Blue Wave Continues Lifting Dems to Victory in KY Governor’s Race and VA Legislature

Blue Wave Continues Lifting Dems to Victory in KY Governor’s Race and VA Legislature

In a huge upset, the Democrat Andy Beshear upset the sitting Governor there running on a pro-climate change, clean energy platform.  And the state House and Senate in Virginia also flipped to Democratic control, with clean energy issues looming large in the election as well, with the largest single donor to Dems in Virginia funding liberal candidates in an effort to loosen the hold of Dominion energy in the state capitol.

Why This Matters:  Environmental issues were an important factor in Democratic victories on Tuesday.

Continue Reading 446 words
Virginia Regulators Ignore Environmental Justice Concerns, Grant Pipeline Permit

Virginia Regulators Ignore Environmental Justice Concerns, Grant Pipeline Permit

Ignoring the pleas of residents of the historic African American community of Union Hill in Richmond, the Virginia state air pollution control board voted unanimously to approve a natural gas compressor station there. 

Why This Matters:  The large and powerful fossil fuel industry always seems to have the upper hand — in DC and in state capitals around the country.  The ruling probably does not matter because the pipeline is mired in more serious federal court litigation.  But environmental groups were disappointed that Democratic Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, replaced two skeptical air pollution control board commissioners whose terms had run out, with two pro-pipeline commissioners.  Governor Northam, according to The Post, attended a political fundraiser with Dominion executives in recent days.  Yup.  It’s all about the money.  

Continue Reading 364 words

Want the planet in your inbox?

Subscribe to the email that top lawmakers, renowned scientists, and thousands of concerned citizens turn to each morning for the latest environmental news and analysis.