This morning, CCAN staff, volunteers and concerned Americans nationwide staged series of beach-themed rallies in around fifty cities across the country. Held in partnership with 1Sky, the festive gathering sought to urge our Senators to enact climate legislation that ensures a real cap on CO2, dictated by the EPA, as well as creating strong provisions for domestic renewable and clean energy development here at home.
We arrived in force at Senator Jim Webb’s office (VA) at around noon, sporting swim trunks, floral leis, and signs reading, “Don’t send clean energy out with the tide!” and “Clean energy jobs NOW!” as Richmonders downtown looked on during the lunchtime break. While volunteers passed the time, playing a makeshift game of beach volleyball, spirits were high and good times were certainly had. Glen, the inflatable dolphin, also made an appearance.
This is not to say, however, that today’s participants were ignorant of the severe implications of a world climate crisis. Despite the relaxed attire and positive attitudes, all involved exuded deep concern and real frustration at the marginal progress that Congress has made so far in taking a strong approach to fixing the potentially fatal issue of global climate change.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA), in its current form, sucks. We have charged the United States Senate with rectifying the mistakes of its counterpart, the House of Representatives, in transforming this confusing and weak legislation into something that us as climate activists may be proud of. A weak renewable energy standard, coupled with an abysmal form of cap-and-trade that allows for the largest polluters to incur the smallest costs, has shown that politics as usual continues to dilute the debate over how we must transition as a nation into a cleaner, more efficient economy.
Virginia, as always, finds itself in an election year, spearheaded by two candidates whose environmental stances still leave a lot to be desired. Without significant action by our representatives in Washington, the Commonwealth will see little incentive to transform the way that we currently generate and consume our energy in Virginia. If the Senate falters on this legislation, our hopes for rapid progress will become quickly diminished.
We have not yet a reason, however, to lose hope. Senator Webb has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of ACESA, and as its Senatorial counterpart, ACELA, progresses through its infancy in committee, we can hope that he and Senator Warner will encourage significant improvements, including restoring the full oversight of the EPA in regulating carbon emissions, increasing requirements for the renewable portfolio standard, and placing a real cap on dirty fossil fuel and coal industries, who hold too great a sway in national and Virginia politics.
Webb, a veteran and military buff, understands the real dangers to national security posed by climate change, with sea-level rise playing a major role in Virginia’s potential future. With the world’s largest naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, the threat of rising tides will play a major role in Mr. Webb’s future decisions regarding climate change and its impacts.
So, the beach theme found itself to be eerily appropriate. There may be, after all, a day when any average Richmond citizen will need only to walk a few short blocks before breaking out the surfboard. Let’s hope not.
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