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January | Issue #63
Quick Links: Maryland | DC & National | Virginia | Students
FROM DIRECTOR MIKE TIDWELL
 Dear Virginian,
This is not the letter I had hoped to be sending you three weeks into Virginia’s legislative session. But despite the thousands of Virginians calling for climate solutions, our lawmakers are advancing divisive proposals that would only do more harm.
The General Assembly is advancing anti-climate legislation that would: 1. Slap a $100 annual tax on owners of hybrid and electric vehicles; 2. Roll back the incentive for utilities to meet our state’s modest renewable energy goals; and 3. Eliminate the state gas tax, making Virginia the only state in the country without one and encouraging more consumption of fossil fuels.
But you can help fight back. First, sign up to join us tomorrow, January 31st, to “Stop the Assault on Climate Solutions” with a hybrid car parade and picket at the Capitol in Richmond…
See the full note from Mike>>
Own a hybrid? Want a safe climate? Join us TOMORROW in Richmond
With the General Assembly attacking climate solutions at seemingly every turn so far this legislative session, it’s time to make our voices — and hybrid car horns — heard even louder at the Capitol this Thursday. Divisive anti-climate proposals on lawmakers’ docket include: a new tax on owners of hybrid and electric vehicles, the rollback of our state’s already weak clean energy goals, and the elimination of the state gas tax, which would make Virginia the only state without one. On Jan. 31st, we’ll stand up to these attacks with a picket and parade of hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles at the Capitol. Our mantra: tax pollution, not solutions!
Sign up: Join us tomorrow, Jan. 31st to “Stop the Assault on Climate Solutions.” (If you own a hybrid or electric car, check the box when you sign up for info on joining the parade.)
You’re turning heads at the General Assembly
Even if we aren’t seeing the response we need yet from our legislators, CCAN-ers like you have turned out repeatedly — in bigger numbers than ever before — during this session at the Capitol. So far, more than 100 of you have made the trek to Richmond to watchdog key committee meetings, turn out for rallies, meet with your legislators, and even hold a clean energy “dance party.” We’re hearing from legislators and journalists alike that they’ve definitely taken notice of the droves of people in bright green “Fix the RPS – Wind and Solar Now!” t-shirts walking the halls of the General Assembly. With your help, we’re showing our growing power as a movement!
If you can’t make it to Richmond tomorrow, please email your legislators now and urge them to stand up for climate solutions.
Help make Feb. 17th the biggest climate rally in U.S. history
Crippling drought. Devastating wildfires. Superstorm Sandy. Climate change has come home — and President Obama must take immediate action to move our country forward in 2013. At noon on Sunday, February 17th, join CCAN, 350.org, the Sierra Club and scores of other groups on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the #ForwardOnClimate Rally. It’s going to be huge – you’ll want to be part of the biggest crowd of climate activists to ever converge on Washington. It’s also the next big way we’ll set the tone for President Obama’s second term, urging him to reject the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline and lead toward climate solutions.
Sign up: Join us Sunday, Feb. 17 for this historic climate rally.
‘Polar bears’ splash into an icy Potomac
On Saturday, as temperatures hovered in the 20s and ice coated the beach, close to 200 “polar bears” splashed into the Potomac River to raise awareness and funds for solutions to climate change. Thanks to plungers and their sponsors, our 8th annual “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge was one of our biggest yet — we exceeded our goal of raising $60,000 to fund CCAN’s work. Congresswoman Donna Edwards joined us for the third year in a row; Dr. James Hansen and Rev. Lennox Yearwood for their second. 11-year-old Rebekah Rowe took part for her fifth year in a row, raising more than $1,400 (even though she couldn’t splash in because of a bout of pneumonia). Special thanks to our event sponsors, and everyone who made this year’s plunge such a success!
See photos here and click here to pitch in to support Rebekah’s plunge fundraising.
Offshore wind energy gets a strong gust of momentum
The support for offshore wind energy in Maryland continues to grow. New polling shows 72 percent of Maryland voters back investing in this clean energy resource, an increase of 8 points since last year. Last week at the General Assembly, Gov. O’Malley joined CCAN, allies and House and Senate leaders to announce the introduction of offshore wind energy legislation with 24 Senate co-sponsors — the same number of senators needed to pass a bill. Want to help ensure a strong offshore wind bill gets across the finish line this year? Email Megan Jenny, MD field coordinator, at megan@chesapeakeclimate.org to join our Wind Media Rapid Response team.
Step forward for the facts on fracking
Just a week after CCAN-ers held a water “taste test” in Annapolis to showcase the threat fracking poses to Maryland’s drinking water, Gov. O’Malley announced that he is setting aside money in his proposed budget to begin funding studies of the risks of fracking in Maryland. This is a victory for the grassroots movement we’ve built together over the past year, but we know it’s not enough. We must continue to press legislators to pass a fracking moratorium that guarantees legal protections against fracking while the risk studies go forward — and that ensures they provide a full accounting of the many dangers fracking poses to our climate, health and environment.
Take Action: Email your legislators and urge them to pass a fracking moratorium now.
Victory: Polluter pays for coal ash violations
Early this year, CCAN and allies won a three-year legal fight to force GenOn to clean up three coal ash landfills in Maryland that had been cited for hundreds of violations under the Clean Water Act. Often called coal’s “dirty little secret,” coal ash is a woefully unregulated, toxic byproduct of burning coal at power plants. It’s often dumped into unlined ponds or landfills that are known to leach toxins into waterways and drinking water supplies across the country. GenOn has agreed to pay $2.2 million in penalties and to clean up its Maryland landfills. Finally, nearby residents will get the protections they deserve from toxic coal ash pollution. Read more in the Baltimore Sun.
Virginia students give legislators a climate wake-up call
In the midst of returning to classes and preparing for the next semester of school, students across Virginia came together this month to demand real climate solutions at the state Capitol — and to fight the move by climate change-denier Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Dominion Power to effectively repeal Virginia’s core clean energy law. Highlights of the month included: an impromptu lobby meeting between William & Mary students with Senator John Miller, a
“stand-in” with community members during a Commerce & Labor Committee meeting, where bright green t-shirts spelled out “We need REAL RPS solutions,” and, of course — the flash mob in front of the General Assembly building with over two dozen students ‘waking up’ from a nap, taking off their bright green blindfolds, and breaking out into dance to deliver a Wake-Up Call. It’s safe to say that our state Senators and Delegates may never look at a bright green t-shirt the same way again.
Check out the flash mob video here, and let us know if you have some fun ideas to spice things up at the General Assembly this session!
Meet our Executive Assistant & Special Projects Coordinator, Susan Yin
Your age: 22
Where you live: Washington, DC
Your work background: I came to DC during my last quarter in college, interning for the Wilderness Society. There, I worked on the last push for the Solar Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and gathered data on states’ progress on Renewable Portfolio Standards. After graduating in fall 2011, I decided to stay in the capital area and pursue a career in nonprofit environmental work. From there, I joined the Health & Environment team at the National Environmental Education Foundation. My main role was to expand the program’s online communications efforts in order to advance environmental knowledge among health professionals and improve public health, with a special emphasis on children and underserved populations. I joined CCAN last August.
Why are you a CCAN employee? While climate change is a global challenge, social change always begins from the ground up. CCAN is a group with a special focus on grassroots organizing. We are educating and engaging local citizens and communities that are all personally affected by the impact of burning dirty fossil fuels. Together, we are building an ever-expanding clean energy movement.
What has inspired you most working for CCAN so far? My colleagues’ and CCAN supporters’ passion and relentless efforts to fight climate change.
What have you contributed to bringing about a clean energy revolution that you are most proud of? One year after my work at the Wilderness Society, the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the solar energy development PEIS, establishing 17 solar energy zones in six western states. This is only the beginning for domestic utility-scale solar energy production and I can’t wait for more renewable energy projects to come online!
Who would you high five? My high school AP Environmental Science teacher. She would be proud!
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