We Have the Power 2 Change!

"The choices we make in 2008 will define our future, especially when it comes to the election and energy issues," said Delegate Margaret Vanderhye at yesterday's launch of the Sierra Club's Power 2 Change campaign.  Endorsements for the campaign to make clean energy the top issue in the 2008 elections also came from State Senator George Barker, Delegate Ken Plum and Fairfax County Supervisor Catherine Hudgins.  "[E]lected officials need to provide policy incentives for clean energy," added Senator George Barker.  

The Power 2 Change is Sierra Club's national clean energy advocacy campaign to educate the public about what is at stake in the 2008 elections.  "Our elected officials have the power to change the direction of our nation's energy policy", writes the Sierra Club.  

The Power 2 Change campaign will define the contrast between competing visions of our energy future.  It highlights and promotes both clean and polluting energy sites throughout the state, as well as clean energy leaders and their opponents to include many examples right here in Virginia. The Power 2 Change report, for example, features the positive activities on college campuses across Virginia. Also featured is Delegate Vanderhye and her family with their efforts to reduce their energy consumption and global warming emissions. Of course, Dominion's proposed new coal fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia is mentioned in the report as an example of fossil fuel based technology we need to move beyond.  The full report is here.  

"We've got a message for candidates at every level that we have the power to change direction," said Glen Besa, Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter Director.  "We have the technology, know-how and power to build a clean energy future. What we have lacked is the political will and leadership. We need to challenge all our elected officials, including the next President, to provide the leadership we need to move us forward.  It was very encouraging to see immediate support from State and local elected officials."

On the state level, the Power 2 Change campaign also involves grassroots organizing effort over the next four weeks whereby Virginia Sierra Club activists are collecting and delivering petition signatures demanding elected officials up and down the ballot to help build a clean energy economy.  Click here to sign the petition.  They will also be recruiting volunteers to meet with elected, business and community leaders and to participating in numerous Earth Day events on April 22.

Photo Caption (from left to right): State Senator George Barker, Kate Johnson (Sierra Club Representative) Delegate Margaret Vanderhye, Fairfax County Supervisor Catherine Hudgins, Glen Besa (Sierra Club Va. State Director), Kayti Wingfield (Sierra Club Va. Representative), Delegate Ken Plum, Linda Burchfiel, Ivy Main, Norbert Pink (Sierra Club Volunteers)

Comments