Tag: climate change

Get in the Game Senator Mikulski

Here’s a question: If you’re a legislator and you voted to strengthen a particular piece of legislation, and that piece of legislation later came under threat, wouldn’t you make an effort to protect it? The answer seems logical enough, but then again, as we all know, everyday logic doesn’t always apply to the world of politics.

How else would you explain Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski’s failure stand up to protect the Clean Air Act from the attacks that it’s recently come under from the likes of Lisa “Dirty Air” Murkowski? After all, as the Senate’s Legislation and Records site shows, Senator Mikulski voted for the 1990 amendments that strengthened the original 1970 Clean Air Act, ensuring that it had the teeth it needed to really bite into problems like acid rain. But now when opponents of climate action are trying to knock those same teeth out, Mikulski is standing on the sidelines. Continue reading

NoVa Climate Activists Unite!

This past Saturday, over 75 climate change activists in Northern Virginia came together for the Northern Virginia Climate Action Network’s Tools for Change III: Energy Efficiency, Bringing the Message Home and Skills Training. Attendees came from across NoVa, from Loudoun to Bristow, with the common goal of learning more and getting involved in the fight for federal climate change legislation.

Speakers presented on a range of topics focused on some of the federal legislation in the Senate right now, as well as more local successes and projects in the works. Elenor Hodges, Executive Director of Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, talked about the Green Living Challenge.

climate change global warming Northern Virginia Virginia

State legislators represent Commonwealth and leave the science to scientists!

The jury presented its verdict on climate change a long time ago. The science says our climate is changing and the results for Virginia and the planet will be catastrophic. The Supreme Court, the EPA, Virginia’s own Commission on Climate Change and even former President George Bush recognized the consequences of climate change.

Mad Scientist (J.J., Wikipedia) Yet, amidst typos and lawsuits, today’s press conference a the state capitol in Richmond was a breath of fresh air. It is refreshing to see 19 members of General Assembly standing up for their constituents and allowing the science to speak for itself. The Science that tells us that Virginia is vulnerable to sea level rise, that the Hampton Roads area is ranked #2 in terms of vulnerability. Number one is New Orleans. These threats are real and Virginia is ready to address them head on.

I applaud Senators McEachin and Northam as well as Delegate McLellan for initiating today’s press conference and the other 16 state legislators that joined them to show their support for the science. Addressing climate change and diversifying our economy here in the Commonwealth is no easy task. It’s going to take forward thinking and leadership from Richmond to embrace our potential. It’s also going to take reasonable investments.

The big thing highlighted in today’s conference is the pure fiscal irresponsibility of our Attorney General’s lawsuit. He wants to slap tax payers with $250,000-$500,000 bill to pursue a frivolous lawsuit against the Federal Government, it’s lawyers and its environmental agency on an issue already decided by the Supreme Court. Given the state of Virginia’s economy this is just not acceptable and I am proud that so many legislators had the courage to stand up for their constituents health, the climate and the well-being of the Commonwealth.

climate change Environmental Protection Agency global warming legislation

Climate Activists in Richmond Take Action

We had a great workshop in Richmond on Saturday! JR Tolbert with Environment VA kicked off the event with an update on federal climate legislation.

Next up, activists from the region learned how to lobby a legislator with our environmental hero, Senator McEachin, accompanied by lobby expert, Matt Zogby with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

Followed by an interactive workshop with yours truly where everyone signed postcards, made calls to Senator Webb’s office and wrote handwritten letters urging him to vote in support of clean energy legislation and against the Dirty Air Act.

After that, the attendees learned the step-by-step process to writing a letter to their editor with Sierra Club staffer, Antigone Ambrose.

Each activist walked away from the workshop learning ways to get involved and taking lots of action. It was a fun workshop to be a part of!

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A tale of 3 cities and 2 very bad bills

Two bills before the General Assembly right now, SB 128 (McDougle) and HB 1300 (Kilgore), would limit the Air Board’s authority to regulate polluters in non-attainment areas. When a region fails to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, set by the EPA to protect public health, the EPA will designate that area as a non-attainment region. Currently only Northern Virginia is listed as a non-attainment region in Virginia. However, Richmond and Hampton Roads are expected to be designated as non-attainment areas by March 2011.

Living in a non-attainment area is bad for your health. Smog and soot, measures used to determine ambient air quality, are linked to So2 and NOx which are in turn connected to decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, premature death. According to the American Lung Association, “Ozone smog threatens the health of infants, children, seniors and people with . . . lung disease. . . . Even healthy young adults and people who exercise or work outdoors can suffer from high levels of ozone pollution.”

Not only is a non-attainment area a major health issue but it is an economic development issue as well. Regions of non-attainment encounter significant federal restrictions. Businesses looking to develop in Virginia do not want to locate in Non-Attainment areas because of these increased restrictions. Getting out of non-attainment is critical for public health and economic development.

Now, back to the bills. SB 128 and HB 1300 would limit the Air Board in how it regulates a non-attainment area. Currently, the Air Board can prohibit major polluters in non-attainment areas from purchasing credits for excess pollution, thus forcing them to actually clean up their acts. With the passage of these 2 bills, the Air Board would no longer be able to prohibit this trading practice. What this means is that major polluters can continue to pollute in non-attainment areas while small businesses will continue to be heavily regulated, making it that much harder for areas to clean up their air.

SB 128 was amended to exclude existing non-attainment areas (NoVA) from this new regulatory change. Delegate Kilgore, the patron of HB 1300, promised he would make the same amendment, but this morning as he presented the bill before committee, he kept it as is. The bill passed out of committee without the NoVA carve out. If both bills pass they will be placed in conference committee to reconcile the differences. Either way, this isn’t good news for Richmond or Hampton Roads. Please call your state senator today and ask them to vote NO on HB 1300 when it comes to the floor.

Air Pollution climate change Hampton Roads Northern Virginia Richmond Virginia

Knock, Knock Senator Webb: Stand up for the Clean Air Act!

Today a group of Virginia climate change activists stopped by Senator Webb’s Falls Church district office to urge him to stand up for the Clean Air Act. Armed with hand-made signs and “Stop CO2” stickers, they talked to his staff about the importance of opposing the Murkowski Amendment. The amendment would block the Clean Air Act’s ability to limit global warming pollution by stripping the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite already hearing from many of his constituents, Senator Webb is still considering supporting this crippling amendment. We delivered almost 100 more comments from clean air supporters today, and we have to keep the pressure on. Don’t wait to add your voice by calling his office today to tell him to stand up to big polluters and protect the Clean Air Act!

Clean Air Act climate change Environmental Protection Agency global warming Senator Jim Webb Virginia

The CLEAR Act: A New Hope

Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network explains a bold and refreshing new perspective on how to cap carbon emissions in the United States.

Also, here’s an interesting TV interview about the bill that Mike Tidwell conducted with John Passacantando, former director of Greenpeace USA. The interview is part of a cable-access show called The Coffee House that is viewed on stations nationwide.

Cap and Dividend climate change legislation Senator Susan Collins

No Jobs but Yes to coal??

Last night the Dendron town council moved forward on permitting the Cypress Creek coal-fired power plant. Can’t say they really voted for it since the 3 council members against the plant abstained from voting. The Mayor decided that this was still considered a tie vote and cast the deciding vote in favor of re-zoning the land. Legal experts feel that this highly unusual so we shall see what happens on that front.

During that meeting, an economic analysis was publicly released for the first time. The analysis estimates that during the height of construction, only 3 Dendron residents would be employed to build the plant and only 14% of those temporary construction jobs would go to Surry County residents. Even fewer locals would be permanently employed if the plant is built due to the highly specific skills required for the jobs needed. You have to wonder how half of the Town Council and the Mayor could still vote in favor of such a destructive project with so few jobs coming to the local community.

Nevertheless, coal plant opponents are winning. You may be scratching your head wondering how I came to that conclusion, so let me tell you. ODEC submitted its applications for this project to DEQ in December 2008. A year and 3 months later they are just now getting the local permits so that that application can begin moving forward. What should have been the easiest part of this lengthy process for them took over a year. ODEC should be wondering if this is how long the EASIEST part is going to take, how long will the more in-depth applications take? Only time will tell, but we will be there along with thousands of other Virginians to stop this plant in its tracks. They may have won this battle but we prolonged it and we WILL win the war!

climate change coal Old Dominion Electric Cooperative

Maryland News: A compromise and a step forward

First the good news: Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. just announced that it is testing the waters of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle charging stations in anticipation of the cars hitting Greater Baltimore streets later this year.

There’s no doubt that cars with cords are coming. According to Wired, most of the major automakers are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the development of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, and at least two of them

climate change electric cars global warming

Video: CCAN's Fifth Annual Polar Bear Plunge

On January 23, 2010 nearly 350 people gathered on a beach outside the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis to draw attention to the climate crisis and highlight the number everyone living on this planet needs to know: 350.

Check out the video from CCAN’s 5th plunge to Keep Winter Cold below (it’s my first video). Enjoy!

climate change global warming Polar Bear Plunge