Do we need another disaster to move away from dirty energy?

coal sludge

In one of the most devastating environmental disasters in US history, 5.4 million cubic yards of coal sludge was released into Tennessee waterways when a slurry dam burst and flooded 400 acres in the toxic waste. Water sources for millions of people have been contaminated with toxins that cause birth defects, nervous and reproductive disorders and elevate cancer risks by over 50%. The surrounding are was flooded with a “tidal wave” of sludge, leaving six feet of sludge that covered 12 homes and damaging 42 residential properties. Roads, gas lines and other infrastructure in the region were also destroyed.

The recent toxic sludge spill in Tennessee is now shown to be 48 times larger than the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.

We definitely didn’t need a disaster of this magnitude to wake us up to the dangers of coal. Drinking water contaminated by arsenic in coal waste has been shown to increase cancer risks several hundredfold. Exposure to mercury pollution from coal plants has been linked to mental retardation and language development in children. Mountaintop removal mining dumps toxic mining waste into the valleys below, polluting the air and water. Coal plants spew tons of global warming pollution into the air.

Despite the ad campaign lies about “clean coal”, energy derived from coal is ALWAYS dirty. Continue reading

Monsters Eating Mountains?


The Green Gorilla cartoon takes on mountain top removal mining in their latest episode called “Turn it Up Day”. As the city turns up their power, the kids investigate where the power comes from. KJ helps the gang find out that “clean and green” is actually a massive coal-seeking mechanical worm on its way to remove their favorite mountain. That’s when they get active.

This isn’t your typical Saturday morning cartoon but it’s also not that far from the reality of life in SW Virginia. I’m not even talking about the destructive practice of Mountaintop Removal coal mining that has already destroyed or “eaten” 29 mountains. That’s clearly a reality here and on West Virginia’s Coal River Mountain.

The part that seems hard to swallow is the idea that amidst rising energy costs and in the face of global warming that there would really be a “Turn it up” day. As much as we love love love our cars and warm homes. We understand rising energy costs in terms of dollar and cents right? The reality is we don’t and if you don’t believe me, maybe you stopped by the Grand Illumination in downtown Richmond earlier this month. This is where business turned on every single light in order to illuminate the downtown area. Since the connection isn’t as clear as one would hope I’m grateful that the Gorilla in the Greenhouse was able to connect the dots for those unaware.

LTE Opportunity: The Best Holiday Gift Ever!

Come January, we’ll be working nonstop to raise awareness about global warming solutions in Maryland and Virginia. Not only that, but we’ll also be focused on working with the new Congress to make climate a priority within the first 100 days of the next administration. This spring will be THE crucial time to pass climate legislation, and we’re going to have to give it our all.

But what can I do right now, you ask? This is the moment to be setting the stage for bold climate action come January, and we can start by getting some holiday stimulus LTE’s published! With the holiday season coming up, what better gift could we ask for than a green stimulus package and a New Year’s Resolution from our elected officials for truly bold climate action in 2009.

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Check your email– MoveOn is voting on their priorities today

voteMoveOn sent out an email titled, “Ballot for You: Vote Today on MoveOn’s priorities,” which has your ballot for MoveOn’s priority survey. Getting MoveOn to prioritize climate as one of their top
three would be a huge boost to our people power. So check your email and vote for “Build a green economy, Stop Climate Change.”

This just in – the French are arriving!

So I’ve been blogging a lot recently about Warren Buffett, and his imminent insertion into the MD power supply. Turns out, things have changed a bit: just this morning, Constellation Energy announced that it would instead sell half of it’s nuclear power to Electricite de France (EDF). Why, you may ask, do I care who owns what portion of Constellation Energy so much? Because who owns my power company has some say as to how my neighborhood gets its power (I buy wind, being a self-respecting climate organizer). This means that the folks owning a solid chunk of Maryland’s power are all about nuclear power – and not so much about drastically increasing their investments in wind, solar, geothermal, and other fun and innovative and new renewable solutions. Dance floor energy generators in every night club, anyone?

But seriously, this means that there will be even more renewed vigor in support of building a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs, despite all the problems the French are already having. Only now, adding insult to injury, the profits won’t even be going to a homegrown company, but one in France. Anda stronger push for nuclear power means less of a push for renewable energy. The way the economic climate is right now, there’s only so much funding to go around, and we should be putting every penny into building wind farms and retrofitting houses and building people-powered cars (think Flintstones)

and developing true green jobs that provide pathways out of poverty and… well, the possibilities seem endless if we stop clinging tight to old and problematic technology (PS, this includes coal) and really start thinking outside the box.

Want to take action? Join us in saying “Non merci” to French nukes in Maryland on Dec 23rd at Constellation HQ, 8 AM.

Join us at the Plunge!

On January 10, CCAN is hosting our 4th Annual Polar Bear Plunge. About 200 of us are going to jump in the Chesapeake Bay and freeze our butts off for climate action.

The Polar Bear Plunge is CCAN’s major grassroots fund-raising event. Just like a walk for cancer, the day’s plungers recruit friends and family to sponsor them. We’ve made it easy by putting together email templates and personal fundraising pages that people can use to do outreach. Anyone who signs up will be given the support they need to have a successful plunge. Sign up to take the plunge with us!

Check out a short video of what happened at last year’s plunge. It’s very inspiring.

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MD + Public Transit = Love Forever

Sometimes I feel like my organizing all centers around an abstract plane of numbers. I can’t touch a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2050. Of course, I still know in my gut that setting the mandate for reductions is the crucial first step to fighting climate change, and watching the news with any kind of awareness brings me back to reductions targets time and again (see Wilkins Ice Shelf for a recent and scary example) (oh, and this just in, about the Arctic melting past the point of no return). But sometimes I want to focus on something a little more concrete, like shutting down coal plants – or supporting the creation of more public transportation.

In my part of Maryland right now, it’s the Purple Line.

Rockin' around renewable energy

For folks who have been following all the drama that is Calvert Cliffs Reactor #3, here’s the latest update. Warren Buffet and Co wants to buy out Constellation Energy. Constellation Energy is closely connected with EDF, a French nuclear company. On December 23rd, Constellation shareholders are meeting to approve the merger – which means that it’s time for some holiday fun, activist style!

Over the past few months, the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition has been gathering signatures on a petition (sign it here if you haven’t yet!) urging Warren Buffet to sever Constellation’s ties with EDF. So we’re going to do a bit of gatecrashing, and deliver the 8,000 plus petition signatures at the shareholders’ meeting, to let them all know that Marylanders want our energy to come from truly renewable sources, not nuclear power. That $10 billion that is being proposed for a nuclear boondoggle could build more than twice as much generating capacity if it’s invested in wind power – and just think of how many buildings we could make energy efficient for the holidays with that much cash!

Want to join in on the fun? We’ll be meeting at 7:45 in the morning at Constellation HQ in Baltimore to hand out candy canes and share our holiday wishes for clean and green energy. Click here for more details on the event and location. And let us know you’re coming! RSVP here or on Facebook.

The perfect last minute gift idea

ccan gift membershipsAs 2008 comes careening to a close, the most unexpected thing happened to me: I forgot all about my holiday gift giving. If it’s the same for you, keep reading. Whether because of the good news coming out of Maryland, another coal plant for Virginia, or just some silly anthropomorphic lumps of singing coal, if you’re caught off-guard and out of ideas when you look at your holiday lists, CCAN’s got you covered.

Give the gift of climate action! CCAN Gift Memberships are thoughtful, eco-friendly, and pretty. The CCAN Gift Membership is a great way to show your climate activist you care. The gift comes with a beautiful picture of the Chesapeake Bay in winter by aerial photographer Cameron Davidson. The beauty of an icy Chesapeake Bay is worth preserving, and we hope you’ll invite your friends and family to keep that in mind this holiday season.

The membership comes with all the benefits of joining CCAN