DO SOMETHING CHARLOTTESVILLE

Minutes of the Aug. 12, 2008 Meeting from Jennifer

2008-08-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

This just in from Jennifer - the minutes from August 12, 2008 meeting at the McIntire Room, Jefferson-Madison Library. Posted by Peter Kleeman

Hi Everybody!

I hope everyone had a great summer!! I've been remiss in my duties as the Do Something Charlottesville note-taker! We met on August 12 this month (due to scheduling difficulties) and though we were a small group, we had two great guests! Mike McCoy of Appalachian Voices and Antigone Ambrose of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network joined us to speak about upcoming actions. Briefly, here are the topics we discussed and any updates since the meeting:

1) Perriello vs. Goode: On August 13, Peter Kleeman attended the Virginia Senior Statesman forum featuring Tom Perriello and Virgil Goode. Peter submitted a question about addressing climate change, and even though it was not selected, both candidates addressed energy issues. Virgil Goode advocated drilling offshore and in the Alaskan wildlife refuge and generating coal based energy. Perriello was in favor of some new oil drilling - not in ANWR - and development of alternative energy sources. He did not mention coal in his answer. Later, Peter had the chance to ask him directly about his energy policy and the answer was vague. Peter suggested that we communicate the need for addressing these issues - and possibly suggest explicit positions for him to consider adopting. Email can be sent to him at tomp@perrielloforcongress.com if you wish to follow up by email.

2) Meeting with Goode: Our legislators are on recess and we are trying to schedule a meeting with Virgil Goode at his Charlottesville office to discuss our concerns about environmental issues in Virginia, including mountaintop removal mining and energy efficiency. I haven't had any luck getting a meeting yet, but I'll keep you posted!

3) Governor's Commission on Climate Change: On August 27, public comments were heard by the commission that Governor Kaine has created to address climate change. There were 45 speakers and 44 of them asked the commission to recommend exceeding the governor's proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets. Concerned citizens from across Virginia (some traveled 15 hours roundtrip to offer their comments) proposed scientific, religious, and moral reasons to use renewable energy, demand energy efficiency, and end the use of fossil fuels. I represented Do Something Charlottesville! You can see what the commission is up to and leave written comments here: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/info/climatechange.html

4) PVCC Green Job Training: Peter Kleeman is on the board of Piedmont Virginia Community College now and he spoke about having the school be a leader in providing green jobs training. Antigone suggested that he find ideas about this from 1Sky, who has three goals: No new coal, green jobs, and science-based targets for global warming reductions. They're having a national day of action for Green Jobs on September 27.

5) Clean Energy Pledge: The Wise Energy Coalition (Appalachian Voices, CCAN, SAMS, Sierra Club, and SELC) are planning to use a Clean Energy Pledge to identify the good, the bad, and the ugly in the Virginia General Assembly. They are proposing that groups from across Virginia target their representatives to garner support for clean energy in Virginia by asking them to sign this pledge. The organization and training for the pledge would be a lead up to the next topic….

6) Introducing Bills in the Virginia General Assembly: The Wise Energy Coalition is working on some bills to introduce in next year's General Assembly! Preparation begins with the Clean Energy Pledge above.

7) Left of Center: Jennifer is going to try to arrange for Mike McCoy of App Voices to speak at a Left of Center meeting. LoC is a group for youngish democrat (and "dem-curious") people that meet every month to hear a lecture and discuss various topics.

8) Our next three DSC meetings are scheduled in our regular meeting room (Central Library, McIntire Room) on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30: September 3, October 1, and November 5.

The fall is here! The climate is changing! Let's get back to work!

Jennifer

Do Something (Charlottesville)- Tonight

2008-07-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Do Something Charlottesville's monthly meet-up is tonight at the downtown library - McIntire Room (third floor front). Get involved in taking action on climate change, environmental preservation and enhancement, and really do something. Join us at 6:30 pm.

Here is the blurb from Jennifer....

Hi Do Something Charlottesville!

Just a reminder, our monthly planning meeting is tonight at 6:30 in the Jefferson Room of Central Library downtown.

Agenda:

Dominion Debrief
Puppet/Rally Planning
Revisiting the Mission of DSC

Hope to see you there!!!!

Also, I just heard about this and thought some of you might be interested:

Southeast Convergence for Climate Action

WHEN: August 5—August 11,

WHERE: Central VA -- Sophia House in Louisa County Virginia

This summer, join people of all ages and backgrounds for the second annual Southeast Convergence for Climate Action. We are excited to continue the struggle for climate justice in the southeast with an engaging week of workshops, strategizing, and direct action! This year's convergence will be hosted in Virginia where communities are fighting uranium mining, nuclear power, mountaintop removal coal mining, and new (as well as old) coal plants. We will unite to fight the coal industry's stranglehold on our region while rejecting the deadly nuke industry's attempt to position itself as the solution to the climate crisis.

The convergence is a place to strengthen our movement, network with new allies, and take action against dirty energy while working to build a sustainable world.

Workshops will include: community organizing, direct action 101, debunking false solutions to climate change, blockades, sustainable living systems, media, disaster response, fighting nukes and coal, and much more. The convergence will culminate in an empowering action to show that the southeast is serious about tackling climate change.

For more information visit www.climateconvergence.org or email: risingtide@mountainrebel.net

Some Photos from the Puppet Workshop on June 14, 2008

2008-06-17T09:31:00.001-07:00

Meeting Notes from June 4 meeting

2008-06-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Meeting Notes from June 4 DSC meeting:

1. Everyone will forward the puppet making blurb (below) to their friends and family and ask for RSVPs:

Puppets for Protest! Art for Activism!

Saturday, June 14 from 1-5 p.m.

at Washington Park (1000 Preston Ave) in Charlottesville

Join Do Something Charlottesville and Mountain Justice Virginia for

a puppet-making extravaganza

Art, puppets and other creative materials has been used over the centuries for political protest. From 10 ft tall political figures to spinning windmills, puppets are very useful for demonstrations, rallies and public events.

Please join us for an afternoon workshop in Charlottesville where we will be making puppets in preparation for a summer of activism.
This workshop is free and open to the public. Appropriate for all ages -- so bring the family!

What to bring:
Large Cardboard
Paint and Art Supplies
Any Creative Crafts you can contribute!

For questions, comments and to RSVP, please respond to hannah.m.morgan@gmail.com or 434-960-2080

2. Jennifer will give Hannah a DSC (Do Something Charlottesville) outreach email to send to the CCAN (Chesapeake Climate Action Network) list of Charlottesville activists. There will be a new email list for the people who want to be involved in activities, but not be involved with DSC organization -- dscactivities@googlegroups.com.

3. Jennifer will ask someone at the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice about permitting requirements on the downtown mall for the clean energy rally to be held on Friday, June 20.

4. For the "End of Suburbia," the group will try to find an appropriate time to schedule the next showing. Peter will determine if there is an appropriate library event that we could schedule around. Shirley will contact the environmental group associated with the Unitarian church to determine if they want to co-host. Other possible locations: Pavilion, Tandem.

5. Shirley will send the group information about CREEC.

6. Everyone will write letters to Governor Kaine about the people he is about to appoint for Citizen Environmental Boards and the SCC.

Upcoming Events:

June 14 -- Puppet-making (see blurb above)

June 16 -- Transportation meeting: Town meeting on transportation with Delegate David Toscano and Senator Creigh Deeds on Monday, June 16, at 7 PM at the Albemarle County office building at 1600 5th St. Extended, Room A.

June 20 --5:00 pm Clean Energy Rally at the free speech wall on the downtown mall.

June Meeting at Library (McIntire Room) on June 4 at 6:30 pm

2008-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hello DSCville-ers!

This is a reminder that we will be having our regular monthly meeting THIS WEDNSDAY, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at our usual space in the McIntire Room at the Central Library on E. Market Street. Please come ready to prepare for our June action and to brainstorm about our July action!

Also, please be sure to spread the word about the Puppet workshop and invite your friends! And don't forget to RSVP -- it will help us know how many materials to bring.

JUNE ACTION: Puppet making workshop!
When: Saturday, June 14 at 1-5 p.m.
Where: Washington Park (1000 Preston Avenue) in Charlottesville, Virginia

The use of arts, puppets and other creative materials has been used over centuries of political protest. From 10 ft tall political figures to spinning windmills, puppets are very useful for demonstrations, rallies and public events.

Please join us for an afternoon workshop in Charlottesville where we will be making puppets in preparation for a summer of activism.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Appropriate for all ages -- so bring the family!

RSPV to Hannah.m.morgan@gmail.com
--
Charlottesville, Virginia

Jennifers photos from Earthday at Charlottesville High School Field - 2008

2008-05-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here are three photos from the Do Something Charlottesville group at Earthday -2008

Peter (in beach wear - with global warming we will have more beach days each year) after setting up the poster display for Do Something Charlottesville table.

Jim wearing his 'coal-burning power plant chimney' hat with Michael holding the mile-long petetion sign-up clipboard at the table.

Hannah doing one of her many face-paintings behind our earthday table.

Bringing the mile-long petetion against the Wise County Coal Plant to Dominion in Richmond VA

2008-05-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the photos I shot at the event on May 08, 2008. - Peter Kleeman

First things first -- here is the first page of the mile-long petition.

The rest of the mile-long petition was strung on wire stands through much of Kanawa Plaza in Richmond.

After the comments by a variety of speakers, the petition was collected ...

and boxed in three boxes (here is Hannah Morgan packing one of the boxes) ...

in preparation for delivery to Dominion officials.

Somewhere around 200 folks assembled at Kanawa Plaza from around the state to rally against the Wise County Coal Plant. Here is some of the crowd listening to the speakers....

and here is the crowd when the boxes of petitions were being delivered to Dominion officials.

Below are some shots of the organizers and speakers from Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Appalacian Voices, Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center and others...

It is never easy to determine if your voice is being heard. One person displayed his thoughts to Dominion officials in the form of a sign with "NO COAL" directed toward the corporate headquarters. Below is a photo as viewed toward Dominion headquarters followed by the view Dominion employees would see from their windows.

Meeting Agenda for April 2 Meeting - 6:30 at Downtown Library

2008-04-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody!

Our monthly Do Something Charlottesville meeting is April 2 (First Wednesday as usual)!

Here's the draft agenda.

Wednesday, April 2
6:30 p.m.
McIntire Room, Central Library, downtown

Introductions (6:30 to 6:40)

Report on Last Month's Actions
-- Trees on Fire concert on March 13 (6:40 to 6:50)
-- Better World Betty reception on March 25 (6:50 to 7:00)

April Actions (7:00 to 7:15)
-- Earth Day on April 19

Affinity Groups (7:15 to 7:35)
-- Information/Education
-- Recycling (John Cruickshank, David Steinberg, Frances, Michael
Eareckson)
-- Local/State Government (Adrienne, Peter, Michael, Frances,
Jennifer)
-- Charlottesville/Albemarle/UVa Coordination and Networking (Dawn)
-- Events/Public Outreach (Dawn)
-- Southwest Virginia

Planning Future Actions (7:35 to 7:40)

Mission Statement (7:40 to 7:45)

Funding -- or lack thereof (?)

New folks always welcome to observe or better yet get involved in Do Something Charlottesville. Come to this or our next first Wednesday meeting to Do Something - it is way better than Do Nothing.

Notes from the March 05, 2008 Do Something Charlottesville meeting

2008-03-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

NOTES prepared by Jennifer (thanks again Jennifer)

We had a fabulous meeting on Wednesday! We've got a lot of exciting events coming up...the Trees on Fire concert is Thursday, March 13 and the Better World Betty reception is March 25! Next month we're going to participate in Earth Day and in June we're going to have a
mountaintop removal exhibit in the Festival of the Photograph!

Let me know if you have any edits or comments about the notes!!!

GOOGLE GROUPS ETIQUETTE

-- It's rarely necessary to respond to the entire group. In most cases, it's appropriate to respond to the author only. When you "reply" to an email from DoSomethingCharlottesville@googlegroups.com, you are replying to the ENTIRE group. To avoid this, cut and paste the author's email into the "To" field and delete the googlegroups address.

-- When you send an email that requests responses from the group, add an instruction about replying to your email address and then put your email address in the body of the email to make it easier to find.

-- If you want to delete all of the emails that you get from DoSomethingCharlottesville@googlegroups.com, it's possible to view all of the messages from the group here:

http://groups.google.com/group/dosomethingcharlottesville/

-- Just try to be thoughtful of how much stuff you're sending to DoSomethingCharlottesville@googlegroups.com :)

IDEA: Shirley suggested creating two separate email addresses -- one for group business and organization and a separate thread for a monthly newsletter directed toward people who aren't involved with the month-to-month planning and organization. We'll talk about this at the next meeting.

MARCH ACTIONS

Send comments to DEQ -- DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

Here's the link to send your comment from the Appalachian Voices site:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/423/t/5171/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22519

I tried to find a way to directly comment on the VA DEQ website; not surprisingly, it wasn't easy. This appears to be the address of the person receiving comments about air quality permits: Monica Harvey maharvey@deq.virginia.gov.

Trees on Fire Concert -- Thursday, March 13, Satellite Ballroom

Tabling
- Email sign up for Do Something Charlottesville (Jennifer)
- Laptop with a presentation about mountaintop removal mining
(Jennifer)
- DSC Sign (Jennifer)
- Binder with coal information (Michael)
- Bookmarks with list of DSC past and future activities (Michael and
Jennifer)

Flyering
- North 29 (Frances and Peter)
- Piedmont (Kelly)
- Tandem (Michael)
- Mellow Mushroom Kickball after party (Jennifer)
- Work, gym, etc. (Everyone)

Greeters/Petitioners:
- 7:30 to 8:30: Peter and Kelly
- 8:30 to 9:30: Dawn
- 9:30 to 10:30: Michael
- 10:30 to 11:30: Jennifer

Fundraising ideas:

- Auction a share of Dominion
- Auction a book from Jim Bryan

Better World Betty Reception -- March 25, 4 pm to 7 pm, at Feast

Bring Flyers to March 13 concert (Kelly)
Publicity by Tuesday, March 18 (Jennifer)
Flyer (Everyone)

IDEA: Buy shares of Dominion stock. Peter did some follow-up with this:

"For single share purchases the transaction fees would be about 75 dollars to buy the 40 dollar stock. ...It might be worth considering becoming an 'investment group' ...and buy stock directly from Dominion -- we would all then be joint owners and have all rights and privileges of being shareholders in Dominion. The minimum direct share purchasing is $350, which would not require broker fees and would be roughly the equivalent of 9 shares. I don't know all the details about how this works as an investment group, but you can check out (or pass on) the information at http://www.dom.com/investors/domdir.jsp.

POSITIVE ACTION RESEARCH

Jim Bryan gave a short presentation on positive action research. He offered several resources for learning more about this. See Jim for more info.

FUTURE ACTIONS

Festival of the Photograph (Dawn and Kelly)

Register to table at Earth Day on April 19 (Dawn)

Dominion's Shareholder Meeting on May 9

AGENDA ITEMS FOR APRIL

- Mission Statement
- Funds
- Google groups management

Do Something Charlottesville meeting tonight

2008-03-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here's the agenda for the next Do Something Charlottesville meeting.
If you are interested in checking out our ideas, goals, and action plans - and possibly join in our efforts to address climate changing decisions - do join us tonight at the downtown library (201 E. Market Street, third floor).

Wednesday, March 5
6:30 p.m.
McIntire Room, Central Library, downtown

Introductions (6:30 to 6:40)

Report on Last Month's Action (6:40 to 6:50)

March Actions (6:50 to 7:10)
-- Trees on Fire concert on March 13
-- Better World Betty reception on March 25

Affinity Groups (7:10 to 7:30)

Planning Future Actions (7:30 to 7:40)

Becoming a Local CCAN Chapter (7:40 to 7:45)

Agenda for March 5, 2008 Do Something Charlottesville Meeting

2008-03-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here's the agenda for the next Do Something Charlottesville meeting.

New members are welcome - just come early and meet the current group and share your interests. There is no reason we all can't have some fun while working for a healthy environment so check us out....

The photo is of the reading area in the downtown library - we meet on the third floor McIntire Room. This was the only photo I could locate on the web with a picture of the library.

Wednesday, March 5
6:30 p.m.
McIntire Room, Central Library, downtown Charlottesville

Introductions (6:30 to 6:40)

Report on Last Month's Action (6:40 to 6:50)

March Actions (6:50 to 7:10)
-- Trees on Fire concert on March 13
-- Better World Betty reception on March 25

Affinity Groups (7:10 to 7:30)

Planning Future Actions (7:30 to 7:40)

Becoming a Local CCAN Chapter (7:40 to 7:45)

Meeting Notes from February 6, 2008

2008-02-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

Below are the February notes and summary of the Do Something Charlottesville meeting of February 6, 2008 submitted by Jennifer (thanks Jennifer). Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month at the Downtown Library starting at 6:30 pm (and are scheduled to end about 7:45 pm).

----------

We had another great meeting this week! We polled everyone's interests and came up with a list of broad areas of interest. Unfortunately, we ran out of time, but I think the general consensus was that a loose grouping would be helpful to direct our energies. Everyone brightened at a proposed idea to develop "action items," so we want to build on that before the next meeting.

One of our members, Michael, sent an email asking you to decide which area of interest you'd like to pursue. In the notes below, I listed some of the ideas that have been generated for each of these areas. The next step will be to come up with at least ONE action that each of the groups would like to take. We can organize this by emailing each other or by getting our groups together for coffee. At next month's meeting on Wednesday, March 5, we'll get started with organizing these actions!! Hannah and I will let you know how to get in touch with the people who share your interests before our next meeting.

We didn't have time to cover some housekeeping items at the meeting. You all should have received an invitation to join the our Google Group. This is just a way to stay organized. First of all, having a group email distribution list is easier than adding everyone individually. Also, all of the emails that the group sends will be stored in chronological order. Let us know if you have any questions about this!

INTRODUCTIONS

We had some new people join us this week! Welcome, John Cruickshank, David Dusseau, Frances Lee Vandell, David Steinberg, Chris Wilson, and Shirley Napps.

HOMEWORK

Last month's homework was to send Creigh Deeds a Valentine asking him to support SB446, the Clean Energy Future bill. This bill has been stuck in the Commerce and Labor committee since January 9. Since this is the "Virginia is for Mountain Lovers" week of action, we decided to send Valentines to Governor Kaine asking him to stop mountaintop removal coal mining. Thanks, Kelly, for bringing the supplies!

This month's homework was distributed on a flyer. Dominion's Air Quality Permit is up for review and we need to send in comments or attend one of the public hearings. If you want to travel to Wise County on February 11 or to Richmond on February 19, send an email to the group and we'll try to share rides.

AREAS OF INTEREST (a.k.a., AFFINITY GROUPS)

Information/Education
- Fight misinformation
- Provide consistent, clear and accurate information to the public

Recycling
- Post information at the McIntire center about CFLs
- Get recycling on the downtown mall
- Collaborate with Teri Kent of Better World Betty

Local/State Government
- Analyze new City budget to determine what money could be designated for climate change initiatives
- Engage with the City's Environmental Sustainability Committee
- Present climate change information at local government meetings
- Lobby state and local representatives (support open air burning restrictions, anti-idling measures)

Charlottesville/Albemarle/UVa Coordination and Networking
- Engage student groups in local environmental actions
- Build on initiatives that are taking place in all areas
- Connect resources from each area

Events/Public Outreach
- Host a film festival
- Street theater
- Simulate local mountaintop removal mining
- Earth Day event
- Festival of the Photo
- Concert with local musicians (Trees on Fire is organizing a concert in March)
- Article/Book discussion group

Southwest Virginia
- economic development (local herb farms)
- fighting the Dominion power plant
- fighting mountaintop removal coal mining

RELOCALIZATION

Dawn provided information about the Relocalization movement. She noted that everything the group has discussed is part of Relocalization. She advocated the use of a structure that is already in place, including a website. She invited everyone to learn more about it and decide if this is something that the group would like to pursue.

RESOURCES

Our blog: http://dosomethingcharlottesville.blogspot.com/

(Email Peter with submissions at peter.kleeman@gmail.com)

Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System (complicated
government website for tracking bills): http://leg1.state.va.us/081/lis.htm

Richmond Sunlight (much easier and fun way to track bills in Va
General Assembly!): http://www.richmondsunlight.com/

Better World Betty (Teri Kent's website for reducing, recycling, and reusing): http://www.betterworldbetty.com/

Relocalization: http://relocalize.net/

Imagine Locally - Act Globally

2008-02-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to bring the impacts of mountaintop removal in Wise County VA to folks in greater Charlottesville, I selected a few images from the web to 'simulate' what mountaintop removal would be like in our neighborhood. Check out the posting on kleemanblog.blogspot.com.

Christmastime Photo

2008-02-08T11:20:00.001-08:00

I just downloaded some photos from my digital camera and thought you might like to see a photo I took of the climate action on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall in late December 2007. I also want to get a few photo images on this blog to inspire you to send me some for posting. Send them to peter.kleeman@gmail.com along with descriptive material.

Dominion offers to switch Fluvanna plant to natural gas

2008-02-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

Dominion is attempting to do a bit of a pollution swap as part of promoting their Wise County coal-fired power plant licensing request. Check out the article published in today's (Feb. 5) Daily Progress. Dominion's plan it to switch the Bremo Bluff plant (not very far from Charlottesville) from coal to gas and make the plant a peak-load generation plant if they can get the Wise County coal plant approved and built to provide base-load generation. My hunch is that there will be 'winners' and 'losers' if this happens, but the global environment appears to fall into the losers category due. Check out the news story online.

Yes, you can do something local to save our planet - Tomorrow (Feb. 6), if not Today.

2008-02-05T10:53:00.000-08:00

Looking for a way to get involved locally in fighting global warming? "Do Something Charlottesville" is a new citizen action group that is just starting up here in town and is looking for local members who are ready to do something about global warming! Don't worry if you missed the first meeting in January as we are getting geared up and always looking for your voice and your ideas. Now is your chance! The second meeting is happening this week and we'd love to see you there.

Where: McIntire Room in the Central Library, 201 E. Market Street
When: Wednesday, February 6 at 6:30 pm - 7:45pm
What: 2nd meeting of Do Something Charlottesville -- a new citizen action climate change group
Why: To take local action in the face of global climate changeHope to see you this Wednesday!

Letter in Washington Post on the topic of Climate Change and Mountaintop Removal

2008-02-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't see this past Sunday's Washington Post, you might like to read this letter from Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network that was published that day. The photo of a mountaintop removal site I found by searching for "mountaintop removal" images on the web. I am not sure where this site is located.

Dominion Power's Dirty Plans for Virginia

Washington Post, The (DC)-January 27, 2008

Fact: Virginia gets less than 1 percent of its electricity from "green" sources such as the wind or the sun. Fact: Virginia ranks 38th among U.S. states in energy efficiency. Fact: Climate change is real, and fossil fuel substitutes are needed, according to President Bush's State of the Union address last year. So how would Dominion Virginia Power respond to these facts?

Savagely blow up entire mountains in southwest Virginia.

Feed the resulting exposed coal to a proposed power plant that is unnecessary and would cost ratepayers at least $1.8 billion.

Create lots more greenhouse gases in the process.

Doom the good people of southwest Virginia to living with a brutal extraction industry that has no future.

Whew! Talk about getting everything wrong.

stonishingly, Gov. Tim Kaine supports Dominion Virginia Power's controversial 585-megawatt coal plant proposed for Wise County. He supports this despite three more facts. First, a senior aide of the governor recently admitted that there's "less than 10 years' worth of commercially viable coal left in Virginia." Second, more than 200 Virginians packed a hearing room this month in Richmond to denounce the proposal being considered by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Third, Kaine's energy plan includes passages explicitly discouraging the development of "conventional" power (i.e., fossil fuels) until the state has maximized efficiency and clean-energy development.

Maximized?

Virginia has one of the most bloated, inefficient electricity loads in America. Per capita use is roughly twice as high as it is in California and New York. Just phasing out inefficient light bulbs, as Congress has mandated beginning in 2012, would eliminate electricity consumption in Virginia equal to half the entire output of the Wise County plant. And using money-saving "smart grid" systems -- a technology that painlessly shuts off air conditioners for brief moments and invisibly manages other electricity use in homes -- could save the electricity equivalent of two Wise County plants. So why are we building this facility?

Thankfully, there's still time for Kaine and the legislature to kill this disastrous power plant idea and create, instead, a real and lasting energy prosperity for southwest Virginia and the rest of the state. Beyond efficiency, federal estimates show Virginia could get 12 percent of its electricity from wind farms using just a small area of land. Yet Dominion's wind-power investments equal less than 0.5 percent of its total mid-Atlantic generation capacity. And the best the state government has done on efficiency is offer a four-day tax holiday to Virginians who buy efficient bulbs and appliances.

The Clean Energy Future Act, a bill now before the Virginia General Assembly, would correct these glaring deficiencies. It would follow the lead of dozens of other states in setting robust but realistic statutory targets in clean power, efficiency and "green jobs."

Twenty five percent of the land area in beautiful Wise County, in the heart of Appalachia, has been destroyed by mountaintop removal and other mining in the past four decades. Let's save the mountains still standing and embrace durable, sustainable industries there such as cultural tourism, outdoor recreation and wind farms. Let's simultaneously retrain and support the coal miners who'd rather build solar panels and windmills anyway, if only they had a governor and legislature willing to stand up to Dominion and finally say stop!

-- Mike Tidwell

Takoma Park
The writer is director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Edition: F
Section: Editorial
Page: B8

Record Number: 012708XB08Do986015
Copyright 2008 The Washington Post

Do Something Charlottesville to Meet on February 6 at 6:30 pm at Central Library

2008-01-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Do Something Charlottesville!!!!

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the first meeting and is excited about making this group a good one.

I hope everyone has had a good January so far and is raring to get started on our our 2nd ever meeting that is coming up on Wednesday, February 6

First, here is a list of the "homework" from the last meeting.

HOMEWORK

1. Send Valentine to Creigh Deeds (support SB446)

2. Brainstorm about monthly days of action

3. Generate new homework assignments

ACTION ITEMS

Outreach (Jennifer, Kelly, Dawn)

Create a blog (Peter)

Distribute contact list and notes (Hannah, Jennifer)

-----

So what do we need to do between now and the 6th to plan and promote the meeting?

Here are a few things I can think of, just to get us started. Next to each item indicates where volunteers are needed. Please sign yourself up for something!

1. Come up with an outreach email -- volunteer?

2. Forward email onto listservs, pass on to friends and around the office -- everyone

3. Create flyer advertising the event -- volunteer?

4. Post flyers around town (see Jennifer's list) -- everyone

5. Plan agenda for next meeting -- volunteers?

6. Come up with homework for next meeting -- volunteer?

Hope to hear from you soon!

Hannah

Do Something Charlottesville Gets Organized

2008-01-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Do Something Charlottesville had a short organizational meeting at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library on January 16, 2008. Nine people attended and we had a lively and fun discussion about how Do Something Charlottesville could take meaningful local action to address the challenges of global climate change. Here is a brief summary of the meeting.

MEETING OBJECTIVE

Build on the energy and enthusiasm generated at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network conference. Gather like-minded people in Charlottesville to take local action to fight climate change. Offer a supportive forum for creative ideas. Make Charlottesville a "mecca of citizen participation."

PROPOSED GROUP STRUCTURE

Create committees to organize monthly "Days of Action" based on the interests of the group. Meet monthly to plan ahead, get committee reports, and introduce new members. Assign monthly "homework" so that each member of the group is doing something!

ACTION IDEAS

Target Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors (Peter Kleeman)
- Citizen impact through comments
- Use Green City resolution as basis of comments
- Be proactive in addressing issues related to climate change
- Make Charlottesville a statewide pioneer on climate change

Citzien's Sustainability Committee (Adrienne Dent)
- Collaborate/influence Dave Norris' committee assigned to sustainability

Economic development in Southwest Virginia (Kelly Bain)
- Local herb farms

Relocalization of Charlottesville (Dawn Story)
- Focus on pro-active reduction of consumption or "down power"
- Involve local permaculture groups
- Refer to Dawn's chart

Public Outreach (Everyone)
- Host a film festival
- Street theater
- Simulate local mountaintop removal mining
- Earth Day event
- Festival of the Photo
- Concert with local musicians
- Article/Book discussion group

Fight misinformation/Embrace Reality (Aaron, Adrienne, Jim)

LOGISTICS

Regular meetings on first Wednesdays @ 6:30 at the Central Library -- Next Meeting: 2/6/08

Create committees

Build membership

ACTION ITEMS

Outreach (Jennifer, Kelly, Dawn)

Create a blog (Peter)

Distribute contact list and notes (Hannah, Jennifer)

HOMEWORK

1. Send Valentine to Creigh Deeds (support SB446)
2. Brainstorm about monthly days of action
3. Generate new homework assignments

RESOURCES

Brian Wheeler's "Charlottesville Tomorrow" Blog:

"Big Coal" by Jeff Goodell