For Immediate Release:
Friday, Feb. 8, 2019

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – In response to a second, serious, and we believe credible, allegation of sexual assault against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“The allegations against Justin Fairfax are deeply troubling and appalling. We believe these accusations make it impossible for Mr. Fairfax to meet the demands of the office of Lieutenant Governor and disqualify him to hold office in Virginia. We call on Fairfax to immediately resign the office of Lieutenant Governor.

As an organization committed to the health and safety of all people, we also believe it is important to take allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously. Virginia LCV condemns sexual harassment and sexual violence of any kind and we believe that, like all survivors, these women deserve to be respected and heard through a fair, thorough and safe process that allows their full stories to be told.”

Anyone affected by sexual assault, whether it happened to you or someone you care about, can find support on the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE). You can also visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, Governor Northam, alongside a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers from both chambers, announced consensus legislation to comprehensively address Virginia’s toxic coal ash problem in a way that protects clean water and minimizes impacts to ratepayers and adjoining communities.

The legislation requires all of the nearly 30 million tons of coal ash stored in the Bay watershed at Dominion Energy power plants to be removed from unlined, leaking ponds and transferred to a modern, lined landfill or recycled – the only approaches guaranteed to safeguard clean water going forward.

In response to today’s announcement, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, offered the following statement:

“This is an important, historic step forward for clean water. One of Virginia’s largest environmental threats will now be addressed in a comprehensive way that gets this toxic waste off our riverbanks once and for all and safeguards public health in the long-term.

Responsible coal ash cleanup has been a top priority of Virginia LCV over the past several years, and we’ve seen steady progress. However, 2019 was the year we needed a final, safe coal ash solution and lawmakers and the Northam Administration delivered.

We are grateful for the Governor’s leadership on this issue as well as the dogged efforts of lawmakers at the General Assembly, including Senators Scott Surovell, Amanda Chase, and Rosalyn Dance, and Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy. We look forward to helping get this consensus legislation across the finish line at the General Assembly and signed into law.”

 

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, the State Air Pollution Control Board voted 4-0 to approve an air permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Buckingham Compressor Station. The vote brings to an end a highly controversial and tumultuous process, marked by the removal in November of two dissenting board members in the middle of an important regulatory decision, who voiced concerns about the Buckingham Compressor Station’s disproportionate impact on the majority African-American community of Union Hill.

In response to today’s vote, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, offered the following statement:

“We are disappointed in today’s outcome. This flawed process has exposed the evil-handed tactics Dominion Energy will employ and the communities they are willing to destroy to secure billions of dollars in profits. We stand with the Virginians who demand leadership from our elected officials to hold this corrupt electric monopoly accountable.

Dominion’s compressor station continues to present a significant and toxic threat that will fall unfairly on the people of Union Hill, and marks perhaps the electric monopoly’s most egregious disenfranchisement of any impacted community along the route of their unnecessary and destructive pipeline.

But an important fact remains: though Dominion has a permit in hand for the compressor station, their flawed Atlantic Coast Pipeline does not currently have any way to connect to Buckingham. At every turn, this pipeline has failed to pass legal muster, and while Dominion might be able to game a regulatory process, they can’t game the judiciary.”

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, the Air Pollution Control Board voted 3-1 to allow another round of public comment on Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s proposed Buckingham Compressor Station, which if built, would disproportionately impact the historic African American community of Union Hill. The new comment period will allow concerned citizens to weigh in on new information that came to light following the board’s contentious November hearing.

In response, Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV, issued the following statement:

“While we had held out hope the citizens of Union Hill would be celebrating the defeat of Dominion’s compressor station today, the Air Board’s decision to hear more public input on a project with such clear environmental justice impacts is a positive step forward in this fight.

Time after time, Dominion has put its profits before people. No example is more glaring than the electric monopoly’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which isn’t needed and will destroy our environment and communities’ way of life along the route for the benefit of Dominion shareholders.

With traction behind this project slipping, Dominion is no doubt already scheming ahead to a ‘Plan B.’ But the days where this corrupt utility can ram through policies and projects that hurt Virginians and our environment are numbered – it’s time for them to see the writing on the wall, and my hope is the Air Board’s final vote on this project will make that painfully clear.”

 

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Monday, Dec. 17, 2018

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, in response to a new report indicating that the average Dominion Energy ratepayer pays approximately $250 a year in unnecessary electricity costs, Dominion Energy attempted to invalidate the authors of the report and mentioned the Virginia League of Conservation Voters in doing so.

In response, Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV, issued the following statement:

“Virginia LCV is confused as to why Dominion Energy felt it necessary to invoke our organization in their recent press release.

Clean Virginia and Virginia LCV may have different missions; however, both of our organizations recognize that Dominion, for decades, has taken advantage, manipulated, and abused the political and legislative processes that regulate their activities.

Both of our organizations agree that this needs to end and Clean Virginia’s report accurately highlights the burden that Dominion’s greed and corrupt dealings places on Virginia households.

It makes sense that Dominion Energy is lashing out at environmental groups following a couple weeks where nothing has really gone their way. Dominion’s business model breeds corruption – they have a monopoly on electricity and will do whatever it takes to keep it, whether that’s bullying the opposition, waving cash at lawmakers, or funding multi-million dollar green-washing campaigns to convince their captive ratepayers they’re doing the right thing.”

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

VIRGINIA BEACH – Today, Governor Northam announced historic funding commitments aimed at safeguarding Virginia’s land and water resources and ensuring the Commonwealth meets its Chesapeake Bay recovery targets.

This funding goes, in part, to increasing “Best Management Practices” cost-sharing used to help farmers protect local streams from agricultural runoff; increasing monies available to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund; boosting funding for the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation; and returning much-needed staff back to the under-funded Department of Environmental Quality.

In response to today’s news, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“Today, Governor Northam made a historic commitment to protect Virginia’s land and water resources, which we believe will pay even huger dividends for our environment, for citizens’ quality of life, and to our economy going forward. Voters across Virginia support clean water, clean air, and protecting important land resources; however, funding for key environmental programs has for years not kept pace with public demand.

These investments are a clear signal from Governor Northam that conservation will remain a priority of his administration going forward, and a necessary down payment to meet his goals of increasing natural resources funding to 2 percent of the general fund. It is now up to the General Assembly to do the right thing for conservation, our economy, and for Virginians in every corner of the commonwealth by fully funding Northam’s blueprint for clearer water, protected lands and a healthier environment.”

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, Attorney General Mark Herring, acting on behalf of the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Water Control Board, filed a lawsuit against Mountain Valley Pipeline in response to more than 300 alleged violations of environmental regulations and permits by the pipeline builder in Southwest Virginia.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline, which crosses a wide swath of rugged terrain from Giles County to Pittsylvania County, is being developed by EQT Midstream Partners, which has a track record of environmental violations in other states where it’s built similar infrastructure.

In response to today’s news, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“Today’s lawsuit holding the developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline accountable for environmental devastation in Southwest Virginia is the show of leadership we’ve been waiting for from this Administration.

While fining this company for being a bad actor in Virginia is a welcome and necessary step forward, it’s important not to forget that Virginians who live along this route are still the ones paying the real price – in land taken from them repaid with mud-filled streams and rivers, and in a forever marred mountainside and rural landscape.

We hope this Administration has learned some hard lessons from Southwest Virginia it can apply if and when Dominion’s destructive and equally unnecessary Atlantic Coast Pipeline moves forward. At more than triple the footprint of the MVP, this project poses three times the threat to our waterways, our land, and our way of life, with no benefit to anybody but Dominion shareholders.”

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org. 

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For Immediate Release:
Friday, Nov. 30, 2018

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, the Trump Administration approved permits allowing the use of seismic blasting to search for oil in the mid-Atlantic. The permits, issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service, give companies the green light to begin searching for oil off our coast using a practice known to harm important marine life, and comes as more and more coastal communities in Virginia are expressing their opposition to drilling off our coast.

In response to today’s announcement, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“These permits are an unwelcome step toward oil rigs off our beaches. The Trump Administration has refused to listen to his own military, business and civic leaders up and down Virginia’s coast, and the leaders of this Commonwealth, who all oppose drilling off our coast.”

“The oil to be found in the Atlantic, if any, is not worth the immense threats drilling poses to our economy, our marine life, and our way of life in Virginia. We condemn the Trump Administration’s tone-deaf push forward in the search for oil we don’t need and stand with Virginia’s Governor and coastal communities in opposing any and all fossil fuel exploration or extraction off our shores.”

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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For Immediate Release:
Friday, Nov. 16, 2018

Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org

 

RICHMOND – Today, the Northam Administration announced its replacements of Samuel Bleicher and Rebecca Rubin on the Air Pollution Control Board, which came in the middle of a high-stakes regulatory decision pertaining to a permit for Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

In response to today’s news, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

We hope these new board members are qualified, but, frankly, we have no idea who they are. What we do know is that they are replacing two highly respected, well-qualified board members who dared to ask the hard questions about Dominion’s unnecessary and destructive pipeline, and that their appointments come just weeks before an important final vote on this project and on the heels of a contentious hearing where they raised serious concerns.

We believe Governor Northam has made a huge mistake and one that has immensely marred his standing and reputation in the conservation community and one that should impact overall public trust in this Administration, as well.

The appearance that Governor Northam replaced these board members to protect Dominion Energy at the expense of the predominantly African-American community of Union Hill is unconscionable and unacceptable.

 

About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.

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