This Month: > Virginia Businesses Advocate for Climate Legislation in DC > Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb Announce Funding for Jobs in Shenandoah Valley > Focus on Virginia as Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli Takes Action Against EPA > Upcoming Events > Virginia Businesses Advocate for Climate Legislation in DC Representatives from the Commonwealth Business Council for a Competitive Economy (CBCCE) joined over 200 business leaders in Washington, DC on February 2nd and 3rd to advocate for clean energy legislation. Representatives hailed from Algal Farms, Inc.; BetterWorld Telecom; Central Virginia Wind Energy & Manufacturing; Commonwealth Solar,LLC; Continuum Energy Solutions; GreenVisions Consulting, Marion Construction; Red Birch Energy; Solar Services, Inc.; and Terra-Scapes Consulting. Attendees met with Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb; Congressmen Rick Boucher and Tom Perriello; and, staff from the offices of Congressmen Bobby Scott and Gerry Connolly. Perhaps the highlight of the event, Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke to the group on February 3rd. "At the end of the day we need a comprehensive approach that would allow this country to jump start its economy and lead the world to a cleaner environment," said Sen. Graham. "Every day we wait in this nation China is going to eat our lunch." Economic forecasts show the future U.S. economy thriving under climate change legislation. Economists at the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which provides statistics for the U.S. Department of Energy, have estimated that by 2030, the U.S. economy will be about 70 percent larger than today. In fact, over the entire span of the bill, the estimated average annual cost is just $80 to $111 per household - just 22 to 30 cents a day for the average American family, or less than the cost of a postage stamp. The costs of doing nothing, however, are almost beyond calculation. But the creation of jobs in the clean energy economy will not happen until Congress passes a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill that limits the carbon pollution in our air. That's the message we brought to Sens. Warner and Webb when we went to Washington. That's the message we hope all Virginians will continue to send to their Senators. We need them to act - and act soon. To read more about the CBCCE's efforts in Virginia, check out this Richmond Biz Sense story. > Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb Announce Funding for Jobs in Shenandoah Valley Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb announced on February 17th that the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board (SVWIB) has received a $5 million investment from the economic stimulus package to fund a new program to train workers for jobs in the region's emerging "green" technology manufacturing and renewable energy industries. According to a news release, the funding will provide workforce training opportunities for an estimated 1,000 Virginians across 10 counties and six cities in the Shenandoah Valley. "The formation of the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership is exactly the kind of forward-looking collaboration we need to help jump-start our economy and create next-generation jobs in the clean energy field," said Senator Warner. "This investment in training workers for new green energy represents an exciting opportunity for the entire Valley region." "One of the largest barriers to economic growth in many communities is the shortage of a skilled workforce, and I am pleased the Shenandoah Valley will benefit from this investment," said Senator Webb. "Proper job training and workforce development will create jobs and enable Virginia to take advantage of the growing technology and renewable energy economies." > Focus on Virginia as Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli Takes Action Against EPA On February 16th, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced that he-on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia-filed a petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its finding that climate change endangers the public health of Americans. Cuccinelli also filed a petition with the federal appeals court in Washington seeking a court review of the EPA finding. At a press conference, Attorney General Cuccinelli said that the EPA relied on damaged data to reach its decision. "Every Virginian will take an economic beating if [the EPA decision] goes forward," Cuccinelli said. Standing in opposition to the Attorney General's position, seventeen state legislators gathered on March 2nd for a news conference in Richmond to ask Cuccinelli to reconsider his decision, declaring that he is going against established science. "There are plenty of reasons to be upset about federal overreach, but their efforts to fight pollution should not be one of them," said Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr., D-Lancaster. State Senator Don McEachin added that he estimates it will cost the state $250,000 - $500,000 to litigate. > Upcoming Events Raise Awareness about Ocean Acidification        March 10th, Norfolk: The Naro Expanded Cinema Green Drinks - Virginia Beach        March 18th, Virginia Beach: Croc's JRGBC-Richmond March Luncheon Program: Sustainability Through Design Practice        March 18th, Richmond: University of Richmond Environment Virginia Symposium        April 6th-8th, Lexington: Virginia Military Institute

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