Climate change addressed at public forum
By David Larter | August 28, 2008The Governor's Commission on Climate Change heard statements from the community and accepted proposals from environmental groups from across Virginia Wednesday night. A consortium of environmental organizations aided by the University of Richmond student group RENEW, including the Sierra Club and Chesapeake Climate Action Network, submitted written recommendations to the commission. Carly Vendegna-Ramirez of RENEW said the group has been dedicated to showing students how to live more sustainable lives. "We want to get students thinking about things like how they are using energy in their dorms and their driving habits," she said. Vendegna-Ramirez said RENEW had been asked to attend the public forum to demonstrate to the commission that young people were committed to combating climate change. Some of the recommendations included establishing a mandatory renewable energy portfolio, establishing a program for decentralized solar, wind and similar renewable energy production and opposing the development offshore drilling for oil and natural gas. Many community members attended the meeting in the student commons at Virginia Commonwealth University to fight a proposed coal fired power plant in Wise County Virginia. "Coal is killing us out in southwestern Virginia," said Larry Bush, a 26-year veteran of the Virginia coal mine industry.






