Environmental Advocacy
As part of our belief in the 7th Principle, UUs may take action as individuals to promote public policies relating to the environment at the state and federal levels.
Resources and Links to bills before the Congress and state legislatures appear below:
FEDERAL level
EPA and Clean Water Act — if strictly enforced, may end mountaintop removal
H.R. 2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) — passed by the House
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733) — being developed now
- Clean Energy Jobs Bill Summary
- How the Bill Affects Virginia
- Model letters to legislators — Sample Letter to Sen. Warner, Sample Letter to Senator Webb, and Sample Letter to Rep. Perriello
STATE level — Virginia
UPDATE! All of the Virginia energy-related bills below were killed in committee in January and February 2010. We have our work cut out for us!
The Stream Saver bill, SB 564 – would end the burial of our headwater streams with mining waste and curtail the destruction of our mountains. through mountaintop removal. Sharon Baiocco, Ruth Douglas, Glenn Short and Natalie Somer spoke at the committee hearing on behalf of the six religious denominations who have condemned mountaintop removal at a hearing in Richmond in February. To read Sharon’s statement, click: hearing-statement
SB 71, Virginia Jobs and Efficiency Act –creates an efficiency standard for state utilities! Effective energy efficiency measures can dramatically curtail energy use, reducing our dependence on destructive and polluting energy sources. Click here to learn more.
HB 1115 Virginia Waterways Clean Up and Consumer Choice Act
Paper and plastic bag fee. Imposes a fee of $0.05 on paper and plastic bags used by purchasers to carry tangible personal property from the place of purchase. Durable, reusable plastic bags and bags used for ice cream, meat, fish, poultry, leftover restaurant food, newspapers, dry cleaning and prescription drugs are exempt from the fee. Retailers are allowed to retain $0.01 of the $0.05 fee or $0.02 if the retailer has a customer bag credit program. The revenues raised by the fee will be deposited in the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund. Failure to collect and remit the fee will result in fines of $250, $500, and $1,000 for the first, second, third and thereafter offenses.