Is Virginia Going to be Dead Last on Global Warming?

According to the Washington Post article, Crist is "[t]earing a page from the playbook of a fellow Republican, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegge" by setting a goal of "slashing the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2050, in line with targets that many scientists say are necessary to contain global warming."

Besides Florida and California, other states adopting California's tough greenhouse gas reduction goals include:  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

In addition, in February 2007, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington State signed a regional global warming pact along with California and Oregon. Maryland, New Hampshire, and Delaware have signed on to a regional initiative among 10 Northesastern states that will institute a "cap-and-trade" program for carbon dioxide emissions beginning in 2009.  Minnesota has taken serious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Just recently, Hawaii's governor signed a bill to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. 

In May 2007, Utah announced that it was signing on to the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative.  Also in May, that "prohibits the state Public Utility Commission from approving electric generating units primarily fueled by coal unless a minimum of 50% of the CO2 produced by the facility is captured and sequestered." 

In April 2007, Iowa's governor signed a bill "establishing a Climate Change Advisory Council," the goal of which is to develop strategies for reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions, "including the possibility of cutting emissions 50 percent by 2050."

In February 2007, Illinois' governor "announced a statewide goal to slash the production of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) to 1990 levels by 2020 and 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050."

Combined, the states mentioned above represent nearly 160 million people - more than half the U.S. population.  Also, I probably missed a few states, and I haven't even counted cities and counties - like Fairfax - which have signed on to the Sierra Club's "Cool Cities" initiative.

In other words, just about every state in the country is getting on board with efforts to save our planet from disastrous global warming.  Red states, blue states, urban states, rural states - you name it, they all are taking action.

Sadly, one state you probably noticed was missing from the above roster was our own, the great Commonwealth of Virginia.  Why is this?  Reason #1: a bunch of flat-earth, anti-science, anti-environment, right-wing Republicans control the state legislature.  Reason #2: did I mention the Republicans?  Reason #3: a few misguided Democrats believe that protecting Virginia's coal industry should supercede efforts to increase vehicle fuel economy standards (what that has to do with coal is beyond me), to provide incentives for consumer purchases of fuel-efficient appliances and homes, to set strong renewable portfolio standards, etc.  Reason #4: lack of strong strong leadership on this issue as we've seen in California and now Florida.

So when is Virginia going to get with nationwide efforts to save our planet?  How about just saving the Chesapeake Bay, which is considered "especially vulnerable" to global warming?  What on earth are we waiting for?  Is Virginia going to be dead last on global warming, or are we going to get out in front on this issue?  As you consider this question, one thing to keep in mind is that if Republicans control the General Assembly after this November, the likelihood of action drops close to zero.  If Democrats take control, the likelihood rises considerably.  Yet another reason to vote Democratic this November - to help save the Chesapeake Bay, the polar bears, the penguins, and the rest of our amazing planet.

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