This Month: > Wind Energy in Virginia > Climate Vote Delayed Until After August Recess > Upcoming Events > Wind Energy in Virginia On Governor Bob McDonnell's first overseas trade mission in late July, learning how to best harness energy from wind turbines from European experts has been among the goals accomplished. "I've met with private sector companies in the energy field...and I want to make Virginia an energy leader on the east coast," McDonnell said. "Virginia has very good offshore winds with our shallow waters." Wind energy indeed has been on Virginians' minds this summer. An estimated $80 billion to Virginia and more than 5,000 long-term jobs are among the potential benefits to the commonwealth. "Even if Virginia is not first state to get wind development, then we want to be here where the construction is done, where the turbines are put together and then transported up the coast or down the coast or whatever," said Bob Matthias, assistant to the Virginia Beach city manager on WAVY.com. "Where the blades are put together, where the ships are constructed to build the offshore facilities and all that. We are very well situated for that in the mid Atlantic and for that reason the entire east coast." Aside from offshore wind, other potential hot spots can be found in Virginia's mountains. In fact, a Highland County project is under construction after an uphill battle. The wind farm would generate about 38 megawatts of electric power. Obstacles do exist such as the potential affect on military operations in the Atlantic and interference with wildlife. Yet, if Virginia proceeds with a test site off its coast, test turbines could be up by 2014 with full scale wind farms shortly following. For more information on wind energy and its potential, visit the American Wind Energy Association and the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition. > Climate Vote Delayed Until After August Recess At present, the US Senate is short of the 60 votes needed to block a Senate filibuster and advance a climate bill. As a result, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that the Senate will not take up a cap on carbon before the August recess as originally planned, though it "may" consider it in September. With a crowded Congressional calendar and midterm elections approaching, this announcement is discouraging. Yet, in a positive development, Senator Mark Warner has emerged as a vocal supporter of putting a price on carbon. In mid-July, Senator Warner joined fellow freshmen Democrats to sign a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid. It is our hope that Senator Jim Webb will join Senator Warner as a leader on this issue. First, he needs to hear from his constituents. Please call Senator Webb and urge him to support a comprehensive climate bill. DC office: 202-224-4024 TOLL-FREE for VA Residents: 1-866-507-1570 Congressman Tom Perriello has already shown his support for limiting carbon, voting in support of the ACES bill in the House last year. This summer he is holding town hall meetings throughout his district. Click here to find a meeting near you, and come out to thank Congressman Perriello for his leadership on environmental issues. > Upcoming Events VCN Environmental Assembly 2010        September 17 -18th, Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach Convention Center Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club Annual Meeting        October 1st - 3rd, Triangle: Prince William Forest Park The Governor's Conference on Energy        October 12-14th, Richmond: Convention Center -> Sponsorship Opportunity: Green Expo at the Virginia State Fair        September 23 - October 3, Doswell: Meadow Event Park

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