Virginia Clean Energy Tour: Join Us in VA Beach, Richmond & Alexandria Aug. 16-18

by: Eileen Levandoski

Mon Aug 15, 2011 at 11:32:51 AM EDT

At each of the three tour stops, Virginia residents will demonstrate their support for stronger clean air standards from EPA in front of an 18-ft tall inflatable human hand holding an asthma inhaler. They will emphasize the choice decision-makers have between a future that continues to invest in coal and one that chooses clean energy.

Can't join us in Virginia Beach, Richmond, or Alexandria?  Then join us virally.  Our Clean Energy Tour will be "tweet powered"! Add #cleanenergytour to your tweets. Then track our progress by visiting our tour website at http://vasierraclub.org/CleanEnergyTour.htm.

Burning coal to generate electricity produces toxic pollutants like soot and smog, which aggravate asthma and other health problems. Asthma is of particular concern to Virginians, because it affects 279,000 adults and 96,000 children across the state. Richmond was recently ranked as the #1 "Asthma Capital" in the nation by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Virginia Beach ranked #8.

The groups are calling for investments in renewable energy and efficiency and urging the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the health of Virginia families and children by enacting strong air quality standards to reduce toxic air pollution such as particulate matter and low-level ozone which create soot and smog from coal-fired power plants. They are opposed to the development of ODEC's Surry coal plant that would lock the region into approximately 50 more years of increased pollution as well as urging the retirement of older, dirty coal plants like the GenOn plant in Alexandria. To provide for Virginia's energy needs, citizens are calling for increased energy efficiency programs, and are actively promoting off-shore wind projects in Virginia Beach.