Yes, Virginia, there is a clean energy constituency

Will Democrats take the votes but ignore the voters in increasingly powerful Northern Virginia?by Mike Tidwellcross posted from Grist

Northern Virginia voters solidified their reputation Nov. 4 as a virtual factory for Democratic victories. Collectively, the Virginia suburbs of D.C. broke for Obama in numbers exceeding 60 percent. The margin is comparable to such liberal bastions as California and New York. Given the results, and given that 1 in 3 Virginia voters now lives in the fast-growing region, it’s no wonder state Democrats see a gold mine. Already Gov. Tim Kaine (D), elected 2005, and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D), elected 2006, can credit their victory margins to “NoVa.” And Democratic Senator-elect Mark Warner considers the region his base.

But on the biggest issues of our time — clean energy and climate change — here’s the question: Will these “New South” Democrats repeat the same huge mistake Gov. Kaine has already made? Namely, will they take the votes from Northern Virginia without actually listening to the voters?

I’ll cut to the chase: Tim Kaine would almost certainly be Vice President-elect of the United States of America right now if not for one huge issue: coal. Kaine’s consistent support for more mining and more burning of coal in Virginia has wrecked his national political career. Kaine is one of five Southern governors — three of them are Republicans — who’s actually building a new coal-fired power plant in his state. None of the plants being built will capture and “sequester” a single pound of global warming pollution. Kaine’s 585 megawatt plant in Wise County, Virginia — belching 5 million tons annually of CO2 in an era of massive Arctic ice melt — was the major reason Obama did not pick him as VP. That’s my firm belief.

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Coal's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Poor King Coal can seem to get a break these days. After the election saw three global warming deniers lose their elections in VA, Thursday saw a huge shift toward a rational policy on coal. The Environmental Appeals Board ruled that the EPA must regulate CO2 as a pollutant from coal plants, and Virginia’s Climate Commission nearly banned new coal plants.

The EPA ruling sets a very persuasive precedent in our case against Dominion’s Wise County coal plant. The State Air Pollution Control Board did not include CO2 as a pollutant when they were permitting the plant

CCAN is CFC #19037!

The fall Combined Federal Campaign is well underway for 2008 and as of this year, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is a participating charity. With the CFC, you can contribute to CCAN’s work this year through your workplace giving program.  Go to www.cfcnca.org for more information.  Our CFC number is 19037!

We urgently need your support now. Increasingly dire warnings from the world’s top scientists are telling us that global warming is happening at a faster rate than expected, continuing to put pressure on the Greenland ice sheet.  With 23 feet of sea-level rise, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave would be waterfront property — but thankfully change is on the way. The new Congress and administration have made big promises on the campaign trail, and we are looking forward to working with them to take action on global warming that’s in line with what the science says.

CCAN is a loud, grassroots voice for real solutions to the climate crisis. Your contribution would support local organizers who are on the ground every day reaching out to the people in your community. Activists are meeting with their representatives, governors, and mayors to push this country towards a clean energy future.

Wind, solar, biofuels and other renewable energy sources could replace outdated coal plants-like the one that sits right next to the United States Capitol building.  Help make this new vision of American power possible: Select CCAN when you’re making your donations through the CFC!

Ruling: Coal Plants Must Limit C02

Sierra Club Press release

November 13, 2008

Contact:
Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 x 102

Ruling: Coal Plants Must Limit C02

In a move that signals the start of the our clean energy future, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) ruled today EPA had no valid reason for refusing to limit from new coal-fired power plants the carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. The decision means that all new and proposed coal plants nationwide must go back and address their carbon dioxide emissions.

“Today’s decision opens the way for meaningful action to fight global warming and is a major step in bringing about a clean energy economy,” said Joanne Spalding, Sierra Club Senior Attorney who argued the case. “This is one more sign that we must begin repowering, refueling and rebuilding America.”

“The EAB rejected every Bush Administration excuse for failing to regulate the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States. This decision gives the Obama Administration a clean slate to begin building our clean energy economy for the 21st century,” continued Spalding

The decision follows a 2007 Supreme Court ruling recognizing carbon dioxide, the principle source of global warming, is a pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act.

“Coal plants emit 30% of our nation’s global warming pollution. Building new coal plants without controlling their carbon emissions could wipe out all of the other efforts being undertaken by cities, states and communities across the country,” said Bruce Nilles, Director of the Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign. “Everyone has a role to play and it’s time that the coal industry did its part and started living up to its clean coal rhetoric.”

The Sierra Club went before the Environmental Appeals Board in May of 2008 to request that the air permit for Deseret Power Electric Cooperative’s proposed waste coal-fired power plant be overturned because it failed to require any controls on carbon dioxide pollution. Deseret Power’s 110 MW Bonanza plant would have emitted 3.37 million tons of carbon dioxide each year.

“Instead of pouring good money after bad trying to fix old coal technology, investors should be looking to wind, solar and energy efficiency technologies that are going to power the economy, create jobs, and help the climate recover,” said Nilles.

To get background information and see how the case unfolded visit www.sierraclub.org/coal/plantlist.asp

A copy of the decision can be found here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/EAB_Web_Docket.nsf/PSD%20Permit%20Appeals%20(CAA)/C8C5985967D8096E85257500006811A7/$File/Remand…39.pdf

Global Warming Deniers' Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Cross-posted from The Green Miles

November 4, 2008 will be remembered for being a lousy day to be a global warming denier. Nowhere was this more apparent than right here in Virginia:

Jim Gilmore: Running for Senate against fellow former Governor Mark Warner, the Republican Gilmore told the Virginian-Pilot, “We know the climate is changing, but we do not know for sure how much is caused by man and how much is part of a natural cycle change.” Lost by 30 points.

Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA): Told the Virginian-Pilot, “There is tremendous disagreement about whether climate change is caused by human behavior or other natural forces.” Despite final pre-election predictions she’d win re-election over challenger Glenn Nye by six points, Thelma instead lost by 4 points.

Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA): Told WSLS-TV global warming is “overly hyped” and holds a strong financial stake in Big Oil. Despite final pre-election predictions he’d beat challenger Tom Perriello by eight points, Virgil is currently losing by 100 votes.

Just east, in Maryland’s 1st Congressional district, Republican Wayne Gilchrest had served for 16 years before losing his primary to hardcore conservative Andy Harris. The moderate Gilchrest had cruised to re-election in the slightly red district, getting at least 61 percent of the vote in his last seven races.

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You Voted – Now Keep Those Legislators Accountable!

I’m ready for a vacation, now the election is finally over. And I’m sure that there are others who feel the same way – all of your who put your heart into watching the campaigns unfold are probably right there with me. But here’s the thing. The climate won’t just stop changing while we wait.

This is our moment to make sure that all of our elected officials know that the emerging climate voting bloc is out there, and that we’re watching them. And there are two exciting ways to get out that message loud and clear in the next few weeks.

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Satyagraha… Say what?

Amidst the flurry of media and rhetoric on the campaign trail, the historic events of Tuesdays election, and the looming questions of where we go from here, there is only one word that comes to mind: Satyagraha.

For me this strange sounding word has a very personal meaning. Mohandas Gandhi coined it during his peaceful struggle to win Indian independence from the oppressive British Empire. In Hindi it translates roughly as “Truth-Force”. Gandhi defines it as, “Truth (Satya) implies Love, and Firmness (Agraha) Continue reading