OK! It’s 5:00 and we’re on! Come on by with your questions!

In an effort to better educate Virginians about the upcoming General Assembly session, the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is presenting a series of live blog interviews with various Delegates and State Senators throughout December. We are specifically inviting legislators who are introducing bills of special interest to Virginia’s environmental community.

Kicking off our “live blog” series is Virginia Beach Delegate Joe Bouchard TODAY (Dec. 1st) beginning at 5:00pm.

Delegate Bouchard serves on the Governor’s Climate Change Commission and will be at the Hampton Roads Sierra Club blog to take your questions regarding that work, its potential for legislation finding its way into the 2009 General Assembly session, and what he looks forward to seeing happen in Virginia with the Obama administration.

RK readers know the drill…

Post your questions for Delegate Bouchard in the comments section ahead of time. Then, if you can, please return at 5:00 when he will be there live to answer your questions.

Below the fold are two other events that Delegate Bouchard will be participating in this week…

The Tidewater Peace Alliance presents the award-winning film “Flow” Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7:15pm at the Studio for the Healing Arts, 1611 Colley Ave, 2nd floor (one block north of the Naro Theater) in Norfolk.  Water is the essence of life, sustaining every living being on this planet. But the global water supply isn’t just at risk, it’s already in crisis. With an unflinching focus on politics, pollution and human rights, “Flow” ensures that the precarious relationship between humanity and water can no longer be ignored, and that, unless we instigate change, our future as a species-just like the water that sustains us- is quickly drying up. Delegate Joe Bouchard, an advocate for the environment and green technologies, will also speak about proposed offshore drilling.  Admission is $5.  

Attend the City of Virginia Beach’s Energy Alternatives Open House on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:00pm at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.  Speakers include Del. Joe Bouchard (climate change), Sen. Frank Wagner (offshore drilling), Virginia Tech’s George Hagerman (wind power), ODU’s Patrick Hatcher (biodiesel fuel from algae) and Dominion (nuclear power). Click here for more information.

As Kermit the Frog would say… “It’s not easy being green”, and sometimes in Virginia that is sadly almost all too true.  That makes Delegate Joe Bouchard all the more the hero for us who care about our clean beaches, clean air and clean water.  Please support him, support our cause, learn lots and have lots of fun at the same time.  

Continue reading " Live Blog Today with Delegate Joe Bouchard "

As I wrote about here in August, clearing all legislative hurdles, Delmarva Power inked a deal with Blue Water Wind whereby a wind farm will be constructed off Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Last month came news that New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm took another step forward when a state agency awarded a $4 million grant to Garden State Offshore Energy to build a facility  off Ocean City, NJ. A grid of 96 turbines will generate enough juice for 125,000 homes- the first of the turbines could begin generating power by 2012.

Meanwhile in Virginia, on Wednesday this week, Minerals Management Service Director Randall Luthi will announces the first of a multi-step process for oil and gas leasing offshore Virginia. Instead of wind farms, Virginia Beach gets offshore rigs, pipelines, and stinky refineries. Instead of tapping into the Class 3 and higher winds that could easily power over 20% of the Commonwealth, and is part of a clean energy economic push that stands to bring in more than 4 times as many jobs to the Commonwealth than anything brought in via the oil/gas industry, Virginia is going to pursue a practice that contributes greatly to global warming and the sea level rise that will cause Hampton Roads to be underwater and that much more vulnerable to storm surges.

Now that’s a great legacy to leave behind, Governor Kaine!

Continue reading " DE and NJ Break Ground for Wind, VA Just Breaks Wind "

According to a poll released yesterday through the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, the majority of Virginians are worried about climate change.

“Three out of four Virginians think global warming is real and most want government at all levels - federal, state and local - to take actions to fight it,” writes Scott Harper in today’s Virginian-Pilot.

Meanwhile, Thelma Drake contends “There is tremendous disagreement about whether climate change is caused by human behavior or other natural forces”. (Source: Virginian-Pilot Voter Guide, Oct. 17, 2008)

Global warming is just God hugging us closer, right Thelma?!

Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr. is quoted as saying that “the poll should provide political cover in the state General Assembly, where any Virginia-specific global-warming programs would need to be approved.”  

Maybe so. But what Sec. Bryant fails to mention is how this poll also provides “political uncover” for global warming deniers like Thelma Drake, who has gosh-darn “worked” so hard to earn her 3% rating from the League of Conservation Voters dont’cha know.

Continue reading " Thelma Drake at Odds with the Majority of Virginians "

This week, Democratic leadership in Congress will offer a compromise energy package that will include both clean energy investments and some expanded drilling measures. It absolutely must pass!

Folks, we are seriously caught between a rock and a hard place here!  As Al Gore points out, “[W]e face a stark choice: subsidize old, dirty energy or invest in new, clean energy. This should be easy, but the influence of the oil lobby is deep — they’ve already spent more than $100 million in lobbying and advertising this year.”

Unfortunately, that “Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.” stupidity is winning over too many voters and too many vulnerable and Blue Dog Democrats in Congress.  Democratic leadership has thus far been able to reject all the Big Oil driven “drill only” energy proposals, that focused too much on dirty energy resources that helps the oil industry but does nothing to lower gas prices, protect consumers, or solve our energy crisis and only provided lip service to clean renewable energy.

But now our backs are up against a wall.

The moratorium on offshore drilling expires on September 30!!!  

Let me repeat… The moratorium on offshore drilling expires on September 30!!!
The Heritage Foundation has already dubbed October 1st as “Energy Freedom Day”. For on that day, all previously off-limits offshore areas will be on the chopping block, available for lease sales that very instant.  

To prevent this from happening, we are going to have to swallow a hard pill and except a level of offshore drilling.  It is the only way that we can preserve some restrictions on offshore drilling.  

But a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

Most importantly, the Democratic package contains some especially strong clean energy proposals.  The package includes significant investment in clean energy through a Renewable Energy Standard, improved transit and green building measures, and an extension of clean energy tax credits. It also protects consumers through a crackdown on oil speculation and drilling royalty loopholes, and offers low-income energy assistance.

Writes Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club:

“Speaker Pelosi has made a significant overture by presenting a package that includes both the clean energy provisions we need to move America forward, as well as a compromise that expands drilling off our coasts.”

“Faced with the chance to vote on a truly comprehensive energy package, big oil Republicans are already indicating they’ll refuse to support it.”

“They held Congress hostage and blocked measure after measure while gas prices soared. Now they want to stop yet another comprehensive energy bill that would deal with our energy crisis. This week, the Speaker will call their bluff to see if they really do want to vote on drilling as part of an energy package or whether they simply want to continue to use this as an election issue.”

“We are working to ensure that the final bill’s focus is on real clean energy solutions rather than expanded offshore drilling. While the final package will likely include compromise drilling provisions, it offers a chance for clean energy gains that would represent a giant step in solving our energy crisis.”

As Al Gore’s points out in a WE Campaign action alert:

“Meanwhile, tax credits for investments in solar and wind power have not been extended, and the growing renewables business that just made America the largest producer of wind power in the world, is on the verge of shutting down huge planned projects all over the country.

Billions in private investment, thousands of megawatts of new, clean energy, and more than 100,000 new jobs expected for 2009 will be lost.”

The time for action is NOW!!!

Call your Congressional representative now! (WE Campaign action page)

Call your Congressional representative now! (Sierra Club’s action page)

Or JUST CALL (202) 225-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your Representative or your Senators.  

Continue reading " Call Congress TODAY! We Need a Clean Energy Bill NOW! "

Crossposted at HRSierraClub.org

“The sky is falling”, proclaimed the City of Newport News in 1997 projecting that Newport News Waterworks users would be pulling 61.2 million gallons per day from the Peninsula’s water system by 2010.  Thus they hatched a plot to build the King William Reservoir.    

Never mind that the King William Reservoir would destroy 1,526 acres of a highly diverse wetland system including more than 400 acres of forested wetlands - the single greatest wetlands impact on the East Coast since 1972, when federal restrictions were imposed. The reservoir would destroy animal habitat including a 17-nest great blue heron rookery and disturb two federally listed threatened plant species.  The massive water withdrawals from the Mattaponi River would change the river’s salinity, threatening spawning of fish like shad and the river’s basic ecology.

And never mind that Native American Rights would be harmed. The reservoir would fall within a three mile buffer zone, violating a 1677 treaty with Virginia Native American tribes and disturbing over 100 documented Native American archeological sites. The annual shad spawning run, which has been a part of their tribal culture for over 15,000 years, would be finished.

The King William Reservoir is now costing over $300 million - current ratepayers throughout the entire area would be saddled with that cost.  On Tuesday, Newport News City Council will vote on borrowing $20 million more to continue buying land for the reservoir. They do so just as other localities, like King William County that signed onto to the agreement to build the reservoir and share in the costs of acquiring the land, are one-by-one backing out of the agreement, citing concern with the “uncertainty” surrounding the reservoir.

That uncertainty has now grown to include evidence that the water use projections are completely off… a whopping 40% off to be exact.  From the Daily Press:

Two reports from the Alliance to Save the Mattaponi show that the region’s water use has stayed stable, and slightly declined, over the past 15 years, and remains about 17.7 million gallons per day lower than the 2010 estimate.

“Newport News really missed the mark,” said Glen Besa, the Virginia director of the Sierra Club who coordinated the release of the reports Thursday.

“They’re really significantly off the mark,” Besa said. “That’s a 40% error.”  

Ouch! Perhaps it is now this new certainty surrounding the King William Reservoir that will finally kill plans to obliterate the Mattaponi.  Nothing is more certain than not wanting to pay a whole lot of money for something that’s not needed in the first place, eh?!  

So let’s be frank here, Mayor Frank… why do you really want this monstrous reservoir built?  So far it’s obvious that the Mattaponi is expendable as is the money otherwise still in your constituents’ wallets.  For who’s interest does the King William Reservoir serve?  Anybody want to take a wild guess here?

Click here and learn how you can help save the Mattaponi once and for all.

Continue reading " Can We Be Frank, Mayor Frank? "

And yet the National Organization of Women has issues with Obama.

Continue reading " Cindy McCain: First Lady and Ms. Buffalo Chip "

Okay, ya’ll speak now or forever hold your peace. From now until I get it totally switched over (hopefully tomorrow), none of the comments here at VB Dems are going to be transferred over and will disappear forever. So comment freely as you watch this clip from Mamma Mia (saw it today… LOVED [...]

Continue reading " Switching to SoapBlox Soon! "

As I’ve reported before, it was what I called “perjurous” testimony for State Senator Frank Wagner to testify before a congressional committee on natural resources that “my constituents, an overwhelming 75% supported offshore exploration and development of our offshore resources”.
But this episode pales in comparison to, and is just the beginning of, Frank Wagner’s [...]

Continue reading " Wagner’s Lies Set Up Virginia as Pawn for Big Oil "

There are appropriate places to drill for oil and gas offshore, and there are inappropriate places. Virginia is one of those inappropriate places, especially considering the huge risks, the marginal return only realized decades from now, and the very heavy investment involved.
Virginia is, however, absolutely ideal for offshore wind!
Writes Bacon’s Rebellion: “Virginia’s greatest natural [...]

Continue reading " Look Here, Barack Obama "

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at about noon today adjourned the House for its 5-week session recess, and left the Big Oil minions to groan and gripe in the dark. Oh, poo, poo… they didn’t get their offshore drilling… poo poo.
Desperate times have now befallen Thelma “Tra La La” Drake. No matter the relief [...]

Continue reading " Repugs Had Their Chance, Blew It, Now They Cry "

The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that Secretary of Finance and long-time Hampton Roads resident, Jody Wagner, has submitted her resignation effective August 8 to Governor Kaine. Although declining to comment directly, it’s expected she will soon announce plans to run for Lt. Governor in 2009, which sets up a primary challenge between her and Russell [...]

Continue reading " Breaking: Jody Wagner Resigns "

From Glenn Nye for Congress campaign:
Glenn Nye’s campaign is gearing up for our Energy Kick-Off event this Saturday August 2nd, 2008 and we would like for you to join us.
The price of gas is out of control and Glenn Nye has a common sense plan to provide some relief. It is time for our [...]

Continue reading " Nye’s Energy Plan Unveiled Tomorrow Aug. 2 "

Still pushing for Hillary Clinton, NOW takes shots at the males on Obama’s VP list:
So, let’s look at some of the men whose names are being bandied about. Gov. Kaine is reportedly very close with Obama and is supposedly the frontrunner at this time. This concerns me a great deal, as it should all feminists. [...]

Continue reading " NOW Disses Kaine as VP Pick "

In an letter prepared by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy who responded as the Defense Department’s Executive Agent for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) matters, Donald R. Schregardus writes, “We have considerable concern, however, with the proposed lease sale areas within the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area off the coast of Virginia.” (Click here to read [...]

Continue reading " Navy Opposes VA Offshore Drilling. End of Debate. "

Okay, you’ve probably heard “Handlebars” by Flobots at least a million times on the radio. But have you ever watched the video? I find it perplexing. What’s the message here? Is it that power corrupts? I also like the pace at which innocence is corrupted, and how the anger and [...]

Continue reading " Flobots Video "

In an letter prepared by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy who responded as the Defense Department’s Executive Agent for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) matters, Donald R. Schregardus writes, “We have considerable concern, however, with the proposed lease sale areas within the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area off the coast of Virginia.”  (Click here to read full Navy letter and view map at MMS.)

“The draft program option of greatest concern to the Department of Defense involves the special interest sale proposed for the Mid-Atlantic off the coast of Virginia.  The proposed area lies within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operations Areas where the Navy’s training and test and evaluation community conducts significant activity.”

“The VACAPES undersea, surface, and air space areas are critical to the development, fielding and certification of naval weapon systems; as a consequence, the Navy requires unencumbered access to the full expanse of this operations area.”

“Because hazards in this area to operating crews and oil company equipment and structures would be so great, the Department opposes oil and gas development activity in this OCS planning location.”

This letter was dated April 6, 2006 as comments on the Department of the Interior’s Draft Proposed 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012. Recently, Captain Joseph F. Bouchard, U.S. Navy Retired, a former Commanding Officer of Naval Station Norfolk and a current Delegate in Virginia’s House of Delegates, called the office in the Secretary of the Navy’s staff that prepared this letter and verified that this remains the official Navy position on offshore drilling. He also stood on the floor of the House of Delegates and delivered these remarks which reinforce the Navy’s adamant and continued opposition.  

Yet here stands little Virginia, all alone on the Atlantic Coast, pegged on the Department of Interior’s Mineral Management Services’ “Proposed Final Program 2007-2012″ map, and completely poised along with Western and Central Gulf of Mexico for lease sales the moment Congress lifts the moratorium on offshore drilling.

Notice however an area of Florida’s western coast (Eastern Gulf of Mexico) where they respect the Navy’s opposition to offshore drilling. Map source

The Department of Defense fought hard to have the Eastern Gulf exempted from offshore drilling due to the Navy and Air Force training ranges there, and Florida joined forces with them in that fight.  See the contrast to Virginia?  What exactly are Rep. Thelma Drake and Sen. Frank Wagner trying to tell our military?  The unmitigated disaster for military training presented by offshore drilling says what about their regard for our national security?  

The Navy’s objection is one of twelve reasons why offshore drilling is wrong for Virginia. Read the other 11 reasons here.  

Continue reading " Navy Opposes VA Offshore Drilling. Period. End of Debate. "

Continue reading " It Could Happen To You "

For 24 hours straight we’re raising money on DailyKos for Democrat Glenn Nye, running in VA-02. Karl Rove is raising money for his opponent, Bush-loving incumbent Thelma Drake. Let’s do our part to counteract Karl Rove and help elect Glenn Nye to Congress!

Glenn Nye 24-Hour DailyKos Fundraiser

All Times Eastern

12:00 p.m – 2:00 p.m.
kath25

2:00 [...]

Continue reading " 24-Hr. Blog Fundraiser at DailyKOS for Glenn Nye "

Here’s my favorite quote from tomorrow’s Virginian-Pilot article entitled “Beach’s 2nd District race shapes up to be competitive“…
“The unknown is the Obama factor,” said Gary Byler, Republican chairman of the 2nd District. “We don’t know if all these people who registered are going to show up.”
Progressives have identified over 98,000 “missing voters” in Hampton Roads. [...]

Continue reading " VP on 2nd District Race: Drake is Beatable! "

(Link)

Continue reading " Gallup: Obama with 9 Point Lead after World Tour "