Coal Kaput in Kansas – what does this mean for Wise County?

Great news for the climate. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment yesterday became the first government agency in the United States to cite carbon dioxide emissions as the reason for rejecting an air permit for a proposed coal-fired electricity generating plant, saying that the greenhouse gas threatens public health and the environment. Read the Washington Post story here.

Kansas has stepped up to help lead the nation away from the dirty energy technologies and towards smart energy solutions. Virginia should follow Kansas’ lead and do its part to help fight global warming by finding cleaner, better ways to produce energy, a goal that does not include allowing Dominion Virginia Power build their proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise County. As most of you probably know, CCAN is part of a major effort to stop Dominion’s proposed power plant.

Kansas’s Sunflower Electric Power, a rural electrical cooperative, wanted to build the pair of big, 700-megawatt, coal-fired plants in order to supply power to parts of Kansas and fast-growing eastern Colorado. Similarly, Dominion claims they need to build the Wise County power plant to meet the growing demand for electricity in Virginia, especially as the population in Northern Virginia explodes.

One interesting note is that Kansas, like Virginia, is not exactly committed to the idea of conserving energy. In fact Kansas and Virginia are in a three-way tie (along with Wyoming) for last in the nation in spending on demand-side management programs according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Those three are the only states that spent absolutely nothing on demand-side conservation.

Despite their lack of interest in energy efficiency and conservation programs in the past, Kansas yesterday reversed course and put climate and health concerns first. Instead of a new coal plant, Kansas has committed to taking a path to a clean energy future.

Dominion has been using the threat of rolling blackouts for a while now. Yet Dominion’s threats are unfounded. Virginia can do better — much better – on energy efficiency and renewable energy, making a new coal plant unnecessary.

CCAN and its coalition members — the Sierra Club, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, Appalachian Voices, and the Southern Environmental Law Center — are fighting Dominion’s proposed coal plant in the courtroom, at the statehouse, and on the street. The victory in Kansas gives us something to point to to show that wise energy decisions are being made in the U.S. right now!

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VA Tech to help DC become Energy Smart

In a gala session at the National Building Museum, Virginia Tech and partners announced the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Greater Washington.

The goal is to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 to 50% from existing buildings”, using financing for energy efficiency and have the energy efficiency savings provide more than enough money to pay back the loan.Sound familiar to anyone? (Reminder: Energize America’s Energy Smart Communities Act.)This is a great initiative. The type of project that can be replicated across the country and pushed aggressively to significantly cut existing buildings’ energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading

Williamsburg CAN Helps Kick off VA Coal Campaign

On September 24th, WCAN (Williamsburg Climate Action Network) hosted the first in a series of CCAN events supporting the message of – No New Coal in Virginia! Invest in clean energy! The event was held on the campus of William and Mary and was attended by students, professors, and people in the community interested in learning how coal impacts their local environment.

Eric Blevins from Mountain Justice Summer presented a shocking slide show on mountaintop removal of coal and how it is devastating communities in Southwestern Virginia, particularly Wise County, Virginia.

Mike Tidwell talked about how coal is affecting climate change and the need for tougher legislative action NOW to shift to renewable energy sources. Continue reading

Live Energy in Fauquier County

On Saturday, September 29th, over 200 people from all over the region attended the First Annual Fauquier Live Energy Festival. The lively crowd followed the sound of music and speakers down to the Warrenton Greenway to listen to experts denounce Dominion Power and demand clean energy for Virginia now!

Live Energy

Solace Sovay pumped up the crowd with their thoughtful and upbeat music, children had symbols of clean energy painted on their faces, and over 150 petition signatures were gathered in an effort to stop a new coal fired power plant from being built in Virginia. “I have never had more fun in my life,” said Troy Holland, Co-chair of the Fauquier Chapter, “the crowd was great, the speakers were amazing, the vendor displays were awesome, the music rocked, and the children’s activities kept my two daughters happy all afternoon. The renewable energy revolution for Fauquier started today with this amazing festival.”

MD and VA Governors talk "climate crisis" to Congress, but actions speak louder than words!

I attended the Senate committee hearing on Global Warming and the Chesapeake Bay yesterday on Capital Hill. A distinguised set of panelists addressed Chairwoman Boxer, and Senators Warner, Inhofe, Cardin and Mikulski. Both Governors from Maryland and Virgina sat side by side, discussing the impacts of global warming on their respective states.

Governor O’Malley addressed solutions to this crisis affecting our beloved Chesapeake Bay. He was proud to state that in his short time as Governor, he has signed into law the Maryland Clean Cars bill, RGGI implementation and is overseeing the recommendations outlined by his Commission on Climate Change, slated to come out with a report in November. No mention of the Global Warming Solutions Act though, and whether he would support an “California AB 32” style bill this year. It is yet to be seen how aggressive Governor O’Malley intends to be on this issue, but I must say, he is making climate change HIS administration’s environmental issue. Read his testimony here.
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Virginia Energy Plan Maintains the Status Quo…

Last week, the Governor ceremoniously unveiled Virginia’s Energy Plan — read the news release or the 180 page report — a plan that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%… Great news, right? Well, I am not so sure… For a scathingly intelligent critique, please see what The Green Miles has to say; he hits the nail right on the head. And see here for CCAN’s press release.

Here is the good:

  • The Governor is talking about climate change

  • We are starting to create the link between social justice, environmentalism, and power production

  • Emphasizes efficiency and conservation

  • There are (weak) goals set to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions.

Here is the bad:

  • Expansion of coal, petroleum and nuclear power production in state. The plan does not challenge the wisdom behind building more fossil fuel and nuclear infrastructure.

  • The greenhouse gas reduction targets proposed in the plan are amazingly weak, especially in comparison to what other states have committed to.

  • The plan does not recommend mandatory renewable energy purchases or a clean cars type of bill.

If you want my quick synthesis, I can sum it up in four words: where are our priorities? If we, as a state, are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, improving our energy efficiency as a state, and conserving energy; then why are we investing in old, dirty technology? The plan does not challenge or even ask for a review of the planned coal fired power plant in Wise Co. Virginia (a 500-600 MW facility that will severely compromise our states ability to make any reductions in greenhouse gas emissions). Why even talk about minimizing your global warming impact in one document if you are going to, in the same document, talk about the benefits of another conventional coal fired power plant? These two statements are not congruent in the least bit.

If we are serious about fighting global warming we need to be serious about renewable energy, conservation and efficiency. These need to be the priority energy actions for the state, not another coal fired power plant.