SB 446, Clean Energy Future Act Citizen Boards
SB 525, Uranium Mining
DEQ hearing on the Wise Coal Fired Plant
Focus the Nation - Teach-in, Global Warming Solutions for America
Runaway multi-system cascading failure
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You've probably been relieved not hearing from me this last little bit. If you've wondered, however, I've been busy shuttling back and forth attending and testifying in hearings in the General Assembly as well as meeting with legislators and their staff. Got a seat for Monday morning, departure for Richmond 0600, if anyone wants to ride along--Rick
I just emailed you a separate piece on SB 446, the Clean Energy Future Act. Please contact the committee members, your delegate and representatives, and the governor today and express STRONG SUPPORT.
It took me less than 5 minutes online.
All phone calls, emails and letters are reduced to a tally sheet that the legislator sees, sometimes with a collection of pithy comments, if appropriate.
So remember the rules for being counted in Richmond.
1. one topic per communication (too complicated and the clerk just puts it at the bottom of the pile for "later")
2. identify the bill or topic in question
3. clearly express Support or Opposition
4. give a quick reason why
5. ask for their support.
Citizens Boards: It appears that the efforts to defang Virginia's Citizens Boards has run into trouble, due entirely to citizens like you and me. Believe me, there are no powerful corporate interests with lawyers and seasoned political strategist on OUR side. This does not mean this issue is dead in Richmond, as there are numerous ways for it to reappear before the end of the session. We're watching the corpse of this bill closely.
Uranium Mining: The initial bill and the subsequent substitute bill were so badly flawed that no one seemed to support it except Senator Wagner himself. In the end a subcommittee was appointed to redraw the bill. There was standing room only in Senate Room hearing B, about 350 people, many from Pittsylvania and surrounding counties, spoke out against the bill and the idea of mining uranium. In the past, Virginia Beach had led the charge against uranium mining at this site since our water supply, Gaston Lake, is part of the drainage from this system. I spoke about VB's need to have a seat at the table. This bill is up again for rehearing: Senate Bill 525 will be in Senate Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee on Monday, 04 February 2008 at 9:30 a.m. I'll be there an then pull back to do double duty at the Clean Energy Future Act hearing.
Wise County Coal-Fired Plant: Friday night, as I was packing up to make the 9-hr drive to Wise County to testify at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hearing for the permit for this plant, word came down that:
* the time for public comment had been extended to 15 March 2008
* there would be another hearing in Richmond Tuesday, 19 February 2008 So I unpacked and nursed this cold. T
he last public hearing on this plant broke all SCC records at 11 hours! Let's try to break that record again! More about that later.
Focus the Nation - Teach-in Global Warming Solutions for America If you missed the Focus the Nation webcast last Wednesday, so did everyone else. Over 1750 of universities, high schools, middle schools and churches and other groups logged-in to participate. Thrashed the server completely. But that's okay because the next day, Thursday, We had a great session at William and Mary (again, not Tidewater schools stepping up to the plate on environmental issues). We had a well-attended 4-hour session of faculty and subject area specialists presenting on any number of topics. I'm trying to get copies of the PowerPoints right now. If you don't really understand the background of what's happening to the environment, you'll appreciate the insight.
If you just want the short versions try: Runaway multi-system cascading failure. It's about a lot more than being a little warmer at the beach and drowning polar bears. When you understand from from marine scientists, biologists, wetlands experts, and other people we pay to study these issues for us and put it all together, you begin to understand the damage being done to the web of life we never even think about but that support almost everything we do.
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Rick Kennerly Tidewater Climate Action Network
www.twcan.org
rick.kennerly@twcan.org
We are environmentalists, but we're not just "environmentalists." We are also citizens and we are ratepayers; we are customers and employers; we are business owners and educators; we are members of communities of faith who take seriously our stewardship of God's gift and we are patriots who care about energy independence for the nation; we are parents and grandparents concerned about the sustainability of the legacy we leave our children, who all just happen to also care about our environment. -- Rick Kennerly Tidewater Climate Action Network www.twcan.org rick.kennerly@twcan.org We are environmentalists, but we're not just "environmentalists." We are also citizens and we are ratepayers; we are customers and employers; we are business owners and educators; we are members of communities of faith who take seriously our stewardship of God's gift and we are patriots who care about energy independence for the nation; we are parents and grandparents concerned about the sustainability of the legacy we leave our children, who all just happen to also care about our environment.