CCAN's Tom Owens and "Local Greens" Featured in local paper

CCAN’s own Tom Owens (Virginia Campus Organizer ) received a great feature story for his great work on the Campus Climate Challenge in the Altoona Mirror, his hometown Pennsylvania Paper. Congrats TOM!

Very rarely do climate activsts get features like this. Feeding the homeless, saving kitties from trees, planting trees – these are things that receive a “what a great guy” feature story. But the times they are a changin.

“Area teen joins celebs on global

Fighting Virginia's Coal-Laden Status Quo

Environmental Groups March in Richmond to Protest Coal Development in Wise County

There is no doubt about it these days in Virginia: Dominion is the one and only name that matters in the electricity generation business and it’s not one to shy away from its power. The utility flexed its monopolistic might this legislative session and squashed any meaningful discussion of mandatory and widely-supported renewable energy requirements for the Commonwealth. The monopoly basically ensured that, for the near future at least, the ball will be in its court when it comes to making decisions about what sources of energy will be used to deal with Virginia’s rising energy demands.

And what is Dominion’s first choice for electricity? Coal, coal and more coal. Right now coal is the most plentiful and most cost-effective energy source out there. It is, however, the dirtiest of all options. The greenhouse gases and mercury pollution due to coal are well-documented, and Dominion feels no need to shift from the status quo because legally, they don’t have to.

Massey Energy, which is in the dirty business of coal extraction, is another another benefactor of Virginia’s continued reliance on coal. Massey Energy does a lot of business in the Appalachian Mountains and have been able to maintain and even increase their activities extracting coal due to the lack of legislation forcing renewable energy in the Commonwealth. Thus the devastating practice of mountaintop removal mining for coal does not look like it’s going away any time soon.

To protest this “cradle to the grave” stranglehold that Dominion and Massey have on our energy industry in Virginia, several environmental justice organizations including the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), Mountain Justice Summer, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, and the Sierra Club of Virginia participated in a march from Massey to Dominion Headquarters in Richmond on Monday June 25th. Through effective signage, handouts, skits, and classic music from the mountains, we were able to effectively send a message that the idea of a new coal plant in Wise County, VA should be put to rest. Changing the status quo in Virginia starts with “no new coal plants” and subsequently replacing the energy that would have been supplied by coal with clean, renewable energy. It is the only sustainable way forward now that global warming, ecosystem loss, energy demand increases have combined to create a crisis-like scenario for humans and the planet we inhabit.

Musical Protest outside Dominion

Protesters play classic mountain music in front of Dominion’s headquarters in
Richmond, Va. demanding that the huge utility stop its plans to build more
polluting coal-fired power plants in Wise County, Va.

There are plans in the works for another march through Richmond in the fall and it promises to be even bigger and better than what we saw on Monday.

New Jersey Sets National Precedent – Maryland no longer "potential # 2"

It’s official. Maryland can no longer be #2 for state climate leadership… we’re going to have to vie for #3.

Itsgettinghotinhere.org reported that “Yesterday, June 21st, Trenton voted to overwhelmingly pass the Global Warming Response Act, ground-breaking legislation that will set an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions to bring levels down to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050.”

Sounds familiar… except Maryland voted it down last year. The GOOD NEWS? It gives us all the more momentum to rock out this legislative session in Maryland. Read more…

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Open House Boosts CCAN Membership Levels

Mike Tidwell and Susanna Murley knew the show must go on despite the threat of severe thundestorms all over Takoma Park, and CCAN supporters and new members still flocked to the Tidwell house to learn how to get involved to promote a cleaner, safer future for our world.

Guests were greeted at the front door with drinks and ventured inside to a nice spread of fruits and vegetables to nibble on while meeting each other and members of the CCAN staff. Around 30 guests converged on the Tidwell house to meet fellow climate activists and listen to climate leaders, Mike Tidwell and Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin, speak about climate issues that affect Maryland and abroad.

Senator Raskin focused on the recent victories of the Maryland Clean Cars Act and promised to help lead Maryland to the forefront of the climate movement. State level legislation has become the power tool for the climate movement because of the backward pace at the federal level. Senator Raskin hopes that Maryland will soon be in the ranks of California and New York in the coming years. He also announced his appointment to the Governors’ Commission on Climate Change which was created to design a comprehensive energy plan for the state of Maryland.

Mike Tidwell spoke of the need for support to keep up the good work of CCAN and of course, pledged his allegiance to the climate issue as the defining issue of our time. The new members at the party kindly reached for their pocketbooks and joined CCAN.

Not only were the party and membership drive a success, but the new members offered promising ideas and hope to the climate movement! Oh yeah, it never rained a drop!

Congress: Stand Up to King Coal

Fellow CCANers and I had an exciting morning last Thursday, as we planned to dump one ton of coal at the United States Capitol in the Lower Senate Park to protest the legislation on the Senate floor that would allow for 10 billion dollars in direct federal loans for coal to liquid development. FYI: Most of the Senators that support the bill hail from coal industry states.

Soon after the set-up began, the Capitol Police tried to disband the press conference by claiming the flammable qualities of coal could severely put the members of Congress in harms way

DC's Billion-Pound Carbon Diet: Cool Capital Carbon Commitments Top 200 Million Pounds

Contact:  Steve Coleman, (202) 744-8695
Cliff Majersik, (202) 297-0871
Pascale Maslin, (202) 557-9200
NEWS ADVISORY
DC’s Billion-Pound Carbon Diet: 
Cool Capital Carbon Commitments Top 200 Million Pounds
 
On the eve of Earth Day, a broad consortium of DC businesses, property owners, congregations, neighborhood groups, transportation and environmental organizations and activists are joining together to launch an unprecedented campaign to combat global warming.  Starting Sunday and continuing until Earth Day 2008, the Cool Capital Challenge will galvanize the DC region to reduce one billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions – the carbon equivalent of removing over 80,000 cars from our streets — as a dramatic first step to show how cities can lead the way in reversing climate change.  Now live on the web at www.coolcapital.org, the Cool Capital Challenge has already amassed committed reductions totaling over 200 million pounds of carbon dioxide — the carbon equivalent of removing 16,000 automobiles from our streets.
 
Confronting daily reports of the worsening climate crisis, in which the US produces 25% of all greenhouse gases worldwide, organizers of the Cool Capital Challenge say that DC has an opportunity to make a major positive impact with the immediate efficiency and lifestyle changes needed to help avert global catastrophe.  Already, a range of national groups such as the US Conference of Mayors is hailing the Cool Capital Challenge as a potential model for cities across the country.
 
Cool Capital is being featured at today’s celebration of GreenDC Week at 2:30 p.m. at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.  Speaking at the event for Cool Capital will be Lara Hansen, the chief climate scientist for the World Wildlife Fund who contributed to the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
 
Among key partners launching the Challenge, the Downtown DC Business Improvement District has committed to helping achieve the goal of 71 million pounds of savings from its members in the heart of the capital through collection and dissemination of information about downtown developers, property management and other businesses Green practices and strategies.  Three organizations have each pledged to galvanize 40 million pounds in reductions from their members and partners:  Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light, a broad regional alliance of congregations; the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, a 35-year-old cycling advocacy and support organization; and the DC chapter of the Sierra Club, a bastion of environmental advocacy since 1892. 
 
Ten Washington-area hardware stores have already signed on to be partners in the Challenge.  Cool Capital has trained each store’s staff to provide expert advice, promote the sale of energy efficient items such as compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s), and help their customers join the Cool Capital Challenge.  Several stores are offering special discounts on CFL’s in connection with the launch.
 
Cool Capital Coordinator Pascale Maslin says that the Challenge will draw nearly half of its reduction goal from individual households through a web site, www.coolcapital.org, that will continually track everyone’s commitments.  The campaign is seeking 40,000 households that will make 5,000 pounds in reductions, and 15,000 households to become “Carbon Busters” by making an average of 15,000 pounds in reductions (less for apartment dwellers) and by reaching out to others.  People can join the Challenge by logging on to the website, joining or creating teams, providing energy usage information from electric and gas bills and vehicle mileage, and then pledging to take actions that reduce emissions. The website also has pages where campaign participants can get additional information, a campaign calendar, and links to resources, experts, products, hardware stores, and other support.  The campaign has Carbon Buster leaders signed up in DC and four surrounding counties, and is looking for more to help lead the way.
 
Energy and environmental leaders advising Cool Capital include Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), who chairs the Council’s Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs; Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who chairs the Council’s Committee on the Environment and Public Works and who led the recent enactment of DC’s trailblazing Green Building Act; and experts with EPA ENERGY STAR.
 
According to Cool Capital Chair Cliff Majersik of the Institute for Market Transformation, most businesses and homes can save 10-20% in energy emissions and costs with little to no capital expense, through such simple changes as caulking holes and cracks, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, installing compact fluorescent bulbs and properly maintaining heating and cooling systems.  Individuals can slash emissions from driving by telecommuting, walking, biking, carpooling, or taking transit.  Using these strategies, most households can save 5,000 pounds of CO2 and many can save 15,000 or more.  Employers can help by offering employees transit benefits, bike racks, and tele-work options.
 
Organizers say the Cool Capital Challenge can lay the foundation for a wide range of energy innovations and sweeping economic changes for the better.  Majersik said, “The Cool Capital Challenge will put Washington at the leading edge of a wave sweeping the country that recognizes that saving energy is better for business, people’s pocketbooks, and the environment than the traditional ways of generating and using energy.”
 
Majersik is optimistic about the campaign’s potential for impact, saying  “Most people don’t realize how much power we have at the local level to turn around the climate crisis.  As the capital of the most powerful nation on earth and the home to leaders from everywhere, we have a unique opportunity to deliver a message of hope and to lead the way in the fight against global warming.”