Crossposted at HR Sierra Club.
Last week at its monthly Hampton Roads Planning District Commission meeting, a new organization, the Virginia Offshore Wind Energy Coalition, introduced itself and presented a report regarding the status of Atlantic coast offshore wind projects, the economic development opportunities for Hampton [...]
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative wants to build the largest coal plant in Virginia in the Hampton Roads region. On Monday, Nov. 23rd, the Surry County Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on whether to grant local zoning approval for this controversial plant and allow ODEC to amend the [...] 
There is a lot of confusion and misinformation circulating about the cap and trade mechanism in the energy and climate legislation being debated before Congress. By capping and trading carbon emission we can reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
While cap and trade may seem like a confusing concept, [...]
Despite the nor-ester hitting Hampton Roads, the GreenUp Expo goes on.
The first session that I attended was supposedly entitled "Renewable Energy Resources/Clean Energy". I say "supposedly" because one of the speakers was Cathie France, director of government relations with Virginia Natural Gas.
She talked about natural gas [...]
"Gross" is how CCAN's Lauren Glickman describes a kids coloring book produced by the West Virginia Coal Association and obtained and scanned by the Center for American Progress.
Friends of Coal (FOC) is a front group created by the West Virginia Coal Association. Its mission [...]
This is awful. Absolutely terrible. Its already pretty bad that the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) used the anti American, anti-democracy Bonner and Associates as their PR firm even though they are known for breaking the law by impersonating public groups and private individuals [...] The quick and dirty: Our [...]
Six hearings, in six Appalachian coal producing states, were held last week to determine the fate of Nationwide Permit 21. If this permitting process is suspended by the Army Corps of Engineers, coal companies seeking permits for mountaintop removal mining that include valley [...]
Yesterday, on day #46 of the devastating oil spill that continues to dump oil into Australian seas, the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter released images of that spill plotted off Virginia's coast.
The images were commissioned from' [...]
Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins' latest pathetic press release scratches the bottom of the barrel to try to attack Attorney General candidate Steve Shannon. According to Mullins, attending a Democratic Attorney General's conference at which enforcement of environmental laws was discussed is unacceptable.
Mullins says that the conference' [...]
I should have flagged this earlier, but Scott Harper of The Virginian-Pilot wrote a great piece on Sunday highlighting the differences between Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell on environmental issues. This has great potential to be the next big contrast between the candidates.
During his time as a state [...]
Here's an LTE appearing in today's Virginian-Pilot:
Gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has erred in touting offshore drilling for oil and gas as a way to replenish state coffers. Federal law limits the sharing of oil and gas revenue to the Gulf states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. According [...]
This was brought to my attention by a Surry County resident.
People who are for the proposed coal plant in Surry County have resorted to posting giant signs (four by eight feet) around the County which is obnoxious, and at least in the town of Surry, we have [...]
Disclaimer: VALCV has endorsed Creigh Deeds for [...]
To help with the effort, Wake Up Wal-Mart is [...]
This is Cross posted from Chesapeake Climate Action Network's Blog
Today the Virginia Air Board had its quarterly meeting and looking at the agenda one thing is crystal clear: Coal is impacting air quality all over the Commonwealth.
As I write this from the meeting room, [...]
In addition to the findings in the chart above, some other key findings:
Around 75% support energy conservation requirements for consumers and businesses
91% support development of new wind [...]
Among those who have been endorsed, Joe [...]
Here's a painfully funny video from the Alaska Wilderness League to support a petition drive to President Obama to protect America's Arctic.
"Isn't it finally time to protect the treasures of America's Arctic from destructive drilling? Last year, there were more than 90 oil spills per day in the'" [...]
cross-posted from the CCAN blog.
This morning, CCAN staff, volunteers and concerned Americans nationwide staged series of beach-themed rallies in around fifty cities across the country. Held in partnership with 1Sky, the festive gathering sought to urge our Senators to enact climate legislation that ensures a [...]
This is the year for a clean energy bill and we need to tell our senators it's time to act. Let's turn up the heat on bold climate action.
On Monday, August 10th, we're holding a beach party to welcome our senators back home' [...]
We need to work to see that this hooliganism comes round to bite them in the butt. How do we do that?
[...]
P R E S S * R E L E A S E
DOMINION'S WISE COUNTY COAL PLANT VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW, CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATES TELL COURT
Contact: Cale Jaffe, SELC Senior Attorney, Cat McCue, SELC Communications Manager, Kathy Selvage, Southern Appalachian' [...]
Just when you think Big Coal lobbyists could sink any lower comes this...
"Letters sent to Perriello called fakes. Area advocates' names forged by'" [...]
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) today released the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Legislative Conservation Scorecard announcing the conservation voting records of state legislators. This publication rates individual legislators on a series of important conservation votes cast during the 2009 General Assembly session. It also presents [...] 
From the AP:
North Carolina citizens have a chance to comment on their perceptions of the risk from a rise in sea level and what to do about it.
The state Division of Coastal Management said the online poll will help identify perceptions held by the public as it develops [...]
Video by ILoveMountains.org. From Glen Besa, Virginia Chapter Director, Sierra Club:
We need your help!
Will you take a few minutes right now to contact Governor Kaine and urge him to use his executive authority to allow community voices to be heard and to STOP the mountaintop removal strip mining [...]
With U.S. Senator Mark Warner at his side both at a press event in Roanoke and later via conference call, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds yesterday announced "a comprehensive plan to create jobs and renew Virginia's economy through targeted tax cuts for small businesses, innovative partnerships to generate" [...] If a 6th grader gets it, what does that say about our Congressmen? In these debates, time and time again, we have found' [...]
I've seen this Dawn ad on TV a few times and I really don't know what to think about it.
They've launched a campaign to save wildlife (DawnSavesWildlife.com), donating $1 to the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center for every Dawn dish soap bottle' [...]
The USDA's Rural Tour comes to Chatham, Virginia this Saturday!
From the office of 5th district Congressman Tom Perriello:
Congressman Perriello would love for you to join him at a town hall meeting with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu this Saturday, [...]
From today's Virginian-Pilot:
Former Sen. John Warner is teaming up with the Pew Environmental Group on a new project that will focus on links between global warming, energy policy and national security, the group announced Tuesday.
The group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, dedicated to analytical [...]
cross-posted from the CCAN Blog.Prior to the Great Depression, [...]
As of today 100 coal plants have been defeated or abandoned since the beginning of the coal rush. In their place, a smart mix of clean energy solutions like energy efficiency, wind, solar and geothermal has stepped up to meet America's energy needs. Last year 42 percent of all [...] 
Statement of Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
WASHINGTON - Chairman Boxer, Ranking Minority Member Inhofe, and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about new legislation [...]
From the media release:
[07/07/09] Rocky Mount, VA - Surrounded by small business owners and energy entrepreneurs at the Gereau Center on Friday, Congressman Tom Perriello unveiled "New Energy for the Fifth District: A Blueprint for Putting Southside and Central Virginia at the Forefront of the Clean Energy Economy." [...]
cross-posted from the CCAN blog.
Yesterday, the EPA performed a turn-around on its protection of the locations of 44 “high risk” coal ash impoundment sites, signaling a desire to make the regulatory body more transparent. Formerly protected under the auspices of national security, [...]
The Mineral Management Services (MMS) is now open for business and accepting applications for renewable energy leases in the outer continental shelf (OCS)!
First up to bat will be New Jersey, Delaware and Rhode Island who already each have a developer in hand. Virginia will take the more conservative [...]
Wetlands Watch testified before two subcommittees of the US House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee as they held a hearing last Tuesday looking at Climate Change and the Chesapeake Bay. Wetlands Watch's conclusion was that Virginia is far from ready for climate change and the state's inaction is [...] Interesting remarks so far:
2:02pm -- Headline at Politico right now: Dems smell victory on climate vote
1:55pm -- Side note - great quick clip from Wednesday's clean energy rally: Rep. Mike Doyle calls drill [...]
Over three dozen elected officials, local and state government officials from fifteen Hampton Roads local governments, and representatives from area environmental organizations gathered for the Hampton Roads Climate Leadership Workshop - VML Go Green Government Challenge on Thursday June 25 at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, VA. [...] I just came [...]
President Obama has declared this week as "Clean Energy Week". His key Cabinet Secretaries will spread out across the country to host a series of Clean Energy Week events.
From the White House press release: "Clean Energy Week events will highlight the President's commitment to passing comprehensive energy" [...]
From Grist:
Marsh Fork Elementary School in Sundial, West VA might be the most tragic and symbolic site of American children left behind by their state government.
Forsaken by state officials and a recent WV Supreme Court decision last week, the school and its children must play amid the toxic [...]
Special Delivery to Rep. Glenn Nye (VA-02)!
Climate change coalition partners delivered Sign On letters to 2nd congressional district representative Glenn Nye on Friday, June 19. It's not too late to get your letter to Rep. Nye. Click here to pull up a letter that you can personalize [...]
Dominion power aims to revolutionize the way it distributes electricity, beginning in Charlottesville, VA. On Tuesday morning, members of Albemarle County board of supervisors, the Charlottesville city council, Governor Tim Kaine and Dominion CEO, Tom Farrell, met along the city's pedestrian mall to announce Dominion's new Smart Grid initiative. [...] 
Former congresswoman Thelma Drake has a new job. As the Virginian-Pilot reports today, she is "a consultant at the Richmond-based law, lobbying and consulting firm, FutureLaw" where she "expects to work in areas such as alternative energy and commercial real estate."
Considering how Thelma Drake along with State Senator Frank [...]
On Monday, the town council of Elkton, Virignia submitted a request to Governor Kaine asking him to seek out state and federal funding for a proposed "clean" coal research facility outside the Shenandoah town. A short hop from Harrisonburg and James Madison University, the town [...]
The AP highlights the continued devastation of Navajo lands caused by the mining of uranium from the 1940s through the 1980s and the contamination that has plagued the region since.
The federal government plans to spend up to $3 million a [...]
Kudos to State Senator Donald McEachin for this terrific op-ed appearing in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch. "Curbing Carbon: House Bill Will Help the Environment and the Economy" lays out a strong argument for why Congress needs to strengthen and pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), aka [...] 
Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, a close ally to President Obama and current head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), came out with this statement in favor of the Administration's proposal regarding mountaintop removal removal yesterday.
"I applaud the new guidelines announced by the administration which will impose tighter restrictions" [...]
Take Action on Coal Ash TODAY!
At the coal industry's bidding, U.S. Senators Brownback and Conrad are trying to put pressure on the EPA to reject federally enforceable coal ash disposal standards - undermining the EPA's authority to ensure that coal companies cannot continue to put communities [...]
From AWEA (American Wind Energy Association):
Show Your Support for Wind Energy on Global Wind Day, June 15. Join AWEA's Visual Petition, Call for a National Renewable Electricity Standard,
Organize or Attend a #GWind09 Tweet-Up Near You.
Washington, D.C. - On Monday, June 15, the first-ever Global Wind Day will [...]
At 2:00p.m. today, Governor Tim Kaine held a press conference in the Capitol complex's Patrick Henry Building. Kaine used the meeting to announce the newest initiative underneath his Renew Virginia campaign: executive order #82, "Greening of State Government." His announcement detailed a new (and mildly exciting) plan for encouraging [...] 
I think today's editorial in the Virginian-Pilot ("Trade-offs may cloud Surry coal plant project") gives clues to the tone and quality of the environmental debate between Democrats and Republicans running for statewide office. It basically says the Surry coal plant will pollute our air and water quality and [...] 
"A healthy future for Southwest Virginia means both ending mountaintop removal coal mining and bringing in green jobs," said Tom Cormons of Appalachian Voices. "The wind farm is a step in the right direction."
The Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition, the leading opponents of Dominion's plans for a [...]
UPDATE! Vote today, Tues., June 9th. All polls are open until 7:00 pm tonight.
The next Governor could be charting our course to a clean energy future or defending the coal industry until sea level rise is swallowing Virginia Beach. The next governor could actually make a real difference [...]
The Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled two meetings this week to consider potential environmental impacts of ODEC's proposed coal burning power plant proposed for Surry County or possibly Sussex County as an alternative location. If you live in Hampton Roads this power plant will impact you because you' [...] 
Surry, Virginia, is about as picturesque as they come. A portrait of the rural south, Surry and its neighbor, Dendron, offer testament to the unique charm and unavoidable beauty that accompanies the idea of small-town America. Wary of outsiders and exceptionally warm toward neighbors and friends, the residents of [...] 
A piece of good news ...
Plastic bags are a scourge on the globe. From the plastic ocean in the Pacific, to the stomachs of choked birds, to the fences of highways, the billions of annual bags are infrequently reused or recycled and often don't even make' [...]
Cool news from Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition director, Diana Christopoulos:
"This morning our Cool Cities Coalition and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce held a joint press conference at their Economic Summit to announce that we will work together on a green business certification program. Cool Cities will provide" [...]
Over 100 local concerned citizens gathered at the Surry Recreation Center yesterday to participate in a rally and pot luck dinner with Brian Moran. The event was organized by the Coalition to Keep Surry Clean, a grassroots group of local citizens committed to retaining Surry's rural character and its [...] 
Local small-business leaders and residents of Hampton Roads gathered at Solar Services Inc. in Virginia Beach to learn more about the potential for expansion of their businesses and further job creation as a result of investment in a clean energy economy, as could be provided with passage of [...] 
Virginian-Pilot's Donald Luzzatto editorialized yesterday (see "Our sprawl - and spread - harm our health") on a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), sent to him via press release from the Coalition for Smarter Growth. "The AAP report makes a very clear connection" [...] 
Jay Fisette, vice chair of the Arlington County Board, has been named chair of Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's (MWCOG) new Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee.
"The Washington metropolitan region is showing tremendous leadership on environmental and sustainability issues, but there is much more to do," Fisette said [...]
Virginia's Sierra Club activists were speaking out in full force last week, speaking out in support of the EPA's declaration that global warming is a threat to public health and well-being. In total, "close to 300 Sierra Club members and activists, clergy and people of faith, scientists, health" [...] 
"Moving a comprehensive clean energy jobs plan through a committee historically dominated by those with ties to the oil, coal, and other polluting industries is a laudable victory and truly historic accomplishment", writes Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club in a statement released this morning.
"Chairmen Waxman" [...]
From the CCAN blog:
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2009-15 concerned citizens were arrested today for peacefully blocking the entrance to Virginia Congressman Boucher's office protesting his efforts to gut strong climate legislation at the expense of American families. Congressman Boucher has driven efforts in Congress to give away billions of [...]
Did you know that of the ten United States cities with the largest population of veterans, six are in Virginia (and more specifically Hampton Roads): Hampton (27%), Virginia Beach (22%), Norfolk (20%), Newport News (20%), Chesapeake (19%) and Portsmouth (18%).
Virginia also has tremendous potential for development of renewable energy, [...]
Here are the remarks I offered during Public Comment at yesterday's Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board meeting:
Hampton Roads is to be designated as a non-attainment area for ozone in March of 2010 by the EPA. Regions on the EPA's "dirty-air list" will have one year to develop [...]
At yesterday's community meeting on Virginia offshore wind development, I opened my remarks by talking about the crisis of global warming and how that weighed into the Sierra Club's support for clean renewable energy development.
The crisis we face with global warming is real, here and happening faster than [...]
Damn! I'm speaking on the same program as Stephen Walz! See agenda on the flip.
With funding support from the state, the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC) has studied the engineering feasibility, cost, and economic development potential of Virginia's offshore wind resource.
VCERC has identified large areas of powerful' [...]
"'No coal is clean coal,' opponents of Surry plant declare" is the headline in today's Virginian-Pilot, in which almost every dirty detail involved with the "$6 billion coal-fired energy plant that Old Dominion Electric Cooperative wants to put on 1,400 acres in the center of the tiny Surry" [...] In February this year, the Virginian-Pilot reported on Kaine's initiatives:
At a private meeting Wednesday in Washington, Kaine delivered a draft order that he wrote [...]
We've come a long way. Just a year ago, the idea of an offshore wind farm in Virginia was dismissed as too expensive, too difficult, and too darn futuristic for the cautious decisionmakers of this staid commonwealth.
Now all those concerns are just so last year. Suddenly it seems' [...]
Michelle Obama has brought urban gardening to, perhaps, its highest symbolic peak with the White House organic vegetable and fruit garden.
Building up urban gardening, whether as individuals or collective efforts, whether on private or public land, is a win-win-win path when done correctly, which will foster a stronger community, [...]
Chalk one up for the good guys!
Big Stone Gap, Virginia - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has informed A&G Coal company of Wise County, Virginia that it will be suspending its previously granted "Nationwide 21" permit for dumping waste [...]
(hint: the right answer is fighting coal and saving lives)
In VALCV's press release, Executive Director Lisa Guthrie explained that "We feel that the dynamics of government in Virginia need to change dramatically in order to" [...]
A Bipartisan Majority of Virginia's House Delegation Now Favors Protecting VA Streams From Mountaintop Removal Waste
This month, Democratic Congressman Tom Perriello (VA-05) excited Virginia mountain lovers by joining 145 other members of Congress in cosponsoring the Pallone-Reichert "Clean Water Protection Act" (HR 1310). HR 1310 would overturn a [...]
Cross-posted from the 
cross-posted from the 
