September | Issue #56
Quick Links: Maryland | DC | Virginia | Students

FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL

Dear [[First_Name]],

What a summer it’s been!

Thanks to you, in August, CCAN helped shut down a DC-area coal plant for the first time. And thanks to you, in August and September, Washingtonians came to the White House in droves to protest the proposed Keystone XL tar sands oil mega pipeline from Canada (watch this great video). Thanks to you, too, we expect to have hundreds more people at the next tar sands protests in Washington on October 7th (you can register here) and even more at a White House protest on November 6th. And finally, thanks to you, we’re going to get the DC area moving even faster toward clean energy with exciting Moving Planet rallies on September 24th in Annapolis, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Alexandria.

Whew! Here’s more info:

Alexandria coal plant shut down: This 482-megawatt plant, owned by the GenOn company, is now scheduled for shut down within the next year. CCAN has been fighting to close the plant since 2004 and the victory is historic. But this is just the beginning...

See full note from director >>

Party with CCAN!
We’ll provide the food, beverages and the chance to mingle with our region’s amazing climate heroes…we’re hoping you’ll provide your good company! Please join us on Thursday, October 13th from 7-9pm at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in D.C. for an evening of fun and inspiration. You’ll have plenty of time to relax, listen to great music and enjoy local food and brew. You’ll also have the chance to hear from inspiring leaders like Climate Progress’ Joe Romm, Maryland Senator Rob Garagiola and local activists leading the way in DC, MD and VA. Space is limited at the Gibson Showroom, so don’t delay and purchase your tickets for “A Toast to Chesapeake Climate Heroes” at www.ccanclimateheroes.org. See you there! 

Keystone XL: What's next?
There's no doubt that the Tar Sands Action has been a defining moment for our movement: 1,252 people were arrested outside of the White House. President Obama has yet to make his decision about Keystone XL, so we've got to keep up the pressure! Join hundreds of people in downtown DC to call upon President Obama to reject the pipeline. Environmental and climate groups are organizing a rally outside the Ronald Reagan Building at 13th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW on Friday, October 7th at noon. We'll rally outside of a State Department hearing about the pipeline. Register today!

Get Virginia Moving on the Climate Crisis - Moving Planet 9/24
On September 24, hundreds of Virginians who want to stop climate change will come together with thousands of people all over the planet to send the message that we need to move away from fossil fuels and toward clean, renewable energy. Will you join us at the Alexandria, Richmond or Virginia Beach event?

Moving Planet is a single day to move away from fossil fuels. For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end. You can help us move Virginia’s leaders away from their coal addiction and toward clean, renewable wind energy.

In Alexandria, we'll focus on moving away from coal at the GenOn power plant. In Richmond, we'll bring our message of shifting to clean, renewable energy right to Dominion's headquarters and the state capitol. In Virginia Beach, we'll focus on continuing to prevent oil drilling off our coast and instead erecting offshore wind turbines. Sign up now to attend your local event!

GenOn Plans to Retire Potomac River coal plant
On August 30th, energy company GenOn announced they would retire the dirty Potomac River coal plant in North Old Town Alexandria – a huge victory for CCAN, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light, and the local activists who have dedicated years to this fight. Working with our coalition partners, CCAN helped collect thousands of petition signatures against the plant, held rallies, and organized a candlelight vigil right outside it.

There is no question that this victory can be directly attributed to local activists raising their voices against this significant source of toxic pollution in their backyards. It is a shining example of the power of the grassroots working together to influence a national energy company to make the right decision for our energy future by retiring an old, dirty coal plant.

There is still work to be done, but this is a step forward and the momentum is on our side. Please click here to send a thank you email to the Mayor of Alexandria and the Alexandria City Council for their important work to close this plant!

Dominion Issues Energy Plan, Favors Gas over Renewables
On September 1st, Dominion Virginia Power released its Integrated Resource Plan, a 15-year plan outlining how it plans to meet electricity demand for the commonwealth. While the plan did come with some good news -- Dominion plans to retire the Chesapeake and Yorktown coal plants -- CCAN is concerned that the plan relies heavily on natural gas and plans no serious investments in renewable energy. CCAN is calling for Dominion to develop Virginia's vast offshore wind energy resource. While natural gas is be cheap now, its price has fluctuated greatly in the past and is expected to rise in the future. Given that the fuel (wind) for offshore wind farms is free, Dominion should be making investments in this stable, clean energy resource.

Dominion is one of the most highly-regarded utility companies in the U.S., and the company should be leading on offshore wind energy, not following. Click here to email Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell to ask him to lead in offshore wind energy.

R. Paul Smith Power Station: The next to go?
There are many similarities between the Potomac River coal plant, which just announced a 2012 retirement, and the R. Paul Smith coal plant in western Maryland. Both are pre-1950s power plants with no pollution controls. Both have come under fire for environmental violations and claims of adverse health impacts on the community. Both have faced pressure from local communities for retirement. GenOn decided to shut down the Potomac River coal plant. We can do the same with R. Paul Smith but only with your help! The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) may soon deem this plant exempt from compliance with the Maryland Healthy Air Act, meaning that the plant will not have to comply with strict state pollution control laws or pay to clean up its act. If the plant doesn't get the exemption from MDE, GenOn will have to loosen its purse strings to clean up the plant, which is unlikely. It could be more cost-effective to retire the plant. Please click here to send a letter to MDE urging them to hold this plant accountable to existing state air pollution laws and not exempt R. Paul Smith from the Healthy Air Act!

Offshore Wind Campaign Ramps Up
The campaign for Maryland offshore wind energy, the state's most abundant clean energy resource, is in full swing as key General Assembly committees study the policy and the coalition prepares for town halls during November and December. In the coming months, the Senate Finance and the House Economic Matters committees will study the policy in depth and learn how Maryland offshore wind works for ratepayers, workers, our health, our climate, and our national security.

CCAN and our partners will be hosting town hall meetings throughout the state this fall. Contact Keith Harrington at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to help organize and recruit to make these town hall meetings a great success! And if you haven't yet signed our new offshore wind petition, please sign it now.

Unicycles, Scooters, and Strollers, oh my!
We’re less than two weeks away from the Moving Planet day of climate action on September 24th, when for the third year in a row people in nearly every country in the world will unite for action on climate change. In Annapolis we’ll show our lawmakers what a people-powered movement looks like with a “rolling rally” of professional skateboarders, triathletes, a roller derby team, and a big crowd of folks like you riding everything from skateboards to recumbent bicycles and unicycles. We’ll also spell out our message loud and clear with some lighthearted political street theatre, and an amazing array of speakers including State Senate Majority Leader Rob Gargiola.

Click here to let us know that you’re coming. Or drop by the shop of one of our Annapolis-area sponsors to sign up and purchase a ticket to win your own people-powered wheels like a skateboard or other prizes like a miniature working wind turbine.

Quiksilver – Annapolis Mall
Raffle Prize: Complete skateboard and skate clothes

Pure Board Shop – 1908 F Forest Drive, Annapolis
Raffle Prize: Complete Skateboard and skate clothes

Green Pedals – 105 B Annapolis Street, Annapolis
Raffle Prize: Working miniature wind turbine

Virginia Power Shift is Coming!
Virginia has an unlimited supply of renewable energy resources like wind, solar, & geothermal. The power & passion of Virginia youth is the key to moving the commonwealth beyond dirty fossil fuels. Virginia Power Shift will equip you and hundreds of other students with the science, political know-how, & social support to build a clean energy future. This student-organized event is September 30 - October 2 on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Register for Virginia Power Shift today!

Maryland Students Fight for Offshore Wind 
Uniting students across Maryland to fight for a clean energy future, the Maryland Student Climate Coalition (MSCC) is campaigning for offshore wind!  By showing that students and educational institutions across the state support the investment of our tuition money in clean, renewable, and local power, we can strengthen the support for this incredible renewable energy source. But they need YOUR help to truly represent the state of Maryland! Contact the group at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get involved and check out their blog to learn more!

MEET CCAN VOLUNTEER JOE UEHLEIN

Your name: Joe Uehlein

Your age: 58

Your profession: Director, Labor Network for Sustainability; musician and band director for the U-Liners, the best in roots-rock music and songs of our time. Think Woody Guthrie meets Merle Haggard meets Jerry Garcia.

Where you live:  Takoma Park, Maryland

Why are you a CCAN volunteer?  Climate change is the defining issue of our time and I love CCAN's work!

What has inspired you most working with CCAN? Community -- meeting other people working to solve the climate crisis.

What have you contributed to bringing about a clean energy revolution that you are most proud of? My work with unions helping them to see their self-interests in solving the climate crisis and getting to a carbon-free future. 

What do you hope to see happen in terms of climate in the next year? Stopping the Keystone XL pipeline!

Who would you high five? My three children: Julius, Justin, and Anna Grace.