Our own Fred Adams was honored today by Mayor Will Sessoms for his many years of service to the Virginia Beach community. Until recently, Fred served for many years as the Chairman of Sierra Club’s Chesapeake Bay group and serves on the City’s Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee. He previously served on their Open Space Subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Fred summed up his work in two words. “Smart growth”, he cheered at today’s presentation. Fred also commended the Mayor on his commitment to light rail in Virginia Beach. Headway into making our VB community more walkable and bikeable are certainly thanks to all of Fred’s hard work and determination.

Happy trails, Fred!

Over three dozen elected officials, local and state government officials from fifteen Hampton Roads local governments, and representatives from area environmental organizations gathered for the Hampton Roads Climate Leadership Workshop - VML Go Green Government Challenge on Thursday June 25 at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton, VA. (See partial list of attendees on the flip.)

The workshop was sponsored by the newly formed Hampton Roads Cool Communities Coalition (HRCCC). The goal of the worshop was to help local governments move forward in measuring and reducing both municipal and community carbon footprints.

“We want cities to measure because you can’t conserve what you don’t measure,” said Randie Trestrail, who along with Ken Ricklin serve as co-chairs of the coalition. “Recognizing the seriousness of the situation and wanting to contribute to the solutions to climate change, HRCCC was formed by a group of fully engaged citizens eager to help support their local communities in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions”, she added.

Speakers included Dr. Diana Christopolous from the hugely successful Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition; Joe Lerch, director of the Virginia Municipal League’s Go Green Government program; and Glen Besa, Virginia chapter director of the Sierra Club.

More from today’s Daily Press’ article “Cool coalition works to lower local emissions”…

Diana Christopulos, chair of the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, spoke to the group about how Roanoke officials measured emissions of both municipal government operations and the entire community. University graduate-student interns with academic supervision gathered the data and used software to calculate how much carbon dioxide and other ozone-depleting gases were generated from homes, businesses, industry, traffic and other sources. From there, Roanoke made a goal to stop increasing emissions by 2010 and to have a 10 percent reduction every five years thereafter through 2050.

Christopulos stressed the need for local governments to be leaders in reducing emissions to be a role model for the community. She also talked about ways local governments to cut back on greenhouse gases: conserving by having municipal vehicles take fewer trips, for example. Buying energy-efficient vehicles, appliances and lighting helps too, she said.

“One way to get started is to do the Go Green Virginia challenge,” Christopulos said.

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In a letter addressed to each member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the League of Conservation Voters announced its decision to not endorse anyone voting against the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act.

“In light of the tremendous importance of this legislation, LCV has made the unprecedented decision that we will not endorse any member of the House of Representatives in the 2010 election cycle who votes against final passage of this historic bill”, writes LCV President Gene Karpinski.

Click here to view pdf of letter.

Wonder how much of an impact that will have on Virginia’s congressional delegation…

Check out my LTE as it appeared in today’s Virginian-Pilot (with added byline, different photo and embedded link to our ACES “Take Action” page:

Ground zero in wind energy

Virginia is blessed with offshore wind, which could power as much as 20% of the commonwealth. The technology for offshore wind exists today and has proven commercially viable elsewhere in the world. Each wind turbine consists of more than 8,000 parts, which translates to thousands of good-paying, secure jobs. The U.S. holds a majority of the patents involved with solar energy systems. Yet those solar energy parts are primarily produced in Europe, which drives up the costs for systems sold in the U.S. Thus, we don’t see solar panels on as many homes and businesses as we should. The ’shot in the arm’ investment provided by the American Clean Energy and Security Act would get these systems produced right here, right now.

Meanwhile, of all the places in the U.S., the effects of climate change are felt hardest here in Hampton Roads with billions of dollars of our assets vulnerable to sea level rise and greater storm surges. But from problems come solutions, and Virginia could be a national leader in renewable energy production. Congress must pass the ACES Act, and Rep. Glenn Nye must lead the charge.

Eileen Levandoski
Sierra Club, Virginia chapter
Virginia Beach

The American Clean Energy and Security Act currently being debated in Congress is of vital importance to putting the United States on a path to slash carbon emissions and create new clean energy jobs to boost our economy. Big Oil, Big Coal, and other polluters have already attempted to weaken the bill for their own gain.

This important legislation needs to be strengthened in three key areas before its passage: strengthen the renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions, restore authority to the EPA to clean up dirty coal plants, and ensure that polluters, not consumers, are paying.

Click here to urge your Representative to strengthen and pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act!

Take Action on Coal Ash TODAY!

At the coal industry’s bidding, U.S. Senators Brownback and Conrad are trying to put pressure on the EPA to reject federally enforceable coal ash disposal standards - undermining the EPA’s authority to ensure that coal companies cannot continue to put communities in danger with toxic coal fly ash.

Let Senators Webb and Warner know that you oppose any effort compelling the EPA to give up necessary, federally enforceable standards for coal ash pollution.

Tell them about local problems with coal ash with which you may be familiar such as in SW Virginia, Chesapeake and York County.

It is unconscionable that, in the wake of the tragic Tennessee coal ash disaster late last year, King Coal lobbyists are pushing for relaxed federal “guidelines” that would treat coal ash like household trash, rather than the hazardous pollution it is.

If King Coal lobbyists get their way, communities close to these toxic coal ash sites will be left vulnerable to arsenic, mercury, selenium, and other coal toxins, and they will continue to face a very high, 1 in 50, risk of cancer.

Ask Senators Webb and Warner to reject Brownback and Conrad’s sign on letter that seeks to take away the EPA’s authority to enforce regulation to clean up coal.

Click here to get started: http://action.sierraclub.org/bigpicture_coalash

You can also call Senator Webb at 202-224-4024 and Senator Warner at 202-224-2023.

By weakening the EPA on this issue, the coal industry is not only trying to preserve the status quo with regards to coal ash, but also to challenge the EPA’s ability to take action on any piece of a Big Picture plan to create a clean energy economy.

It’s time that we protect the communities close to these sites; it’s time that we demand safe, clean energy, and it is time that we authorize the EPA to ensure we get both. Please send a message to your Senator’s today.

Thanks for all that you do. (Crossposted at ArticleXI.com)

Sunday, June 14th @ 10:30 a.m. - Northwest River Park

We will meet at the Virginia Beach Central Library Parking Lot at 10:30 am near the Virginia Beach Blvd side of the parking lot. We will then drive 30 minutes to Northwest River Park in Chesapeake. We will enjoy a 4-5 mile hike and should return to the library by 2:00 p.m. (at the ABSOLUTE latest).

We will follow several different trails that wind through the park and pass by many different species of plants such as the bald cypress tree. We will observe several historical spots, such as old moon shining stills (although I’ve yet to find one, maybe on this trip?). We will stop at about the half way point where the trail meets the Northwest River. It’s a gorgeous spot for a picnic lunch (so don’t forget to pack some goodies).

**Please be aware, this park does have a tendency to be muddy, so boots are a good idea!**

Come support our fellow environmental organizations–The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.  All Sierrans are welcome to join our group on Saturday for the annual Clean the Bay Day! We will be meeting at the Trails Center at First Landing State Park on Saturday, June 6th at 8:45 a.m.  You will need to email ctbd@cbf.org to register.   For more information click on the link below.

cbf.org/clean

In addition, the Nature Conservancy is looking for snorkeling or scuba diving volunteers for the Worlds Largest Seagras Restoration!  They will be collecting seagrass through June 11, 2009.  For more information please email Jennifer Rich at jrich@tnc.org. or visit the link below:

www.nature.org/seagrassrestoration

Local small-business leaders and residents of Hampton Roads gathered at Solar Services Inc. in Virginia Beach to learn more about the potential for expansion of their businesses and further job creation as a result of investment in a clean energy economy, as could be provided with passage of a strong American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act.

The event was organized by MoveOn and the local Sierra Club group. Participants also included a representative from Congressman Glenn Nye’s office. Hampton Roads citizens are calling on Senators Warner and Webb and Rep. Nye to pass a strong clean energy jobs bill.

As I pointed out in my remarks, the ACES Act presents an opportunity to not only clean up global warming pollution by holding polluters accountable, but to also simultaneously and very quickly drive a shift in U.S. energy production toward cleaner, cheaper sources, like wind and solar, which are key to solving both our environmental and economic crises.

More specifically we here in Hampton Roads stand to reap a tremendous amount of benefit with passage of a strong ACES Act with both its investment in renewable energy production and its curbing global warming pollution. Hampton Roads is blessed with ideal offshore wind energy potential. Meanwhile, of all the places in the U.S., the effects of climate change are felt hardest here in Hampton Roads with $ billions of our assets vulnerable to sea level rise and greater and greater storm surges battering our coast.

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The Chesapeake Bay group is very fortunate to have a new Outings Chairwoman, Chris Bryan!

And Chris has already lined up a number of hikes throughout the summer with the first being this Sunday, May 31st.

Truth be told, Chris moves faster in her outings planning than we can with our website updating!  Here’s info on the May 31st hike.  Check back here for more info on other summertime outings planned for both Southside and the Peninsula.

York River State Park

We will meet at the Virginia Beach Central Library Parking Lot at 1pm near the Virginia Beach Blvd side of the parking lot.  We will then drive one hour to York River State Park.  We will enjoy a 5-6 mile hike and we should be back at the Library by 6:00 pm, unless the group would like to stop for dinner on the way back.

York River State Park supplies an opportunity to experience the environment of a coastal estuary. This park is known for its rare and delicate environment, where freshwater and saltwater meet to create a habitat rich in marine and plant life. The main focus of the park is to preserve a portion of the York River frontage. York River State Park served as a role model for all of Virginia’s state parks in developing resource management plans. The park’s natural resources make it a significant place for environmental education at all levels.