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
Coal Plant Foes Undeterred by Dendron Town Vote Approving ODEC Plans
Following a series of close votes by the Dendron Town Council last night approving zoning changes for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposed coal-fired power plant, the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition vowed to continue fighting plans for what would be the largest coal-fired power plant in Virginia, and one of the top polluters in the state. 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.
Hundreds of Local Climate Activists Brave Icy Water in Fifth Annual "Polar Bear Plunge"
Hundreds of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. residents plunged into an icy Chesapeake Bay today to express their alarm over the rapid advance of global warming, and to highlight their demand for action at the state and federal levels. Continue reading
Get Psyched! Jan. 12th Senate Call-In Day Making Headlines
The New York Times and Greenwire have picked up the first major grassroots action of the year to tell the Senate to pass strong climate change legislation in 2010!
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!
Halloween 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!
Virginia youth for 350 parts per million.
cross posted from thinkaboutit.eu
This weekend, in conjunction with 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action, more than 100 students from across the Commonwealth of Virginia converged on the campus of George Mason University in order to plan the next phase in the fight for a clean and responsible future for Virginia the United States, and the globe.
Virginia Power Shift 2009 was marked by a wide array of workshops, panels and speakers, ranging from greening your daily living, political and direct action training (with help from the folks at AVAAZ), and new and diverse ways to spread and grow the youth environmental movement.
The phenomenal lot of keynote speakers included Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Jessy Tolkan, director of the Energy Action Coalition, and Gillian Caldwell from the 1Sky campaign, all key personalities in the struggle to end human-caused climate change. Representatives from Repower America and SustainUS offered valuable insight into the role of youth within America’s nonprofit and NGO culture. Continue reading