Laura Dansby, chair of the Climate Action Alliance of the Valley, released the responses her organization received from a questionnaire it sent to 13 area candidates running in this fall’s election.
CAAV, a local environmental organization, sent a nine-question survey to those running for state senate and house of delegate seats in several nearby Virginia districts.
The questions asked for each candidate’s position on issues related to Virginia’s compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. Under the plan, issued August 3, 2015, each state must develop its strategy for meeting carbon-reduction goals. Candidates were asked whether they would support legislation to address several areas including:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a cooperative multi-state program
- Removing current legal restrictions on adoption of renewable energy as an electricity source
- Supporting steps to reduce and adapt to coastal flooding and other environmental disruptions from climate change
- Removing subsidies to the coal industry
- Reducing carbon emissions from Virginia’s transportation sector
Candidates to whom the survey was sent and the office they are seeking are: Ellen M. Arthur, District 24 House of Delegates Dickie Bell, District 20 House of Delegates Rob Bell, District 58 House of Delegates Ben Cline, District 24 House of Delegates Creigh Deeds, District 25 State Senate Todd Gilbert, District 15 House of Delegates Will Hammer, District 20 House of Delegates Emmett Hanger, District 24 State Senate Steve Landes, District 25 House of Delegates Angela Lynn, District 25 House of Delegates April Moore, District 26 State Senate Mark Obenshain, District 26 State Senate Tony Wilt, District 26 House of Delegates.
Dansby expressed disappointment in the lack of response to the questionnaire. Only two candidates out of 13, April Moore and Angela Lynn, provided substantive answers to the questions. Tony Wilt, who is running unopposed for the 26th District House of Delegates, stated in a letter that he will “continue to support legislative efforts that eliminate unnecessary hurtles to alternative energy development for large and small scale projects that may be putting them at a purposeful disadvantage when compared to traditional energy sources.”
“The mission of our organization is to limit the impact of humans on Earth’s climate, to protect the future of Earth and its inhabitants,” Dansby said.
She added, “Our objectives are to educate ourselves and others and to inform voters about candidates’ positions.”
Specific information about the survey questions and results, and information about the Climate Action Alliance of the Valley are on its website, climateactionallianceofthevalley.org.
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