The environment needs leadership

This letter to the editor appeared in the Annapolis Capital Gazette.

As an environmental advocate and lifelong Marylander, I was heartened to see strong environmental candidates prevail in many of Tuesday’s races throughout the state. However, conservationists didn’t fare so well across the country. Money from oil and coal companies lines the pockets of many of our newest members of Congress, dozens of who deny the reality of climate change.

The GOP is the only political party in the world that includes climate change denial as a fundamental component of its political platform. Republican legislators don’t just oppose climate action – they oppose the very idea of climate change. These individuals equate science and religion – they believe what they like and reject the rest. This denial persists despite the fact that anthropogenic climate change is one of the most agreed-upon theories in science. Consequently, strong federal climate change and clean energy legislation will likely be stalled for at least the next two years.

We must do at the state level what Congress will not – move away from dangerous and dirty fossil fuels in lieu of clean energy alternatives. Maryland should develop its substantial offshore wind power potential as soon as possible in a show of leadership.

Offshore wind has the potential to bring thousands of well-paying jobs to our state, while providing the equivalent of two-thirds of the state’s current electricity needs. Environmental and labor groups, as well as Governor O’Malley have already pledged their support for Maryland offshore wind. I encourage my fellow Marylanders to reach out to their state representatives to pledge their support as well. The Free State already boasts some of the nation’s most stalwart environmental laws. It’s time that we also take the lead on clean offshore power.

JAMIE NOLAN
Trappe

The writer is Communications Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Drought Disaster

Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli are making a name for themselves on the national climate denier scene. They’ve engaged Virginia in a lawsuit against the EPA and have gone as far as accusing leading scientist Michael Mann of fraud by seeking public funding for his research. So the irony was not lost when Gov. McDonnell yesterday announced that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has designated 59 counties as primary natural disaster areas because of the excessive heat we’ve seen in 2010. Farms in this area Continue reading

Where's Bob on Wind?

Hey, Governor McDonnell, are you serious about renewable energy sources like wind and solar, or are you just pulling our leg? I mean, you won’t even commit just $400 to power the Governor’s Mansion with renewable energy in 2011. What’s the deal??

Yes, you read that right. We asked the Governor to buy renewable energy credits as a symbolic gesture that he was leading the Commonwealth towards a future that includes an increased emphasis on clean energy, but he won’t do it. Continue reading

Virginia State Senator Argues for Renewables

Chap Peterson, Virginia State Senator of the 34th Senate District of Virginia, has been a long-time supporter of clean and renewable energy, so it was no great surprise when he attended Saturday’s Northern Virginia Climate Action Network (NOVACAN) meeting. The NOVACAN coalition is made up of a number of environmentally-focused Northern Virginia organizations, including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, with the aim of educating and empowering Northern Virginians to advocate for policies to curtail climate change.

After the meeting, State Senator Peterson reiterated his thoughts on renewable energy on his blog, reposted below. Continue reading

What should climate hawks do now?

Joe Romm has an open thread today at climateprogress.org, in which he asks, “What should climate hawks do now?“

Here is my suggestion:

Wonder wind asks: "Maryland, Got Wind?"

As the Maryland campaign director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, I work with a coalition of climate hawks poised to move strongly forward at the state level as we determine the best next steps nationally.

Since this year’s failure to pass comprehensive climate legislation in the senate, a number of groups and individuals have discussed the need for state level action. At the state level, we can make real gains in renewable energy and emissions reductions, while tangibly showing that climate solutions work. Thank God California’s AB 32 law will continue.

In Maryland, we also have strong climate laws on the books, including a 20% RPS by 2022 and an emissions reduction goal of 25% below 2006 levels by 2020.

To meet these goals, action is still needed.

As an ocean state, offshore wind power currently has the highest potential for us to generate clean, renewable energy. That’s why we’re part of a strong coalition calling on the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation that will bring us offshore wind parks as early as 2015.

Offshore wind will bring Maryland reliable jobs (thousands in construction, operations, and maintenance), reliable energy (Europe’s had offshore wind working since 1991 and we could get a third of our power in the region from the resource), reliable prices (we can lock in the price over 25 years as unlike fossil fuels, the wind is free), and a more reliable climate (reducing heat-trapping energy generation). It’s understandable why the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the National Wildlife Federation, Environment Maryland, The Sierra Club, the Maryland LCV, AND the United Steelworkers in Maryland are calling together for offshore wind power!

If you live in Maryland or in the area, here are a few ways you can help us win:

  1. Attend Wind Vision 2010 in Annapolis on December 4th: the first Maryland citizens’ conference on offshore wind. We’ll hear from inspiring leaders (like Lester Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, John Passacantando, former director of Greenpeace USA, and CCAN’s inspiring leader, Mike Tidwell), and discuss how we can all help make it happen for Maryland in 2011. RSVP today at http://www.MarylandOffshoreWind.org!

  2. Take a photo for our “Maryland: Got Wind?” Photo Mission! We’ll be sharing them with your state representatives. Find out how to submit a photo at our website and check out Maryland’s own superhero, Wonder Wind, fighting for wind all over the state!

  3. Share the conference and the photo petition links with all your friends on facebook and twitter!

On the national level, while things look bleak, we must find a way forward. There is a glimmer of hope for compromise that must at least be explored. Tom Daschle talks about the need for congressional compromise in a Washington Post op-ed today and mentions climate change as one of the national challenges we must address. We must also look to innovative solutions. CCAN has endorsed the cap and dividend model, which has bipartisan support. We must continue to develop innovative policy solutions that can garner bipartisan support: cap and dividend could be part of a new solution.

Finally, it is clear that we must do more on the grassroots. We clearly cannot rely on our elected leaders or media to carry the entire load in terms of creating a national debate on climate. Climate hawk groups and individuals must put in the grassroots organizing that is necessary.

Rally for Sanity Left Me Fearful

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you were also on the Mall on Saturday, or maybe watching it on TV. Having organized rallies in DC, I was blown away by the turnout. With all the climate-denying happening these days, it was inspiring to see so many people travel from all over the country in the name of sanity. It felt good to be among fellow sane people.

If you organize around political issues long enough, it’s easy to get cynical. I fight that urge all the time. Rallies and protests are practically a monthly occurrence and it’s often hard to see how they move the ball forward. But, we justify the hard work it takes to organize those kinds of events because they also serve other purposes. Good rallies can inspire people, indirectly leading to future action. And, having a drumbeat of rallies and protests on any one issue might finally get through to our lawmakers and/or the media.

I left the Stewart/Colbert rallies trying to make those same justifications, but have come up short. Did you leave inspired? I left lukewarm, at best. Did you get a sense of what’s next? I didn’t. Continue reading