Virginia Sierra Club Applauds Federal Auction of Virginia’s Offshore Wind Energy Area
The following is from the Virginia Sierra Club. I strongly agree with Glen Besa that Dominion Virginia Power (the likely winner) “should be required to move forward with offshore wind development without delay and be prohibited from dragging its feet in fully developing Virginia’s entire lease area.” The problem is, I don’t have much faith that they WILL move forward without dealy and not drag their feet. We’ll see…
Sierra Club Urges Rapid and Full Development of Entire Offshore Area
[Washington, DC] – Today the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it will hold a competitive lease sale on Sept. 4, 2013 in which it will auction off approximately 112,799 acres offshore Virginia for commercial wind energy development.
In response Glen Besa, Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, issued the following statement:
“After years of intensive problem-solving attention by all stakeholders involved, to include military, shipping, government and environmental interests, we are finally arriving close to the point in the Federal process where we pass the baton of our work to Virginia’s actual developers of its offshore wind resources”.
“While we applaud the diligence of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to move aggressively with the lease sale process, we also urge their continued dedication to moving offshore wind development along. The eventual winning bidder, likely Dominion Virginia Power, should be required to move forward with offshore wind development without delay and be prohibited from dragging its feet in fully developing Virginia’s entire lease area.”
“Virginian’s are already suffering the impacts of climate disruption from increased flooding on our coasts to heat waves and super storms. We’re ready to build a cleaner, safer and more reliable renewable energy economy here. We must move as quickly as possible to catch up to other states who are ready to start installing full-scale offshore wind farms along the Northeast coast in the next few years.”
Sierra Club Applauds Federal Auction of Virginia’s Offshore Wind Energy Area
Today the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it will hold a competitive lease sale on Sept. 4, 2013 in which it will auction off approximately 112,799 acres offshore Virginia for commercial wind energy development.
In response Glen Besa, Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, issued the following statement:
“After years of intensive problem-solving attention by all stakeholders involved, to include military, shipping, government and environmental interests, we are finally arriving close to the point in the Federal process where we pass the baton of our work to Virginia’s actual developers of its offshore wind resources”.
“While we applaud the diligence of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to fast-track the lease sale process, we also urge their continued dedication to moving offshore wind development along. The eventual winning bidder, likely Dominion Virginia Power, should be required to move forward with offshore wind development without delay and be prohibited from dragging its feet in fully developing Virginia’s entire lease area”.
“Virginian’s are already suffering the impacts of climate disruption from increased flooding on our coasts to heat waves and super storms. We’re ready to build a cleaner, safer and more reliable renewable energy economy here. We must move as quickly as possible to catch up to other states who are ready to start installing full-scale offshore wind farms along the Northeast coast in the next few years.”
Click here for release from BOEM.
Virginia News Headlines: Monday Morning
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, July 22. And no, I don’t give a rat’s hindquarters about the royal spawn.
*Obama Plans to Unveil His Agenda for Economy
*Peak Scalia (Yes, he’s completely insane: “With his own claims to originalism fading fast, Scalia suggests liberal judicial activism, practiced by some of colleagues on the Court, is part of what brought about the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. The speech was an address to the Utah State Bar Association.”)
*Experts say gifts to Virginia governors part of culture (That’s a “culture” that needs to change, ASAP!)
*Cuccinelli is cleared, sort of (“Is incompetence, rather than malfeasance, really worth celebrating?”)
*McCain, Romney debate coach Brett O’Donnell joins Ken Cuccinelli campaign (After his piss-poor performance on Saturday, Cuccinelli needs all the help he can get!)
*WATCH: Ken Cuccinelli Still Abhors the ‘Personal Challenge of Homosexuality’
*Virginia Republican Suffers Abortion Backlash From Donors (“‘Mr. Cuccinelli’s very hard stance on some of the social issues is a concern for me,’ said Virginia Beach developer Bruce L. Thompson, chief executive officer of Gold Key/PHR Hotels and Resorts, a financial backer of current Republican Governor Bob McDonnell who in May gave McAuliffe $25,000.”
*Terry McAuliffe Is a Flip-Flopper–And That’s Just Fine with Green Groups (“Enviros are much more nervous about climate-change skeptic Ken Cuccinelli winning the Virginia governor’s race than McAuliffe’s inconsistent record on energy.”)
*Sen. Tim Kaine wields a mean harmonica at Floyd jam session (with video) (“The state’s junior U.S. senator approached music at the Floyd Country Store on Sunday the same way he approaches politics.”)
*Gubernatorial campaigns mainly funded from outside Va.
*Broadband at breakneck speed (“Public hearings near on an authority to steer the region toward better fiber-optic infrastructure.”)
*Developer drives support for disputed new road along Civil War battlefield (“Robert E. Buchanan says he wants to solve Northern Va.’s problems, but critics say profits are his motive.”)
*Richmond reaches into the shadows
*A good cause for Goodlatte (“The congressman is in a unique position to construct a fair system for online sales collections.”)
*Why the Nationals haven’t earned the right to be buyers at the trade deadline (“The team needs to get past struggles with who they have rather than adding players.”)
*Showers, thunderstorms likely as summer heat takes back seat to rain
Let’s Stand Our Ground
Gandhi, King, Mandela and Congressman John Lewis stood tall, non-violently, for equality and freedom, even when beaten and imprisoned. This is standing your ground. Stalking unarmed teenagers, whether self-proclaimed gang leader or self-appointed neighborhood watch, is not.
‘Stand Your Ground’ like Helen Thomas did, when a foxy President cornered by the wise old feisty hen, tried tap dancing to the tune: I didn’t really want to preemptively strike and go to war with a country which had nothing to do with the 2,977 deaths on 9/11. I just wanted to ‘shock and awe’ until 3,527 Americans stood their last ground for the American Dreams of Bankers and BP/Halliburton corporate types.
Detroit, though only one example of neglecting urban issues to death, deserves fellow American citizens standing their ground to prevent more murders and more Governors hiring more city managers for more city obits.
Whether financial burden on those trying to get the highest and best education, or deterioration of employer provided healthcare, or home ownership, or funeral charged to a credit card, BANKs are the Alpha of American BANKruptcy and Foreclosure, their Omega for Right and Left Americans.
So “Stand Your Ground” as much against those who start wars for profit with no financial motivation for ending them, as we stand our national security ground against those who choose to expose the felicity of power’s foreign and domestic spying and killing machines.
Nonetheless, those standing their ground for bathtub drowned government, without realizing how very passé is the time without taxes allowing Robber Barons to “build America” on the backs of their assembly lined unrepresented worker bees, need their “Father, Knows Best” reality checked.
When we profess standing your ground for our U. S. Constitution, is the highest expression of American patriotism, then as “We the People” we are obliged to “Stand Your Ground’ in defense of a tasteless and insensitive magazine cover, and ‘Stand Your Ground’ by neither buying the publication nor buying into a myopic press, or gerrymandered government.
As patriotic Americans standing our ground for The First Amendment, we are standing up for a Mosque in lower Manhattan, and the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” However, unless living in our largest IOU holder, one citizen’s freedom is not allowed to infringe on another’s.
Speaking of China, it’s really not all that American to ‘Stand Your Ground’ herded by ABC’s “Made in America” ratings solicitation. Our past trials in isolationism aided and abetted world wars, holocaust, genocide, ethnic cleansing, starving children, women as chattel, export import imbalance and the inhumanity of the powerful on the “least of these.”
Better to ‘Stand Your Ground’ as a super power for humanity and example of ‘Truth, Justice and a new and improved American Way,’ but be conservative when standing your ground on hunting trips, with a friend so much a legend in his own wonder lust and filled with unknown hydration sources, that you, like oil sources get in his sights.
As earth Stewarts, we need to be good listening neighbors, who remember to send the elevator back down for the next generation, so truly, ‘No Child is Left Behind.” That’s the wise alternative to self-destruction by corporate media driven polarization.
Standing your ground against potential contribution of women and citizens of every color, has already cost America a colossal reservoir of immense talent, and we need to do better.
Having lived on ‘both sides of the track’ President Barack Obama is probably a good choice to guide us into the 21st century reality that Franklin was correct, “we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Let’s stand our ground with our children, who are better.
Video – Fox 5 Political Analyst Mark Plotkin on Terry McAuliffe: What a Difference Four Years Make!
I don’t know if you remember how much Fox 5 political analyst Mark Plotkin (note: Plotkin previously was the political commentator and analyst for WTOP Radio from 2002 to 2012, and for WAMU before that) hated Terry McAuliffe in 2009, but as someone who covered that race closely – and who supported McAuliffe – I certainly do. For instance, see Plotkin Disses McAuliffe from May 2009. At that time, Plotkin had this to say: “The Democratic primary for governor is Tuesday, June 9. Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds are qualified to be governor. Terry McAuliffe is not.” Ouch.
Well, that was then, this is now. Here’s Mark Plotkin on Terry McAuliffe in THIS year’s election:
[Terry McAuliffe] is a dramatically and starkly different candidate…four years ago he finished a distant second in the Democratic primary to Creigh Deeds…I saw a remarkable difference [at the debate yesterday] – poised, polished in the good sense, measured, well informed, and really made a good impression. And even when Cuccinelli tried to get under his skin, he didn’t blanch or flinch, and kept on smiling. So this is a FAR different candidate, much more measured and intelligent.
Wow.
As for Ken Cuccinelli’s performance during the debate? Plotkin says that Cuccinelli was in “attack mode” (true), wanting to portray McAuliffe as “from Washington,” but Cuccinelli was “unsmiling” and “far too tough for that medium.”
I’d certainly agree with all that, and I must say I found Cuccinelli’s performance yesterday to be surprisingly – almost shockingly – bad. Having watched Cuccinelli debate (and defeat) Janet Oleszek and Steve Shannon, I assumed that he’d be very strong at the Homestead, almost certainly win the debate. Honestly, prior to that debate, I was hoping for a “tie” at best between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli.
But from the opening moments, it was clear that McAuliffe was – as Plotkin said – a vastly improved candidate from 2009, definitely on his “A game” and “loaded for bear.” It was also clear that Cuccinelli was NOT on his “A game.” Instead, I’d say he never got into any kind of rhythm, seemed angry and petulant, definitely didn’t act gubernatorial (e.g., with his puerile use of the word “Democrat” as an adjective instead of the noun that it is, or with his bigoted/divisive description of LGBT people as facing a “personal challenge” due to their sexuality). In addition, as F.T. Rea of Slantblog put it, “Cuccinelli seemed scared and unsure of himself” during the first half of the debate, while “McAuliffe hit the ground running, brimming over with confidence…well prepared and it showed.” OK, so that was just the first half of the debate, what about the second half? Here’s Slantblog:
When Cuccinelli did manage to get over his shaky start, in the debate’s last half-hour, he tried to affect his cock-of-the walk style. However, it seemed a little forced and he still looked self-conscious. Which all seemed to underline the notion that Cuccinelli’s style works much better when he’s working a highly partisan crowd, or being interviewed by sympathetic questioners.
[…]
McAuliffe mentioned a $1,500 turkey dinner the AG presumably enjoyed, for which Williams picked up the check. Then the Democratic candidate chuckled, “That’s a lot of turkey!”
Yes, it was surprising to me how much better McAuliffe performed in this first debate. He seemed likeable and quick on his feet. Up until today, I had been more than a little worried than Cuccinelli would be the more confident debater. Now I wonder if Cuccinelli ought to just avoid any future one-on-one debates.
Of course, this was just one debate, watched by perhaps 2,500 people (out of a Virginia population of 8 million) on the live stream, plus a few hundred in attendance at the Homestead. Which is why media coverage of the debate matters, and why comments like Plotkin’s – and Slantblog’s, and others – could have an impact. We’ll see.
Dwight’s Redskins Deal Dissembles
You have to wonder if Maureen McDonnell will be hyping Anatabloc at the gates to the Redskins camp. Somebody has to make some money off of this fiasco of a deal. As the layers of the arrangement unfold, it is clear that Bankrupt Bob had a hand in it.
From the beginning the numbers did not add up. Richmond would pay the Redskins a half million a year to hold a camp at a facility that Richmond would build for 10 million with a pipedream that Richmond would somehow recover the cost through increased tourism. Well, that might be difficult to determine, but we’ll try.
Tammy Hawley, press secretary to Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, said the total costs probably will not be available until “post-camp.” – Richmond Times Dispatch
That doesn’t help much. So, maybe there is reason for concern:
“We’re trying to get information to assess how well they are handling the preparations for this and whether there’s going to be a full accounting.” – Wayne Taylor, secretary of Better Government for Richmond in the Richmond Times Dispatch
Here’s a start. The number of camp visitors is projected at 100,000. Keeping it simple and being generous (the projection has been reduced to 65,000), we’ll say all of them come from out of town and they will spend all of their hard earned dollars inside the city of Richmond so that all the tax revenue is generated there. Of the 5.5% state sales tax, something on the order of 1.65% will be returned to the city’s general fund. A little math and that means every man, woman, and child attending must spend $303 (so a family of 4 must spend $1212) dollars to cover just the base $500,000 Redskins corporate welfare. We’d better hope for some well healed visitors. And that isn’t anything near the bottom line for Richmond. Those figures really need to be doubled or more.
Under the agreement, the contribution could include such expenses as team lodging, meals and transportation, but city officials say the Redskins are paying all of those costs directly this year. – Richmond Times Dispatch
Coulda, woulda, shoulda…There’s no “could” here, even this year:
James River Transportation is providing transportation for the team’s players, coaches and staff, who will stay at the Omni Richmond Hotel in Shockoe Slip during camp. – Richmond Times Dispatch
And there are the other public services:
Richmond will coordinate emergency services through the nearby Richmond Ambulance Authority and provide off-site police security, but the Redskins will pay for security within the camp gates…- Richmond Times Dispatch
Very generous of the Redskins. Now, why wouldn’t you want professional law enforcement and emergency services inside the training camp?
As I expressed when this deal was going down, the location of the training camp couldn’t be worse for Richmond traffic. Parking is always an issue in Richmond, but that was dismissed with the proposal to use the area around City Stadium and provide a shuttle. But it turns out that that is an option only during four days of the camp (this Thursday through Saturday and Fan Appreciation Day). Plus it is going to interfere with progress completing the bridges on I-95.
Both the state and the city say they are coordinating road projects, such as the ongoing bridge replacement on I-95 and paving on West Broad Street, to not interfere with traffic during the camp. – Richmond Times Dispatch
One of the best quotes comes from Thomas E. Flynn, Richmond traffic engineer:
“We can adjust the flow so there’s a nice, continuous green.” – Richmond Times Dispatch
Uh, that would translate to a “nice continuous red” for every intersecting avenue. But what the heck, that will only affect people who live in Richmond.
So, what’s in it for Richmond?
City officials say the return on investment should include an estimated $40 million in anticipated investment by Bon Secours. The health system will occupy the training facility when camp breaks, develop the former Westhampton School property near St. Mary’s Hospital under a 60-year lease with the city, and expand Richmond Community Hospital in the East End. – Richmond Times Dispatch
Well, you see how that investment is coming along based on progress at the Westhampton site in the photograph above. There is no timeline like there was for the camp facility and Bon Secours is obviously in no hurry to fulfill that portion of the deal. So, not a single full time job has been created for the $20 million or more the city has obligated. And, by the way, that $40 million mentioned by a city official, even if it happens, is not a return on investment. The tax revenues are the return on investment. The $40 million will not be on Richmond’s books; it will be on Bon Secours’ books. Must be using the same accountant Bob McDonnell is using for his real estate investments.
All this ignores the betrayal of the deal for the Diamond. Throughout the debate over the Redskins camp it was clear that the replacement for the Diamond was taking a backseat. The Squirrels management/ownership played well with others and later expressed confidence that a deal for a new ballpark could be crafted despite this flirt with an outsider. The only way to account for such confidence is that they had received a wink and a nod from someone. But reality struck a couple of weeks ago when the Richmond City Council blocked a referendum on a ballpark.
So when Thursday dawns on Richmond, don’t look for a general fund windfall that will make the local school district flush with cash. No, expect the local schools to share the pain of this bad investment.
But I do suggest you buy a jar of Anatabloc from Maureen and get it signed. Worth a lot more than her husband’s word.
Virginia News Headlines: Sunday Morning
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, July 21. By the way, as we focus on the governor’s race, let’s not forget about the other two right-wing extremist nuts on the 2013 Virginia Republican ticket – E(xtremely). W(acko). Jackson and Mark “Criminalize Miscarriages” Obenshain.
*Across nation, protesters urge ‘justice’ for Trayvon Martin
*Putin’s assault on Alexei Navalny, and civil society (“Mr. Obama should indeed call off the meeting – but he should do so explicitly to protest Mr. Putin’s assault on Russian civil society, and as the start of a policy that recognizes the regime for what it is.” Agreed. Putin’s completely out of control.)
*50 Years of Tough Questions and ‘Thank You, Mr. President’
*Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell needs to come clean on gifts
*Jeff E. Schapiro: This isn’t McDonnell’s first brush with scandal (“In 2005, when he was seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general, McDonnell was criticized by his opponent, Steve Baril, for collecting thousands of dollars from clients he represented before state agencies he influenced as a legislator from Virginia Beach.”)
*First Debate in Virginia Governor’s Race Adds Some Drama (See my live blog, and also watch the debate, here)
*McAuliffe, Cuccinelli tangle in first debate
*Virginia GOP Nominee For Governor: I Still Believe Gay People Are ‘Soulless’ And ‘Self Destructive’
*That’s a Lot of Turkey (“McAuliffe mentioned a $1,500 turkey dinner the AG presumably enjoyed, for which Williams picked up the check. Then the Democratic candidate chuckled, ‘That’s a lot of turkey!'”)
*McCartney: McAuliffe looked mostly gubernatorial
*Virginia needs investment from overseas
*Voters can dictate debate in House races (“The statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general aren’t the only games in town. All 100 House of Delegates seats are up for election…”)
*Hundreds march in Roanoke rally for Trayvon Martin
*Virginia enables shameful practice (“The promise of quick cash in exchange for a car title drew more victims last year, as the commonwealth’s thriving short-term lending industry reaped another windfall at the expense of financially desperate Virginians.”)
*Some Northern Virginians prefer their cars to Metro, new poll finds (“Northern Virginians mixed on riding Metro’s new Silver Line.”)
*D.C. area forecast: Storms possible as heat retreats to typical Dog Days sweat levels
*Dodgers drop Nationals under .500 with 3-1 loss in 10 innings (This season is very close to becoming a lost cause…sigh.)
Video: Cuccinelli Says His Views About the “personal challenge of homosexuality haven’t changed”
In short, no matter how much Ken Cuccinelli tries to Etch-a-Sketch (aka, reinvent) himself in this election as a pro-business guy who’s focused on jobs, right here he blatantly admits that his bigoted, offensive views on gay people – that their innate (or god given, perhaps, if you’re a religious person) sexual preference is a “personal challenge?!?” – haven’t changed one bit. And, of course, in no way/shape/form has Cuccinelli backed off his intolerant, extreme social agenda the past 3+ years as Attorney General, whether it’s on his anti-LGBT bigotry, his relentless assault on women’s reproductive health and freedom, on having government stick its knows into what goes on in our bedrooms, etc, etc. But getting back to this video, specifically, the phrase “personal challenge of homosexuality” is as atrocious as it is antiquated, offensive as it is bizarre. Bottom line: let’s just say Ken Cuccinelli has “issues” he needs to work out…preferably with the help of a trained professional.
Virginia News Headlines: Saturday Morning
Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Saturday, July 20. Also, check out President Obama’s weekly address, in which he discusses the Senate’s confirmation of Rich Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
*Detroit’s bankruptcy and the absence of urban policy (And to the extent we’ve had one, it’s actually been to HURT the cities while massively subsidizing suburban sprawl.)
*Obama: ‘Trayvon Martin could have been me’ (That is absolutely correct. Great speech, pitch perfect.)
*Obama makes the ‘unsayable’ accessible (“Obama’s unscripted comments were some of the most remarkable and admirable few minutes of his presidency. He spoke carefully, but with great passion and clarity. He spoke explicitly as a black man, but also as an American president.” Agreed, this was brilliant.)
*Top 12 Conservative Freakouts After Obama’s Race Speech (So utterly predictable, yet still utterly appalling.)
*Four Charts That Prove Obama’s Right About Being Black In America
*Obama started a needed conversation (by Mo Elleithee)
*McAuliffe, Cuccinelli to Face Off in Live Debate (I’m planning to live blog it. Check out Blue Virginia at 11 am!)
*Five things to watch in the first debate of Va. governor’s race
*Virginia Is Corrupt (“It’s shocking what Gov. McDonnell and attorney general Cuccinelli get away with, thanks to the state’s lax ethics laws.” It’s called “legalized corruption,” it’s not an oxymoron, and it’s rampant in Virginia.)
*Supporters of Va. Gov. McDonnell establish nonprofit to cover legal defense expenses in probe (Looks like our legally corrupt governor is hunkering down for the long haul…)
*McDonnell’s Lawyer: Donor’s Company Got No Public Money (Well, there you go then, all better! ***snark***)
*VRS bought Star Scientific stock, sold it at $87,000 loss (Hmmmm…does this bring back memories?
*McDonnell ethics questions cloud GOP hopes for retaining governor’s mansion (What SHOULD “cloud GOP hopes” is that Ken Cuccinelli et al are climate science-denying, LGBT-bashing, women’s-reproductive-rights-denying, Koch-brothers-loving freaks.)
*Virginia passes tipping point on same-sex marriage
*With Cuccinelli, the fine print matters (“…the same report notes that Cuccinelli, far from doing nothing to help his generous benefactor, may have helped Williams after all.”)
*Virginia AG’s office sues online payday lender, claims firm charging illegal interest rates
*A closer look at this week’s three polls in the governor’s race (This is hilarious, they have to go back to 1994 – yes, almost 20 years ago – to find the last time Roanoke College was a decent pollster. #FAIL)
*12th House District is targeted for Democratic spending
*Holmes drops from 14th Senatorial District race (“John Cosgrove’s path to the Virginia Senate just got easier now that his Democratic opponent in an Aug. 6 special election has withdrawn from the race.”)
*Attack on boy operating lemonade stand investigated as possible hate crime
*Richmond makes last-minute preparations for Redskins camp
*Nats’ second half begins with a dud (“Nationals squander Strasburg’s sterling start; bats and bullpen falter in 3-2 loss to Dodgers.”)
*D.C. area forecast: Still hot, still humid. Will storms break the heat
