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.

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.

Fairfax Board Drags Feet on Coal…

Live from the Fairfax County Government Building…

(11:40)I am reporting live today, listening in on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors hearing, waiting for news on whether the Fairfax Board will submit comments for the Department of Environmental Quality on the impacts of a new coal plant in Wise County on the residents of Fairfax County.

This board meeting room is the biggest one I have ever been in, and I can’t wait to hear the good news that our Supervisors will deliver soon…

(12:35) Anthony Griffin, county executive, withdraws the motion without debate… something is going on here…

(3:00) So I have had some time to think about what happened at the Board meeting today (and a little time to cool down), and I will give it to you straight here — something is going on here. The Board has been in some way contacted by Dominion power or one of their henchmen (that includes our General Assembly Members) and convinced the Fairfax county board that commenting for the DEQ on this power plant would not be a good idea. This stinks of insider politics. Why does it stink?

  1. The agenda item regarding submitting comments for the DEQ was immediately withdrawn without debate. We contacted enough Board members, we had the names of six board members that already supported the comments, and we had the critical commentary that the Chairman had already submitted for the DEQ in hand — we had enough votes to pass this board matter last week, why was it not even talked about on Monday?

  2. None of our strongest advocates said anything when the Board matter was being withdrawn — Chairman Connolly, Supervisor Smyth, and Supervisor Hyland said nothing — that makes me think that somebody was silencing them…

  3. Dominion has enough money and influence in this state to pull strings when they need to, it doesn’t seem unlikely that they would feel compelled to meddle in Fairfax county business…

So that is it. Now we must regroup and stay on top of our Supervisors and let them know that the issue of a new coal plant in Wise County and the impacts that it will have on our air are too great to ignore. Contact paul@chesapeakeclimate.org to help fight Dominion power in Fairfax county.

Fairfax to Comment on Wise County Monday…

Monday morning, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will discuss a board matter to submit testimony for the Department of Environmental Quality in regards to the impacts that a new coal fired power plant in Wise County would have on Fairfax. If built, a new coal fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia could negatively impact Fairfax’s air quality, the health of Northern Virginians and serve as a counter productive step in Fairfax’s campaign to help minimize global warming pollution.

Since the power generated by a new coal plant would principally the high growth areas of Virginia, like Fairfax, and because Dominion’s rate payers in Northern Virginia are likely to foot a majority of the bill of new energy infrastructure, many Fairfax residents are demanding that their county representatives help them voice concerns over new coal development.

In regards to a new coal fired power plant, Eleanor Whitaker of Fairfax say, “I freely admit that I enjoy the amenities that electricity provides, and if we had no other choices for the production of energy, we would have a difficult decision on our hands. But that is not where we are. Virginia is currently ranked at, or near the bottom, of all the states in the union in terms of energy efficiency.”

Even the Chairman of the Fairfax County Board Gerry Connolly has voiced his opposition to Dominion’s coal fired power plant.

Alexandria Town Forum with Rep. Moran (2/5) — Coal and Clean Energy — Please Attend

Join Congressman Jim Moran and Alexandria Vice Mayor Del Pepper on Tuesday, February 5th for a town hall meeting to discuss the antiquated use of coal in Virginia and our clean energy future. The event will focus on the connection between two coal-fired power plants in Virginia — the Mirant Plant in Alexandria and the proposed Dominion power plant in Wise County — and our connection to mountaintop removal coal mining.

There is a better way to provide Virginians with energy that doesn’t pollute our air and water, that doesn’t destroy our mountains, and that doesn’t contribute to global warming. Come to the town hall meeting to hear about the consequences of Virginia’s reliance on coal, our clean energy future, and how you can be part of the solution.

Hear experts, politicians and activists talk about Virginia coal and clean energy. The talk is to be directly followed by a question and answer session to let you speak your mind about coal, global warming, and renewable energy.

DATE: Tues., Feb. 5th, 7pm-9pm (tabling & schmoozing from 6:30pm-7pm)

LOCATION: Lyles Crouch Elementary School, 530 South Saint Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA MAP
At the Corner of South Saint Asaph and Gibbon St. — one block east (towards the water) of Washington St.

COST: Free! Continue reading