by Lauren Glickman. From the CCAN blog.
As Virginia heads into a new General Assembly session, Virginians are readying to make their voices heard when it comes to our energy future. This past weekend I attended the Virginia Conservation Network's annual legislative workshop. The purpose being to educate citizens on key issues that will be addressed during this session. This year's workshop's top focus was energy efficiency.
Virginians never ceases to amaze me with their passion for this particular issue. Whenever I appear skeptic and think "who will want to wake up early on a beautiful saturday to sit in a room and learn about energy efficiency?" My thoughts are quickly thwarted by the long line I had to wait on just to register for the event. By my rough count close to 200 people attended the workshop in Richmond and attendees came from all over the state. People were excited even at 9am about what the next legislative session might hold.
I was particularly inspired by the keynote speaker, Delegate Joe Bouchard, who prepped us on what we should be on the look out for.
I wasn't surprised that he highlighted the Governor's plan to make this year about the environment, or potential legislation to implement the recommendations of the Climate Commission. I was shocked when he warned us to look out for a potential resolution that would state that the new power plant proposed by ODEC would be declared "in the public-interest." He warned us that if such a thing becomes the substance of real discussion that it would be devastating. So much so that he said if we thought this was real that it was our job "to go Gandhi on the General Assembly," to circle the capitol and not let legislators to work.
I am hopeful that ODEC will not get very far with their $6 billion dollar proposed coal fired power plant. If we're going to re-power Virginia in a way that's fiscally responsible and addresses the very real threat of climate change, we need to invest in efficiency first and move toward true, clean renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power.
ODEC invited residents of Dendron to attend an informational meeting about the plant to be held this Thursday at the local high school. This will be the first opportunity to show strong opposition to this proposal that is totally out of touch with the reality of Virginia.