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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 are downwind! If you live in Surry County or alternatively in Sussex County the pollution will be amplified simply because you'll be living next to the power plant.
WHY: These "scoping" meetings are a critically important step in the review and permit process of this power plant. We need to demonstrate to the Army Corps of Engineers that a full Environmental Impact Statement must be required which would also consider alternatives to the coal plant. ODEC will try to avoid or narrow the Environmental Impact Statement; we must tell the Corps we need an Environmental Impact Statement that considers all impacts and alternatives.
WHEN AND WHERE: We are urging you to attend if you can. The meetings date and locations are as follows:
• June 10,2009, 6 PM at the Sussex Central High School, 21394 Sussex Drive, Sussex, Virginia
• June 11,2009, 6 PM at the Surry County High School, 1675 Hollybush Rd, Dendron, Virginia
Both meetings begin at 5:00 pm with ODEC personnel providing their perspective and answering questions regarding the project. At 6:00 PM ODEC will make a brief presentation on the project after which Corps staff will meet with groups of citizens to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Here are the facts that must be considered as we head into these Hampton Roads Plant NEPA Scoping Meetings:
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 in cleaning up the Chesapeake rather than merely using the Bay as a back drop for a photo up. The next Governor could insure that the embarrassing boondoggle otherwise known as the King William Reservoir is finally laid to rest by standing up to developers in Newport News and the Peninsula.
So it will be up to us who that next Governor will be. As we close in on the nomination decisions, take the time to go out and see the candidates and ask the tough questions. We hope the survey responses provided by the candidates will help guide you in making this important decision.
Click here to view Sierra Club survey to Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
(Great job! Peebles is a summer intern with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network aka CCAN. - promoted by Eileen)
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 Surry County understand the inherent splendor of a life that is unhindered by external influence.
Naturally, it comes as no surprise that Old Dominion Electric Cooperative's proposed dirty, unhealthy, coal-fired power plant has been received with very few open arms in the community. Of course, this has not dampened the large cooperative's desire to take advantage of a small town with its share of economic difficulties.
With the promise of new jobs and increased tax revenue, ODEC has repeatedly stressed the so-called benefits to be won from the massive plant's construction. On Monday evening, Dendron's town council brought these claims to task during their regular meeting. Dendronites are engaged in a fight to save the health of their community, their children, and the irreplaceable beauty of the surrounding environment.
The Coalition to Keep Surry Clean, spearheaded by a group of energized residents and neighbors, has brought the fight against dirty coal to a national level. The evening kicked off with an outdoor potluck, featuring democratic gubernatorial candidate, Brian Moran (the only of the three in opposition to the plant). Under the watchful eye of national and local media, citizens called for a Surry that would be free of excess pollution, harmful chemicals and obtrusive, dangerous, 600-foot smokestacks. Coalition spokeswoman, Beth Roach, cast an air of humility over the audience as she called on all people to consider and ensure the health and happiness of future generations. Through the timeless words of Iroquois leader, Peacemaker, the message requires little interpretation:
"Think not forever of yourselves, O Chiefs, nor of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground."
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 between how we have designed our communities and the physical health of our children. Smart growth solutions which promote pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, mixed-use communities have many benefits and this report highlights the health benefits for our children," said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition Smarter Growth.
"The essence of the smart growth movement is that our old ways of developing - houses relatively close together on narrow streets with nearby schools, shopping and parks - are better for people and the environment. And for our kids," writes Mr. Luzzatto. "I figured the kind of neighborhood I grew up in - a close-in suburb of D.C. called Maplewood - was so golden in my memory because I'm getting older and those were happier days. It turns out that they were empirically happier days because it was simply a healthier and better place to grow up."
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 professionals, and even a former 007 turned out" as Mary Anne Hitt, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign, reports.
Below the fold are just a few of the many terrific comments offered by Virginia Sierrans. (If I missed yours, please feel free to drop it into the comments section below this post or email them to me at eileen.levandoski@sierraclub.org.)
You can also take action via the Sierra Club's online action alert. We've set a goal of submitting 25,000 comments to the EPA and as of today, we're 65% of the way there! Help support the EPA's stand against Big Oil and Coal, and demonstrate that there is broad public support to fight global warming and create a clean energy economy in the U.S.
Pictured here (from left to right) is Mary Anne Hitt, Keely Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, and Glen Besa, VA Sierra Club Chapter. Image credit: Allison Fisher. Photo originally appears at Treehugger in "Crowds Turn Out For EPA Global Warming Hearings" by Sierra Club's Greg Haegle.
"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 and Markey have led the way and it is certain that this feat never could have happened without their extraordinary leadership. They have long been champions for the environmental movement and we congratulate them on achieving this critically important milestone. This bill puts the U.S. on the path to slash the carbon emissions that cause global warming 80 percent by 2050, a signal accomplishment necessary to preserve the planet for future generations".
(The rest of Carl Pope's statement is on the flip...)
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 dollars worth of free permits directly to coal, oil and other dirty fossil fuel companies under a cap and trade bill.
Rep. Boucher serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee which this week worked on markups to the American Clean Energy & Security Act (Waxman-Markey). Boucher who represents a district in the southwestern area of Virginia proposed "a deal where 35 percent of the allowances will be given away directly to utilities, also called local distribution companies. Allowances given to these companies would be worth $20.8 billion a year starting in 2012." Protesters also noted that Boucher has received $176,000 from the coal industry during his most recent re-election campaign.
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, especially offshore wind development which ironically is also based in an area, Hampton Roads, that is home to so many veterans.
While Brian Moran has long understood that it is a false argument to pit the environment against the economy, newer politicos needed some convincing of that. Fingers-crossed, but I think Rep. Glenn Nye (2nd) is starting to get it!
Two announcements from both Moran and Nye start the ball rolling towards Virginia's development of a clean energy economy. Moran announced yesterday his "Warriors to Work" initiative, a part of which puts veterans to work in developing our renewable energy resources. Nye announced Wednesday adoption of his amendment that helps veterans start and run their own businesses. Nye's bill was added to H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act which also "establishes a green entrepreneurial development program, which will provide education, classes and one-on-one instruction in starting a business in the fields of energy efficiency, green technology, or clean technology".
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 a plan to reduce ozone levels.
Why then would we want to make our air quality even worse by building a coal-fired power plant in our area?
Children are most at risk from exposure to ozone because they play and exercise outdoors during the months ozone concentrations are highest. The elderly are also susceptible.
Of the six major air pollutants regulated by the EPA, NOx emissions have historically been the hardest to control. One of the contributing factors is that NOx emissions from huge dirty coal plants in one area can easily pollute areas hundreds of miles downwind.
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative's proposed Surry coal plant, located just 18 miles upwind from Williamsburg (and providing no electricity to any Hampton Roads area consumers), would add more than 3,000 tons of NOx per year to the NOx inventory for Hampton Roads. (Continued on the flip...)
I just got a livid email from a resident of Dendron, VA---the small town of 300 where the Surry Coal Plant is proposed. The ODEC plant would be nearly 3 times the size of the Wise plant...at 1500MW. Pollutants include 14.6 million tons of carbon dioxide per year and over 100 pounds of the neurotoxin mercury among others.
Residents of the town are fighting back...and ODEC is responding. Just because its a Cooperative however, doesn't mean they aren't willing to fight dirty. An article came out in the Smithfield Times, followed by a secret meeting sponsored by ODEC...both were filled with bold lies about the plant.
Here is one resident's response...lets support these people on the frontlines of this battle with dirty coal.
Dear friends and neighbors,
I just wanted to take a moment of your time to direct your attention to the outrageous statement that ODEC has recently told our community:
"The only thing that comes out of the top of the coal plant is water vapor."
- Jeb Hockman, ODEC spokesman, Smithfield Times, May 13, 2009
I have spoken directly with the VA DEQ gentleman who was also quoted in that article and he assured me that Mr. Hockman is 100% mistaken.
I am completely outraged if this is the sort of underhanded tactic that these people are going to use to try to influence people here.
I have already written a letter to the Smithfield Times, but I think it is imperative that we all know that this complete misrepresentation is out there now. Even with retractions and clarifications, many will have read this article and come away with a very distorted view of the realities that a coal plant brings. There's a reason why ODEC had to submit 25 pages of emissions information to the DEQ......and it had very little to do with water vapor!
What an incredible start for our new 11th District Congressman Gerry Connolly. In addition to introducing two bills Thursday to expand Metro rail on the Blue, Orange, Yellow, and Purple Lines and another one to extend low emission and energy-efficient vehicles on HOV lanes, Congressman Connolly has made incredible progress on many fronts. He has already visited Iraq and Afghanistan and met with Virginia troops and is blazing an impressive trail in a very short period of time.
So far, our long time friend to the environment has helped form the "Green Dogs" in Congress which have already tackled legislation to prevent mountain top removal of coal and measures to protect green space, the Bay, and the Potomac River. I have boiled down a few of the environmental issues Rep. Connolly has been involved in below and you can find the detail on the flip.
* Helped form the "Green Dogs" (Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus)
* Helped increase funding for home weatherization and rail transit in economic stimulus
* Extend trails to connect Laurel Hill network, with neighborhoods and parks east of I-95
* Helped launch Potomac River cleanup of derelict barge
* Cosponsored legislation to preserve open spaces including areas threatened by sprawl
* Working with Gov Kaine to preserve Mason Neck's rural and historic character
* Cosponsoring several bills to require 25% electricity come from renewable sources by 2025
This is an amazing amount of work since being sworn in on January 8th. I'm told it's just the tip of the iceberg and I can't wait to see what he can do in a year.
Please don't miss Congressman Connolly's District Office Open House which will take place this Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in our Annandale VA. This is a great opportunity for residents to stop by, meet the staff, say hello to the Congressman and learn about the services that they provide at the District Office. Which is located at:
Where: 4115 Annandale Rd., Suite 103, Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-256-3071
Keep reading to see the longer detailed text I requested from Rep Connolly's office.
On the subject of Virginia offshore drilling, gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell is wrong, wrong, wrong.
He's wrong by already banking on imaginary non-existent resources off Virginia's shore as Lowell points out here. He's wrong about the imaginary non-existent jobs coming to Virginia as an alleged result of drilling, as my op ed hopefully coming to the Virginian-Pilot points out.
But his biggest boo-boo is pointed out by today's Virginian-Pilot in a searing editorial entitled "Political Pandering is No Energy Solution". "Would-be governor drills a dry hole", they write.
"McDonnell's position on offshore drilling neither respects the position of Virginians nor the law of the land."
"Unfortunately for his hopes of gaining advantage, the people in Hampton Roads know offshore drilling is too important an issue to be lost in the usual gamesmanship."
"We expected such stubbornness from the Bush administration, which was populated by people who somehow managed to pay lip service to the dangers of climate change while also doing nothing about it. And from legislators - including those from Virginia - who were bought and paid for by the petroleum industry.
None of that explains the political theater orchestrated by Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general and current Republican candidate for governor, that unfolded over the past week."
The following is courtesy of ThinkProgress. Thank you, Barack Obama, for beginning the hard work of reversing the Bush Administration's 8-year assault on our environment. There's a lot more work to do, obviously, but this one was important and worth celebrating. Keep up the great work!
ENVIRONMENT -- OBAMA REVERSES BUSH RULES ON ENDANGERED SPECIES: In one of his administration's last-minute regulation changes, President Bush last December "eliminated 35-year-old regulations in the Endangered Species Act that required an independent scientific review of proposed federal projects to determine whether they imperil protected plants and animals." Yesterday, President Obama vowed to reverse that ruling, in a visit to the Interior Department to mark its 150th anniversary where he signed a memo requiring agencies to seek scientific advice and input before implementing changes that might affect endangered species. "In brief remarks, the president said he had signed the memorandum to 'help restore the scientific process to its rightful place' in the working of the Endangered Species Act. 'We should be looking for ways to improve it, not weaken it,' Mr. Obama said of the act." The New York Times notes that Obama's announcement "drew loud applause." "This is very good news for endangered species," said Andrew Wetzler of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The regulations that President Bush issued were clearly illegal, and they were bad policy to boot."
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UPDATE! Vote today, Tues., June 9th. All polls are open until 7:00 pm tonight.
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 Surry County understand the inherent splendor of a life that is unhindered by external influence.
Virginian-Pilot's Donald Luzzatto editorialized yesterday (see 
"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.
From the 
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%).
Here are the remarks I offered during Public Comment at yesterday's Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board meeting:
(Crossposted at 
On the subject of Virginia offshore drilling, gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell is wrong, wrong, wrong.
The following is courtesy of 
