Sierra Club: "Tell Governor Kaine to Fix Energy Bill"

By: Lowell
Published On: 3/21/2007 6:25:39 AM

According to the Sierra Club's "Virginia Action Network," the electric utility re-regulation bill sitting on Gov. Kaine's desk right now "would provide Virginia utilities billions of dollars in guaranteed profits to build new nuclear and coal plants," would be "harmful to consumers and the environment," and is "possibly the most dangerous piece of energy legislation ever passed by the Virginia General Assembly!"  The Sierra Club is encouraging everyone to write Gov. Kaine, plus your state Delegate and Senator.  The message?

...I support mandating power companies to invest in energy efficiency and conservation programs before being allowed to build more destructive power plants.

I also support a mandatory program to develop renewable energy generation for our future energy needs, utilizing emission free resources like wind and solar power instead of dirty coal and dangerous nuclear plants. We should invest in renewable energy sources that will lower carbon emissions and our long-term energy price tag.

As yesterday's Climate Crisis Action Day rally made clear, we don't have time to wait on dealing with global warming.  Which is why here in Virginia, it's time, as the Sierra Club urges, for our state to "be a leader...as our nation moves into a 21st century energy economy."  If not, Virginia and the planet will both be losers.

Comments



Virginia: Welcome to the 21st Century (hereinva - 3/21/2007 10:41:58 AM)
I took away three messages from yesterdays Climate Crisis Action Day:
1) Time of the essence. We no longer have the "luxury" of waffling our time in constructing policy responses to climate change/global warming. The science is in, the data is out- it is measurable, observable, and in some cases results have exceeded predictions regarding impact of global warming. According to many reports there is a 10 year window of opportunity to start slowing CO2 emissions 

2) Solutions are varied but do-able and within our ability to implement provided we have the political will to do so.
It will require the co-operation of industry, communities and governmental agencies.

3)If there is any action to be made, it must start from the grass-roots up. Citizens must demand a change in course- starting now.

State elected officials from NJ, MI (a republican btw), and California provided examples of how THEIR states are currently addressing climate change via effective policies.
Its time for Virginia SET AN EXAMPLE..and show how it can be done right.

The "Re-Regulation Energy Bill" keeps Virginia tied to the old paradigm of extraction and combustion with little or no incentives for efficiency or conservation (and with far fewer oversights by SCC). While Dominion makes the case for their investors, Virginia citizens need to make the case for their families and communities who will no doubt see and breathe the impact of "re-regulation".



Moreover, Engergy shouldn't regulate itself (Hugo Estrada - 3/21/2007 11:15:05 AM)
It is absurd that Virginia Power should get away with making the rules by which it should be regulated. As expected, they guarantee profits for themselves and reduce or pass along their cost to the state or the consumer.

And the wrong energy bill can destroy our economic prospects. At this point, Virginia is considered a good place for businesses. This is already being threatened by our road situation. Having an unpredictable energy cost market will further erode our business friendly ranking.