Mark Your Calendar For: Activist Nights: Every Wednesday in Alexandria DC Environmental Film Festival: March 13-25, Various locations in DC Arlington Green Living Expo: Saturday, March 17, at Washington Lee High School MVG ExCom Meeting: Monday, March 19 Sierra Club Activist Training Academy: Saturday, March 24 - Sunday, March 25 in Richmond Green Fire Film Screening: Thursday, March 29, at the Arlington Central Library Saving Money While Saving the World (Residential Energy Efficiency): Monday, April 2, at the Falls Church Community Center Potomac River Watershed Cleanup: Saturday, April 14, at various locations in the DC metro area MVG Book Club: Tuesday, April 17, at the Silver Diner in Arlington Alexandria Earth Day 2012: Saturday, April 21, in Alexandria Raptors: Saturday, April 21, in Alexandria Dirt! Film Screening: Tuesday, April 24, at the Arlington Central Library Dominion VA Power IRP Hearing: Tuesday, May 8, in Richmond MVG ExCom Meeting: Tuesday, May 8 |
Mount Vernon Sierran -- Spring 2012
In this issue:
Clean Energy for the Commonwealth
What's a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), and what does it mean for big utilities like Dominion and its customers in the Commonwealth? Get the skinny on solar, too: is Virginia strong or weak--and why? Read More
Easy Greening: The Payoff of Speaking Truth to Power
Sometimes it takes more than a tweet to turn the wheels of (environmental) justice. Got 20 minutes? Grab a pen. Read More
Notes from the Chair: Global Warming, Local Activism
Across the Virginia Chapter and in Northern Virginia, we're working together to change the amount of energy we use and the ways that we produce it. Now, here's where you come in. Read More
Help Get Solar Panels Back on the White House!
Photo of President Obama speaking at the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center in 2009, courtesy of An Inspiring Voice |
Millions of Americans get their electricity from solar power. Why doesn't our President use solar power too?
Students at Alexandria's Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology have been thinking about this question. The school's Environmental Impact Club has drafted a petition in support of solar. They've gathered more than 700 signatures, but need yours, too! Visit http://www.change.org/petitions/president-obama-put-solar-panels-back-onto-the-roof-of-the-white-house to tell our President that it's time to step up and support clean energy, and to support the work of TJHSST's young environmentalists.
President Carter installed solar panels on the White House in 1979, but they were removed during President Reagan's term. On October 5, 2010, in response to heavy pressure from the environmental community, President Obama announced plans to re-install solar panels by Summer 2011. However, no visible action has been taken since.
President Obama can make a bold statement about clean energy by placing solar panels back on the White House. He should follow through on his promise as soon as possible in order to send a message to the world that the United States is committed to a green energy revolution.
The Mount Vernon Sierran is published quarterly by the Mount Vernon Group of the Sierra Club's Virginia Chapter. Content contained in the newsletter expresses the opinions of the authors and does not necessarily reflect any official Group position or campaign. Questions or comments? Email Mary Kadera, the newsletter editor, at Mount.Vernon.Group@sierraclub.org.
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