A New Coal Plant in Virginia?

Coal is the leading cause of global warming pollution and one of the top causes of respiratory health problems here in Virginia. All coal-fired power plants spew millions of tons of pollutants; from carbon dioxide, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, to cancer causing particulate matter. Coal is by far the dirtiest way to produce power.

Knowing this, you may wonder why Dominion Power wants to build a new coal fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia. If it's built, it would cost $1.6 billion and become one of the state's biggest polluters. And there are lots of renewable energy and efficiency measures that Virginia needs to invest in that will save everyone money and improve the health of all Virginians.

If you'd like to become involved to stop mountain top coal removal and stop the Wise County Plant, there are 3 things that you can do:

1. Sign the No New Coal Petition at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/nonewcoal

2. Contact your elected officials and say no to coal at www.votenocoal.org

3. Come to Richmond on January 8th to fight Dominion Power.
See www.cleanenergyva.org for more info.

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Happy America Recycles Day!

Today is America Recycles Day.

Pat yourself on the back for recycling at school, work and home.

This is a great day for making new recycling goals. Our family's goal is to recycle and compost more than we throw away. That means, we'll only have one trash bag for the entire week and 2 full recycling bins. We'll shop for items that are packaged in recyclable containers or cardboard boxes too.

Is your family making a new recycling goal?

Every little bit makes a difference.

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Fairfax County Students - On Air Radio Ad Contest

I made reference to this contest in an earlier post today and thought that I should list the info about it again (see post on September 21st).

You can print the contest application form at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/school.htm.

Fairfax County is looking for students to create a script for a 30-second radio advertisement. They want the message to concentrate on why everyone in Fairfax County should recycle mixed paper and cardboard. Use your creativity and see what you come up with.

Not only could your ad be heard on the radio, but you're entered in the America Recycles Day Contest too.

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America Recycles Day Contest

This is the contest that was printed at the bottom of the Fairfax County Students On Air Radio Contest form that came home in the Wednesday folders a week or so ago. It doesn't say where to mail in the entry form, so I did some detective work on the internet and found just what I was looking for. You may have been looking for it too.

If you go to http://www.mwcog.org/environment/recycling/recyclesday/rules.asp, it will tell you how to participate in this contest. Basically, you hand print your full name and address on a scrap piece of paper or the entry card and send it to the address that they have listed under the heading "How to Participate."

There are regional prizes:
One K-12 Student: $300 gift certificate at a bicycle shop AND $500 grant to the local K-12 environmental program/club of choice.
One Adult: $300 gift certificate at a bicycle shop

Send in your entry form (one per person) by November 20, 2007 and see what happens!

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Recycling Online Game

Here's a fun online activity for ya. The National Recycling Coalition has a nifty contraption called the Conversionator. You can play at www.nrc-recycle.org.

Have fun!

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