Kaine touts green building

Contributors

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Monday toured the renovated, environmentally friendly Virginia Association of Counties headquarters where he highlighted the benefits of green construction and green roofs. The VaCo headquarters on Main Street in Richmond was built in 1866 and recently was completely renovated using LEED standards.

Earth Talk | Rooftop gardens

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: I’m sure there are many good environmental reasons to build a rooftop garden. Can you enlighten? And also I’d like to know how to go about creating one and whether or not some municipalities might offer incentives to do so. – Linda, via e-mail Indeed there are many good reasons to build a…

Earth Talk | Oil spills

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: I haven’t heard much of late about big oil spills like the infamous Exxon Valdez. Has the industry cleaned up its act, or do the media just not report them? – Olivia G., via e-mail In the wake of 1989’s massive Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, when 11 million…

Judge rules state board violated federal law in Wise County coal-fired plant case

Contributors

In a momentous victory for clean energy advocates in Virginia, a Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled today that the State Air Pollution Control Board violated federal environmental law in permitting Dominion Power’s coal-fired power plant in Wise County in the southwest corner of the state.

Earth Talk | Getting involved

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Where can I locate directories of environmental groups, businesses and jobs so that I can get involved in making a difference? – Jeanette, Carle Place, N.Y. The most comprehensive directory of environmental groups—from small to large and local to international—is provided for free online by the Washington, DC-based National Wildlife Federation. The group’s…

News from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Chris Graham

Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 – Remarks by the president on the economy in the Rose Garden – Statement by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada to the White House – President nominates three more U.S. attorneys – Press briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs 

David Reynolds | It’s over

David Reynolds

It’s over. Almost heaven won. Heaven lost. That once both feared and loved army of Boy Scouts will not be coming to East Virginia every four years. No, the National Boys Scouts Jamboree will be heading west to the other Virginia. They will still be using Interstate 64, but there will be no stopping in…