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This Month: > Conferences Focus on Virginia's Potential in the Renewable Energy Sector > Framework of Climate Bill in Washington to be Released in Coming Weeks > Cooper Vineyards Slated to Have First Gold LEED Certified Wine Tasting Room in Virginia > Upcoming Events 
> Conferences Focus on Virginia's Potential in the Renewable Energy Sector When you think of energy sources, algae, canola seed oil, and warm season grass may not be the first candidates that pop into your mind; however, Virginia businesses and farmers are working hard to use these items to power Virginia and beyond. At the Southern Virginia Bioenergy Conference held in Danville on March 26th, approximately 180 people gathered to hear from academic experts and business representatives about how bioenergy will play a role in Virginia's energy future. Along with several cabinet members, Governor Bob McDonnell was on hand to kick-off the event. "Southside can be the bioenergy and biomass capital of Virginia," McDonnell said. Citing several regional projects such as VanDerHyde Dairy's anaerobic digester project in Chatham, Dominion's 80 megawatt power station in Hurt, the Red Birch Energy project in Martinsville and Piedmont BioProducts in Gretna as positive examples, McDonnell said that Virginia's old tobacco fields could be used to grow sugar cane and switch grass to be converted to bioenergy. Ways to use the clean energy economy to create jobs was also the centerpiece of UVa's Second Annual Venture Summit held on March 25th. Both Congressman Tom Perriello and Senator Mark Warner spoke via videoconference to participants about energy ideas for the future. Warner said that the US is currently "getting our lunch eaten" by China and Europe in the renewable energy field and that we need to push for a more "robust portfolio approach" to energy production to spark new growth and job creation in the clean energy sector. Perriello believes that Southside can be a leader in the clean energy economy due to its mix of former industrial towns, abundant farmlands, strong universities and community colleges, investment funds available from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, and an able workforce. We agree that the workforce and innovation is in place for bioenergy and more to take off in Virginia-what we're missing is a market signal from Washington. > Framework of Climate Bill in Washington to be Released in Coming Weeks With the health care vote behind them, Congress will soon turn its attention to energy and climate legislation. Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman are aiming to release the framework of their climate bill in April. It is then estimated that the debate on the Senate floor would take place sometime in May or April. As everyone is abuzz over President Obama's offshore drilling proposal announced on March 31st, it is likely that the Kerry, Graham, Lieberman bill will contain its own guidelines for offshore drilling. Aside from stating that the bill will not contain an economy-wide cap and trade system like the American Clean Energy & Security Act that passed in the House, the trio has largely remained quiet on the specifics of the bill. Meanwhile, Senators Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins introduced their bill, known as the "CLEAR Act" (S. 2877), last December. Using a cap and dividend approach, it would require energy producers to bid in monthly auctions for carbon shares. Three-quarters of the revenue would go to consumers to help them meet higher energy costs, while the remaining quarter would go toward the development of clean energy technologies. Join our Facebook Page to stay up-to-date on developments with these two bills and more. > Cooper Vineyards Slated to Have First Gold LEED Certified Wine Tasting Room in Virginia Cooper Vineyards is teaming up with Baskervill, Urban Grid Solar and Cityspace Construction to produce what will be Virginia's first LEED Gold certified wine tasting facility. With construction already underway, it is estimated that the completed tasting room will be open to the public in late 2010. Baskervill is the architect and designer of the building. Cityspace Construction is the general contractor, and Urban Grid Solar is implementing the solar panels. "We are proud that Cooper Vineyards will be the first in Virginia to have a LEED Gold certified wine tasting facility," said Geoff Cooper, co-owner of Cooper Vineyards. "Sustainability has always been important to us, and the new tasting room will be a big stride in reducing our carbon footprint." "Cooper Vineyards is excited to soon have the 5th LEED certified wine tasting room in the United States and the first certified in Virginia," added Cooper Vineyards co-owner Jacque Hogge. According to the US Green Building Council's website, among the benefits of green buildings are improved air and waste quality, reduced operating costs and a minimized strain on local infrastructure. "Incorporating solar energy into wineries is a natural fit," said Blue Crump with Urban Grid Solar. "Cooper Vineyards is at the forefront of this trend, and we look forward to completing the project with them." Located in Louisa, VA, Cooper Vineyards wine tasting room will contain:
> Upcoming Events Environment Virginia Symposium April 6th-8th, Lexington: Virginia Military Institute Clean Energy Jobs Movie Premiere April 8th, Fairfax: George Mason University Clean Energy Jobs Movie Premier April 8th, Richmond: Baja Bean Company Sustainable Transportation: Where Will Richmond be in 2030? April 12th, Richmond: University of Richmond Green Building Outlook: 2010 and Beyond April 15th, Fairfax: George Mason University Green Drinks - sponsored by the CBCCE April 22nd, Virginia Beach: Croc's 19th Street Bistro Virginia Civic Engagement Table Learning and Planning Session April 23rd, Richmond: 7th Street Christian Church Richmond Earth Day Festival April 25th, Richmond: Manchester Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative Symposium June 16th & 17th, Harrisonburg: James Madison University 
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