For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Contact:

Lee Francis | Communications Manager
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org 

 

RICHMOND – Today, Governor McAuliffe issued Executive Directive 11 instructing the Department of Environmental Quality to develop a state-based regulation to cut carbon emissions from Virginia power plants in a way that allows Virginia to trade carbon allowances through a multi-state trading program and caps carbon at levels that correspond with other participating states with carbon limits.

The directive follows a months-long process that began with Executive Order 57, which convened a workgroup to look into ways to cut carbon emissions and grow the clean energy economy in Virginia. As outlined in the directive, DEQ has until the end of 2017 to present the proposed regulation to the state Air Pollution Control Board for its consideration.

In response, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“Virginia LCV has advocated for strong action to address climate change throughout Governor McAuliffe’s candidacy and term as Governor. Today’s initiative is the bold step forward we’ve been waiting for and we thank the administration for standing up to make sure Virginia does its part to address the climate crisis.

“This initiative recognizes the threat climate change poses to the environment, but more importantly, Governor McAuliffe recognizes that addressing climate change needs to be done in a way that improves peoples’ lives. In cutting the commonwealth’s carbon footprint we’re also bringing new jobs to the state in the clean energy sector – a central focus of the new Virginia economy this administration has tried so hard to build over the past few years.”

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Virginia LCV calls on statewide candidates, officials to reject plans to drill in Virginia waters

RICHMOND – Today, President Trump released an executive order that puts offshore drilling in Atlantic waters off Virginia’s coast back in contention. This directive reverses the Obama administration’s moratorium on leasing for oil and gas exploration, which came after heated opposition up and down the East Coast from coastal communities that would bear the brunt of the impact from a spill.

In response, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“In this, only his latest attack on the environment, President Trump has put one of Virginia’s largest economies at severe risk. Tourists simply do not flock to stay in hotels next to oil-covered beaches, explore parks coated in black tar, or eat in restaurants forced to serve seafood from across the globe because the local fisheries have vanished.

“Putting the Atlantic back into play makes all of these horrible scenarios a possibility, which is why there was a moratorium in the first place – communities up and down the East Coast recognized the clear risk offshore drilling posed to their economic health and livelihood.

“This is one reason Virginia voters should pay close attention in November. Will the next Governor be complicit in the reckless, shortsighted energy policy coming out of D.C. or do everything they can to protect our economy by keeping drilling off our coast off limits and growing the clean energy sector?”

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RICHMOND – During yesterday’s reconvened session, the General Assembly voted to approve Governor McAuliffe’s amendments to Senate Bill 1398, which addressed shortcomings in the legislation that would have allowed Dominion Power to obtain permits to close coal ash storage facilities prior to disclosing pertinent information to state agencies regarding ongoing pollution issues, suitability for long-term storage and options for closure.

Under the amended bill, Dominion will have to complete site assessments by December and the earliest the utility could obtain a permit is May 2018, which provides enough time to choose the best path forward for closing these facilities and protecting water quality from toxic heavy metals in the process.

In response to yesterday’s action, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“Yesterday, our legislature followed Governor McAuliffe’s lead by standing up in a big way to protect Virginians’ access to clean water and to safeguard communities against the harmful impacts of toxic coal ash currently stockpiled on the banks of major rivers and tributaries in the Bay watershed. But to be clear, this is simply the first step in effectively addressing this threat to the environment and public health. Dominion Power would be wise to continue to not stand in the way of ensuring the best possible results from this process. The ball is now in their court and we will be watching the assessment process closely.”

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RICHMOND – Today, President Trump released an executive order dismantling key clean air protections that protect public health as well as multiple Obama-era efforts to combat climate change, including the signature Clean Power Plan.

This latest assault on clean air via executive order follows on the heels of Trump’s proposed budget, which zeroed out funding for climate change research, international outreach and coordination on the climate crisis, and many programs aimed at curbing domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

In response to today’s action, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“President Trump may believe that fighting climate change is ‘stupid,’ but at the end of the day, he’s the one with his head in the sand. Whether it’s rising seas flooding Norfolk neighborhoods and military bases or drought and severe weather threatening southside farmers and rural communities, climate change impacts all Virginians.”

“Climate policies like the Clean Power Plan are a win-win for the American people – less harmful air pollution alongside lower electric bills and increased economic opportunities. Overturning this rule sends us in the wrong direction and makes it clear that Trump is more interested in doing polluters’ bidding than protecting the public health of real Americans.”

“Here in Virginia, we must hold the line against President Trump’s dangerous and reckless policies. Governor McAuliffe has the opportunity to be a bulwark against this attack on clean air by implementing a strong plan to cut carbon pollution in the Commonwealth while creating thousands of clean energy jobs. When climate policy at the federal level is headed backwards, Virginia can and must keep moving forward.”

RICHMOND – Today, Governor McAuliffe amended Senate Bill 1398 to address shortcomings in the legislation that would have allowed Dominion Power to obtain permits to close coal ash storage facilities prior to disclosing pertinent information to state agencies regarding ongoing pollution issues, suitability for long-term storage, and options for closure.

Under the amended bill, the earliest Dominion could obtain a permit is May 2018, which provides enough time to fully evaluate these sites and to choose the best path forward for closing these facilities and protecting water quality from toxic heavy metals in the process.

In response to today’s action, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:

“Today, Governor McAuliffe stood up for the people of the Commonwealth by ensuring cleaner water, but the General Assembly still has to act. Without this amendment, Virginians could have to deal with the fallout from band-aid solutions to a very real, very dangerous environmental threat. On April 5, we urge the full General Assembly to do the right thing for their constituents. Dominion Power should not be allowed to play Russian roulette with our water quality, and I hope between now and May 2018, they focus their energy on evaluating coal ash sites instead of lobbying against clean water protections that keep communities safe.”

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About Virginia LCV: 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.

RICHMOND – The Virginia League of Conservation Voters today unveiled scores for Virginia’s congressional delegation released this morning as part of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) 2016 National Environmental Scorecard.

The 2016 Scorecard scores votes cast during the second session of the 114th Congress. It includes 17 votes in the Senate and 38 House votes, setting a new record for the most votes scored in the House and reflecting that, under Speaker Paul Ryan, the U.S. House remains the most anti-environmental in history. Nationally, the average House Republican score for 2016 was 5 percent, while the average House Democrat score was 94 percent.

In Virginia, three House members and both U.S. Senators earned a score of 80 percent or greater on the 2016 Scorecard, while the remainder of the congressional delegation earned an abysmal score of 5 percent or less. The average U.S. House score in 2016 for Virginia was 28 percent and the average U.S. Senate score was 94 percent.

The Scorecard is available in both English and Spanish at scorecard.lcv.org.

“Virginia’s congressional delegation, as a whole, can and must do better. The partisan rift on environmental issues is unacceptable when protecting clean air and water is so important to the daily quality of life and public health of all Virginians – regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum,” said Virginia LCV’s Executive Director Michael Town. “We encourage our champions to continue to stand up for the environment and urge those who missed the mark to start doing the right thing – Virginia voters are watching.”

“2016 saw a relentless assault on both bedrock environmental protections and recent progress even as we experienced the hottest year on record – for the third year in a row – and world leaders came together on Earth Day to sign the historic climate agreement reached in Paris,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “Fortunately, President Obama and our allies in Congress beat back the vast majority of these attacks and stood up for the health of our families, communities of color on the frontlines of climate change, and the international consensus to take action on climate.”

Virginia Congressional Delegation Scores

U.S. Senate

Name	Party	Score
Tim Kaine	D	100
Mark Warner	D	88

U.S. House of Representatives

District	Name	Party	Score
1	Rob Wittman	R	0
2	Scott Rigell	R	5
3	Bobby Scott	D	100
4	Randy Forbes	R	0
5	Robert Hurt	R	3
6	Bob Goodlatte	R	0
7	Dave Brat	R	0
8	Don Beyer	D	100
9	Morgan Griffith	R	0
10	Barbara Comstock	R	3
11	Gerry Connolly	D	100

The number of environmental champions in Congress continues to grow, and they are becoming more vocal and effective than ever before. Our environmental allies stood up for clean air and water, public lands, climate science, wildlife, and more. They fought for the health of our families and voted against the interests of Big Polluters, and with President Obama, were able to fight off the seemingly endless parade of attacks on environmental protections in Congress.

The 2016 Scorecard is being released at a time when attacks on the environment are already coming fast and furious from polluter allies in both the Trump administration and Congress. While the attacks contained in the 2016 Scorecard were largely prevented from becoming law thanks to opposition in the Senate and the President’s veto pen, those attacks serve as a preview of what’s at stake now that polluters have an ally in the White House who can be expected to sign these anti-environmental pieces of legislation should they reach his desk.

Indeed, both houses of Congress have already passed a resolution eliminating the Stream Protection Rule using the radical Congressional Review Act (CRA) legislative tool, and the House has passed a similar measure voiding the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane and Waste Reduction Rule—both of which are the subject of votes in the 2016 Scorecard.

For over 40 years, the National Environmental Scorecard issued by LCV has been the nationally accepted yardstick used to rate members of Congress on environmental, public health, and energy issues. For more information, visit http://scorecard.lcv.org. 

RICHMOND – Tuesday, Jan. 10, voters in three legislative districts across the state will cast ballots in special elections to fill vacancies following the advancement of several state legislators to Congress.

Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters announced its endorsement of Ryant Washington for the 22nd District seat in the Virginia State Senate and Cheryl Turpin for the 85th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Virginia LCV has also endorsed current 71st District Delegate Jennifer McClellan in her race for the 9th Senate District.

“Now, more than ever, we need strong conservation champions at the state level who will stand up for the clean air, clean water and protected open spaces that have a direct impact on Virginians’ daily quality of life. These candidates fit that bill,” said Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “With Ryant Washington in the State Senate and Cheryl Turpin in the House, we will be one step closer to ensuring conservation values are protected at the General Assembly.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement and support of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters today,” said Ryant Washington, candidate for Virginia State Senate. “I look forward to supporting them in their work to promote policies that will protect our land and defend our most vital natural resources in the district. We need to ensure that our way of life is protected for generations to come.”

“As an AP Environmental Science Teacher, I am proud to have the endorsement of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters,” said Cheryl Turpin, candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates. “I have spent my career as an educator working to teach our children about climate change and how they can be better stewards of the environment. It’s time for Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth to take climate change seriously and there will be no stronger advocate to protect our community in Richmond.”

About Virginia LCV: 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.

RICHMOND – Today, state and federal officials announced a $50 million settlement with DuPont for years of mercury pollution in Shenandoah Valley waterways. The settlement is the largest in Virginia’s history and the eighth largest in the U.S. behind environmental calamities like the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

All told, federal and state regulators estimate mercury pollution emitted from DuPont’s Waynesboro plant in the 1930s and 1940s impacted more than 100 miles of river and floodplain around the South River and South Fork Shenandoah River. The settlement will fund projects to improve water quality and habitat throughout this important watershed.

“This settlement is a huge first step toward restored Shenandoah Valley waterways and healthier communities for those who call the valley home and sends a signal to polluters that the health and wellbeing of Virginians comes first. It also brings to a close one of the longest environmental fights ever waged in the commonwealth,” said Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “For years, these mercury-tainted waters were unfishable and put Shenandoah Valley residents at risk, especially children. We applaud Attorney General Herring and the McAuliffe administration for setting a major benchmark in protecting and restoring Virginia’s natural resources and urge them to continue doing the right thing for our environment.”