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IN THIS ISSUE: What's New in Virginia's General Assembly? EPA hearing on carbon pollution: Feb. 6 in DC Films to Warm Up your Environmental Passion Time to Build a Climate Movement _____________________________ What's New in Virginia's General Assembly? Now is the time to tell your legislators to support transportation choices in Northern Virginia. The General Assembly is considering two bills that would move the region backward in its efforts to create a more balanced transportation network. House Bill 1244 mandates a study of new Potomac River bridge crossings -- even though these crossings would fuel sprawl and divert investment from fixing priority commuter corridors. House Bill 2 would restrict the criteria for selecting transportation projects to narrow guidelines that favor new roads over transit, walking and bicycling. Contact your Senator and Delegate today. Let them know you oppose a new Potomac River crossing study and oppose legislation that would limit the criteria for selecting transportation projects. Climate Denial in the Classroom? Should science teachers teach creationism and climate change denial alongside evolution and climate science? Some members of the Virginia House of Delegate think so! Contact your Delegate today– tell them that the dangers we face from a changing climate are real, not a controversy. No Delay, No dilution, No exemptions: We’ve waited long enough for Stormwater Regulations This is the year to act on water pollution, not kick the can further down the road. But, that’s exactly what the Virginia General Assembly may do if any one of dozens of bills written to delay stormwater regulation pass this Session. Implementation has been postponed in 2006, 2009, 2010 and again in 2012. Enough is enough! Now, some want to postpone their responsibility yet again. What are they waiting for? Tell your Virginia Senator and Delegate that stopping polluted runoff is important to you. Tell them: no delay, no dilution, no exemptions.
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EPA hearing on carbon pollution: Feb. 6 in DC  Despite superstorms, droughts, floods, and all of the other impacts of a changing climate, power plants can still spew unlimited amounts of CO2 into our atmosphere. Power plants account for 40% of the carbon pollution in the United States, and while we currently protect public health with limits on arsenic, lead, soot and other pollution from power plants, there are no existing federal limits on carbon pollution.
Thursday, February 6 in Washington, D.C., we have the opportunity to change all of that. The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a public hearing to gauge the public's support for limiting carbon pollution from new power plants. RSVP today to show up and tell EPA you support strong action on climate. Hearing details: WHO: You, Sierra Club, and climate activists WHAT: EPA Public Hearing on Limiting Carbon Pollution from New Power Plants WHEN: Thursday, February 6, noon for our rally and press conference outside, 9:00 a.m. -- 8:00 p.m. for the hearing itself (You can let the EPA know what time of day works best for your schedule.) WHERE: EPA Headquarters, William Jefferson Clinton East Building, 1201 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC (map) Questions: Contact Kate Addleson at kate.addleson@sierraclub.org ___________________________ Films to Warm Up your Environmental Passion  Richmond:
On February 5th - 9th, 2014, several local organizations will partner to present the Fourth Annual RVA Environmental Film Festival at Tuckahoe Library, VCU’s Grace Street Theater, the Visual Arts Center, the Byrd Theatre. The festival will showcase local and national films selected to raise awareness of environmental issues relevant to the Richmond region, our nation, and our planet. This event is free and open to the public. Visit rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com for more info. Near Lynchburg: Sweet Briar College will host Josh Fox, maker of the documentary films "Gasland" and "Gasland Part II," as the 2014 Julia B. Waxter Environmental Forum speaker. Fox will present "The Case for a Total Ban on Fracking" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Murchison Lane Auditorium. Admission is free and non-ticketed with open seating. Sweet Briar College in on U.S. 29 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 45 miles south of Charlottesville. Click here for more info about the film. ___________________________ Time to Build a Climate Movement!  Scientists have issued increasingly urgent warnings about the pace and extent of climate disruption. As the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, the Sierra Club needs to respond to these warnings by leading a stronger and bolder climate movement.
Input from all parts of Sierra Club is essential to build a climate movement strong enough to achieve a clean energy future. Thus, the Club has initiated a national dialog process to get member input on how to frame and implement a new movement to address climate change. Over the next month or two, Chapter and Group leaders will be conducting Climate Movement dialog meetings throughout the country. Be on the lookout for a meeting and/or conference call near you! At each of these meetings, we will discuss these 3 questions: 1. a) What could the SC do better as a whole to support chapters and groups to lead and/or engage members and partner organizations in innovative new local, regional or nationwide movement building activities? b) What kinds of activities/events would be most exciting and effective? 2. If the Sierra Club Board were to recommend unifying all the organization's climate work under a single bold frame, like calling for 100% clean energy, what types of support would help you to align your work more effectively with this vision? 3. What elements are most important to have in an overarching Sierra Club message on climate? For further background, take a look at the brief videos and other resources by clicking here. Questions? Contact Bill Penniman, Chapter Conservation Chair at bill.penniman@gmail.com. | 
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