Virginia's AG's already making headlines!

Today was another day for Virginia to make headlines. Like most headlines of late, this wasn’t a good one either. Our new Attorney General has made the environment one of his top priorities. Shouldn’t this be a GOOD thing you ask? In some instances, yes, but not when his goal is to make every federal law regulating greenhouse gas emissions illegal in our state.

After sending out an email to his listserv last week disputing global warming all together, our AG, Ken Cuccinelli held a press conference today, announcing his petition to the EPA to reconsider its finding that global warming threatens our livelihood. His reasoning for this petition? Climategate. Remember that little mole hill climate deniers successfully made into a mountain? Our state government has decided this is such an important issue that we should spend staff time and taxpayer money on it. Meanwhile, we’re looking at a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. Great idea guys. Let’s spend money on this.

So let’s recap here. While our new Governor is backroom wheeling and dealing over serious budget cuts, including a $730 million cut to K-12 education programs over 2 years, and more Virginians are out of work and without health care, the new AG is spending money on frivolous lawsuits against the EPA because he is concerned that the EPA is finally going to do its job. Whew, we are not off to a good start.

Senate Committee Votes Against 10,000 New Jobs for Virginia

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee today rejected Senate Bill 71, the “Virginia Jobs and Efficiency Act” patroned by Senator Donald McEachin. The legislation would have held utilities accountable for cutting energy waste through set efficiency standards, creating jobs in Virginia, saving families and businesses money and cutting pollution linked to global warming. Continue reading

New Economic Report Shows Few Jobs From Proposed coal Plant in Surry County Would Go To Local Residents

At a public hearing tonight, the Dendron Town Council will receive the first publicly available analysis of the economic impacts that Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposed coal-fired power plant would have on Dendron and Surry County. Among other things, the report estimates that, during the peak construction year, only three jobs would go to current Dendron residents and Surry County residents would get only 14% of the construction jobs. Continue reading

Repairing Virginia's Economy

The Richmond Times-Dispatch

By Mike Tidwell

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has been yelling it from the rooftops for months: The best way to repair Virginia’s ailing economy is to improve the state’s flawed energy policies. He’s absolutely right, of course, and now he faces a test. With inauguration festivities over, a landmark energy bill awaits McDonnell in the General Assembly. It would create lots of new jobs and, potentially, build badly needed bipartisanship in Richmond.

Continue reading

Environmental Community Applauds Senator McEachin's Jobs Plan

Leading members of Virginia’s environmental community today applauded Senator Donald McEachin’s energy efficiency legislation as a winning plan for Virginia. By creating energy efficiency standards for utilities, the legislation will create jobs and save families money on their energy bills while also reducing the demand for mountaintop removal coal mining and cutting pollution linked to global warming. Continue reading

Virginia Students: Join the "No Coal Day," Nov. 18th

Of the many amazing things I get to do as CCAN’s Virginia campus organizer, one extra bit of inspiration is how often I find myself driving along a beautiful back road and am struck by the incredible views all around me. To think that in areas of Virginia those mountains and the communities surrounding them are directly threatened only makes me more anxious to reach my destination because I know that the work we’re doing around this state is going to help make the switch and create a clean energy economy here in Virginia and beyond.

I just got back from Wise County where I joined the Rrnew Collective and others from around the Southeast for “Weekend in Wise” a weekend of discussion, brainstorming and planning (plus a little dancing) about creating sustainable economic development in Appalachia. While it was the first time I saw mountaintop removal and ‘reclamation,’ the sense of determination from everyone there left me energized. Together, we’re going to create a better future for all of us.

That’s why young people from around the state have set November 18th was set as a statewide No Coal Day. It’s a Day of Action for a clean energy future because young people know it’s time for Virginia to make the switch. Join in! Email me at katherine[at]chesapeakeclimate.org

Trick or Treat!

IMG00124Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. For one day of the year, you get to be someone (or something) else. Today, a few of us dressed up as green jobs workers and delivered a message to our Virginia Senators: We want clean energy jobs NOW! Wearing green hard hats, work boots and tool belts, we delivered our messages in style- by presenting the staff of Senator Webb and Senator Warner with a Frankenstein halloween bucket filled with candy and petitions from folks all across the Commonwealth who want Congress to pass a strong climate bill this year. We think they got the message!
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