Hundreds Gather at First Grassroots Offshore Wind Energy Conference in Virginia; Call on Dominion & Governor McDonnell to Bring Offshore Wind Energy to the Commonwealth

Participants include business leaders, environmentalists and political leaders

CONTACT:

Jamie Nolan 

jamie@chesapeakeclimate.org

410.463.9869

RICHMOND – Nearly two hundred notable leaders and grassroots activists from across Virginia gathered in Richmond Saturday to promote new jobs and clean energy at the commonwealth’s first citizens’ conference on offshore wind power—Energize Virginia. Political leaders and environmentalists sat next to investment partners with Google Inc. to make the case for offshore wind energy, ending with a colorful march to the steps of the State Capitol. 

“In a stalled economy, few industries have the potential to bring more jobs to the commonwealth than the renewable offshore wind industry,” said Terry McAuliffe, clean energy advocate and Chairman of GreenTech Automotive Corp. “Offshore wind relies on American ingenuity and innovation to provide the clean, domestically-produced energy we need, while offering an opportunity to provide thousands of quality jobs for Virginians.”

Sponsors and key participants at the daylong conference called on Dominion Virginia Power to include offshore wind energy in its 2011 Integrated Resources Plan, a ten-year plan laying out how the utility intends to meet future electricity demand. They also called on Governor Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly to remove policy barriers and create incentives for the development of offshore wind energy, working with Dominion to ensure that Virginia claims its position as a leader in the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry.

Participants included renowned business leaders and clean energy advocates Terry McAuliffe and Robert Mitchell of Atlantic Wind Connection, the Trans-Elect/Google, Inc. offshore wind transmission project, State Senator Donald McEachin, and notable environmental leaders like Mike Tidwell with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Jackie Savitz with Oceana, among others.

Studies show that Virginia could power 700,000 homes by the end of this decade with modern wind turbines placed ten miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline. This would create thousands of jobs and help stabilize electricity rates while reducing harmful global warming pollution.

“Rarely do you see such a strong coalition of environmentalists and political and business leaders united behind a common cause,” said Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the key sponsors of the event. “But when you’ve got the chance to create jobs, protect consumers from rising fossil fuel prices, and help fight climate change, you’ve got the ultimate win-win-win.

Energize Virginia: A Citizens’ Summit on Offshore Wind Energy was sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Green Jobs Alliance, Interfaith Power & Light, the Southern Environmental Law Center, and the Virginia Conservation Network.

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Cap and Dividend Policy Update #26

From the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Mike Tidwell, Director

Compiled and edited by Ted Glick, CCAN National Campaign Coordinator

May 25, 2011

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network produces and distributes this periodic policy update on efforts to advance “cap and dividend” legislation in the U.S. Congress. The fight for this climate policy is currently being led on Capitol Hill by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). In December, 2009 these Senators introduced the Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal Act, or CLEAR Act. Learn more at http://www.supportclearact.org.

Click here to view past Cap and Dividend Policy Updates.

 

In This Issue:

#1 Maria Cantwell speaks at major Brookings Institution event

#2 Senator Sees Opening in Budget, EPA Debates for Resurrecting Cap-and-Dividend Legislation

#3 Pricing Carbon to Reduce Emissions, Create Dividends

#4 Kudos to Collins

#5 Susan Collins statement on April Senate votes on EPA powers to regulate greenhouse gases

#6 Alternatives to cap and trade

#1 Maria Cantwell speaks at major Brookings Institution event

“I think that the way to a smart transition to this 21st century energy policy is a sensible diet that will help win a majority in the United States Senate, one that is gradual, predictable, that unleashes private sector investment to grow our economy. That’s why I introduced a 39-page CLEAR Act proposal, along with my colleague Susan Collins, which embraces these approaches, diversifying our nation’s energy supply, using an accurate price signal to harness the focus of the free market, and securing the most cost-effective solutions.” For the transcript of the full speech go to: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2011/0518_energy_future/20110518_keynote.pdf

#2 Senator Sees Opening in Budget, EPA Debates for Resurrecting Cap-and-Dividend Legislation

“With Congress struggling to find common ground in upcoming budget and debt ceiling talks, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said May 18 she hopes to resurrect a 2009 “cap-and-dividend” bill that could help consumers meet rising energy costs, address rising deficits, and bridge the congressional divide over the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.” For the full story go to: http://climate.bna.com/climate/summary_news.aspx?ein=A0C7W0T8F0

#3 Pricing Carbon to Reduce Emissions, Create Dividends

“Author Peter Barnes, co-founder of the Working Assets Money Fund, suggests a program – the Sky Trust – modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund with money sent to taxpayers electronically (‘checks are so last century’). He noted that President Barack Obama lowered payroll tax withholding and no one noticed. ‘This is a strong argument why dividend is the way to go,’ Barnes said. ‘It also gets the discussion out of the tax box, which is a very bad box to be in.'” For the full story go to: http://www.miller-mccune.com/environment/pricing-carbon-to-reduce-emissions-create-dividends-31344/

#4 Kudos to Collins

“I wanted to publicly thank Sen. Susan Collins for voting against Sen. Mitch McConnell’s amendment to the Clean Air Act, which would have stripped the EPA of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources forever! Now we need to get behind Sen. Collins in her CLEAR Act, which is a bipartisan effort to position the United States to be a leader in renewable energy and energy conservation, and will create green jobs here in our own country! The bill also proposes a rebate of 75 percent of revenues generated by the bill to be paid directly to American families.” For the full letter to the editor go to: http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/05/06/opinion/letters/doc4dc43214b8ff0273101436.txt

#5 Susan Collins statement on April Senate votes on EPA powers to regulate greenhouse gases

“I continue to believe the best way forward is for Congress to pass a reasonable framework for regulating carbon pollution, as Senator Cantwell and I proposed in the CLEAR Act. This bipartisan Senate legislation would position the U.S. to be a leader in renewable energy and energy conservation technologies, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create new “green energy” jobs in our country rather than in China, and protect consumers by rebating 75 percent of revenues generated by the bill directly to American families.” For the full statement go to: http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=4525C2DE-F127-E018-59D1-BA7E7ACF9D7A&CFID=80962765&CFTOKEN=55269860

#6 Alternatives to cap and trade

“Cap-and-dividend is a variation on the cap-and-trade policy that caps greenhouse gas emissions and requires companies to pay outright for additional emission credits. Money raised through the program would be distributed to taxpayers as a way to offset likely increases in utility expenses. This method might reduce the potential for abuse and price increase of the cap-and-trade while limiting costs related to a straight carbon tax.” For the full article go to: http://www.ehow.com/info_8250254_alternatives-cap-trade.html

 

CCAN encourages readers of the Cap and Dividend Policy Update to distribute it to others who might be interested. We welcome input on the contents of this publication and ideas for what could be included. Send to Ted Glick at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org. To find out more about CCAN go to www.chesapeakeclimate.org.

In Chicago, coal is the real crime

This is a cross-post from Greenpeace Executive Director Phil Radford.

A sad fact of living in an American city like Chicago is that every time we open a newspaper or switch on the local news, we hear of some senseless, tragic crime that has claimed an innocent life.

We become outraged, and we demand justice for those who have lost their children, their parents, their siblings or spouses.

In 1982, Chicago acted to stem the tide of gun-related violence when confronted with a disturbing rise in homicides.

In fact, between 1980 and 2006, some 32,300 American died every year due to handgun violence, which is second only to car crashes in deaths by injury.

Ever since I got my start as an advocate for a healthy environment on Chicago’s Continue reading

Richmond CCANers recruit for Energize Va!

Changing over to new energy sources like offshore wind requires trying some new tactics! In Richmond this week, CCANers got together at a local ale house, but it wasn’t just your usual happy hour.

Richmond Climate Happy Hour met this week and used a new strategy to spread the word about Richmond’s upcoming offshore wind conference Energize Virginia. On a spacious outdoor patio, the team took advantage of the modern cell phone age to conduct a “Lightning Phonebank”. The group whipped out their cell phones and called dozens of local supporters and friends, and invited them to the first-ever grassroots conference on offshore wind in the commonwealth. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, but with a purpose: to get folks to come out and get down to business to bring an offshore wind farm to Virginia.

Here’s the next step in our recruitment experiment, and it depends on you! Register now online to attend Energize Virginia in Richmond on Saturday, June 4th

Maryland Judge Gives Mixed Ruling in Coal Plant Suit Brought by CCAN and EIP

Washington County Circuit Court Judge Sets Good Precedent Concerning Citizens’ Right to Appeal but Drops the Ball on Pollution Permit for R. Paul Smith Power Plant

On April 21st, 2011, Judge W Kennedy Boone, a lower state court judge in Washington County, Maryland, rendered his decision in a case brought by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). The case focused on Allegheny Energy’s water pollution permit related to the R. Paul Smith power plant in Williamsport, MD. Continue reading

Permit Meetings: Wonky but Important

I’ve been on the road the past few weeks in some beautiful parts of Maryland! GenOn, the corporate owners of the Morgantown (in Newburg, MD) and Dickerson (in Dickerson, MD) coal plants, has applied for modifications of their existing water permits, and I attended the first of the public informational meetings.

The meetings are a bit intimidating at first, I kept flashing back to chemistry classes in high school. There are a lot of numbers and discussion of point sources and data collection. But the point of these hearings isn’t to understand every detail.

At the end of the day these plants are in the backyards of communities, so it is important for citizens to have a say in the process and know what Gen On is applying to do to the nearby waterways. If there weren’t public hearings like these, permits would get approved with no one asking critical questions and without community members being able to hold Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and GenOn accountable.

I was so impressed with the questions local citizens asked in the room, and the commitment they had by showing up to these meetings on weeknights. More folks need to be involved in these issues and MDE should make it easier for them. The meetings should be advertised widely to all the local groups, list servs, and neighborhoods and the meeting space and time should be as convenient as possible for that community.

Until then I’ll be doing my best to make sure folks know about upcoming hearings. I’ll be there as well, my lack of chemistry understanding be damned, because I care about making these permits as strong as possible for the health of Maryland’s communities and environment.

Huge environmental presence at Dominion's annual shareholder meeting

This morning, I was one of about a dozen environmental advocates to attend Dominion Resources Inc.’s annual shareholder meeting in Charlottesville, VA, while about 30 others rallied outside. Between shareholder proposals, comments and questions by shareholders and their proxies and the company’s own presentations, reducing the company’s impact on the environment was discussed at least as much as its financial performance. And the meeting left me hopeful that environmental advocates can work with Dominion to increase its investment in renewables, especially offshore wind power.

Just this Tuesday, we publicly launched our joint campaign with the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, Green Jobs Alliance and Virginia Interfaith Power & Light asking Dominion to work with us to invest in offshore wind power. So today I spoke at the shareholder meeting in support of a proposal for the company to set and pursue a goal of 20% renewable energy generation by 2024. Specifically, I spoke about the fact that while offshore wind power does require a greater investment up front, it carries fewer long-term financial risks than investing in fossil fuel power plants. The risks of building new fossil fuel generation include:

    –volatile prices for coal and natural gas that are set by an increasingly global market
    –the potential need for pollution control upgrades in order to comply with future environmental laws
    –and the risk of accidental releases, like the catastrophic spill of coal-ash that Tennessee Valley Authority had in 2008, which could cost millions in clean up expenses, not to mention the public relations fall-out.

Continue reading

Maryland to Sue Gas Company Over Fracking Spill

It seems the news just keeps getting worse these days for those in the Marcellus Shale gas-fracking business. First there was the damning new Cornell University study which revealed the worse-than-coal climate impacts of the natural gas drilling procedure. Then, the Chesapeake Energy Corporation experienced the mother of all bad press days when one of its Pennsylvania wells experienced a massive blowout, spewing thousands of gallons of frack fluid into a nearby stream. In a poetic touch, the blow-out occurred on the one-year anniversary of the gulf oil spill.

While nowhere near the scale of the BP blowout, the Chesapeake Energy frack-up certainly echoed the massive gulf disaster in terms of the outrageous incompetence and recklessness of the well’s owners.

According to a Pro-Publica article it took the company a full 13 hours to respond to the accident. The reason for the egregious delay: despite widespread fracking activity in the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, the state did not have a single team of specially trained fracking accident responders, and instead had to fly in workers from Texas. In the end, thanks to the holdup, it took no less than two days from the time of the accident before workers managed to cap the spill. Continue reading

Dominion: It's Time for Virginia Offshore Wind

On Tuesday morning, CCAN’s Virginia team and members of the newly created VA4Wind coalition came together to formally announce our campaign to bring offshore wind energy to Virginia. Because Dominion Virginia Power is the commonwealth’s largest electric utility, the coalition is calling on the company to develop a large-scale offshore wind energy project off of Virginia’s coast. We hope to compel Dominion to include offshore wind in its September 2011 Integrated Resources Plan (IRP).

VA4Wind
VA4Wind

At the event, VA4Wind leaders touted the plentiful benefits of offshore wind energy and the opportunities it provides for the commonwealth, including the addition of thousands of new jobs and a new revenue source for Virginia’s economy, cleaner air and water, and stable long-term energy prices. With plentiful offshore winds, a deepwater port and a skilled and experienced labor force, Virginia could easily be the east coast capital for America’s new offshore wind industry.

In just a matter of weeks, VA4Wind has already collected more than 3,000 signatures from Virginians who want to see Dominion take concrete steps towards developing offshore wind power. In addition, more than 60 Virginia businesses and organizations have already pledged their support for offshore wind energy.

Sign the petition today, and if you own a business or non-profit, please add your business’ name to our platform sign-on letter here. Continue reading