Get Energy Smart! NOW!

The science is clear: humanity is driving climate change. The science is clear: this is creating risks for humanity. The appropriate responses are debated and argued — even as there are those who simply deny reality (looking at you, Donald Trump …) and work to obstruct meaningful action to mitigate climate change and reduce risks […]

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Governor Northam has a real opportunity – assuming he seizes it – to set Virginia on a path toward increased prosperity, improved security, and global leadership this fall. “Virginia law requires the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to write a ten-year Energy Plan in the first year of every new administration. The statute lists […]

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Yesterday, Ralph Northam released a new advertisement in the Virginia governor’s race simply entitled Environment. The advertisement opens: Protecting our environment is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. And as a doctor, I trust the science on climate change. While perhaps tired of “doctor” as seemingly lead for everything […]

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Yet another report, yet another sign that Virginia is (far) behind the times when it comes to leveraging the clean-energy revolution to create economic activity and help address climate change.  In this case, “Solar Power Rocks” has gone through and rated the 50 states and the District of Columbia. As to Virginia, “Solar in Virginia: about […]

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Energy and climate issues are a prominent part of Virginia’s 2017 campaign season, perhaps more than any time in the past.  From fossil-foolish pipelines to corporate donations to potential economic development opportunities, there is more energy about the discussion of energy in a Virginian election year than perhaps any time in the past. Not surprisingly, […]

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Virginia Democrats face a real choice in the primary as to who will be the Democratic nominee for (and next) Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: current Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam or former Congressman Tom Perriello.  For those with an understanding of climate change’s challenges, risks, and opportunities, the choice is quite clear: Tom Perriello […]

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The fundraising for the inaugural party for the incoming Virginia Governor, Democratic Terry McAuliffe, is seeing a serious lift due to donations from fossil-fuel dependent Corporations. Most notably, McAuliffe’s Inaugural Committee has received $25,000 from Alpha Natural Resources, an $8 billion coal company that gave $92,500 to Cuccinelli’s campaign. Dominion Resources, a Virginia-based coal, gas, […]

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The Virginia legislature seems poised to adopt a (at best) mediocre transportation bill — better than what Governor McDonnell proposed originally but still pretty bad — but the voting is going to be close as Tea Party Republicans are prepared to vote NO on the Governor’s top priority because it includes tax revenues to pay […]

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Virginian Republican legislative initiatives have earned the Commonwealth unpleasant nation (and global) wide attention in recent years.  Whether the abuse of public resources to undermine Virginia’s academic reputation with anti-science legal shenanigans (2010 to present); the social, moral, and medical outrage of trying to require unnecessary ultrasounds on women seeking to execute their Constitutional right […]

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The Washington Post lead editorial this morning strongly rebukes the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli, for seeking to repudiate reality and to throw out the concept of academic freedom. They highlight that Cuccinelli’s witch hunt could cost Virginia dearly, undermining the reputation of Virginia’s excellent universities while risking real falls in […]

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