G2. Local Greens

Op-Ed by Jake Schwartz, CCAN Federal Campaigns Manager, initially published in the Bay Journal.

Your electricity bill is going up again. And no, it’s not just inflation. A big part of the problem is PJM Interconnection, the federally regulated but largely independent grid operator that controls the flow of power to 65 million people across 13 states and the District of Columbia. Instead of embracing cheaper, cleaner energy, PJM has clung to its fossil fuel biases, and we’re all paying the price.

Every year, PJM holds a “capacity auction” that determines how much consumers will pay to guarantee electricity for future years. On Sept. 1, electric bills increased as a result of the 2024 capacity auction. And earlier in the summer, when PJM released the 2025 auction results, households across much of the region learned that their bills would go up once again in 2026. The blame doesn’t rest on abstract market forces; it rests on PJM’s refusal to prioritize connecting clean energy to the grid.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

At a moment when new renewable technologies promise abundant, low-cost and reliable power, PJM has allowed the grid to stagnate. Instead of connecting the countless clean energy projects that have been stuck in a decade-long queue, PJM has fast-tracked fossil fuel plants, mostly gas-fired, to jump this very same line. This is not just bad for the environment. It’s also a direct hit to our wallets. Oil and gas prices are volatile. Coal plants are aging, inefficient and costly. Yet PJM seems determined to double down on fossil fuels, forcing consumers to pay more.

Recent pushback from politicians, led by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, has successfully convinced PJM to institute a price cap, putting a limit on how high consumer prices can be. In states like Maryland and Virginia, customers served by BGE and Dominion Energy may pay less next year thanks to this pro-consumer response — but it is only a temporary solution, and the rest of the region will face higher costs. Pushback at the state level, however, shows that PJM’s policies can be challenged. Political leaders can successfully fight for reforms that help our pocketbooks.

In Maryland, prices are rising for another reason as well. Earlier this year, as the Chesapeake Bay Journal reported in its April issue, PJM mandated that two coal plants had to remain online even though their owners wanted to retire them. Stuck with its fossil fuel-centric worldview, PJM saw no alternative to meet energy demand than to keep inefficient coal plants online past their retirement date. Because coal is so expensive, this decision will cost some Marylanders up to 24% more per month, according to RTO Insider. This is nothing but a subsidy for highly polluting, uneconomical coal plants, imposed on consumers who had no say in the process.

Air photo of Brandon Shores Coal Plant in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, near Baltimore.

The bitter irony is that PJM’s barriers to clean energy are self-inflicted. More than 3,000 renewable energy projects are currently waiting in PJM’s queue, according to Inside Climate News. If even a fraction were given the green light, consumers could see significant long-term price relief. Wind and solar are now cheaper than coal and gas in most of the country. Battery storage, once a futuristic concept, has rapidly scaled to make those renewable resources reliable around the clock. But as long as PJM keeps its thumb on the scale for fossil fuels, the grid will remain more expensive and less resilient than it should be.

Despite these challenges with PJM, reforms are being discussed. For the first time in decades, this fall PJM filled two board seats and will appoint a new CEO. New leadership could finally bring PJM into the 21st century, prioritizing clean energy integration and consumer affordability. Or, if fossil fuel interests fill the seats, we could see more of the same: higher bills, higher emissions, and fewer options for customers.

This winter, PJM will revisit what it calls the Reliability Must Run rule, the provision that forced the Maryland coal plants to stay online — and could do the same elsewhere. The stakes could not be higher. This isn’t about something abstract. It’s about being able to afford to keep the lights on. Consumers and elected leaders across the region must make it clear that we can never again be required to pay more for electricity to keep old coal plants online.

Unfortunately, even the reform process itself has been shaky. While there were a series of task force meetings scheduled over the summer to discuss PJM reforms, many were cancelled without explanation. It seems clear that PJM is sticking to the energies of the past while the energy prices of the future are only going up. PJM may control the levers of our grid, but ultimately, the public pays the bill. We have to make PJM care.

Op-Ed by Jake Schwartz, CCAN Federal Campaigns Manager, initially published in the Bay Journal.

About the author:

Jake Schwartz (he/him) is the Federal Campaigns Manager at CCAN. Jake grew up in Philly (Go Birds!) and has organized on environmental and electoral campaigns across the country, from Oregon to Indiana. His career in climate organizing began at Green Corps, an environmental advocacy fellowship, where he worked on local, state, and federal campaigns.

Most recently, he was on the Harris-Walz campaign where he helped run the Delegate Operations and then Climate Engagement teams. Outside of work, you can find him running or biking in Rock Creek Park or reading at Meridian Hill Park.

The post PJM’s Coal Bias Is Giving Us Pollution, High Electric Bills appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The Western Arctic is one of the last vast, wild places left in America. It’s home to caribou herds that travel hundreds of miles to calve, millions of migratory birds from across the globe, and Alaska Native communities who have lived off these lands for generations. At 23 million acres, the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska (more warmly known as the Western Arctic) is the largest tract of public land in the United States — and right now, it’s under serious threat. 

In 2022, the Biden administration adopted a new Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) for the Western Arctic that started to bring balance back to how this landscape is managed. The plan cut back the reckless overreach of the Trump administration’s 2020 IAP, restoring protections for fragile habitats and for Alaska Native subsistence rights. It allowed leasing on roughly half the Western Arctic, while protecting the heart of the most ecologically and culturally significant “Special Areas” like Teshekpuk Lake. 

But Congress is now trying to dismantle those protections. 

The CRA Attack on the 2022 Plan 

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) have introduced resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the 2022 IAP.  

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a little-known law that allows Congress to overturn recently finalized federal rules with a simple majority vote — and without the possibility of a filibuster in the Senate. In the case of the Western Arctic, that means if Congress uses the CRA to nullify the 2022 IAP, the entirety of the 2022 plan disappears. This vote intends to revert management back to a weaker Trump-era leasing plan, and future agency management options become greatly uncertain, since the CRA prevents future administrations from issuing rules that are “substantially the same.”

What’s at Stake in the Special Areas 

Special Areas aren’t arbitrary boundaries. They are federally recognized designations meant to protect the most critical wildlife habitat and cultural sites in the Western Arctic. The 2022 IAP restored meaningful protections to these places — but all of that would vanish under a CRA repeal: 

• Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (3.65 million acres): Currently largely off-limits to leasing and protected with some no-surface-occupancy rules, the CRA action would open more than 1.5 million new acres to leasing. 

• Colville River Special Area (2.44 million acres): Protected today for its raptor nesting cliffs and rich riparian ecosystems. A CRA repeal would erase its Special Area status entirely. 

• Utukok River Uplands (7.1 million acres): Vital calving grounds for the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, central to food security for local communities. The Trump plan would reopen half of it to leasing. 

• Peard Bay and Kasegaluk Lagoon: Key habitat for waterfowl, beluga whales, and spotted seals. Both would be thrown open to industrial disturbance if the CRA resolution passes. 

In short, the lands most important to caribou, polar bears, migratory birds, whales, and subsistence hunters would once again be treated as expendable. 

The Climate and Subsistence Costs 

Overturning the 2022 IAP would also mean locking in decades of new oil and gas development at a time when climate science says we can’t afford it. More drilling in the Arctic doesn’t just threaten local ecosystems — it adds to global carbon pollution and pushes us further away from a livable climate. 

For Alaska Native communities, it’s also a direct attack on food security and cultural survival. Industrial roads, pipelines, and drill pads fragment caribou calving grounds and disrupt access to subsistence hunting and fishing. The 2022 IAP strengthened consultation requirements with tribes and expanded protections for subsistence. All of that would disappear overnight under the CRA. 

The Economics Don’t Add Up 

Big Oil claims more drilling will fix Alaska’s fiscal problems. But the state’s own Department of Revenue data tells a very different story. 

Take Willow, ConocoPhillips’ massive new oil project in the Western Arctic. Just last month, Alaska officials cut their revenue projections for Willow nearly in half. Instead of $6.3 billion for the state over 27 years, the treasury will now only see about $2.6 billion. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips pockets an estimated $10.3 billion in profit. 

That pencils out to less than $100 million a year for Alaska — barely a drop in the bucket of a state budget that exceeds $5 billion annually. Worse still, under Alaska’s oil tax structure, ConocoPhillips is set to receive more in state tax credits than the project generates in actual tax revenue. In plain English: Alaska is subsidizing oil companies to drill federal lands. 

If the biggest Arctic oil project in decades is already a financial dud for the state, why would opening more of the Western Arctic to drilling suddenly change the math? The simple answer is: it won’t.  

New projects in Teshekpuk, the Colville River, or Utukok will follow the same pattern — large profits for Big Oil, potential losses for the State of Alaska, and enormous risks for communities and ecosystems. 

A Reckless, Permanent Rollback 

Perhaps the most dangerous part of the CRA is how permanent it is. If the resolution passes, the Department of the Interior would be barred from issuing any future rule “substantially the same” as the 2022 IAP. In other words, these protections couldn’t simply be reinstated by another administration. They’d be locked away unless Congress introduced entirely new legislation — an unlikely prospect given our history of political gridlock. 

That means one rushed vote in Congress now could erase decades of public input, scientific review, and tribal consultation, while handcuffing future administrations from restoring balance in the Western Arctic. 

The Bottom Line 

Rolling back the 2022 IAP would be a disaster — for wildlife, for Alaska Native communities, for the climate, and even for Alaska’s bottom line. The 2022 plan attempted the beginnings of a compromise, allowing development on more than half of the Western Arctic while protecting the most irreplaceable lands and waters from destruction. 

Sullivan and Begich’s CRA resolutions are the opposite of responsible governance. It’s a handout to Big Oil at the expense of caribou, birds, and subsistence hunters. It’s a climate setback we can’t afford. And it’s an economic con that leaves Alaska taxpayers subsidizing the very companies that are profiting from their lands. 

The post Congress Wants to Hand the Western Arctic Back to Big Oil  appeared first on Alaska Wilderness League.

The UK government is being urged to adopt tough controls in the coming weeks on methane releases from the oil and gas industry.

Evidence of venting methane at Larkwhistle oil site, Stockbridge, April 2024.
Photo: Clean Air Task Force

The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, announced during the summer he would develop a National Methane Action Plan to reduce emissions. It is expected to be published before COP30, the UN climate conference in Brazil in November.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, responsible for 0.5 degrees C of warming.

The energy sector accounts for 11% of UK methane emissions. But a study by Princeton University suggests up to five times more methane is being leaked from UK oil and gas production than reported. 

Environmental campaigners said this week that tackling methane was one of the cheapest and most effective strategies to slow global warming.

But they said the gas was “dangerously underregulated” in the UK and the country was lagging behind on methane reduction from oil and gas facilities.

Without clear rules, the UK risked becoming a “dumping ground” for high-emissions fuels no longer acceptable in the EU, the campaigners have said.

The UK Methane Campaign, a network of environmental organisations, has organising a letter-writing campaign calling on Mr Miliband to “commit to develop a strong, enforceable regulation of methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector in the UK’s forthcoming National Methane Action Plan.”

The letter said the UK’s action plan must “reflect genuine leadership that matches the ambition of other international partners”. It said:

“an announcement of concrete methane rules would show that the UK’s leadership is credible and not just symbolic.”

The letter added:

“We encourage you to seize this opportunity and commit to developing regulations on methane emissions from fossil fuels produced at home and imported into the UK.

“This is one of the fastest and cheapest solutions we have to address climate change, hold major polluters accountable, and safeguard the UK’s climate credibility. 

“We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.”

UK oil and gas sites burn (flare) and release (vent) methane, even though these are not regarded as best practice.

Emily Mott, the UK Methane Campaign lead and a member of the Weald Action Group, said:

“In the UK, there is no upper threshold for methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry and oil and gas companies are essentially permitted to pollute.  

“Countless wells are spewing dangerous and potent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere 24/7. Millions of tonnes of methane have been deliberately released, vented and combusted, leaving a toxic legacy.

“Grassroots organisations around the country are only too aware of the negative impacts of methane on the climate, human health and nature and we want the UK government to act now.”

The UK has led the world in putting methane on the climate agenda. It played a key role in launching the Global Methane Pledge at COP26, the climate conference in Glasgow in 2021.

But Rebecca Tremain, UK Director of the Clean Air Task Force, said:

“without domestic rules to cut emissions from oil and gas, that leadership risks ringing hollow.

“With proven solutions ready to deploy offshore, the government has a clear opportunity to turn international commitments into real action.

“Strong methane regulation would safeguard UK energy security, keep our exports competitive in Europe, and show that the UK is serious about delivering on its climate promises.”

The UK Methane Campaign said North Sea oil companies were currently wasting enough gas to supply at least 700,000 average UK homes each year. The UK plans to ban venting and flaring of methane in 2030. In the meantime, the country will waste enough gas to supply the annual needs of nearly 4 million average homes, the campaign said. 

Cutting methane releases has become economically more attractive as the price of energy has risen.

The International Energy Agency has estimated that if gas flared in routine operations across the world was brought to market the revenues would be about US$60 billion.

The agency also estimated in 2022 that 72% of leaks from the UK oil and gas sector could be abated with existing technologies. The cost of fixing the leaks would be less than the value of the recovered gas, it said.

• Organisations can read the letter to Mr Miliband and add their names here

Local families, advocates, and community leaders showcase solar as the cheapest, most reliable energy source for the Commonwealth  

Richmond, VA — From Richmond to Vienna to Leesburg, Virginians turned out in force this weekend to celebrate the first-ever International “Sun Day,” joining hundreds of communities nationwide in uplifting solar energy as the clean, affordable power of the future. More than 300 celebrations were organized across all 50 states, with nine events in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region sponsored or co-sponsored by Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and a broad coalition of clean energy allies. 

In Richmond, dozens gathered at “Sun Day: A Day for Peace and the Planet,” co-hosted by CCAN, Third Act-RVA, the Richmond Peace Education Center, and the University of Richmond. The family-friendly event featured live music, art, climate education, and a call to accelerate solar energy deployment across Virginia.

In Vienna, community members celebrated the electrification of school buses at Louise Archer Elementary before touring a newly built PHIUS-certified net-zero home. Participants marveled at how energy-efficient features improve comfort, cut bills, and create healthier indoor environments. Throughout the day, large community banners declaring “Celebrate Solar” were displayed across town, uplifting solar as cleaner, cheaper, safer, and unlimited.

“For decades, we’ve called this stuff ‘alternative energy.’ We want to drive home the point that that’s not true anymore. This is the straightforward, common-sense, obvious way to power our future, the cheapest way to drive down electric prices, the easiest way to build a working America,” said Bill McKibben, co-founder of Third Act – the group that is the the driving force behind Sun Day  – as well as a pioneering environmental author, who has been instrumental in bringing global attention to climate change and the potential of renewable energy.

In Leesburg, visitors toured a home powered entirely by solar, where residents showcased how households can thrive on renewable energy without relying on polluting fossil fuels. The event offered a firsthand look at Virginia’s energy future while engaging families in conversations about transitioning toward 100% clean power. 

“Every day, the sun provides more energy than humanity could use in a year. It’s time we center our future around that gift,” said Ting Waymouth, Northern Virginia Organizer, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN). “These events made clear that Virginians understand the urgency of the clean energy transition, and are ready to lead with solutions that protect families, lower bills, and safeguard our planet.”

These events are part of the DMV region’s participation in International Sun Day, a weekend of actions across the U.S. and the world, organized by a broad coalition of groups, including Third Act, Fossil Free Media, and others, as well as CCAN. More than 300 events are planned in all 50 states, with CCAN sponsoring or co-sponsoring 9 across the DMV region.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and beyond.

The post Virginians Celebrate International “Sun Day” With Solar-Powered Home Tours, School Bus Electrification, and Peace-Centered Community Rally appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Community festivals highlight solar energy’s role in an affordable, sustainable future, featuring children’s activities, live performances, and conversations about Maryland’s clean energy leadership.

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Sunshine, live music, and the power of community brought hundreds of residents together in Takoma Park and Baltimore this past weekend for “Maryland Sun Day” celebrations, part of a global movement calling for the large-scale deployment of solar energy that is cheap, reliable, and ready to go. Residents of all ages are invited to enjoy music, art projects, kids’ programming, and hands-on educational activities while connecting with local leaders to send a clear message: we have the tools to power our communities with clean energy and overwhelming public support to do it.

In Takoma Park, families, neighbors, and local legislators gathered at the Takoma Urban Park Gazebo to enjoy an afternoon of music and community activities. Local musician Teresa Jiménez headlined the family-friendly concert, while kids participated in sun-inspired projects and interactive learning stations highlighting the promise of solar power. The event showcased the city’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and clean energy leadership in Maryland.

“Solar energy projects are the cheapest and quickest to build energy projects on the planet,” said Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, MD District 20. “We can lower bills, stabilize the climate, and create family-sustaining jobs by creating market certainty for solar energy of all types — residential, community solar, and utility scale.”

Other speakers at the event included Maryland State Senator William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20, Montgomery County), Delegate David H. Moon (District 20, Montgomery County), and Bryan Bomer, Sustainability, Energy, and Mechanical Manager, Montgomery County. 

In Baltimore, families gathered for an afternoon of children’s crafts, food trucks, and solar education programming. Attendees enjoyed music performances from Tavair Dominique, Buzz Merrick, and Dan and Claudia Zanes, reinforcing the joy and creativity at the heart of Maryland’s transition to renewable energy.

 

“Takoma Park and Baltimore came together this weekend to show what solar power really means: healthier communities, affordable energy, and a brighter future for our kids,” said Brittany Baker, Maryland Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Maryland has the chance to lead the nation in clean energy, and these celebrations prove residents are ready and eager to see it happen.”

Both events were part of the DMV region’s participation in International Sun Day, a weekend of “Sun Day” actions across America and around the world – organized by a broad coalition of groups, including Third Act, Fossil Free Media, and others, as well as CCAN. More than 300 events were planned across all 50 states. In the DMV region alone, CCAN sponsored or co-sponsored 9 events.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and beyond.

The post Family-Friendly Festivals in Takoma Park and Baltimore Celebrate “Maryland Sun Day” with Music, Art, and Kids’ Activities appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Protecting everyone’s children during all-hazard (oil-chemical) disasters

September 22, 2025 –– Oil and chemical disasters cause real harm to people. The problem is that the suite of symptoms expressed as early warning indicators of oil-chemical exposures are not considered evidence of harm by scientists and courts until waaaay after the exposure occurred – far too late to trigger action to mitigate the harm while it is occurring.

ALERT aims to cinch real harm and evidence of harm with action. This blog is about our most recent effort to use post-disaster evidence to mitigate harm by enforcing right-to-know laws. It also introduces our new work to use real-time evidence of harm to trigger action that would mitigate long-term health impacts.

In early September, ALERT received a one-page reply from OSHA to our 79-page noncompliance complaint that requested fines and penalties against four dispersant manufacturers for multiple violations of right-to-know laws. The evidence of adverse human health impacts to multiple body systems in humans and animals from key ingredients and the mixture as-a-whole for the original Corexit was irrefutable. Since the three Corexit knockoffs contained the same key ingredients as the original Corexit, it is reasonable to anticipate that the mixtures would cause similar harm as the original product. Yet, the manufacturers failed to anticipate such harm in their safety data sheets that EPA relies on as gospel when deciding whether a product should be listed for use in oil spill response. So, EPA concludes since there’s no evidence of real harm, there’s no problem, right? Subsequently, it listed the new Corexit knockoffs for use.

I read OSHA’s letter with trepidation. After a lengthy acknowledgement of our complaint, OSHA ended with: “This is an interim response to your letter. Based on our preliminary assessment of the evidence provided in your letter, OSHA plans to conduct an inquiry to request that the manufacturers review this matter and respond to OSHA.” I was flabbergasted!

This means there are two possible outcomes of the OSHA inquiry.

• Best case scenario: The manufacturers are guilty and do pay fines and penalties and must rewrite and report the truth in their technical literature such as safety data sheets.
• Worst case scenario: Claim dismissed. Business as usual. In which case, we should make it our business to take legal action.

In the best-case outcome, there would likely be ripple effects throughout the oil spill response world and beyond as “more safety data sheets are inaccurate than accurate,” according to a public health scientist with the United Auto Workers. Think consumer products, pesticides, degreasers, etc.

In the oil spill response world, this is uncharted territory. EPA might have to delist these new products, and the discontinued Corexit… but then what? Oil spill contingency plans rely on dispersant use as an option. And there’s the answer. Regional response teams, on-scene coordinators, and coastal states should just say “no” to using these contested products until this hot mess plays out with OSHA and the dispersant manufacturers.

Meanwhile, ALERT is turning its focus to the front end of this horse by taking action on something we can do now with our allies to collect real-time evidence of human health harm during an ongoing disaster. It’s called RHEA. RHEA stands for: Real Harm, Evidence, and Action. Like the goddess Rhea herself, this tool is about protecting our children – and each of us is someone’s child. It will involve real-time collection and mapping of symptom-based health impacts during exposures. It will provide something that we can act on. We will expand more on this in our next blog.

After all, as the devastated young father while holding his terminal cancer child says at the end of The Cost of Silence, a hard-hitting documentary about the real human health impacts of BP’s Deepwater Horizon: “You don’t have to be a scientist to figure it out. It’s not hard. You just have to give a shit.”

And ALERT does.

In solidarity,

A block on onshore oil and gas extraction will be debated at the Lib Dem conference tomorrow (Sunday 21 September 2025).

IGas shale gas site at Misson Springs, Nottinghamshire, 4 February 2019. Photo: Eric Walton

A policy paper put to the meeting in Bournemouth recommends banning new onshore oil and gas production.

The party’s proposals for climate policy seek to “put people first”. The first commitment said the party in government would:

“Protect people from future energy shocks by investing in renewable energy and reducing Britain’s dependence on fossil fuels, including banning onshore production.”

Pippa Heylings, MP and Lib Dem spokesperson for energy security and net zero, said today:

“This is a line in the sand. The Liberal Democrats are stepping up where others row back. We are banning new onshore fossil fuels to protect communities and drive a just transition.

“While the Reform party turn to fracking, the Conservatives to dwindling fossil fuels and Labour to dithering, we’re making a bold stand for the future. Clean energy, community resilience, and climate justice aren’t negotiable—they’re overdue.”

The conference policy paper said extraction of small volumes of onshore coal, oil and gas production caused greenhouse gas emissions and had “negative impacts on communities, the local environment and the local established economy”.

The paper said:

“We would accordingly ban all new onshore coal, oil and gas exploration and production, including fracking. In reality, new onshore extraction would make a minimal difference to UK production and European energy security.”

The paper also proposed a ban on the listing of companies extracting oil, gas and coal from the London stock exchange.

Under other proposals, the Lib Dems said demand for oil and gas would “fall steadily” but not to zero. Replacing UK gas with imported US liquified natural gas would “raise emissions, the paper said.

It said the Lib Dems in government would “keep open the option to allow extraction from new [offshore] fields which had already been licensed”. But there would be conditions on emissions and European supply security.

“Protect communities from bad development”

The Lib Dem proposal on banning onshore oil and gas goes beyond the party’s previous commitments. In 2024, the party promised to maintain the moratorium on associated hydraulic fracturing (higher volume fracking), introduced in 2019.

Lib Dems supporters said the move to ban onshore oil and gas was part of the just transition to a low-carbon economy. They said they did not want to expose any new community to fossil fuels.

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the move:

Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth, said:

“At a time when some parties are turning their backs on climate action, threatening our children’s future as climate extremes increasingly batter the world with floods, droughts and wildfires, it’s refreshing to see this bold motion to ban all new onshore coal, oil and gas exploration and production from the Liberal Democrats.

“Communities have fought tooth and nail to keep drilling and fracking out of their backyards, but they shouldn’t need to. A clear and comprehensive ban on onshore oil and gas extraction, including fracking, would protect communities from bad development, help to end our fossil fuel dependency and go towards building a cleaner future – with warm homes, green jobs and lower bills.”

UK onshore oil and gas production currently represents a tiny proportion of the national total.

Recent figures show that UK onshore gas contributes less than 1% to the total production.

Onshore oil represents about 2% of total UK production. But about 80% of onshore oil production is from one field, at Wytch Farm in Dorset. Though classified as an onshore field, Wytch Farm’s operations span offshore. Much of the oil is from the Sherwood Sandstone, which extends under Poole Harbour and into Poole Bay.

“End uncertainty”

The Lib Dem move coincides with a call for the ban on onshore oil and gas from the apolitical campaign group, Frack Free United.

In a recent article it said:

“it is time to move beyond half-measures, political point-scoring, and ambiguous promises. The patchwork of local decisions and inconsistent enforcement does not add up to real protection. Only a complete, unequivocal ban on all forms of onshore fossil fuel extraction can end the uncertainty. Such a ban would send a strong signal that the future is based on clean, renewable energy and that the days of risking our countryside for short-term gain are over.

“the time for ambiguity and compromise has passed. The evidence is clear, and the will of communities is stronger than ever. Now is the moment for a nationwide ban on onshore fossil fuels.”

Frack Free United described as “mission creep” of gas applications, despite a moratorium on fracking.

It said:

“the national conversation remains clouded by vague definitions of techniques and loopholes, exploited by lobbyists and company planners. Too often, the public is left confused by shifting government language around “conventional” extraction and frustrated as new projects are being pushed through under the banner of energy security without proper transparency or accountability.

“This piecemeal approach leaves communities to fight their own battles, pitted against well-funded energy companies, while meaningful national protections remain out of reach.”

Other Lib Dem energy policies

 The Lib Dem policy paper also says the party would:

• Support a just transition as North Sea oil and gas production declines, with strong support for workers and communities, reorienting infrastructure and skills towards renewables, carbon capture and storage and decommissioning. We would reduce emissions from extraction.
• Bring forward to 2028 the current target of 2030 for banning routine venting and flaring from oil and gas wells
• Expand the UK’s emissions trading scheme to cover methane emissions from the oil and gas sector produced through venting and leaks
• Apply stringent minimum standards to the upstream carbon intensity of domestically produced and imported oil and gas.

The conference paper is scheduled to be debated tomorrow (Sunday 21 September 2025) at 3.15pm. Link to conference agenda and papers

 Update: The LibDem conference approved the policy paper and committed to a ban on new onshore oil and gas.

Opponents of lower-volume fracking have questioned the safety of the process proposed at a gas site in East Yorkshire.

A local campaign group said it was concerned about the stability of the target rock formation at the West Newton-A site in Holderness, where Rathlin Energy wants to use a form of hydraulic fracturing.

The group, West Newton Said NO, was commenting on an application by Rathlin to vary the environmental permit at the site.

The Environment Agency (EA) has said it is minded to approve the application. A final public consultation is underway until 6 October 2025.

Rathlin is seeking permission to pump fluid into the Kirkham Abbey Formation at pressures high enough to fracture rocks. The aim is to improve the flow of gas through the reservoir into the well.

But West Newton Said NO questioned whether the intended stimulation could be done safely.

The group quoted a recent scientific paper* which looked at the risks of using suspended gas wells in the Kirkham Abbey Formation (KAF) in North Yorkshire to store methane or carbon dioxide.

The authors, from Aberdeen University, said:

“Carbon dioxide storage in the depleted KAF reservoirs contained in the VoP [Vale of Pickering] fields poses several technical challenges”.

It cited the complexity of the physical and chemical rock properties of the Kirkham Abbey Formation and the fact that the characteristics varied in different directions.

The paper said:

“Porosity and permeability vary significantly over short distances owing to its dual permeability nature, leading to high uncertainties when predicting subsurface fluid flow and posing a massive challenge when reservoir modelling the KAF.” 

The paper also said:

“Repeating injection and extraction of gas in and out of the reservoir will exert strain into the KAF, potentially fracturing it, which may lead to unexpected fluid behaviour and migration.”

In its comment to the Environment Agency, a spokesperson for West Newton Said No concluded:

“I fail to see how any intended stimulation can be carried out in a safe manner, especially considering the structural properties of the KAF.

“This clearly cannot be carried out in a 100 percent safe manner.

“Any unintentional subsurface fluid flows, as stated by the above paper in regards to gas extraction can lead to migration and unexpected fluid behaviour, therefore this is not safe for either the environment or indeed reactivation of any faults, considering the nearest one to the pad is 500mtrs away, which really is not that far.”

Rathlin Energy has concluded that hydraulic fracturing procedures in the Kirkham Abbey Formation “pose a very low risk with respect to induced seismicity”. It also said they “do not present an unacceptable risk to surface water and groundwater receptors”.

But West Newton Said No accused Rathlin Energy of “flawed” modelling.

The group urged the Environment Agency to apply the precautionary principle, which seeks to avoid causing harm when extensive scientific knowledge is lacking.

The group also questioned why there had been:

• Increases in the fracture radius and the mining waste area, where fracking fluid could remain
• Addition of an extra perforation zone

The group asked:

“How can a member of the public possibly make an informed objection without all the relevant data?

“The precautionary principle applies here as the EA cannot possibly be 100 percent certain that the information supplied is correct.”

It also said the site liner, installed to prevent spills reaching ground or surface water, was not fit for purpose.

Other concerns

Other consultation responses, which can be viewed online, include objections on the grounds of:

• climate change
• water use
• the scale of the hydraulic fracture
• risks of the process
• complex and technical information
• lack of detail on containment
• robustness of the regulatory system
• threat to wildlife
• suitability of the site’s liner
• risk of seismic activity
• financial capability of Rathlin Energy to carry out the work,

*Basin transection in the Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire: implications for energy resources and geological storage, Energy Geoscience Conference Series, volume 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: September 19, 2025 
Contact: Anja Semanco | 724-967-2777 | anja@alaskawild.org 

Alaska Wilderness League Opposes Congressional Attack on Common Sense Protections for Western Arctic 

Washington, D.C. — Alaska Wilderness League strongly opposes a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich that seeks to overturn the Biden administration’s 2022 National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (Western Arctic) Integrated Activity Plan (IAP). 

The Western Arctic, encompassing roughly 23 million acres, is the largest tract of public land in the United States. Under the Biden administration, the 2022 IAP reinstated critical environmental and cultural protections rolled back previously under the first Trump administration. This Biden-era IAP included oil and gas leasing on approximately half of the Western Arctic, while it also included some protections for Special Areas like Teshekpuk Lake, and it recognized the need for stronger protections for Alaska Native subsistence resources. The plan also restricted new roads and industrial infrastructure in ecologically and culturally sensitive areas. 

Congress Targets Protections for Wildlife, Subsistence, and Climate 

The CRA resolution introduced today would nullify the 2022 IAP, reopening vast portions of the NPR-A to oil and gas leasing, with fewer industrial development protections. 

“If this CRA resolution passes, it would tear down critical protections for caribou, migratory birds, and marine mammals—resources that are critical for Alaska Native communities, in an area where the impacts from oil extraction are rapidly increasing,” said Kristen Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League. “This is no small policy change—it’s an unprecedented and chaotic move by Congress that would upend decades of science, traditional knowledge, and careful processes used to craft essential protections for the Western Arctic’s most ecologically important Special Areas.” 

Key implications of the CRA resolution include: 

• Wildlife and Habitat at Risk: Special Areas like Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok River Uplands, Peard Bay, and Kasegaluk Lagoon would be opened to more leasing and industrial activity, putting caribou calving grounds, bird nesting areas, marine mammal habitat, and globally significant ecosystems in jeopardy. The Colville River Special Area would cease to exist. 

• Subsistence Threats: Alaska Native communities dependent on these lands for traditional hunting and fishing would face increased disruption. 

• Infrastructure Explosion: Roads, pipelines, and permanent industrial facilities could be authorized in sensitive areas, fragmenting habitats. 

• Climate Consequences: Expanded oil and gas development in the Western Arctic would lock in decades of new carbon pollution. 

• Irreversible Rollback: CRA rules bar agencies from issuing a new rule “substantially the same” as the disapproved 2022 IAP, which would make it extremely difficult to restore these protections in the future. 

Economic Reality: Oil in the NPR-A Is a Raw Deal for Alaska 

As Congress considers removing protections and making more areas open for leasing in the Western Arctic, more data points are becoming clear that Western Arctic drilling isn’t in the interest of the State of Alaska. Alaska’s largest oil project in decades, ConocoPhillips’ Willow project, was recently estimated to cost the State of Alaska more in tax credits than future Willow royalty revenues will provide, after the Alaska Department of Revenue drastically cut revenue projections for the project. Willow is now expected to pay the State of Alaska $2.6 billion over 27 years, while ConocoPhillips stands to earn $10.3 billion in profits. 

“Alaska is effectively subsidizing federal oil extraction with state funds that should go to needed infrastructure, education, and other community needs. The result risks some of our most precious public lands, while much needed community needs are going unmet,” said Andy Moderow, Senior Director of Policy for Alaska Wilderness League. “Undoing the 2022 IAP isn’t just bad for the environment, it could exacerbate the state of Alaska’s fiscal crisis.” 

Special Areas Under Threat 

• Teshekpuk Lake Special Area (≈3.65 million acres): Currently protected from leasing and surface development critical for caribou calving and migratory birds. CRA rollback would open over 1.5 million acres to industrial activity. 

• Colville River Special Area (≈2.44 million acres): Currently closed to leasing and protected for raptor nesting cliffs and riparian ecosystems. CRA rollback would remove Special Area designation for this area. 

• Utukok River Uplands (≈7.1 million acres): Off-limits under current plan to protect Western Arctic Caribou Herd calving grounds. CRA rollback would reopen roughly half to drilling. 

• Peard Bay (≈107,000 acres) and Kasegaluk Lagoon (≈197,000 acres): Critical habitat for waterfowl, seals, and beluga whales would be at risk under industrial development. 

Photo credit: Florian Schulz

The post Alaska Wilderness League Opposes Congressional Attack on Common Sense Protections for Western Arctic appeared first on Alaska Wilderness League.

Senator Ed Markey (MA) addresses a Sun Day weekend rally on the National Mall.

Parade and press conference bring together legislators and activists to launch a weekend of over 300 events across 50 states with the goal of promoting cheap, reliable solar energy. CCAN sponsors 9 events in the DMV region.

 

WASHINGTON, DC — The first-ever electric vehicle (EV) parade near the U.S. Capitol was held today to kick off a historic campaign for greater solar energy deployment worldwide. This initial “Sun Day” weekend celebration featured dozens of electric cars, bikes, and scooters decorated with pro-solar messages, circling on the National Mall. Just prior to the EV parade’s arrival, Congressional and state legislators joined clean energy and climate activists at a press conference to call for broader use of clean energy and a faster transition away from fossil fuels.  

At the press conference, a historic solar hot water panel, originally installed on the White House roof by President Jimmy Carter over 45 years ago and still operational, was displayed as a symbol of America’s enduring potential for clean energy leadership. View the full array of inspiring events nationwide on the Third Act “Sun Day” webpage.

Watch a recording of the live stream HERE.

“Solar and wind are the most affordable sources of electricity in our country,” said U.S Senator Ed Markey (MA). “Last year 94 percent of all new electrical generation installed in the United States was wind and solar and battery storage technologies. That’s what builds the fear into the coal and natural gas industry’s heart, they can see it coming. Because if it’s 94 percent then 95 percent, year after year, we have replaced the dependence which we’ve had upon coal and natural gas. So that’s our job. Last year 50,000 new megawatts of solar was installed in the United States. In 2009 we had a cumulative total of 2,000 megawatts…. We’re coming out on Sun Day, we’re letting everyone know that if they are not going away, we’re not going away. We’re on the right side of history.”

“As Virginia and the entire country are facing increasing energy demand, solar is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to develop energy generation to meet this coming demand,” said Delegate Rip Sullivan, 6th District, Virginia House of Delegates. “Outside of just providing energy, these projects help families and communities by providing a critical source of income while also supporting local schools, emergency response programs, and much more through the revenue to localities. There is no doubt that the path to affordable and reliable energy depends on the continued development and installation of solar.”

“Solar power isn’t just a clean energy issue,” said Laurie Welch, a leader with the volunteer group Third Act Maryland. “It’s a housing affordability issue. Rooftop and community solar lower utility bills, which means residents have more money to cover their rent or mortgage. As our founder, Bill McKibben, says, ‘Renewables are no longer an ‘alternative’ energy – not Whole Foods. Renewables are now the Costco of energy – cheap, available, and ready to go!’”

“Solar is the cheapest and fastest-to-build source of new power, with enormous potential to cut energy bills, create jobs, and help us tackle the climate crisis,” said Charles Harper, Power Sector Senior Policy Lead at Evergreen Action. “Fossil fuel interests know that the promise of solar and other clean energy technologies threatens their bottom line, so they’ve tried to shut it down at every turn. But the momentum is too great, and we won’t let them. This first Sun Day is about celebrating how far we’ve come — and building the people power we need to push our leaders to deliver even more clean energy now.”

“Solar power is not new to America; 45 years ago, President Jimmy Carter installed solar hot water panels on the White House roof,” said Mike Tidwell, executive director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN). “One of those panels is here today, and it’s still operational. Think about that, a panel built almost 50 years ago is still able to harness free power from the most abundant resource in our solar system, whereas fossil fuels require endless costly searches for a new supply and pollute our air every time they are burned. Today’s solar systems can provide the cheapest and cleanest energy for your homes and businesses for decades to come. It’s long overdue for solar panels to become the new symbol of America’s clean energy leadership.”

This EV parade and rally in D.C. kicked off a weekend of “Sun Day” actions across America and worldwide – organized by a broad coalition of groups, including Third Act, Fossil Free Media, and others, as well as CCAN. More than 300 events are planned across all 50 states, starting this weekend and extending into October.

In the DMV region, CCAN is sponsoring or co-sponsoring 9 events, ranging from a Sun Day For Peace & The Planet in Virginia to a tour of solar-powered homes across the District. Most activities will culminate on Sunday, September 21, the autumnal equinox, declared International Sun Day. For information about CCAN’s Sun Day events, visit our website.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and beyond.

The post Solar Power Shines by the U.S. Capitol: Electric Vehicles Parade on the National Mall to Kick Off International “Sun Day” Celebrations of Clean Energy appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last truly wild places left on Earth. Every spring, caribou travel hundreds of miles to give birth here. Polar bears dig dens in the snow to raise their cubs. Millions of birds migrate from all 50 states to nest on its tundra. 

This isn’t just Alaska’s backyard. It’s our backyard. A living, breathing sanctuary that connects us all—and right now, it needs us to step up. 

For the Gwich’in people, the Refuge is sacred. Their culture, food, and spirituality are intertwined with the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which returns to this land year after year. Protecting the Refuge means protecting their way of life—a relationship with the land that has endured since time immemorial. 

And yet, this irreplaceable place is once again under siege. As soon as this winter, we could see one of the most damaging threats back on the table: seismic exploration. 

What is seismic exploration?  

Before oil companies can drill, they need to explore. Their method? Seismic exploration. 

To figure out where to drill, companies send dozens of 90,000-pound “thumper trucks” along with a convoy of bulldozers and support vehicles rumbling across the fragile tundra. That’s like driving a truck that weighs the same as roughly nine elephants across fragile permafrost and ice—it’s a recipe for destruction. Each truck thumps a giant metal plate on the ground, sending sound waves deep below the surface, where they bounce back to create a map of underground oil reserves.  

Now imagine dozens of these trucks driving back and forth across frozen tundra and permafrost, in a grid so tight that the same stretch of ground gets crisscrossed again and again. 

Back in the 80s, when seismic testing was lighter and less intensive, it left some scars on the tundra that are still visible today. Now, companies want to use heavier trucks, denser grids, and sprawling support camps. We expect the damage to be more widespread, more permanent, and more destructive than ever. 

And it’s not just the trucks. Seismic crews bring everything with them: tractors, fuelers, incinerators, airstrips, and hundreds of workers living in mobile camps. The footprint isn’t small. And with the Arctic warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, snowpack is thinner and less reliable, making it very difficult to avoid damage—even in so-called “ideal” conditions. 

Why is this allowed?  

In 2017, Congress forced the Refuge open to oil and gas leasing by sneaking a provision into the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That’s how we ended up with the first failed Refuge lease sale in 2021. And during the second lease sale at the beginning of this year, not a single oil and gas corporation put in a bid. The writing is on the wall: Arctic Refuge drilling is simply bad business. 

In a previous push for seismic exploration in 2021, contractors and subcontractors missed their window because they couldn’t secure permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in time. Part of the problem was their own delay—they clumsily submitted requests late in the process. Then came the flood of public response: more than five million comments that the agency was legally required to review. With the clock ticking and that many voices weighing in, the companies ran out of time and the permits never went through. 

Despite earlier blows and obvious public disapproval, the bureaucratic processes keep grinding on. Right now, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is once again trying to push seismic exploration forward.  

What else is at stake?  

Protecting the Arctic Refuge isn’t just about keeping tire tracks off tundra—it’s about protecting life itself. Every creature here depends on the delicate balance of this landscape, and seismic exploration could put it all at risk. 

• Polar bears: The coastal plain is the most important denning habitat for polar bears in the U.S., and seismic testing threatens more than 96% of it. A single thumper truck can crush a hidden den under the snow or scare a mother into abandoning her cubs. In a warming Arctic where polar bears already face shrinking sea ice, losing safe denning grounds could push them closer to the brink. 

• Caribou: The Porcupine Caribou Herd—hundreds of thousands strong—travels thousands of miles each year, one of the longest land migrations on Earth. Their journey leads them back to the Refuge to give birth and raise their young on the coastal plain. It’s the safest, most nourishing place for calves to survive. Disrupt that, and you threaten the entire herd. For the Gwich’in people, who call this place “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins,” this isn’t just an ecological loss. It’s a cultural and spiritual one. 

• Other wildlife: Musk oxen, wolves, millions of migratory birds—from tundra swans to sandpipers to snow geese. These animals don’t just belong to Alaska. They’re part of a web of life that connects every corner of the continent. If the Refuge is disrupted, the impacts ripple across flyways, ecosystems, and communities thousands of miles away. 

This isn’t theoretical. It isn’t decades away. The threat is here, and the damage seismic exploration causes is immediate and lasting. The choice we face is clear: defend the Refuge now, or risk losing one of the last truly wild places left on Earth. 

What can we do?  

As Kristen Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League, put it: 

“This is worse than a public land sell-off—this is immediate, on-the-ground destruction. If the Arctic Refuge isn’t off-limits to oil and gas, then nowhere is. This is a moral failure, a climate disaster, and a betrayal of the public trust.” 

The good news is we know what works. When agencies last tried to greenlight seismic testing, more than five million people spoke up. That massive turnout stopped the trucks in their tracks. We can do it again. No matter who’s in charge in Washington, public engagement matters and agencies are required to listen. 

We’re already collecting comments so we’re ready the second the window opens. Add your voice, share the facts, and help us make it clear: seismic exploration has no place in the Arctic Refuge. 

We urge you to TAKE ACTION NOW and join us in fighting seismic exploration and defend the Arctic Refuge.   

TAKE ACTION NOW

We’ve also put together resources on seismic threats and polar bear impacts that you can use and share.  

• Seismic Factsheet
• Polar Bear Factsheet

Together, we can keep seismic exploration out of the Arctic Refuge—for the wildlife, for the Gwich’in, and for future generations. 

The post Seismic Exploration Explained: Why the Arctic Refuge Is at Risk  appeared first on Alaska Wilderness League.

 The 2020s have brought a lot of change in Oregon’s energy landscape. From customer affordability to growing energy demands, the challenges we faced at the start of the decade are much different than today. Oregon is now five years out from meeting its 2030 climate goals for both electric and gas utilities. As we work toward a cleaner energy system, we must reflect on the progress we’ve already made and face the mounting challenges of the next half-decade. 

While Oregon has a lot of challenges, we also have a lot of opportunities to move into clean energy that equitably meets the needs of our communities. How can we manage customer affordability during the clean energy transition? How can we meet the increasing demand from new industries like data centers? How will a changing policy landscape impact our state’s climate goals? And what can we learn from our communities on the frontlines of climate change in Oregon? 

To register, please visit: oregoncub.org/conference 

Register

The post CUB Energy Policy Conference: Changing for a Changing Climate first appeared on NW Energy Coalition.

U.S. nuclear reactors will NOT build a strong Canada. We can build a better nation with renewables.

The post U.S. Nuclear Reactors will NOT Build a Strong Canada appeared first on Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

Renewable energy like solar and wind is lower cost, quicker to build, and safer than nuclear energy, so why is the Ontario NDP not coming out against Doug Ford’s nuclear plan?

The post Will Ontario’s NDP support Ford’s high-cost US nuclear and gas plan? appeared first on Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

Doug Ford is planning to meet Toronto’s electricity needs by building four new first-of-their-kind U.S. (GE-Hitachi) nuclear reactors near Oshawa and a new transmission line to bring this power to downtown Toronto. Ford's plan will: raise our electricity bills by favouring the highest cost and riskiest approach to meeting our growing electricity needs, and jeopardize our

The post Toronto’s Electricity Future Is at Stake appeared first on Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

This briefing note summarizes the findings of a recent Independent Electricity Operator Report that finds that wind and solar can meet more than 99.5% of our electricity needs (baseload and peaking) at a lower cost than building new so-called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Read the briefer

The post Briefing note: New IESO Report on Wind & Solar Energy Combined with Battery Energy Storage vs SMRs appeared first on Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Del. Mike Jones, and Del. Rodney Willett join residents urging denial of the air permit

CHESTERFIELD, VA — Hundreds of residents, community leaders, and public health advocates filled the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) air permit hearing Monday night to oppose Dominion Energy’s proposed methane gas plant in Chesterfield. Speaker after speaker warned of higher energy bills, more pollution for nearby neighborhoods, and a costly step backward for Virginia.

Check out the live stream recording of the hearing here. “Tonight’s turnout makes one thing unmistakable: Chesterfield families do not want a new gas plant,” said Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-SD15). “This project would raise costs and increase pollution when cleaner, more affordable options are available right now. DEQ should deny this permit and protect public health.”

 

“Virginians are already stretched, and communities closest to this site have lived with industrial health burdens for generations,” said Delegate Mike Jones (D-HD77). “Dominion’s proposal asks the public to pay more for more pollution. We can meet our energy needs by investing in efficiency, storage, and renewables that lower bills and create jobs.”

 

“Families in Chesterfield and across Virginia are already paying too much for electricity,” said Delegate Rodney Willett (D-HD58). “Dominion’s proposal would force customers to bankroll outdated fossil fuel infrastructure instead of investing in cleaner, cheaper energy solutions that are readily available. We should be building a system that lowers bills and safeguards public health, not one that keeps us tied to the past.”

 

“People showed up because they understand what is at stake,” said Glen Besa, board chair and co-founder of Friends of Chesterfield. “This plant would lock in years of fossil fuel costs and emissions at a site already harmed by coal. DEQ should listen to the community and reject an outdated, risky project.”

The proposed facility would be built at the retired Chesterfield Power Station site. Residents and experts testified that the project would add to local air pollution, undermine Virginia’s clean energy goals, and expose customers to volatile fossil fuel prices. Speakers urged DEQ to require cleaner, lower-cost alternatives.

DEQ will now review public comment and testimony from the hearing before making a permitting decision.

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The No New Gas Plants Coalition is a statewide alliance of grassroots organizations, community leaders, environmental advocates, and policy experts working to stop the expansion of costly and polluting energy infrastructure in Virginia. Formed in response to Dominion Energy’s plans to build up to six new gas-fired power plants, the coalition is united by a vision of an affordable and clean energy future. Together, we advocate for the health and voices of Virginia communities most impacted by pollution and rising energy costs. 

The Coalition includes Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, Appalachian Voices, CASA, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Chesterfield County NAACP, Clean Virginia, Friends of Chesterfield, Mothers Out Front, New Virginia Majority, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, Southern Environmental Law Center, Sunrise UVA, Virginia Conservation Network, and Virginia Interfaith Power & Light.

The post Hundreds Pack DEQ Hearing to Oppose Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas Plant appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Canada needs more affordable homes—fast. The federal government is developing a new agency to accelerate construction across the country. Its Build Canada Homes program will be mandated to “build affordable homes, support builders with financing, and encourage better building methods.” We love this direction—especially when Toronto and Vancouver rank among the most expensive housing

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