Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

ENVIRONMENT
I am proud of my 100% voting record with the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. I am fortunate to have the support of many experts in energy and environmental science, law and policy during the legislative session and throughout the year. I am a part of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and have a strong commitment to improving our environment as we face climate change.
Clean water and clean air should not be partisan issues. We need to work across the aisle to ensure that we are protecting nature's most valuable resources. I am committed to cleaning up our rivers, lakes, and streams, continuing with, and improving our clean water and our air. No one should worry whether their drinking water is safe. No one should struggle with asthma made worse by air pollution. As we work on transportation and energy issues, clean water and clean air must be a priority.
Virginia must transition rapidly to renewable sources of energy, including wind and solar power.
Investing in new forms of energy throughout our state will not only be better for the environment, but also will create more jobs and help boost the economy.
As we increase our reliance on solar and wind energy, we must also work to improve energy storage and energy efficiency.
I will continue to work with the experts who are running renewable energy companies, energy storage businesses, and energy efficiency businesses, the experts who work in our universities and at nonprofits to ensure that Virginia is identifying and overcoming challenges in the transition to full reliance on renewable energy.
I will continue to sponsor and support bills supporting this transition and to bring these businesses to Virginia.
Further, I will work to bring the benefits of renewable energy, energy storage, and energy efficiency to all Virginians, including those with limited financial resources. The modernization of our electric grid is a massive endeavor and we must work together to address the reality of climate change and the impact of fossil fuels on human health and our environment.
I did significant work on environmental issues in my community work for Dranesville Supervisor John Foust. I was part of an inter-jurisdictional transportation team where we identified small, reasonable future road connections in the Dulles region rather than advocating for large new highways working with VDOT, WMATA, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Town of Herndon staff. I helped craft the language for the Comprehensive Plans for the Dranesville District (APR) Area Plan Review process, with a strong emphasis on environmental standards and considerations, assuring that language was included that stipulated the need for LEED certified buildings and to make assurances for adequate storm water management in any new land use.
Animal welfare legislation fits well with my social justice philosophy - animals need us to speak up for them for they are at our mercy.
Chief Patron, bill passed, requires alternative to animal testing where available, does not apply to medical research or FDA regulated products other than cosmetics
Chief Patron, allow localities to limit sales/transfer of cats and dogs in pet stores to rescues
Copatron, limits on outdoor tethering of animals, provision of shelter
On the ACP and MPV I have really struggled with them but after all of the study that I've done and the benefit of hearing from so many people, I'm very concerned about them, and I'm very concerned for the environmental degradation for our land. I'm very concerned about that slope that the pipelines are going in in the mountainous regions. I'm concerned for the personal property of folks like Red Terry, and I am concerned about the long-term reliability of natural gas, when we need to be focusing on renewables. I did a whole big meeting where I got everybody together to talk about how we can get to the next level so that we can to get to a zero carbon renewable energy economy and that's really where I'd like to be focusing our energy.

On a personal level, I am a vegetarian and drive a hybrid car because we all know that air quality is impacted by the methane created by farm animals and vehicle emissions are the top contributors of greenhouse gas.

LEGISLATIVE RECORD ON ENVIRONMENT
HB 182, copatroned, would have required removal and closure of coal ash ponds; supported an alternate version that requires further legislation in the 2019 session.
HB 922, copatron, passed, Authorizes any locality or public institution of higher education, or the Department of Conservation and Recreation, to locate and operate a retail fee-based electric vehicle charging station on property such entity owns or leases.

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