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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!
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 real cap on CO2, dictated by the EPA, as well as creating strong provisions for domestic renewable and clean energy development here at home.
We arrived in force at Senator Jim Webb's office (VA) at around noon, sporting swim trunks, floral leis, and signs reading, "Don't send clean energy out with the tide!" and "Clean energy jobs NOW!" as Richmonders downtown looked on during the lunchtime break. While volunteers passed the time, playing a makeshift game of beach volleyball, spirits were high and good times were certainly had. Glen, the inflatable dolphin, also made an appearance.
This is not to say, however, that today's participants were ignorant of the severe implications of a world climate crisis. Despite the relaxed attire and positive attitudes, all involved exuded deep concern and real frustration at the marginal progress that Congress has made so far in taking a strong approach to fixing the potentially fatal issue of global climate change.
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 for the month and to tell them we need a strong clean energy jobs bill.
It is past time for the U.S. to take action on climate change. Please come and show your support for strong legislation that ensures:
•Serious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible
•Clean energy jobs through effective renewable electricity and energy efficiency resource standards.
•Transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy future.
So, grab your beach gear, your camera, your flotation devices, and your flip-flops and join us for a beach party our senators will never forget.
IN VIRGINIA BEACH: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Virginia Beach.
WHERE: 222 Central Park Ave., Town Center in Virginia Beach
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN NORFOLK: Join us in front of Senator Mark Warner's office in Norfolk.
WHERE: 101 W. Main Street, Suite 4900 in Norfolk
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN ROANOKE: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Roanoke.
WHERE: 3140 Chaparral Dr # C-101, Roanoke (near Roanoke County offices)
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN RICHMOND: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Richmond.
WHERE: 507 East Franklin Street in Richmond
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
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 new jobs in the alternative energy industry, creative initiatives to jump-start an economic recovery in rural regions, as well as a commonsense approach to finally solve Virginia's statewide transportation challenges through responsible, bipartisan leadership".
"Virginia led the nation in telecom in the 1980s, we helped lead the Internet revolution during the 1990s, and I firmly believe that the next generation of jobs and wealth will be found in the 'green' economy," Senator Warner said. "Creigh has put together a road map that allows Virginia to grasp that opportunity and take advantage of all of those possibilities if we prepare Virginians to take a leadership role in the alternative energy field."
"Virginia must take advantage of opportunities in rapidly expanding fields like biomass production,
wind power generation, and clean coal research", he writes in his plan. "By developing innovative ways of reducing fossil fuel consumption, Creigh will create thousands of new jobs in the Commonwealth and attract millions in new investment from private and public sources".
Standing out within his economic plan is a call for creation of a strong business environment for green energy companys.
"Green energy companies are attracted to states that have made a firm commitment to alternative energy. Creigh believes that we cannot afford to lose opportunities to create good-paying jobs in this high-growth industry, simply because our policies lag behind."
To this end, Deeds proposes expansion of the Solar Manufacturing Incentive Grant (SMIG ) program to all "green energy-related industries". He wants to offer competitive grants to green energy companies that invest at least $50 million
and create at least 200 jobs.
Believing that Virginia's current voluntary RPS is "simply not enough to keep Virginia competitive with states like Ohio, which passed a law requiring that utilities produce 25% of their energy from renewable source by 2025, and neighbors like Maryland, which has a 20% by 2022 mandatory requirement", Deeds proposes a mandatory RPS of 15% by 2020 and 22% by 2025.
The Renewable Electricity Standard as it stands right now within the Waxman-Markey (aka ACES) bill that just passed Congress calls for a 20% standard by 2020. This RES target is a national floor. States are allowed to set higher standards. Virginia's current standards are voluntary and call for 12% by 2022. The Governor's Commission on Climate Change recommended increasing that voluntary call to 15% by 2025.
Click here to read Deeds' entire economic plan. Click here to read how Virginia can easily meet a Federal RES of 25% by 2025.
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 approaches to public policy. Its Project on National Security, Energy and Climate will bring together scientists and military policy experts to look for new ways to combat climate change, promote energy independence, and preserve resources.
"Leading military and security experts agree that if left unchecked, global warming could increase instability and lead to conflict in already fragile regions of the world," Warner said in a statement. "We ignore these facts at the peril of our national security and at great risk to those in uniform who serve this nation."
As the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R .2454) prepared to go to vote two weeks ago, Virginians remained in doubt as to how the Congressman from the Eastern Shore would vote. A Blue Dog Democrat at a sprightly 34 years of age, Nye represents a largely conservative constituency on the shore, and his voting record has so far reflected that demographic.
Nye opted to vote against ACES, citing worries for the impact on his constituency, particularly concerning potential rate increases for utilities. The bill, according to Nye, would impose "another tax on American families."
I drew that quotation from a recent blog post by David Campbell, entitled "Nye: Two Faces on ACES." Campbell, who had written the Congressman earlier this summer, asking for his support on the bill, received two separate responses from Nye's office after its passage. One appears to be strongly in favor (and as the author notes, does not once mention that Nye voted, "no"), while the other laments a new tax on Americans, one that would be inefficient and wrong in today's struggling economy. One bill, two letters... polar opposites. Something is awry in Glenn Nye's office.
Either the Congressman's staff is sorely overworked and disorganized, or the freshman, Mr. Nye, has schizophrenia. I'm willing to opt toward the latter. Now that fellow democrats have chosen to go ahead and pass ACES, Nye has slipped quietly into damage control mode, ensuring that he can still please naysayers while simultaneously lauding the accomplishments of his colleagues.
Statement of Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hearing on Energy and Climate Legislation, Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate, July 7, 2009
WASHINGTON - Chairman Boxer, Ranking Minority Member Inhofe, and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about new legislation to get America running on clean energy. Let me begin by commending you for starting Senate hearings on this, the second legislative day after the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Immediately after that historic vote on June 26, President Obama called upon the Senate to demonstrate the same commitment we saw in the House to building a clean-energy foundation for a strong American economy. I am grateful that this Committee has wasted no time in answering that call.
The House bill reflects the principles the President believes are essential for our nation's energy future: decreasing our dependency on foreign oil, creating millions of new jobs in emerging clean-energy technologies, and reducing the pollution that is a danger to our children. I know there are a variety of proposals pending in the Senate that have the same goals, and I am looking forward to working with all the Committee members as you move forward on this effort.
Clean energy is to this decade and the next what the Space Race was to the 1950s and '60s, and America is behind. Governments in Asia and Europe are ahead of the United States in making aggressive investments in clean-energy technology. American businesses need strong incentives and investments now in order for this nation to lead the 21st Century global economy.
We are also coming late to the task of leading the world's major greenhouse-gas emitters to reverse our collective emissions' growth in time to avert catastrophic climactic changes that would severely harm America's economy and national security within our children's lifetimes.
The necessary shared effort will not begin in earnest unless and until the United States leads the charge.
In a close 219-212 vote this evening, the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed vote in the House of Representatives.
This piece of legislation is widely recognized as the biggest step in solving climate change this country has taken. ACES requires electric utilities to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020, puts high efficiency into building codes and will cut greenhouse gas emissions 83% by 2050.
All of Virginia's democrats voted for the bill with the lone exception of Glenn Nye. This is a big disappointment, especially considering Rep. Nye's district is one of the most vulnerable in the nation when it comes to climate change impacts. Moreover his campaign included significant "green" rhetoric, which clearly has not been delivered.
No Virginia Republicans voted for the bill. This includes Rob Wittman, who's district is also vulnerable, and who had previously been known as a champion for the bay.
THANK YOU to those hero Representatives who did indeed vote for this historic bill. More thanks,and analysis is forthcoming.
Virginia's 2nd district representative Glenn Nye's hometown newspaper came out today with a strong endorsement of ACES. Writes the Virginian-Pilot, "The first step is leading by example, by capping our own carbon emissions and by passing the House energy bill this week". Read the rest here.
I just came from a meeting at Nye's district office in Virginia Beach. They are getting calls almost 10 to 1 in opposition. The calls come in round the time that oil/coal interests run their fear-mongering ads on rightwing talk radio shows. Hopefully, his staff is discounting these non-constituent calls when they give these reports to their boss.
And Rep. Nye is still on the fence. Call him right now. Whether you live in his district or not, call him. Virginia needs his support on this! Remind him that his district consists of 100% of Virginia's touch to the Atlantic Ocean. That investment into offshore wind that can easily power over 20% of the Commonwealth comes from this ACES bill... something all Virginia's should care about!
The League of Conservation Voters announced today that it will not endorse any candidate which does not vote in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This is a major act which draws a great line in the sand...either you're willing to fight climate change, or you're in our way.
In a press release advertising the decision to the public, LCV states:
The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) believes that H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, is the most important piece of environmental legislation to ever come before the House of Representatives. The historic bill has the potential to transform America by creating clean energy jobs, improving our national security, and protecting our planet from global warming pollution.
In 2006 and 2008, LCV endorsed 155 federal candidates, of whom 124 won election or reelection (number includes Al Franken)...spending millions of dollars along the way.
"The stakes could not be higher; a safer, healthier planet and a new energy economy hang in the balance, and it's imperative that members of Congress be on the right side of history,"
LCV President Gene Karpinski said in the letter to the House.
So Congressmembers, again, are you with us or are you in the way?
I urge everyone to contact their Congressmember and let them know this is a litmus issue for you too. Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and let your representative know you support ACES (HR 2454). A vote is expected to occur Friday, so you must act soon.
See the above picture?(hint, hint to my fellow Hampton Roads neighbors...) CALL YOUR REP before its too late!
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 as one of his constituents. You can then either hand-deliver it yourself or email it to me at Eileen.Levandoski@SierraClub.org and I'll hand-deliver it on your behalf next week.
Rep. Glenn Nye's District office is located at 4772 Euclid Rd., Suite E, Virginia Beach. (map) District office: Phone: (757) 326-6201 Fax: (757) 326-6209
Even if you're not in Rep. Nye's district, follow the link to the customizable letter then hand-deliver, fax or mail it to your representative ASAP! Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that she wants this bill through the House before they go on their July 4th congressional recess.
Rep. Nye's office is being bombarded by calls and emails. Hand-delivered/faxed/mailed letters are different and hopefully more memorable. For more info on the ACES Act of 2009, go to RepowerVirginia.com.
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 the Waxman/Markey bill.
Our Congress must pass strong, comprehensive energy and climate legislation like ACES. We must dramatically expedite America's transition to cleaner, cheaper energy sources, slash energy waste to reduce global warming quickly and cheaply, close pollution loopholes, and make polluters pay. By doing this, we also will achieve our critical goals of jump-starting the economy, reducing global warming, and transitioning to clean homegrown energy.
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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 
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 new jobs in the alternative energy industry, creative initiatives to jump-start an economic recovery in rural regions, as well as a commonsense approach to finally solve Virginia's statewide transportation challenges through responsible, bipartisan leadership".
From today's 
Statement of Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Special Delivery to Rep. Glenn Nye (VA-02)!
Kudos to State Senator Donald McEachin for this terrific op-ed appearing in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch. "
