March 17, 2010 E-Newsletter: 2010 General Assembly Wrapup
Dear friend of VCN,
This week, lawmakers left Virginia’s capitol city after passing a bare-bones budget that will have local governments struggling to close gaps in education, parks and other services. Legislators faced especially difficult decisions this year. Each deserves to be thanked for his or her service (Delegate contact information, Senator contact information).
Conservationists can thank lawmakers for funding agricultural BMPs for water quality at $9 million annually through a $10 increase in the deed-recordation fee. Grants for land conservation and farmland preservation were cut to less than $1 million a year, but land trusts will have a new stream of revenue to support their stewardship thanks to the passage of HB 447 (Ware) and SB 264 (Whipple). For more highlights from the session, keep reading.
Energy
The network’s agenda for energy reform made little headway this year. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee failed to advance SB71 (McEachin), thus denying consumers hard targets for energy efficiency. SB109 (Petersen) passed the Senate but was left in the House Appropriations Committee. This bill, dubbed as the Green Public Buildings Act, would have made green building the law of the land. HB441 (Toscano), a net-metering bill that allows neighbors and farmers to pool their resources and put clean energy on the grid, was carried over to 2011.
Among the defeated energy bills VCN opposed were HB1274 (Hugo), which would have subjected future reforms to unnecessary delay, and SB 442 (Wagner), which would have empowered a small group of legislators to block or even suspend environmental and public health regulations.
Among the troubling VCN-opposed bills that passed both houses are:
HB1300 (Kilgore) and SB128 (McDougle), which restrict the State Air Pollution Control Board’s ability to regulate major emitters of NOx and SOx—the pollutants responsible for acid rain.
HB92 (Kilgore), which allows electric coops to exclude clean energy entrepreneurs from selling to consumers in their service territory, thus stifling green entrepreneurship.
SB659 (Wagner), which instructs DEQ to develop theoretical regulations for offshore drilling at a time when scarce state resources would be better spent protecting public health from existing air pollution.
The conservation community is working with the McDonnell administration to ensure the best possible outcome for consumers and the environment.
Water
“Stream Saver” legislation (SB564, Ticer) to ban the dumping of surface-mining waste in streams and valleys was also carried over to 2011, ensuring that the issue won’t go away. More than 300 concerned citizens (pro and con) packed two rooms in the General Assembly for a passionate three-hour hearing on the bill. HB1135 (Morgan) was passed by both houses and will end an exemption that allows “small” wastewater treatment plants to ignore caps on nutrient pollution. This is a logical, positive step to protect the rivers of the Chesapeake Bay.
The session also saw a disappointing-but-not-disastrous compromise on stormwater regulations (HB 1220, Hugo), which delays implementation of state stormwater regulations until the EPA completes its “pollution diet” for the Chesapeake watershed. This bill was signed by the governor.
Transportation
To the relief of hikers and paddlers, SB546 (Edwards) passed, ensuring that railroad rights-of-way may be used for recreational purposes and to access recreational areas. By extending to railroad rights-of-way the same liability protections already granted landowners, the bill aims to increase recreational access to natural resources.
Conservation advocates and our allies in education scored a significant victory with the defeat of SB181 (Stosch), which would have allowed construction firms to raid public coffers in order to fund public-private infrastructure projects. The many questions surrounding this bill led to its defeat in the Senate Finance Committee. A house companion (HB1395, Massie) was introduced at the eleventh hour but failed to advance out of the General Laws Committee.
Also defeated were HB277 (Albo) and HB779 (LeMunyon), both of which sought to revive the discredited Washington Bypass—a costly, pro-sprawl road proposal that would do little to address Northern Virginia’s pressing transportation needs.
Unfortunately, lawmakers passed SB632 (Obenshain) a bill allowing developers to withhold payment of proffers until just prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Because growing counties rely on proffers to build school, roads and parks, this change comes at an especially bad time for cash-strapped counties.
Citizen Involvement
Efforts to establish a bipartisan redistricting commission (SB626, Vogel; SB173, Deeds) were backed by a wide-ranging coalition, including VCN, but once again defeated in the House Privileges and Elections Committee. Just how contentious the next round of redistricting will be we don’t yet know. Gov. McDonnell has indicated his intention to establish a bipartisan commission through the executive branch. By doing so in an impartial, inclusive way he can show real leadership. Without reform, gerrymandered districts will remain the norm for many Virginians, to the detriment of centrist issues like conservation.
Many thanks to each of you who attended Conservation Lobby Day, made phone calls, or sent e-mails during this legislative session. We know that concerned citizens helped salvage vital conservation dollars from the chopping block and shaped the outcome of important legislation.
Sparring continues over Va. air quality control bills March 16, 2010 - Virginian Pilot
Environmentalists have described it as "the Virginia dirty air bill" - a measure that would limit the authority of the State Air Pollution Board and could increase smog problems in Hampton Roads, Richmond and other regions. Supporters say the legislation would help energy companies comply with strict clean-air laws, which are expected to get stricter under the Obama administration, and also keep electricity rates in check statewide.
Saving lives by using renewable technology March 15, 2010 - Inside NOVA.com News and Messenger
Marine Commandant Gen. James T. Conway and other Marine Corps and Navy leaders toured the first Experimental Forward Operating Base at Quantico on Friday, where they got a first hand look at how renewable technology and energy saving techniques can save the lives of Leathernecks deployed to Afghanistan.
Gardening with native plants enhances yards March 14, 2010 - News Leader
A tract of land near the western slopes of the Blue Ridge in Augusta County is not an ideal garden spot: sandy, acidic soil, marshy in the spring and bone dry by late summer. Yet in season, the land is relatively lush, teeming with some of the rarest flora in Virginia such as the yellow Virginia sneezeweed that covers the ground.
Questions surround offshore drilling March 12, 2010 - WTVR CBS 6
Virginia will need more than Bob McDonnell's signature to bring in money and jobs from offshore drilling.
Randolph College Speaker: Lisa Heinzerling (Mar. 26-27)
Did you know that America’s kids spend only four to seven minutes outside per day? (National Wildlife Week March 15-21) In fact, by the time most children go to kindergarten, they have spent more than 5,000 hours in front of a television – enough time to earn a college degree!
This weekend, you can help reverse these worrisome trends simply by using your extra hour of sunlight to go outside! Click here for a list of ways you and your kids can unplug this weekend.
Then, be sure to take the Be Out There Pledge indicating that you will make outdoor play a healthy habit for your kids. It will take less than a minute—and you’ll receive fun tips and interactive tools to inspire you and your family to Be Out There all year long!
James River Green Building Council Educational Needs Survey
Your green building and educational needs are growing and becoming more specialized, and the James River Green Building Council is committed to serving those needs as part of our mission as an organization.
In an effort to understand what your current educational needs are and to better serve our communities,
please take a moment to fill out the brief survey. (
Deadline: March 26, 2010.)
The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize
Because of your involvement in creating a dialogue about ways we can work together to solve our energy challenges, we thought you’d be interested to know more about the 2010 ConocoPhillips Energy Prize sponsored by ConocoPhillips and Penn State. The program will award up to $300,000 for the best concepts that promote advances in energy diversity, improve energy efficiency, or combat climate change. It is their hope that by fostering innovation no matter where inspiration may strike, we can create a path to a more secure and environmentally conscious energy supply.
Assistant Director for Legislation and Development - Virginia Sierra Club Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter is seeking a talented professional with proven experience in both lobbying and fund raising. Legislative and policy focus is the VA State Government.(Full Description)
Project Manager - Dan River Basin Association The Dan River Basin Association preserves and promotes the natural and cultural resources of the 3,300 square mile Dan River region through stewardship, recreation and education. DRBA envisions a region where residents and visitors enjoy a high quality of life and access for all to healthy waterways, natural areas, trails, greenways, and heritage sites, a bi-state network that contributes to a strong and vibrant regional economy. (Full Description)
Trail Clean Up- Clinch Coalition
A big day of trail work planned, come out and help the Clinch Coalition do some very needed trail work! On Saturday, March 20th continue work on the Roaring Branch Trail between Big Stone Gap and Appalachia, and possibly other trails if the turn out is good. Meet in the parking lot of the Big Stone Gap Pizza Hut at 9:30 a.m. All volunteers should wear good hiking boots, bring good gloves, water, snacks, and dress weather appropriate! If you would like to help please let us know so we can make plans with sufficient crew leaders, tools, etc. To sign up and/or need more information, email clinchcoalition@mounet.com or call 276-479-2176
Support for Environmental Organizations Pre-Application Deadline: April 30, 2010
The Patagonia Environmental Grants Program provides support to small, grassroots activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to protect the environment.
(Full Details)
Forest Legacy Program Pre-Application Deadline: May 22, 2010
The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) assures that both traditional uses of private lands and the public benefits of America's forests are protected for future generations. (Full Details)
Grants Encourage Forest Management Partnerships Deadline: June 18, 2010
The Foundation's Collaboration Support Program provides grants to organizations working to proactively engage local stakeholders in forest management and conservation issues on and around National Forests and Grasslands. The program provides Capacity Grants of up to $5,000 for organizational development needs in collaborative efforts. Innovation Grants of up to $10,000 are available for expenses related to the implementation of new strategies that will move the field of collaboration forward and that have the potential to be transferred to other collaborative efforts across the country.(Full details)
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