Dear Virginian,
“Outrageous” is a very strong word. But it applies to Dominion Virginia Power when it comes to supplying “renewable” energy to the state. Under a 2007 law called the Renewable Portfolio Standard Act, Dominion receives a ratepayer premium if it increases the flow of renewable energy into the state’s grid. So, five years later, how much solar and wind power has Dominion brought to the grid? Answer: Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Instead, the company buys mostly pre-existing hydro power – often from out-of-state reservoirs built before WWII – and sells the power to Virginia ratepayers, earning tens of millions of dollars in premiums without helping the environment or the climate at all. It’s a shell game! Check out this chart for more details.
As the General Assembly sessions opens in Richmond this month, CCAN will be working with our partners to fix the loopholes in this state renewable energy law so that ratepayers stop getting ripped off while pollution levels barely change. Here’s what you can do to help: join us at our Clean Energy Day of Action on Feb. 2.
CCAN is also working hard, as always, to stop new coal combustion in the commonwealth. This includes the proposed $6 billion coal-fired power plant in Surry County. Last fall, a court ruled in our favor, saying the city council of Dendron, Virginia must hold a proper hearing on the plant, permitting full citizen comment, before the council votes whether to grant permission for the plant to move forward. This is a victory for all the citizens of Virginia and a big setback for Old Dominion Electric Coop, the utility company pushing the heavy-polluting plant. Meanwhile, in the neighboring county of Isle of Wight, members of the board of supervisors passed a resolution opposing construction of the plant, another blow to ODEC. These victories have all come thanks to sustained grassroots pressure from citizens like you! Keep up the great work.
Meanwhile, many thanks to all the Virginians who, last fall, helped block another form of dangerous energy: tar sands oil. Many from our state protested at the White House from August through November until President Obama announced a delay in granting any permit for the 1,700-mile dirty Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas. And just this afternoon, the president rejected the Keystone pipeline outright! But the fight is not over. TransCanada will be allowed to reapply for the pipeline permit later, but we still consider this a huge victory and President Obama deserves a lot of thanks for standing up to Big Oil. To celebrate and to protest dirty energy's hand in our political system, CCAN plans to join our friends from 350.org for a Capitol Hill rally January 24th to tell Congress to stop all handouts to fossil fuel companies. Sign up here.
Finally, have you signed up yet for CCAN’s 7th annual Polar Bear Plunge? It’s an event you don’t want to miss this Saturday at 11 am at National Harbor just outside of Washington, D.C. Join Maryland Congresswoman Donna Edwards as well as America’s top climate scientist Dr. James Hansen – plus hundreds of other climate defenders like you. There will be hot chocolate and bagels beforehand – and $2 drinks at a cool bar next to the river beach right after the plunge. You don’t want to miss it. Sign up here.
See you Saturday!
Onward,
Mike Tidwell