This Month: > An Update from Washington on Climate Legislation > Chesterfield Couple Aims to Build Virginia's First Zero Emissions Home > Upcoming Events > An Update from Washington on Climate Legislation It has always been an uphill battle to get a climate bill passed, and we encountered one such setback this past week. Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) were set to introduce a climate and energy bill on April 26th that would cut America's carbon emissions 17% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. However, a partisan dispute has put the bill's future in jeopardy. There are a lot of things we don't know about the path of this bill. But there is one thing we do know -- without intense grassroots pressure, this bill will not make it to the floor. We need your help today. Here are 3 ways you can help right now: 1. Call Senators Jim Webb & Mark Warner and urge them to tell Senate leadership they want to pass strong climate and energy legislation this summer. 2. Send an email to Senators Webb and Warner urging them to support the strong, bipartisan climate and energy legislation. 3. Forward this email to everyone you know who cares about climate change and the future of our planet. Politics, Not Policy The delay in the bill's introduction has nothing to do with the substance of the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman effort -- it is all politics. In fact, business like Starbucks, Gap, Levi Strauss, eBay and Nike, along with Virginia-based businesses, have all stepped forward calling on Congress to revive the bill. The recent massive oil spill off the Gulf Coast serves as a reminder that we need action today. Please call or email your Senators today and help promote the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman effort. Here are some talking points: We need clear and decisive leadership on energy and climate; The bipartisan Kerry, Graham, Lieberman effort is our last best chance to take decisive action this year; The KGL bill stands a strong chance to attract the necessary 60 votes in its current form; Since the House has already passed a bill, we have a tremendous opportunity to actually get this done this year; and The Senate must pass a strong climate and energy bill to free America from our dependence on foreign oil and to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. Thank you! > Chesterfield Couple Aims to Build Virginia's First Zero Emissions Home Last month, Diane Lewis and Randy Thomas of Chesterfield broke ground on what they hope will become the state's most energy efficient home. Working with Bain-Waring Builders and Earth-Craft Homes, this home would be one of ten to fifteen zero emission homes across the country. A zero emission building makes up for all of the energy it uses by producing energy leaving it with a net zero energy consumption. To read more about the project, check out the Chesterfield Observer's article. > Upcoming Events Capital to Capital Ride        May 8th, Richmond: Rocketts Landing Tools to Protect the Land You Love        May 11th, Chesterfield: Cosby High School Auditorium Eco D.I.Y. Workshop        May 12th, Norfolk: Ernie Morgan Center "Growing up Green: Integrating Sustainability from Grade School to Grad School" Luncheon        May 20th, Richmond: University of Richmond The Case for Natural Gas Vehicles        May 26th, Arlington: Crystal City Hilton Walk & Talk: Growing Smarter in Urban, Suburban & Rural Places        June 3rd, Henrico: Innsbrook Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative Symposium        June 16th & 17th, Harrisonburg: James Madison University

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