide Screening
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June 2013 Virginia
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June 2013 | Issue #65 FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
When CCAN was founded in 2002, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 373 parts per million. Now, despite a growing clean-energy movement worldwide, scientists reported last month that the carbon level had reached a whole new stage of danger: 400 parts per million. There hasn’t been this much heat-trapping CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere in at least 3 million years. The result has been a marked increase in extreme and destructive weather. Listen to my NPR radio commentary concerning DC’s decision to spend $1 billion to put more power lines underground due to bigger storms. Imagine a world where we trap heat in the atmosphere equal to the energy of 400,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding every day. That’s what we are doing right now. So despite the best efforts of CCAN and groups like us worldwide, we have much more work to do to fight dirty energy and promote clean power… Dominion’s new solar program — Is it for you? Chasing Ice Coming to Virginia Greet VP Biden with a big “No Keystone XL!” message Success! Climate wake-up call reaches Dominion shareholders Camp David to DC: See you on the trail to stop Keystone XL? DC needs wind and solar power not black liquor! Ready…set…register for Power Shift 2013! Tell Governor O’Malley: Keep your promise to get the facts on fracking! Want the full update on how Maryland state agencies are carrying out the Governor’s order? Check out Megan’s blog post. Dirty coal’s new scheme to keep afloat and keep polluting We’re fighting back by challenging the export companies as they apply for pollution permits needed to expand their operations. We have our first opportunity to take action in Baltimore: Submit a public comment urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to strengthen water pollution controls at the CSX coal export piers on Baltimore’s Harbor.
Meet Maryland community activist Ann Marie Nau Ann is a resident of Myersville, a small community in Maryland fighting a huge natural gas compressor sta Your age: 46 Where you live: Myersville, MD Your profession: Self-employed (transcriber) and stay-at-home Mom Why are you a CCAN volunteer? I became aware of CCAN while researching organizations to help with our local fight against Dominion Transmission’s proposal to build a16,000 natural gas compressor station within the town limits of our rural community and have been inspired by CCAN’s mission, hard work and the dedication of their wonderful staff. What has inspired you most working with CCAN? CCAN staff and volunteers are tireless! I have seen them in Western Maryland fighting fracking, in Annapolis working on various environmental and energy bills, in Frederick fighting the incinerator and compressor stations, in Baltimore hosting conferences, and throughout the state working on climate issues. They have marched on D.C. and are active in Virginia. Being a member of Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community and seeing first hand how hard it can be to build coalitions, I have always been impressed with CCAN’s willingness to work with other environmental groups. What are the impacts of climate change and/or the fossil fuel industry that hit closest to home for you? As unconventional drilling expands, the infrastructure needed to support it also increases. My beautiful rural community nestled in the scenic Middletown Valley is being bull dozed by big business and the federal government via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place a huge natural gas compressor station in our town and within one mile of our elementary school. Despite the Town Council denying zoning approval, Dominion has been granted approval to proceed by FERC. If fracking proceeds in Western Maryland and if Dominion is granted the authority to export natural gas via the Cove Point facility, I am afraid Maryland will be faced with the same infrastructure development seen in Pennsylvania, which has turned much of the rural landscape into industrialized areas, polluting the land, water and air. What do you hope to see happen to address climate change in the next year? On a local level, I am very concerned about the proposed Frederick incinerator and the prospect of fracking in Western Maryland as well as the proposed Cove Point Export Project. What do you like to do when you’re not working on climate change? I enjoy bird watching, or nature watching in general. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades (and master of none) so whatever project I currently have going, whether it be cupcake decorating for a party, sewing curtains, or working in my (mostly) native flower garden. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews! Who would you high five? I would most like to high five those people on the front lines who are negatively impacted by the coal and gas industry and who continue to fight, who continue to “speak truth to power,” and who refuse to be intimidated. It is their struggles that motivate me and remind me that I can no longer be silent. |
–VIRGINIA– Loudoun: Wake up to climate change Rally to tell VP Biden: No KXL! –DC– Tell the EPA: Protect Our Water from Power Plant Pollution Walk for Our Grandchildren Walk for Our Grandchildren: White House rally –MARYLAND– Water Pollution Permit Citizen Comment Delivery An Explosion of Fracking and the TPP Triple Divide Screening
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June 2013 Maryland
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June 2013 | Issue #65 FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
When CCAN was founded in 2002, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 373 parts per million. Now, despite a growing clean-energy movement worldwide, scientists reported last month that the carbon level had reached a whole new stage of danger: 400 parts per million. There hasn’t been this much heat-trapping CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere in at least 3 million years. The result has been a marked increase in extreme and destructive weather. Listen to my NPR radio commentary concerning DC’s decision to spend $1 billion to put more power lines underground due to bigger storms. Imagine a world where we trap heat in the atmosphere equal to the energy of 400,000 Hiroshima bombs exploding every day. That’s what we are doing right now. So despite the best efforts of CCAN and groups like us worldwide, we have much more work to do to fight dirty energy and promote clean power… Tell Governor O’Malley: Keep your promise to get the facts on fracking! Want the full update on how Maryland state agencies are carrying out the Governor’s order? Check out Megan’s blog post. Dirty coal’s new scheme to keep afloat and keep polluting We’re fighting back by challenging the export companies as they apply for pollution permits needed to expand their operations. We have our first opportunity to take action in Baltimore: Submit a public comment urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to strengthen water pollution controls at the CSX coal export piers on Baltimore’s Harbor. Camp David to DC: See you on the trail to stop Keystone XL? DC needs wind and solar power not black liquor! Dominion’s new solar program — Is it for you? Chasing Ice Coming to Virginia Greet VP Biden with a big “No Keystone XL!” message Success! Climate wake-up call reaches Dominion shareholders Ready…set…register for Power Shift 2013!
Meet Maryland community activist Ann Marie Nau Ann is a resident of Myersville, a small community in Maryland fighting a huge natural gas compressor station that Dominion Transmission wants to build in the heart of their t Your age: 46 Where you live: Myersville, MD Your profession: Self-employed (transcriber) and stay-at-home Mom Why are you a CCAN volunteer? I became aware of CCAN while researching organizations to help with our local fight against Dominion Transmission’s proposal to build a16,000 natural gas compressor station within the town limits of our rural community and have been inspired by CCAN’s mission, hard work and the dedication of their wonderful staff. What has inspired you most working with CCAN? CCAN staff and volunteers are tireless! I have seen them in Western Maryland fighting fracking, in Annapolis working on various environmental and energy bills, in Frederick fighting the incinerator and compressor stations, in Baltimore hosting conferences, and throughout the state working on climate issues. They have marched on D.C. and are active in Virginia. Being a member of Myersville Citizens for a Rural Community and seeing first hand how hard it can be to build coalitions, I have always been impressed with CCAN’s willingness to work with other environmental groups. What are the impacts of climate change and/or the fossil fuel industry that hit closest to home for you? As unconventional drilling expands, the infrastructure needed to support it also increases. My beautiful rural community nestled in the scenic Middletown Valley is being bull dozed by big business and the federal government via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place a huge natural gas compressor station in our town and within one mile of our elementary school. Despite the Town Council denying zoning approval, Dominion has been granted approval to proceed by FERC. If fracking proceeds in Western Maryland and if Dominion is granted the authority to export natural gas via the Cove Point facility, I am afraid Maryland will be faced with the same infrastructure development seen in Pennsylvania, which has turned much of the rural landscape into industrialized areas, polluting the land, water and air. What do you hope to see happen to address climate change in the next year? On a local level, I am very concerned about the proposed Frederick incinerator and the prospect of fracking in Western Maryland as well as the proposed Cove Point Export Project. What do you like to do when you’re not working on climate change? I enjoy bird watching, or nature watching in general. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades (and master of none) so whatever project I currently have going, whether it be cupcake decorating for a party, sewing curtains, or working in my (mostly) native flower garden. I adore spending time with my nieces and nephews! Who would you high five? I would most like to high five those people on the front lines who are negatively impacted by the coal and gas industry and who continue to fight, who continue to “speak truth to power,” and who refuse to be intimidated. It is their struggles that motivate me and remind me that I can no longer be silent. |
–MARYLAND– Water Pollution Permit Citizen Comment Delivery An Explosion of Fracking and the TPP Triple Divide Screening –DC– Tell the EPA: Protect Our Water from Power Plant Pollution Walk for Our Grandchildren Walk for Our Grandchildren: White House rally –VIRGINIA– Loudoun: Wake up to climate change Rally to tell VP Biden: No KXL!
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Gov. O'Malley's Fracking Commission Falling Short
In 2012, the Maryland General Assembly failed to pass a common-sense fracking moratorium that would give Marylanders the protections we need from this dangerous and risky gas drilling practice.
Until our elected officials get to work to protect us, our safety is in the hands of state agencies, which have only a year and some pocket change remaining to complete the long list of scientific risk studies called for in Governor O’Malley’s 2011 Executive Order on fracking. That order laid out a process for determining if fracking would pose unacceptable risks to Marylanders and established a 15-person advisory commission to oversee the review in conjuction with state agencies.
I’ve put together a timeline of how Governor O’Malley’s executive order has been carried out to date. Given the stakes — that this executive order is currently all that stands between Maryland communities and dangerous fracking — you’ll see that the process is falling far short.
Without any funding and a severe lack of resources, the commission is already a year behind. And they only have until August of 2014 to complete studies on as many as 16 different impact areas.
Dominion's New Solar Program – Explained
Today, Dominion Power starts accepting applications for its pilot “Solar Purchase Program.” Under the program, homeowners and businesses with solar panels on their properties can sell both the power they generate and the associated renewable energy certificates (RECs) for a premium.
CCAN, along with other environmental organizations, was represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center in the case about the program before the Virginia State Corporation Comission. Environmental advocates saw some big flaws with Dominion’s design of the program. It has moved forward nonetheless, so here’s our guide to the program.
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Reactions to the 10th Vegetarian Festival by a CCAN Fellow
Last Saturday at the 10th Annual Vegetarian Festival in Bryan Park, Richmond, Virginia I experienced my first day petitioning with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network as we began our new campaign – Safe Coastlines. Throughout this campaign we will be collecting thousands of petitions and calling on Virginia policymakers and Dominion power to develop energy efficiency and clean energy, as well reducing the current climate impacts that were already noticing. I was excited to see that virtually everybody was as passionate about protecting Virginia’s coastline from climate change devastation as I am.
Shareholder Vote a Loud Signal to Va. Utility on Climate Concerns
By Maria Gallucci
A Dominion shareholder movement sparked by one woman provoked a record vote on one of its resolutions. ‘This seems like a climate wake-up call.’
In 2008, Virginia resident Ruth McElroy Amundsen took her first stab at using shareholder activism to spur action on climate change—she introduced a resolution that challenged Dominion Resources Inc., Virginia’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, to get more of its electricity from renewables.
Commentary: Burying Power Lines Won't Stop Severe Weather
By Mike Tidwell
Electricity poles first went up in D.C. in the 1890s, and the city was mostly electrified by the 1920s. So why now, after all these years, does the power seem to keep going out? Why talk of new underground lines? The region’s utilities — Pepco and Dominion Power — constantly remind us that big storms bring power outages: Isabel, Irene, Snomageddon, the derecho, and Sandy.
And scientists say storms are only getting more severe. With the indisputable rise in temperatures worldwide has come an utterly measurable rise in extreme weather. In 2011, the U.S. had a record 14 extreme-weather events, each causing a billion dollars in losses or more, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
