(Click on image to enlarge).

Yesterday, on day #46 of the devastating oil spill that continues to dump oil into Australian seas, the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter released images of that spill plotted off Virginia’s coast.*

The images were commissioned from SkyTruth who used NASA and other government generated satellite images to depict the Australian oil spill that as of September 3 has grown to almost 9,900 square miles – larger than the square mile size of Vermont. The simple overlay of the Australian spill originating at a hypothetical well in the Lease Area 220 shows an oil spill of this size reaching Virginia Beach, Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the northern Outer Banks.

Images available here:
http://hrsierraclub.org/VASkyTruth.jpg
http://hrsierraclub.org/VASkyTruth1.jpg
http://hrsierraclub.org/VASkyTruth2.jpg
http://virginia.sierraclub.org/onespill.html

“Supporters of offshore drilling have been saying there is no risk of a spill in Virginia waters with modern drilling technology. What is happening in Australia right now with a new rig built in 2007 proves that claim wrong,” added Besa. “Plotted off Virginia’s coast, the Australian oil spill should give Virginia great pause” said Glen Besa, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director. “All it takes is one spill to virtually shutdown Virginia’s coastal economy, both tourism and fisheries, for years. Oil is still disrupting the natural environment in Prince William Sound 20 years after the Exxon Valdez spill.”

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Continuing in our series of live-blogging with Virginia General Assembly members, we will be joined on December 22, at 2:00pm by Fairfax Senator Chap Petersen.

Senator Petersen is the author of Virginia 2.0, “A vision for our community, our state and our world.”

Virginia is the birthplace of a great nation.  Our state has been the home of national leaders from colonial times to the present.

Virginians were able to accomplish great things for one reason – generations past invested in the future.  To prepare for our 21st century future, we need a vision.

Below are some of the issues we face.  Resolving them is not a Democrat or Republican issue.  Rather, let’s resolve these issues by asking:  how will our actions impact our children and our children’s children?

• Traffic Congestion
• Growing Carbon Emissions
• Loss of Open Space
• Dependence on Fossil Fuels
• Using Technology to Save Money

Post your questions for Senator Petersen in the comments section ahead of time.  Then, if you can, please return here when Senator Petersen will be here live to answer questions.

In an effort to better educate Virginians about the upcoming General Assembly session, we are 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 on Dec. 1, 2008 beginning at 5:00pm.

Delegate Bouchard serves on the Governor’s Climate Change Commission. He will be here on Dec. 1, 2008 starting at 5:00pm 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.

Post your questions for Delegate Bouchard in the comments section ahead of time. Then, if you can, please return here when Delegate Bouchard will be here live to answer questions.

Here’s a run down of the good “green” blogs talking up our issues:

Virginia Blogs:
The Green Miles

Raising Kaine - Here’s two sample posts currently on RK’s front page “Will Dominion Blow the Top off This Mountain Too?” and “Democrats’ Disastrous ‘Me, Too’ Drilling Strategy“.

The Daily Press’ At the Bay - The new kids on the block with the great graphic above. Check out this post “Is the King William needed?“.

National Blogs:
Grist -

“Insider” Blogs:
Sierra Club’s Carl Pope’s Blog
Sierra Club’s Compass - Check out this great post “Join Cool Cities for the 30% Solution“.