Energy efficiency enthusiasts held a hybrid car parade around the Virginia State Capitol today to show state legislators the overwhelming support for a strong energy efficiency target. Continue reading
Live Stream of VA House Party featuring Amy Salzman
Watch the recording of a local grassroots meeting that took place in Northern Virginia. The meeting featured Amy Salzman, a member of the Obama administration involved in outreach on environmental issues.
Live Stream of Connolly THM
See the recording of the Connolly town hall meeting that we streamed live. Stay tuned to this blog to catch more live streamed events in the future!
Watch Global Warming Forum with Rep. Connolly Online at 7 pm
Yesterday, President Obama just signed into law an economic recovery bill containing $87 billion in green investment funds–the largest investment ever in clean energy solutions! This is only the first step of many to solve the climate challenge and build a clean economy. In the months ahead, we’ll have to keep pushing Congress and the President to enact strong caps on carbon pollution and a halt to new coal power plants.
Tonight, Fairfax County’s Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11th) will be talking to a packed town hall meeting at the Fairfax City Library about what congress is doing to stop global warming and what you need to do to keep up the pressure. If you can’t make it in person, watch it online on CCAN’s Blog: http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/blog/?p=785
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Bobby Scott talked green at THM in Richmond last night
Last night was the first of several town hall meetings being held across the state on green jobs and clean energy sponsored by the C-campaign. Congressman Bobby Scott spoke to a crowded room (estimated between 100-170 people!). Other speakers included:
Mr. Karl Bren, founder of Green Visions Consulting;
Mr. Michael Schewel, Chair of the Corporate Development Department at McGuireWoods and former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade;
Mr. Glen Besa, Director, Virginia Sierra Club;
Dr. Thad Williamson, Professor of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond; and
Dr. James Wetzel, Professor of Environmental Economics, Virginia Commonwealth University.
After the panel spoke, they opened the floor for questions. People were really excited about green jobs and wanted to know more. One gentleman said he’s been looking at workforce development training and couldn’t find anything closer than NYC. He stated that the price of that particular program keeps going up and up too. He wanted to know why there wasn’t any training for him here in Richmond. A gentleman from a vocational technical school said they implemented a program last year to train troubled youth how to build solar panels. They felt it was more important to get the program up and running then to sit and wait for funding. He said that with the signing of the stimulus bill, they are planning to expand the program and start doing adult training programs as early as next month.
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Clean Currents Offers Pepco Customers Chance to Save $$ on Electricity & Go Green!
Maryland Pepco residential customers can now sign up for wind power at rates that are below Pepco’s new summer rates, Clean Currents announced today. This means that people can support a cleaner environment while saving money on their electric bill. Continue reading
MD Climate Bill Great First Step, Now Where's the Federal Government?
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network congratulates Governor O’Malley and his staff at the Maryland Department of the Environment for working tirelessly in recent weeks to help craft the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009. This is an important bill and the Maryland General Assembly should pass it immediately. Continue reading
Efficiency lives another day in VA General Assembly!
Senator McEachin’s bill 1447 (SB 1447) lives through subcommittee to be heard before the whole Commerce and Labor committee in the near future! Woot Woot! For those that don’t know SB 1447 is a large stride forward towards an energy efficiency economy here in the Commonwealth. This story is still developing… stay tuned.
Energy Efficiency
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Virginia economy is in full-on crisis. Businesses statewide are hurting, state employees are being laid off by the thousands, and the state is cutting core services in the face of a $3 billion budget shortfall.
One Tiny Step Forward, Two Giant Steps Back
Yesterday Gov. Kaine applauded Virginia’s electrical co-ops for donating energy efficient lights to Virginia State Parks, hailing it as “a major step forward” for Virginia.
It’s great that Virginia is taking strides to be more energy efficient. Considering Virginia spent just $84,000 statewide on efficiency measures in 2006, compared with $400,000 in Alabama and Mississippi and $3.8 billion in North Carolina, we certainly need to be stepping up our commitment to efficiency.
It’s also great that this is a “major step.” What exactly does that mean? Continue reading