If anyone has any doubt that the climate movement is forging ahead after the rocky road we’ve traveled from Copenhagen to the Senate dead-end, they should just consider what happened on October 10th, 2010. The sheer mind-blowing scale of 350.org’s 10/10/10 Global Work Party shows that far from losing momentum, the global climate movement has only picked up steam in countries across the world. Indeed, despite all the political blows we’ve been dealt this past year, people rallied behind climate action like never before
Local Enviros, Elected Officials Join Forces to Upgrade Silver Spring Home for Worldwide
Today environmental leaders and government officials met in Silver Spring to weatherize a home in a low-income neighborhood as a show of solidarity in the fight against climate change. Continue reading
A Waste Incinerator Where?!
Last Thursday residents of Curtis Bay and the greater Baltimore City area gathered at the Curtis Bay Recreation Center for a community forum hosted by CCAN, Clean Water Action and the Environmental Integrity Project.
The panel provided information on two proposed dirty energy projects: a new coal ash landfill proposed by Constellation Energy and an Energy Answers “waste to energy” power plant. We had a great discussion on the potential implications of the projects and what pollution standards must be upheld. Many attendees expressed anger that this community has been the target of polluters for decades, and frustration that these companies seemingly get special exemptions from state and federal environmental laws.
One of the most appalling possibilities is that the incinerator could be just a mile and a half from the elementary school! Pollution knows no boundaries: that distance simply isn’t far enough away to prevent major health impacts.
CCAN is committed to addressing community concerns with these two energy projects and helping in any way we can. Click here to sign a postcard urging Maryland Department of the Environment to do a thorough environmental health study before approving any project that could add pollution to this already overburdened community. Stay tuned for future actions!
The Power of Offshore Wind Displayed in Ocean City
With extreme weather events, tragic disasters from the extraction of fossil fuels, and beautiful coral reefs losing their color due to extreme heat, there is no doubt that we must transition now to clean energy like offshore wind!
Last Thursday was a prime example of how Maryland is poised to continue leading on clean energy and climate solutions by pursuing offshore wind power.
On the evening of September 23rd, close to 100 citizens gathered for a town hall meeting in Ocean City to learn more about the amazing benefits offshore wind will bring Marylanders.
Citizens got to hear from three experts about how this resource could work for Maryland and to have their questions answered.
Surprise, surprise: world's largest offshore wind farm NOT in U.S.
The Thanet wind farm in the English Channel is set to begin production this week. The 100 turbines, each measuring 300 feet in height, will produce enough electricity to power 200,000 homes. This will increase the total UK wind production to 1,314 MW. In contrast, the rest of the world currently harnesses only 1,100 MW total.
Offshore Wind Gathers Support in Ocean City
Network of local businesses, organizations pledge support for wind turbines off Maryland coast Continue reading
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
Next week, some of the CCAN staff is headed to Ocean City, Maryland, where we’re part of a coalition of organizations organizing a town hall meeting about efforts to harness Maryland’s offshore wind power. The winds blowing off Ocean City’s Atlantic Coast have the strength to power thousands of homes, or provide up to one third of Maryland’s current electricity needs.
Offshore wind power offers many advantages over dirty fossil fuel sources like oil and coal. Choosing to build wind farms off our shores, rather than drill for oil, alleviates the horrifying risk that Ocean City would ever suffer from an oil spill like the devastating spill in the Gulf. Currently, Maryland imports much of its electricity from dirty coal plants in surrounding states, which sometimes makes our energy supply unreliable and costs unstable. Clean, renewable wind power offers price stability because the fuel is free, and it would be more reliable because it would be harnessed locally. Also, a moderate investment in offshore wind development could provide 15,000 new jobs for Marylanders over the next 20 years. This means more stable, year-round employment opportunities for Ocean City, where many jobs leave town with the tourists at the end of the season.
Maryland's answer to global warming
By Mike Tidwell
First came the snowfall last winter. It buried Baltimore in three massive storms, shattering all accumulation records going back 127 years. Then came the thunderstorms of July and August. They pummeled much of Maryland with extreme rain and 70 mile-per-hour winds, knocking out power to over half a million customers.
Power Vote Kicks Off in Maryland!
Youth across Maryland are ready to make their voices heard this election season: letting elected officials know that they are voting for clean energy and healthy communities. Schools are starting kick off events in style- with BBQ’s, open mic nights and socials! Check out the Power Vote crew at Morgan St. To start the year they blanketed the campus in green Power Vote shirts to collect pledges and hand out flyers for the open mic night. The event was a big success- over 50 people came out to perform and learn more about the campaign.
Extreme Weather is Bigger Than Pepco: Environmentalists Defend Utility Prior to PSC Hearing
One of Maryland Continue reading