Over at her blog, Power for the People VA, Ivy Main of the Sierra Club writes about a conference held last Wednesday in Richmond, “The Next Frontier of Climate Change,” organized by The New Republic and the College of William and Mary, and featuring an interview with Gov. Terry McAuliffe on energy and environmental issues. According Ivy Main, the forum:

…was supposed to be about moving to clean energy, but it sometimes seemed to be more of a platform for Governor Terry McAuliffe to tout plans for more natural gas and nuclear energy in the Commonwealth. It wasn’t that he neglected energy efficiency, wind and solar-he had plenty of good things to say about these, and even a few initiatives to boast of. It was just that they paled against the backdrop of massive new natural gas and nuclear projects, to which he seems even more firmly committed.

Main also notes that McAuliffe seems to be “persuaded that renewable energy, even with all its job benefits, won’t get him as much economic growth as cheaper fossil energy can, and his friends at Dominion Resources and its subsidiary, Dominion Virginia Power, have convinced him that means backing their plans for natural gas and nuclear.” Main also debunks McAuliffe’s frequently-repeated, but still absolutely false, whiny assertion that the “draft [Clean Power Plan]’s treatment of existing nuclear plants makes it ‘unfair’ to Virginia.” Can somebody please call a waaaaambulance for McAuliffe on this one? My god.

I’ll have more on all of this in coming days, along with video clips from the conference. For now, let’s just say that Gov. McAuliffe has a lot to learn about energy issues, doesn’t seem to “know what he doesn’t know,” and is spending far too muchy time with his pals from Dominion Power, who are about as far from an unbiased source one could possibly imagine on energy and environmental issues here in Virginia.

Finally, with regard to video I’ve posted above, watch as Ivy Main asks McAuliffe whether he’s “worried at all about the gamble we’re taking here” with the massive overrliance on natural gas (and relatively paltry, pathetic investments in energy efficiency and solar – including rooftop/distributed solar, about which McAuliffe doesn’t seem to have the slightest clue — see future posts for more on that one), especially given studies suggesting that the “shale gas boom is going to turn into a bust starting in 2020.”

In response, McAuliffe disingenusly pleaded powerlessness in the face of Dominion (“as you know, Dominion’s authority doesn’t go through me…so all I can do is…cajole them to what I think is in the best interest of the Commonwealth…I don’t get to determine how Dominion invests their resources or what type of power generation, that’s done by a separate authority“). McAuliffe claimed he wants Virginia to be a “global leader on renewables,” also that we’ve (supposedly) “made tremendous project in the last year” on renewable energy. Note, by the way, that McAuliffe is being highly disingenous about his role vis-a-vis Dominion, here claiming powerlessness, but in another part of the forum, he bragged that he basically sat Dominion down in his office and got them to agree to a list of demands, including getting them to invest $700 million in solar, plus low-income housing energy assistance. Bottom line, according to the supposedly powerless (vis-a-vis Dominion, at least) Gov. McAuliffe: “I did ask for four or five things, and they agreed with us.” In other words, McAuliffe simultaneously is claiming that he has NO power over Dominion and LOTS of power with Dominion. Pick one?

As to the substance of Ivy Main’s question on putting so many of our eggs in the natural gas basket, when there’s evidence the “boom” might could “bust” in a few years (not to mention the huge environmental problems associated with fracking, which McAuliffe’s and Dominion’s proposed pipelines will encourage in West Virginia and other states), McAuliffe dodges. Instead, McAuliffe talks about how we have a “diverse energy mix…with nuclear, with gas…we have some coal, and we have renewables.” Except for one problem: when it comes to renewables, Virginia has extremely little according to EIA (much of which is environmentally sketchy biomass, NOT solar or wind), with the vast majority of Virginia’s electricity generation either nuclear (one of the most expensive sources of electricity), coal (the dirtiest source of electricity) and natural gas (which McAuliffe and Dominion are wrongheadedly doubling down on).

Worst of all, McAuliffe continues to ignore and/or give short shrift to what is BY FAR the cheapest form of energy — efficiency. On that note, see Lazard’s analysis here, including a graphic showing energy efficiency as the cheapest form of power, followed by onshore wind, followed by utility-scale solar PV. Sadly, this is just the tip of the (melting) iceberg when it comes to Gov. McAuliffe’s biased, Dominion-centric view of energy issues. More on that in coming posts, including McAuliffe’s almost complete misunderstanding of distributed energy, as well as a jaw-droppingly false claim about the cost of transmitting power from a nuclear power plant vs. a comparable solar facility. It’s head scratching, until you hear McAuliffe repeatedly refer to the hours and hours he’s spent behind closed doors with Dominion Power…then it all starts to get a lot clearer!

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, April 24. The photo, by the way, is in “honor” of Domininion continuing to fuel climate change, this time by proving that they were never serious about offshore wind power, but would rather move ahead with a super-expensive nuclear power boondoggle and super-expensive natural gas pipelines to nowhere. Brilliant.

*Senate Confirms Loretta Lynch as Attorney General After Long Delay (Congratulations, Republicans did less than the bare minimum.)

*Krugman: Zombies of 2016 (“A deep attachment to long-refuted ideas seems to be required of all prominent Republicans. Whoever finally gets the nomination for 2016 will have multiple zombies as his running mates.”)

*Media Admit Schweizer Reporting Contains “No Smoking Gun

*ABC News Finds More Errors In Schweizer’s Clinton Cash

*U.S. Is Often Unsure About Who Will Die in Drone Strikes

*Comcast Plans to Drop Time Warner Cable Deal

*Marco Rubio is for sale: The GOP’s epic money-groveling campaign has officially begun (“And it’s not just him. The entire 2016 field is cozying up to billionaires for a chance at winning the White House”)

*What hostage deaths mean for the future of U.S. drone strikes

*Dave Brat’s Bizarre Statements

*McAuliffe touts gas and nuclear, says it’s not his job to worry about risks (McAuliffe said a lot of stuff that was either false, misguided, or absurd in that forum. I’ll have more on this later, but first read Ivy Main’s excellent article.)

*Again: Missing target on Medicaid (“Economists from Moody’s Analytics prepared a report to evaluate pressure on public funding for higher education, also measured Medicaid expenditures as a percentage of state spending. The report hardly offers justification for denying health care coverage to lower-income Virginians”)

*Sen. Kaine: The problem isn’t the drones. It’s the U.S. mission

*Mark Warner, Lincoln Chafee to address SC Democrats

*Virginia’s clout in D.C. is shrinking (I mean, Eric Cantor was awful, but believe it or not, Dave Brat’s crazier and less effective — plus FAR less powerful.)

*Federal investigators reviewed Va. lawmaker’s relationship with lobbyist

*Dominion Resources says off-shore wind project could cost far more than expected (In other words, Dominion bought up the offshore wind lease areas so they could sit on them. Shocker, eh?)

*Virginia’s cicada-eating, Kegerator-using head salesman, Terry McAuliffe

*Alexandria mayoral candidates agree: Don’t sell off City Hall, Market Square

*Sunny and chilly again. Spring’s warmth on hiatus until next week.

The following statement is from the BlueGreen Alliance. Personally, I'm in the “highly skeptical but all ears” camp. If this trade deal has STRONG environmental, labor, and human rights protections in it, then I could support it. If not, I couldn't. 

National Labor, Environmental Leaders Spotlight Long-Term 
Consequences of Fast Track Passage 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2015) – Today, as the House Ways and Means Committee considers Fast Track Trade authority and several new international trade agreements, national labor and environmental leaders offered another view of what Fast Track would mean for the American people, urging committee members and Congress to vote no on granting Fast Track Trade authority.

“Fast tracking flawed trade agreements should not be an act of Congress,” said United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard. “We need a new approach to trade, not more of the same failed policies so damaging to American workers and their communities.”

On Tuesday in the Senate, the Finance Committee held a hearing on Fast Track Trade authority. Under Fast Track, Congress gives up its traditional power to amend bad trade deals and it cannot send the agreement back to the executive branch with instructions for improvement.

“Fast track would rush dangerous trade deals through Congress­—trade deals that would hurt our access to clean air, clean water, and undermine years of work to address climate disruption,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “We call on members of Congress to clean up toxic trade—and they should start by rejecting fast track.”

“The two pending trade agreements that the U.S. is negotiating could have enormous impacts on our bedrock environmental laws and public health protections. That is why we oppose this ‘fast track’ bill. It would give a blank check with no way to ensure that trade agreements it will allow to become law don’t undercut our protections or allow new challenges to them. Our country has worked for decades—and is still working—to build up and enforce basic environmental and public health protections. Now is not the time to undercut these important protections,” said Peter Lehner, Executive Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would include 12 countries, about 40 percent of the world economy and have a significant impact on the global and domestic economy for many years to come.

“Fast Track repeats all the mistakes of our previous failed trade policies,” said Communications Workers of America (CWA) Senior Director George Kohl. “We need a new trade policy that benefits everyone. We need a new trade policy that creates a net increase in U.S. jobs and investment while expanding workers’ rights here and abroad. New trade agreements need to lift up regulatory standards and our overall quality of life, not undercut them.”

“The BlueGreen Alliance supports fair, transparent trade that doesn’t engage the U.S. in a race to the bottom,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Kim Glas. “Fast Track is the opposite of that. That’s why it is wrong for our workers, economy and environment.”

Full audio of the call is available here. 

From Sen. Tim Kaine’s office; congratulations and good luck to new U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch! As for the absurd delays in confirming this highly qualified nominee by the right-wing Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, the only remedy is clear: Democrats need to take back the Senate in 2016!

In confirming Loretta Lynch as our next Attorney General, the Senate has chosen a distinguished legal mind and experienced public servant to lead the Department of Justice. Throughout her career, Lynch has developed a reputation for her integrity and trusted leadership, which will serve the nation well as she addresses recent tensions between law enforcement and communities across the country. While it is unacceptable that is has taken the Senate 166 days to act on such a well-qualified and highly-regarded nominee, I am proud that we have finally confirmed Loretta Lynch, and I am confident that she will work hard to ensure justice for all Americans.

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, April 23.

*Republicans again appeal to theocracy

*It’s Not the 1% Controlling Politics. It’s the 0.01 Percent. (“The more they spend, the more they make.”)

*Clintons’ wealth intertwined with charitable work (Does that matter in terms of Hillary Clinton’s public policy positions is the question.)

*Fox-Generated Benghazi Committee Will Release New Report Just In Time For 2016 Elections (Zero credibility.)

*Conservative Broadcaster Gives Serial Misinformer A National News Show (Sharyl Attkisson…ugh.)

*Marco Rubio takes lead in Sheldon Adelson primary (Sheldon Adelson is a total slimeball. So what does that say about anyone who is a favorite of his?)

*Secret Koch memo outlines plans for 2016 (“The plan comes with a $125 million 2015 budget for Americans for Prosperity, the most robust arm in the network of small-government advocacy groups helmed by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch.” Fossil fuel and anti-clean-energy propaganda run amok. We all need to boycott the Koch brothers’ companies — Georgia Pacific, Teflon, Lycra, Stainmaster, American Greetings, Brawny, Dixie cups, Quilted Northern, etc.)

*Governor signs solar energy, ‘green jobs’ measures on Earth Day

*Times have changed for Virginia’s car tax relief (“…growth in the number and value of cars and changing tax rates have dropped the amount of relief that each vehicle owner receives.”)

*Is Virginia Becoming a Liberal State? Some Democrats Are Betting on It. (“Democratic leaders in Virginia are embracing liberal stances on social issues in a way that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.”)

*McAuliffe announces plan to protect ‘Virginia Treasures’ (“The program will focus on smaller-scale conservation efforts and land preservation.”)

*Editorial: Virginia is taking steps to improve ABC law enforcement

*U-Va. dean says retracted Rolling Stone story attacked her life’s work

*In Fairfax, its time for the Justice Department to step in (“Does it take the threat of civic strife to force governments to do what they should do anyway? If Fairfax County is an example, the answer seems to be yes.”)

*Republicans vie to replace retiring supervisor in Fairfax’s Sully District (“The first step comes Saturday at Westfield High School in Chantilly. Three Republican candidates will compete for the nomination in a firehouse canvass that is expected to draw about 2,000 voters from a population of 130,000 residents.”)

*Solarize Montgomery aims to increase solar usage in county

*Amended report: Chesapeake delegate got casino trip (“Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, amended his filing with the House clerk to report that Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pa., spent $1,665 on his airfare and lodging.”)

*Wind gusts up to 30 mph in some

areas as temperatures cling to 50s

The following is from DPVA. Also note that many Virginia Republicans are climate science deniers and/or shills for the dirty energy industry.

Check out the following press release from Gov. McAuliffe's office. Also, as Del. Rip Sullivan (pictured at right) notes on his FB page: “Making progress on net metering in Virginia today. Governor McAuliffe signed HB 1950, which I co-patroned with my friend Delegate Jen McLellan, along with other clean energy bills at the Capital One data center in Chester, Virginia.” “

~ Bi-partisan initiatives will expand solar generation, energy efficiency and green jobs in Virginia ~

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today performed a ceremonial signing of several bills that will significantly expand the growth of clean energy jobs in Virginia.  Governor McAuliffe was joined by a broad, bipartisan coalition of legislators, environmental leaders and industry representatives who were instrumental in securing passage of these pro-jobs, pro-clean energy initiatives during the 2015 General Assembly Session.

Speaking about today’s announcement on Earth Day in Chesterfield County, Governor McAuliffe said, “Building a new Virginia economy is my top priority as Governor, and the emerging clean energy jobs sector provides a tremendous opportunity for economic growth and diversification.  The legislative initiatives signed today are key components of my Virginia Energy Plan and will significantly expand solar generation, energy efficiency programs and green jobs in the Commonwealth.  I sincerely thank all of the bill patrons and stakeholders for their tireless efforts to find consensus on these bills. Through bipartisan leadership and a broad coalition of industry, utility and environmental stakeholders working together, we have taken important next steps for diversifying our economy and making Virginia a leader in clean energy jobs.”

“Energy is a strategic growth sector both in Virginia and the entire United States providing good jobs and good wages,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “Because of the Commonwealth’s significant assets, we have tremendous opportunities in this important arena. This legislative package provides us with the tools we need to capitalize on these opportunities.”

The Clean Energy Jobs legislation signed by Governor McAuliffe includes:

( – promoted by lowkell)

Earth Day is here and so is the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s eagerly anticipated new website: domtruth.org. After months of hard work, we’re excited to release this interactive website as an educational platform to expose the dirty truth about Virginia’s largest utility company and most powerful corporation: Dominion Power.

Every year around Earth Day, Dominion funds slick ads, community projects like tree-plantings, outdoor festivals and more to paint itself as a “green” and “sustainable” company. Domtruth.org is our way of setting the record straight.

As you scroll through the site, you’ll see that Dominion is the state’s #1 emitter of the heat-trapping pollution wrecking our climate. Dominion is also the #1 corporate donor to state politicians. For far too long, Dominion has used its power to rig the system against local, clean energy solutions and for costly fossil fuel projects, and Virginians are paying a high price as a result.

We call Dominion’s deliberate misleading of the public “greenwashing.” This year in particular, we expect Dominion to churn out more greenwashing than ever before – because the company is facing more public scrutiny and protests over its dirty energy projects than we’ve seen before.

You know there’s a serious image problem when sixth graders and senior citizens alike are standing up at county meetings to decry Dominion’s 550-mile pipeline for fracked gas; when riverkeepers are joining with history buffs to challenge Dominion’s massive proposed transmission lines over Jamestown; and when editorial writers across the state are hammering the company’s anti-consumer “power politics.”

With so much opposition brewing, particularly in response to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, we’re seeing cracks open up in Dominion’s tightly controlled corporate image. We’re also seeing Dominion’s tight grasp over our democracy get renewed exposure and criticism in the media.

When Dominion put forward legislation in the 2015 General Assembly to partially halt state oversight of its electric rates, news stories zeroed in on Dominion’s “unrivaled political power” over the General Assembly. Following fierce public backlash, legislators ended up amending the bill to lay the groundwork for 400 megawatts of new utility-scale solar in Virginia and to create new energy efficiency pilot programs.

We know by exposing the truth, and bringing more people across Virginia into our movement, we begin to take the power back from Dominion. And nothing worries Dominion more than losing its power – over our energy system and over our democracy.

Help pull back the curtain on Dominion’s greenwashing, and build the movement for solutions, by checking out domtruth.org and then passing it on – especially to your friends and family in Virginia!

P.S. You can find this original blog post on CCAN’s website, written by CCAN’s Virginia Statewide Organizer Charlie Spatz