Best new place to meet Virginia enviros : ArticleXI.com Goes Live

articlexi
Today, CCAN helped to launch a new website that will help bring the Virginia environmental community together: Article XI. From the web site:

We are a group of environmental advocates united in providing a one-stop source for Virginia’s environmental news. We each focus on different issues, but share the vision of a Commonwealth that preserves and protects its natural resources. Please join us!

What is “Article XI,” you ask? It’s the part of Virginia’s Constitution dealing with conservation and protection of Virginia’s environment and natural resources. From Section 1 of Article XI:

To the end that the people have clean air, pure water, and the use and enjoyment for recreation of adequate public lands, waters, and other natural resources, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to conserve, develop, and utilize its natural resources, its public lands, and its historical sites and buildings. Further, it shall be the Commonwealth’s policy to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.

Yes Virginia, that means at some point politics got out of the way and environmental values were added to the constitution. This site is going to be a megaphone for the protection of the environment so that we can hold our politician’s feet to the fire when they allow the continued destruction of our air, land and water.

Check out these latest headlines:

Energy Efficiency Trumps Coal in Va.

A new report shows that investing in energy efficiency instead of building the Wise County coal plant to meet the same electricity demand would yield hundreds of millions of dollars more annually for the state and create at least 2,600 more jobs than the controversial 585-megawatt coal-fired power plant. The benefits would be even greater if, as anticipated, the federal government enacts controls on global warming emissions. Continue reading

Monsters Eating Mountains?


The Green Gorilla cartoon takes on mountain top removal mining in their latest episode called “Turn it Up Day”. As the city turns up their power, the kids investigate where the power comes from. KJ helps the gang find out that “clean and green” is actually a massive coal-seeking mechanical worm on its way to remove their favorite mountain. That’s when they get active.

This isn’t your typical Saturday morning cartoon but it’s also not that far from the reality of life in SW Virginia. I’m not even talking about the destructive practice of Mountaintop Removal coal mining that has already destroyed or “eaten” 29 mountains. That’s clearly a reality here and on West Virginia’s Coal River Mountain.

The part that seems hard to swallow is the idea that amidst rising energy costs and in the face of global warming that there would really be a “Turn it up” day. As much as we love love love our cars and warm homes. We understand rising energy costs in terms of dollar and cents right? The reality is we don’t and if you don’t believe me, maybe you stopped by the Grand Illumination in downtown Richmond earlier this month. This is where business turned on every single light in order to illuminate the downtown area. Since the connection isn’t as clear as one would hope I’m grateful that the Gorilla in the Greenhouse was able to connect the dots for those unaware.

Va. Commission Issues Final Report on Climate Change

After a year of public forums, expert testimony, and committee meetings, the Virginia Commission on Climate Change finalized its “Climate Change Action Plan” today. Virginia’s environmental community is encouraged that the Commission went beyond the initial goals it was charged with, calling for the state to cut global warming pollution by 25% over the next 12 years and more than 80% by 2050. However, the Commission missed the mark on a few policies that are key to hitting those reductions. Continue reading

Yes, Virginia, there is a clean energy constituency

Will Democrats take the votes but ignore the voters in increasingly powerful Northern Virginia?by Mike Tidwellcross posted from Grist

Northern Virginia voters solidified their reputation Nov. 4 as a virtual factory for Democratic victories. Collectively, the Virginia suburbs of D.C. broke for Obama in numbers exceeding 60 percent. The margin is comparable to such liberal bastions as California and New York. Given the results, and given that 1 in 3 Virginia voters now lives in the fast-growing region, it’s no wonder state Democrats see a gold mine. Already Gov. Tim Kaine (D), elected 2005, and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D), elected 2006, can credit their victory margins to “NoVa.” And Democratic Senator-elect Mark Warner considers the region his base.

But on the biggest issues of our time — clean energy and climate change — here’s the question: Will these “New South” Democrats repeat the same huge mistake Gov. Kaine has already made? Namely, will they take the votes from Northern Virginia without actually listening to the voters?

I’ll cut to the chase: Tim Kaine would almost certainly be Vice President-elect of the United States of America right now if not for one huge issue: coal. Kaine’s consistent support for more mining and more burning of coal in Virginia has wrecked his national political career. Kaine is one of five Southern governors — three of them are Republicans — who’s actually building a new coal-fired power plant in his state. None of the plants being built will capture and “sequester” a single pound of global warming pollution. Kaine’s 585 megawatt plant in Wise County, Virginia — belching 5 million tons annually of CO2 in an era of massive Arctic ice melt — was the major reason Obama did not pick him as VP. That’s my firm belief.

Continue reading

Hey Virginia: CCAN is hiring!

VA State Campaign Coordinator

The VA State Campaign Coordinator, based in the beautiful city of Richmond, will be working with CCAN’s Campaign Director to build our grassroots base across much of the state while planning and implementing our state legislative strategy in Virginia’s capital, Richmond. This is an organizing position that requires the ability to be a strong public leader while possessing an aptitude for the legislative process. The applicant will be maintaining and expanding our base of volunteers, e-activists and coalition partners outside Northern Virginia to leverage our network for both state and federal campaigns. Learn more>>

Virginia Campus Organizer

The Virginia Campus Organizer will be responsible for running the Campus Climate Challenge on campuses across Virginia. Utilizing organizational and coalition resources, the Virginia Campus Organizer will serve as the ground support for this campaign, outreaching and training students, planning events and actions, and educating and mobilizing youth to speak out about clean energy and climate change to political leaders. Learn more>>

Want to know how awesome it is to work at CCAN? Watch this short video from CCAN’s staff: