Annapolis legislators unveil three-point fracking moratorium plan

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2013

Contact:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Moratorium bill introduced in the House of Delegates on the heels of Baltimore City Council vote to freeze fracking process in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS—Maryland legislators today unveiled a new, three-point plan to establish a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – for natural gas in the state. The legislation introduced today comes in the wake of new federal studies highlighting potential harm from fracking and on the same week that the Baltimore City Council voted to endorse a fracking moratorium.

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CCAN Statement: General Assembly turns its back on Virginia clean energy

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Cuccinelli-backed legislation to effectively nix Virginia’s clean electricity standard passes; new mandatory law is now imperative, advocates say

RICHMOND—The Virginia Senate today passed a far-reaching and controversial electric utility bill (SB1339) backed by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that includes provisions to dismantle the state’s only broad clean electricity standard, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The bill passed today will render the law practically meaningless by repealing the performance incentive for utilities to meet their clean energy goals, which were already voluntary.

Recognizing that the RPS law was not living up to its intent to bring new clean energy to the commonwealth, state environmental and health advocates had joined thousands of Virginians over the past year in calling on lawmakers to strengthen the law’s standards, for instance by requiring utility companies to earn the performance incentives with Virginia-generated wind and solar power.

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Hybrid owners and activists protest clean-cars tax and other attacks on climate solutions in Richmond

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Hybrid car owners lead parade around Capitol to oppose series of irresponsible, anti-environment proposals—including new hybrid car tax, repeal of gas tax, and rollback of clean energy law

RICHMOND—Owners of hybrid and electric vehicles from across the state converged at the Capitol on Thursday to protest transportation and energy legislation before the General Assembly that would penalize Virginians driving cleaner cars, while rolling back other policies meant to promote clean electricity and reduce planet-warming pollution.

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Hundreds of activists go for a cold Potomac swim to fight climate change

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2013

Contact:
Kelly Trout, 717-439-0346 (c), 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Hundreds of activists go for a cold Potomac swim to fight climate change

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD—In the wake of the hottest year in U.S. history, marked by Hurricane Sandy and other devastating weather extremes, more than 150 people jumped into the Potomac River on Saturday morning to deliver an urgent call for stronger climate action. Activists joined in the “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge, now in its eighth year, to raise awareness and funds for local, state and federal solutions to global warming.

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Broad coalition calls on Virginia lawmakers to strengthen state’s clean energy standard, not roll it back

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Environmental, health and faith organizations come together to urge the General Assembly not to repeal incentive for utilities to meet renewable energy goals

RICHMOND—A broad coalition of 23 local, state and national organizations released a statement today calling on Virginia lawmakers to strengthen the state’s clean energy standard, rather than repeal the incentive for utility companies to participate.

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Governor O’Malley announces 2013 offshore wind bill with 24 Senate co-sponsors

For Immediate Release
January 22, 2013

Contact:
Mike Tidwell, (240) 460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Tom Carlson, (651) 587-0730, tom@chesapeakeclimate.org

Announcement follows release of a new poll showing 72% of Maryland voters support investment in offshore wind development

ANNAPOLIS—Governor Martin O’Malley was joined by members of the General Assembly and advocates from across the state today to announce the introduction of a bill to spur development of Maryland’s offshore wind energy resource.

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Poll: Virginians oppose repeal of state’s clean electricity standard by more than 2-1 margin

For Immediate Release
January 22, 2013
 
Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
 
As House committee considers Cuccinelli-Dominion backed repeal legislation, new statewide poll shows broad support among Virginians for maintaining clean energy law, more climate action
 
RICHMOND—Polling data released today shows that a strong majority of Virginians—67 percent—want the General Assembly to maintain the state’s clean electricity standard, in contrast to only a quarter of respondents who would back a repeal. The results, advocates said, should signal to state lawmakers that legislation backed by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Dominion Power to effectively repeal the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law is at odds with the wishes of Virginians. (View the poll results.)
 

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Activists rally to stop Cuccinelli repeal of VA clean energy law, offer solutions to strengthen it

Appalachian Voices ■ Chesapeake Climate Action Network ■ Sierra Club Virginia Chapter

For Immediate Release
January 17, 2013

Contact:
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org

Dozens of activists hold day of action at the Capitol to call on lawmakers to ‘fix, not nix’ the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, move forward on Virginia wind and solar power

RICHMOND—Dozens of activists from across Virginia converged on the capitol in Richmond today for a rally and day-long action to protest legislation proposed earlier this week by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that would effectively repeal Virginia’s top clean energy law. The activists joined environmental and health leaders to call on state lawmakers to oppose the repeal and instead strengthen the Renewable Portfolio Standard law so that it fulfills its original intent to spur the development of solar and wind power.

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New Poll Demonstrates Mounting Support for Offshore Wind Initiative

For Immediate Release
January 17, 2013 
 
Research finds that 72% of Maryland voters support investment in offshore wind development; Nearly four times as likely to vote for a legislator who supports wind power
 
ANNAPOLIS — A new poll released today shows a growing number of Maryland voters and a strong majority – 72 percent – across all political and geographic subgroups, support investing in the development of offshore wind power. These results represent an 8% increase since similar polling was conducted in December 2011. 
 
“With popularity increasing among voters, legislators who vote for offshore wind power stand to benefit at the ballot box,” stated Karla Raettig, Executive Director for Maryland League of Conservation Voters. According to the poll, Marylanders are almost four times as likely to vote for a legislator who supports offshore wind power rather than against them in the next election.

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Cuccinelli and Dominion Move to Repeal Virginia’s Clean Electricity Standard

For Immediate Release
January 15, 2013
 
Contact: 
Beth Kemler, 804-335-0915, beth@chesapeakeclimate.org
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
 
Proposed legislation would harm environment and, opponents say, constitutes a confession that Dominion has accepted $77 million from ratepayers without properly fulfilling intent of current law
 
RICHMOND—Dominion Virginia Power has informed environmental groups that the company has reached a tentative agreement with Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to support legislation that would effectively repeal the state’s signature clean energy law. The move, environmentalists said, would not only harm the environment but also represents a de facto admission of guilt by Dominion. The company has already accepted $77 million from ratepayers without making the clean energy investments that the General Assembly first intended with its original 2007 law.
 

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