Mobility for All: the Fight for Public Transit

Mobility for All: the Fight for Public Transit

CCAN honors today, February 4, Transit Equity Day and the birthdate of civil rights advocate Rosa Parks. In 1955, Ms. Parks helped spur a national movement against racist Jim Crow policies by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, resulting in a year long bus boycott. 

CCAN is a proud advocate for frequent and far-reaching public transit to combat climate change and promote mobility for all. Access to reliable and safe public transportation directly leads to improved economic outcomes and quality of life, while reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. The transportation sector accounts for more than half of our carbon emissions, yet here in the Commonwealth few options exist for those reliant on public transit. Freedom of mobility remains only for the privileged. 

A plan for democracy in transit decision-making

In the fall of 2021, I teamed up with RVA Rapid Transit to apply for the Virginia Walkability Action Institute (VWAI). This program is a joint project by the Center for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to promote active transportation and public transit in the Commonwealth. We came in with a broad intention to elevate the voices and lived experiences of bus riders to the rooms where the decisions about public transit are made. We went through a series of lectures led by VDH’s Dr. Milicent Miller and Equitable Cities founder Charles Brown. We eventually came up with an action plan for a multi weeklong program that mirrored a lot of the information that we had learned in this course to pass onto those in our community. We decided to begin a biannual Mobility University.

We took to the streets to collect stories and start building out our advocate base. This past summer, CCAN and RVA Rapid Transit canvassed Richmond city bus stops garnering feedback on public transit related issues, like increased frequency & coverage, essential infrastructure and remaining zero free for everyone. We were armed with voice recorders and surveys to collect data. We handed out water and fans as we discussed the lacking infrastructure to protect passengers from the heat of the summer. 

These videos and statements were brought forth to City Council meetings and Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) board meetings, to put actual rider experiences in front of those with the power. Getting to 8 am board meetings (off of a bus line that only runs hourly) proves difficult for someone juggling multiple jobs, and we wanted to ensure that everyone’s voices were heard – even if they couldn’t commit to showing up in person at Mobility University. Additionally, from these encounters, we secured a group of 10 individuals from all over the city together to be a part of our inaugural effort.

Mobility University: a training ground for bus advocates

In the fall 2022, CCAN and RVART put on the first iteration of Mobility University, dedicated to educating and empowering bus riders for self advocacy in the transit world. We tackled topics like a history of transit, walkability, transit governance. We also worked to hone our skills as advocates with sessions like testifying and storytelling for change. By the end of our time, we held a graduation for our first class with representation from GRTC in attendance. 

All of our work has resulted in some major wins! Last month, the GRTC board, in response to our outpouring of support, decided to continue to fund the zero free initiative. Through a grant from the VWAI program, we created a standalone project that relates the experience of Richmond public transit to a diverse audience in an easy and palatable way. You can check out this video (in both English and Spanish) that highlights the rider experience and why well-funded transit systems are essential. The viewing party, which we co-hosted with RVART and VAIPL, was attended by over 50 people.

What’s left in the fight

We still have work to do. In conversations with the GRTC, RVART and CCAN are working to put together a transit riders advisory group, which would serve as a key consultant on decisions made in regards to transit in the Richmond metro area. We also need to take action now in the General Assembly session to ensure that we continue to prioritize public transit! State lawmakers are currently considering a great bill that would invest in transit funding, and you, regardless of where you live in the Commonwealth, can help.

Tell your state legislators to SUPPORT HB2338/SB1326. Ensure that we utilize all of the current public transit funding to the best of its ability. Send a quick message today!


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Danville Register & Bee op-ed: Youngkin says no to good jobs

You don’t need to look hard at census data to see that Virginia and Georgia aren’t very different. With booming populations, a host of technology entrepreneurs and a business-friendly climate, they are both among the most dynamic economic hot spots in the country.

But here’s a crucial difference: In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp is turning that state into one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturing hubs in the nation. Meanwhile Gov. Glenn Youngkin has just rejected a bid by Ford Motor Co. to build a massive battery manufacturing facility in Southern Virginia.

One of these southern powerhouses is racing toward the future. The other, Virginia, is deliberately turning its back on 21st century transportation investments. The reason for rejecting Ford? Youngkin points to vague benefits to the Chinese government. But workers in his state must wonder what their governor has against them.

Other states have taken a better route. Driven by the historic investments from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, new battery manufacturing plants are planned across the country, with Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan joining Georgia in leading the way, according to the Department of Energy. Over just the last two years, planned investments in the U.S. battery and electric vehicle manufacturing sector quadrupled to $210 billion, more than the annual economic output of Kentucky, according to a report from Atlas EV Hub.

In Georgia, $23 billion of investments in the electric vehicle sector — including from Hyundai Motor Group and Rivian — have been announced, projects that the state says will create about 28,000 jobs.

“I’m fulfilling my promise of creating good-paying jobs for our state,” Kemp told Politico recently, discussing his push to turn the Peach State into the “electric mobility capital of America.” Republican governors from Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee have also recognized that this is where the vehicle market is going — and they want their states to drive this transition.

All of which underscores how Youngkin seems to be driving his state into a ditch.

To expand its domestic supply chain and cut its dependence on imports, Ford is looking to invest in a plant to make lithium iron phosphate batteries in a partnership with a company called Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL). The $3.5 billion plant would have created an estimated 2,500 jobs in the struggling southern realm of the Virginia, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

However, Youngkin decided to remove Virginia from consideration for the plant because of his concerns about CATL, which has ties to the Chinese government. This despite the fact that there are already many economic and cultural connections between Virginia and China.

Now, those jobs are going elsewhere. One political observer told the Times-Dispatch that the speculation is that Youngkin’s sudden decision to pull out — which came after the project had been in the works for some time — has more to do with Youngkin’s presidential aspirations than any considerations for Virginia’s economy. If so, that’s a funny way to run for higher office: Politicians often run on their ability to attract jobs and grow the economy, not reject jobs and harm the economy.

Recognizing the benefits of manufacturing investments, state leaders will often promise just about anything to get companies to invest within their borders. Sometimes these tax breaks and promised investments don’t quite add up. This time those incentives make total sense for three key reasons.

First, this is a new industry, one that is primed for dramatic growth. While new vehicle sales fell overall by 8% in 2022, electric vehicle sales grew by a stunning 65%, totaling 5.8% of all new vehicle sales last year. Analysts have been looking at the strong growth and predicting a rapid doubling or tripling of those sales. President Joe Biden has laid out the goal of having half of all U.S. vehicle sales be electric by the end of the decade. We might get there even sooner.

Second, the climate bill Congress passed last year includes record incentives to build out the domestic U.S. electric vehicle supply chain. Those include both new tax credits for everything from mineral refining to battery assembly, as well as expanded consumer credits that reward vehicles built domestically. In part because of these new incentives and requirements, there has been a whopping $40 billion in new clean energy investments announced since Biden signed that bill into law.

Third, clean energy jobs are good jobs. The average hourly wages for clean energy jobs overall are about 25% higher than the national median wage, and those jobs are more likely to come with health care and retirement benefits than jobs across the rest of the private sector, according to a 2020 report by E2.

Soon after he took office, Youngkin wrote in the Post that there are 600,000 former Virginians living “in states that we directly compete with.” He tried to blame liberals in Richmond, but, given the good, new jobs now moving to Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, that number may soon be growing.

By Mike Tidwell. Original published at the Danville Register & Bee.

Daily Record Op-ed: Maryland needs to build more offshore wind projects

Op-ed by Jamie DeMarco initially published in The Daily Record.

Offshore wind is bringing union careers to Maryland, lowering utility bills, and improving our health, but the turbines under development today will not be enough to achieve our goals. In 2022, Maryland passed the Climate Solutions Now Act, which requires the state to slash our emissions 60% by 2031. In order to meet this ambitious legal mandate, we must invest in more offshore wind energy and the transmission infrastructure needed to support it.

Offshore wind, Onshore Benefits

Just last year, the Public Service Commission approved applications from Orsted’s Skipjack Wind and US Wind’s Momentum Wind, bringing the total offshore wind market in Maryland to 2 Gigawatts. These projects are on track to be completed and generating energy in 2026. The four projects approved in Maryland (two from US Wind and two from Orsted) have already produced significant economic and workforce benefits to Maryland. Maryland’s Public Service Commission required the two wind companies to invest $115 million in manufacturing facilities and port upgrades in and around Sparrows Point, or a similar port facility, and contribute $6 million to an offshore wind business development fund.

Those offshore wind projects brought union steel jobs back to Maryland. In August of 2021, US Wind announced plans to build a new steel fabrication facility at the Tradepoint Atlantic site in Baltimore County, now called Sparrows Point Steel. With this announcement, they also announced a $77 million investment in a 90-acre port facility and labor agreements with the Baltimore-D.C. Building & Construction trades union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to provide union labor to support US Wind’s Maryland projects. Orsted has also invested in the local supply chain and has teamed up with Crystal Steel Fabricators, located in Federalsburg, MD, to supply steel components for wind turbines up and down the East Coast, further establishing Maryland as a supply hub for the offshore wind industry.

Significant investments in offshore wind can also lower energy costs for Marylanders. According to a new report from Gabel Associates, these benefits for ratepayers could be significant. If Maryland builds an additional 6,000 MW of offshore wind in the Central Atlantic it could save Maryland $5.3 billion over the 30-year lifetime of the projects. Setting aside the huge environmental and health benefits that offshore wind will provide; ratepayer benefits could measurably outweigh the cost of building this additional offshore wind capacity. Even in the highest-cost scenario the report models, benefits to Marylanders, including ratepayer, economic, and environmental benefits, outweigh the generation costs associated with 6,000 MW of offshore wind.

Clearly, wind works for Maryland. To bring even greater economic and health benefits to our state, the Maryland General Assembly should pass legislation in 2023 to invest in offshore wind development by setting an offshore wind goal of at least 8.5 GW by 2031, initiating a state process to coordinate transmission infrastructure, and investing in the full build-out of the existing lease areas.

An offshore wind energy goal

Many states, in our region and beyond, have established offshore wind development goals through executive orders or legislation. These goals help signal to the market and regulators on the federal and state level that the state is friendly to offshore wind and has aspirations for investments in the industry. Setting a total of 8.5 GW as our state’s goal will help establish Maryland as an epicenter for additional development.

Transmission

In order for offshore wind to be useful, it must be brought ashore. Unfortunately, offshore wind projects in Maryland face a significant barrier to connecting to the grid. Transmission has been handled in the past on a project-by-project basis; to improve efficiency, experts recommend a more coordinated approach that would reduce congestion of multiple lines, increase carbon reduction potential and minimize environmental impacts. By passing legislation to direct the state to manage a competitive transmission procurement, Maryland could establish a coordinated transmission network that solves the issue of interconnection and builds resilience and reliability on our grid.

Building out the existing lease areas

Both Orsted and US Wind have existing space in their lease areas for roughly 700 – 800 additional megawatts each but the current policy (largely the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credit price cap) does not allow for additional development without impacting rate-payers. However, if additional projects could be built without the cost or risk accruing to ratepayers, Maryland could benefit from up to 1600 MW of additional offshore wind energy. This would be possible by having the state directly purchase the energy through the Department of General Services. This energy would serve the state government’s energy needs and then the surplus could be sold on the energy market for revenue.

Our state has been a leader in addressing the climate crisis and setting ambitious climate pollution reduction and clean energy goals. However, those goals can’t be reached without investments to our transmission infrastructure. We also have an opportunity to work with the White House and leverage federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Biden/Harris Administration has set a goal of 30 additional gigawatts of domestic offshore wind by 2030. The momentum for offshore wind is undeniable but Maryland legislators must act in 2023 to ensure Maryland sees the benefits of this clean energy revolution.

Jamie DeMarco is Maryland director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and CCAN Action Fund.

Celebrating 20 Years Of Climate Action, Passage of Historic Climate Bill, and a Promise to Keep Fighting for Our Planet

Celebrating 20 Years Of Climate Action, Passage of Historic Climate Bill, and a Promise to Keep Fighting for Our Planet

“The best regional grassroots climate group in the world” celebrates two decades of struggle and progress with a party and featured speakers including United States Senator Chris Van Hollen, DC Councilmember Mary Cheh, Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan, climate activist Bill McKibben and many more

The wine was flowing. The birthday cake was delicious. And the party-goers had a blast! Legislators, activists, and nearly 300 of Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s closest friends gathered on October 20 in Washington, DC to celebrate 20 years of climate action and the recent passage of historic federal climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. And, most importantly, they pledged to keep working together in the future to fight climate change.

That’s right. It’s been 20 years since Mike Tidwell left behind a successful career in journalism to launch CCAN out of his home in Takoma Park, Maryland. From that humble start grew what Bill McKibben – the renowned author, educator and environmentalist – calls the “best regional grassroots climate group in the world.” Today, CCAN has tens of thousands of supporters nationwide – with 23 dedicated staffers, three regional offices, and dozens of climate activist group allies – all dedicated to protecting our planet.

Event speakers included (left to right): Harrison Wallace, Climate & Clean Energy Equity Fund; Dave McGovern, CCAN Board of Directors; Shruti Bhatnagar, Sierra Club Montgomery County; US Senator Chris Van Hollen; Mike Tidwell, CCAN; Bill McKibben, Author/Activist; MD State Delegate Kumar Barve; VA State Senator Jennifer McClellan; April Moore, CCAN Board of Directors; Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Hip Hop Caucus.

CCAN’s 20th Anniversary was attended by friends and climate champions from across our region – bringing together key legislative leaders from Maryland, DC, and Virginia all in one room for the first time! Below are a few highlights from the evening.

Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, got us started by recalling early days in the fight against climate change – working with some of the activists who were in attendance at this anniversary event and even getting arrested at several protests with his good friend, Bill McKibben. He concluded by saying, “I’m excited for the movement… but this is the thing. We don’t have 20 more years, so we can’t be here thinking about what we’re going to do 20 years from now. We won’t look ahead to 2042. That isn’t the goal for this organization. We’ve got to fix this now. We’ve got to fix this for our children. And for our children’s children. Thanks so much CCAN for all that you do!” 

  

DC Councilmember Mary Cheh received CCAN’s first-ever Regional Climate Champion Award. After 16 years on the council, Cheh has decided to retire but during her tenure she spearheaded groundbreaking climate bills that became law a good two or three years before similar legislation passed in the surrounding states. They include a 50% renewable electricity standard in 2016, a 100% RES in 2018, and most recently, a bill that — with some exceptions — prohibits methane gas in new buildings in the nation’s capital after 2026. In accepting her award, Cheh issued a friendly challenge to Maryland and Virginia: Please catch up fast!

 

Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan gave a rousing speech about her collaboration with CCAN. She talked about the remarkable progress that Virginia has made in recent years including passage of the South’s first-ever clean energy standards, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and in the same year passed the Solar Freedom Act and Environmental Justice Act, then one year later passing the Clean Car standards. Every step of the way, McClellan said, “CCAN was right there.” Now, she said, there are new challenges but “with your help … Virginia can stay a leader. Happy Birthday!” 

 


Climate activist Bill McKibben, who helped inspire Tidwell to launch CCAN, congratulated CCAN again on its victories and issued a stirring call to action: “Now, more than ever, we need groups like CCAN because we’re moving now from the exhortation phase of this fight to the execution phase! We’ve got to keep demonstrating… but we’ve got to deploy, too. So it’s going to take this set of skills that groups like CCAN have spent so much time developing. Now the role will be to help other people around the country and around the world go down the same path.” We’ve started a movement for climate action and now it’s time for us all to continue – full speed ahead! 

 

US Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), our final featured speaker, first met Mike more than 20 years ago. Van Hollen was running for the US House of Representatives. The Sierra Club asked Mike to write a profile of the young candidate. During the interview, Mike asked Van Hollen what he thought about Mike’s idea to form a grassroots regional climate group, and what advice he had to pass transformative legislation. Van Hollen gave Mike the advice that guides us to this day: “Number one, build the biggest coalition you can for your issue. Leave no one out. Reach out widely. And two, never, ever, ever, ever, EVER, give up.” 

At the 20th Anniversary event, Van Hollen underscored that theme again, urging the attendees to focus on implementation of new legislation. “In many ways, the hard part starts now. It’s also the reality that even if [the IRA] is perfectly implemented, we all know it only takes us part of the way… We need to do more to address all of the challenges we’re facing. And use the opportunity to put more people to work in the clean-energy economy. We’ve got a lot of work to do!” 

In addition, to these and other speakers, we were also joined by other leading legislators — the region’s climate “royalty” who have passed landmark climate bills at the local and state levels, including: 

  • Maryland Senator Paul Pinsky (MD-District 22)
  • Virginia Delegate Rip Sullivan (VA-District 48)
  • Maryland Delegate Kumar Barve (MD-District 17)
  • Maryland Delegate Lorig Charkoudian (MD-District 20)
  • Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Reimer 

And many others, from climate activists to dear friends and family, more than we can relay here! 

Now, take a walk through CCAN’s history by watching this video: 

Video: Celebrating 20 Years of Climate Action with CCAN

Thanks for your support over the years and for helping us continue our work by becoming an Action Member today! 

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Virginia Will Ban New Gas Car Sales Starting in 2035! – CCAN Announces Support

Statement by CCAN’s Virginia Director, Victoria Higgins 

“CCAN is thrilled that Virginia will move forward with Advanced Clean Car Standards. We are in a pivotal moment of opportunity for the climate movement. Emissions must come down steeply over the course of this decade, and for Virginia to do its part, that means addressing our number one emitter: gas-burning vehicles. These updated standards come on the heels of a massive influx of federal dollars for electric vehicles and at a time when the demand for electric vehicles has never been higher. Virginia’s adoption of Clean Cars II is a massive win for our health, our economy, and our planet.”

Virginia Automobile Dealers Association

Reprinted from VADA https://vada.com/blog/2022/08/29/carb-august-22/

CALIFORNIA DECISION IMPACTS ON VIRGINIA

August 29, 2022

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is responsible for evaluating the emission control systems and setting mandates for zero-emissions new vehicles and engines in California. On August 25, California established a year-by-year roadmap so that by 2035, 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. States can chose to follow the California standards or the corresponding federal standards under the Clean Air Act.

In 2021, Virginia lawmakers adopted the stringent California CARB mandates — a move that can help pave the way for more EVs in Virginia.

The Virginia Office of Attorney General last week ruled that the Commonwealth is “bound” by the California decision to go fully electric by 2035 because the Commonwealth’s leaders chose to be “statutorily and regulatorily aligned with California.” To change that may require an amendment or repeal of the legislation, the office said. (Read more at The Virginia Mercury).

In Virginia, the budget to actually implement CARB here included no funding, nor direction to actually meet the standards. As we have previously said, if Virginia isn’t interested in making a real commitment to electric vehicles and a cleaner future, it must revisit CARB.

Regarding the requirement that by 2035 all new cars and trucks sold in California are fully electric (which could also impact Virginia), a statement from VADA President and CEO Don Hall:

“The EV Revolution is here. Auto manufacturers are committed globally to EVs. As we have seen from the direction of manufacturers and in global politics, electric is the future of transportation and adoption of Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards positions Virginia as a leader in a worldwide movement.

Virginia’s new car dealers are embracing the future of electric vehicles. VADA dealer members supported the adoption of the ZEV standards as part of the state’s commitment to fostering EV adoption, along with charging infrastructure and EV purchase incentives. The state must step up and do its part with all the related policies, in addition to these standards.

Our position in support of the ZEV mandates was not the traditional posture of dealer associations. We believe we charted the right course for Virginia dealers. We would not have been in the position to affect the EV issue more broadly had we taken a different position on this issue. We drove home the point that much more investment is needed on many fronts to make the adoption of EVs in Virginia a success.

Dealers in states with ZEV standards in place are getting EVs. Auto manufacturers send most EVs where they need to get credit for selling them – that is in states that have adopted and implemented the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards.

EV adoption will be achieved only with the investment of all parties: manufacturers, dealers, electric utilities, environmental groups, government, and consumers. We are doing our part.”

We Need to Fight against Manchin’s Dirty Deal

US Senator Joe Manchin will stop at nothing to strong-arm fossil fuel boondoggles into existence, especially the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) in West Virginia and Virginia. His approach this time? A Dirty Deal with US Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass so-called “permitting reform” legislation.

This label is misleading because the bill would actually sacrifice frontline communities to fast track permits for all kinds of risky, destructive fossil fuel projects.

Tell your Congressmembers: NO DIRTY DEAL!

The MVP is a climate-warming, land-destroying, family-wrecking pipeline that is utterly unacceptable to us. Which is why we have been fighting it from the day it was proposed in 2015. That pipeline would cross nearly 1000 streams and wetlands to transport fracked gas from West Virginia to Virginia and possibly to overseas markets. We unequivocally oppose this pipeline and any legislation that would greenlight it.

The Dirty Deal bill has a difficult path to passage, but we need to pull out all the stops. No one has seen the official legislation yet, but the one-page summary of the deal that was leaked is a disaster – it guts bedrock environmental protections, endangers public health, fast-tracks fossil fuels, and pushes approval for Manchin’s pet project, the Mountain Valley Pipeline – and a draft legislative text that’s circulating is just as bad, it even bears a watermark from the American Petroleum Institute!

American Petroleum Institute watermark on the draft deal: https://twitter.com/jimrwalsh/status/1555223445637632000/photo/1
American Petroleum Institute watermark on the draft deal: https://twitter.com/jimrwalsh/status/1555223445637632000/photo/1

Manchin’s deal will not only attempt to force through the Mountain Valley Pipeline, it’ll also threaten the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental policy.

Here’s what the draft deal claims to do if passed:

  • Shorten the timeline for permitting reviews to two years for major projects and one year for lower-impact projects
  • Allow for more categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • Cut climate change out of consideration
  • Prohibit Tribal agencies from requesting applicants to withdraw their applications

…and more. Read the full text at this link.

This is a dirty deal written by and for the fossil fuel industry. It’ll also sacrifice frontline communities to fast-track permits for other fossil fuel projects.  Leader Schumer could attach this legislation to a must-pass government spending bill this September, so we must do everything we can to stop this legislation in its tracks.

Manchin’s deal will not only attempt to force through the Mountain Valley Pipeline, it’ll also threaten the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental policy.

We will not stand for this.

Manchin’s Dirty Deal would have monumental repercussions. It would gut existing environmental law by cutting public input and dismissing tribal authority. The clear result would be more dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure that decimates public health and accelerates out-of-control climate chaos.  

No one should be sacrificed for profit. We have to fight back and urge our elected officials to do all they can to stop this terrible legislation. 

Send a message to your members of Congress. Tell them to say NO to Manchin’s Dirty Deal!

Tell your Congressmembers: NO DIRTY DEAL!

Historic climate bill just passed! This changes EVERYTHING!

I will remember today for the rest of my life. Today The House of Representatives passed The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and sent it to President Biden for his signature. Today kicks off a clean energy revolution that will save thousands of lives, prevent countless climate disasters, and shape the carbon record for millennia.

CCANers thanking their Congressman for passing Inflation Reduction Act
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While it is not perfect, this groundbreaking legislation will reduce US emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, create 1.4 million new jobs, expand the U.S. economy by nearly one full percentage point, and prevent up to 3,900 premature deaths annually, mostly in communities of color. It will also expand health insurance and lower the cost of prescription drugs.

The Inflation Reduction Act is the first sweeping climate legislation to be passed by Congress, and it would not have been possible without the advocacy we have been doing for years. Thank you. It has been an honor to build this movement together with you. Now our job is to build more power and pass even bolder legislation. We must make this the first, and the smallest, climate legislation Congress passes.

CCAN Action Fund is enthusiastically applauding House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. A side agreement of the bill, however, could accelerate approval of oil and gas pipelines, drawing fierce opposition from groups like CCAN Action Fund with pledges to defeat this separate measure in September.

The climate features of the bill are described in more detail here. CCAN Action Fund advocated for the removal of the provisions that would open up new leases for fossil fuel extraction, and we are disappointed to see that these provisions were included in the final bill. We will continue our decades-long practice of fighting all fossil fuel infrastructure.

While the Inflation Reduction Act does not affect the Mountain Valley Pipeline in any way, its passage is linked to a separate bill to greenlight the Mountain Valley Pipeline through a deal between Senators Manchin and Schumer. Even as we celebrate our representatives for finally passing sweeping climate legislation, we need to let them know that they must vote against ANY legislation that facilitates construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Please, take a moment to contact your representative about their vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, and demand they block the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Statement from Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and CCAN Action Fund:

“Today’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act by the US House of Representatives is a game-changing step in the fight to rescue our planet from extreme climate change. The bill will be remembered as a turning point in the nation’s move to ‘electrify everything’ with clean energy while protecting our most vulnerable communities from climate impacts and energy cost burdens.

“In the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia, DC, and West Virginia, this bill will greatly incentivize manufacturing for wind and solar energy systems while growing our offshore wind industry with smart and strategic tax credits. It will mean many more affordable electric cars throughout our region with a rapidly growing network of charging stations in addition to funding for more walkable communities.

“Also, thanks to the tireless efforts of Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, this bill will create America’s first national Green Bank with $9 billion. The bank will transform American homes with loans and grants for heat pumps, electric water heating systems, and other low- and zero-carbon energy systems.”

“Many thanks also to Stacey Abrams of Georgia. Her tireless efforts over the years to register Georgia voters and fight for justice led directly to the US Senate election victories of Rafael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in 2021. Without Abrams’ visionary efforts, the Senate would not have had the votes to win today on climate and prescription drugs. Period.”

“But the climate fight will be far from over. We must do more to right the wrongs of climate injustice and continue our effort to make communities of color, that have been disproportionately impacted, whole again. CCAN Action Fund is committed with hundreds of other groups to stopping any ‘permit reform’ legislation – proposed for a September vote – that could ease approval of unimaginably destructive fossil fuel pipelines like the Mountain Valley Pipeline proposed for West Virginia and Virginia. We will fight as hard to stop that bill as we’ve fought to pass this climate bill.”

 

Again, please take a moment to contact your representative about their vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, and demand they block the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Take Action

Learn more about the campaign to pass a federal climate bill through budget reconciliation

Happy CCANers on Capitol Hill

Grassroots Fellow Blog: Rising Seas and Fighting for Climate Justice

Mobility for All: the Fight for Public Transit

By Nikia Johnson

My name is Nikia Johnson and I have served as the Virginia Grassroots Fellow for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Growing up in Norfolk, Virginia, I was able to observe the direct impacts that climate change has had on Hampton Roads and the surrounding areas. Sea levels rising has led to constant flooding in the area, which is only becoming worse over time. If climate change continues at its current rate, significant portions of Hampton Roads are expected to be underwater as soon as in the next 10-15 years. This is initially what sparked my interest in the position. 

Throughout this fellowship, I have been presented with incredible opportunities to learn more about climate change, the impact it is having on the entire state of Virginia, as well as solutions that are being implemented. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the bulk of the work I was able to do was virtual. However, through attending both CCAN and other grassroot events (such as SAVE Coalition VA), I was able to meet with people with specific expertise surrounding climate climate change, as well as concerned citizens. This allowed me to understand the issues at hand from multiple different perspectives and form my own opinions regarding possible solutions.

Prior to working for CCAN, I had little experience working behind the scenes in environmental justice movements. I often saw well organized events and protests, but I neglected to consider all the work that happens behind the scenes. For example, my first time phone banking, I was nervous about the way I would be perceived and whether people would want to listen to me. However, the more calls I made, the more confident I felt. This fellowship also provided me with the opportunity to develop my research skills. Since I did not have an extensive background in climate change, it was necessary for me to research various laws and policies being implemented right now and the negative impacts they may be having on the environment. By utilizing these skills, the members of CCAN and I have been able to help organize and facilitate events, as well as connect local residents to these issues through understanding and education. 

One particular experience that stood out to me was attending the Virginia Mobility for all Launch. While I knew that car transportation in large volumes is not good for the environment, I was unaware that transportation alone accounts for almost 50% of greenhouse gas emission in Virginia. At this event, several different mobility options were discussed and solutions were proposed to cut down on gas emissions. Some of these solutions included the electrification of cars and incorporating more bus stops/routes. 

This event led me to seriously consider why Virginians rely so heavily on their cars. The short answers are convenience and reliability. While taking the bus to your destination in Virginia is certainly doable, it is not necessarily the easiest option. Hampton Roads has the Tidewater Transit, but it doesn’t include very many stops and is not heavily used. I believe that Virginia would benefit from incentivizing public transportation more as well as an increased funding for modes of transportation such as buses and the transit. I plan to use the knowledge I gained from this event as well as the skills I acquired through this fellowship to continue to educate others about this issue and fight for change. 

Working with CCAN has also shown me the impact that leadership, determinism, and passion for change can have on the community. I connected with CCAN because of their ability to shine a light on important issues and make them personable. The CCAN team very involved in their work and are dedicated to listening to the community and putting forth the change people would like to see in any way they are able. 

Overall, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be the CCAN Virginia Grassroots Fellow. I plan to continue being involved with CCAN, and use the knowledge I gained to continue fighting for environmental justice in my own community and at my own school. It has truly been an honor and privilege to work with CCAN and I look forward to seeing the accomplishments that will continue to be made in Virginia and across the nation.