*** LOCAL NEWS ***
Kara Menfi reports on the latest Cville100 meeting:
Jamie Powers, Albemarle County’s Climate Action Program Manager, updated the group on the climate change resilience and mitigation measures the County has been working on this summer and planned efforts for the Fall, as well as alerting us to timing for public participation and input opportunities. The County plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community by 45 % from 2008 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Read the County’s Climate Action Plan. Albemarle
*** STATE NEWS ***
Virginia rejoins regional carbon emissions marketplace RGGI
Virginia is now set to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed House Majority Leader Charniele Herring’s (D-Alexandria) bill ensuring Virginia reenters RGGI into law. “The bottom line is rejoining RGGI will save Virginia money, period.” Spanberger said. “It’s a charge on polluters and it comes back to the people of our commonwealth.
“The group of Northeastern states agree to create a limited pot of carbon allowances — one allowance for one ton of carbon dioxide, the globe-warming gas that’s been most associated with climate change driven by human activity since the Industrial Revolution. Power plant operators in those states would buy the carbon allowances needed to cover their operations in quarterly auctions, plus more if they chose to trade in the future. Over time, that pot of allowances shrinks, causing the price of each ton of CO2 to rise. Bill Shobe, a University of Virginia professor emeritus, environmental economist and member of the team that designed the RGGI market, said that creates an incentive for utilities and states to generate less CO2. “We’re essentially building an asset that reflects the value of the atmosphere as the disposal service for carbon dioxide, ” Shobe explained. “And, well, that asset is really valuable.”
Spanberger offers first-in-the-nation solar energy affordability initiative Solar Energy Gov.
Abigail Spanberger (D) announced a first-in-the-nation initiative on energy affordability by offering a program to lower prices for households with solar installations. Virginia will be the first state in the U.S. to offer residents the chance to be a part of Switch Together, an optional solar panel group purchasing initiative. A spokesperson said the initiative was created to increase energy generation, protect families against utility rate hikes in the future and make energy affordable across the commonwealth. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Switch Together can lower utility bills and help families save an average of 23% on home and business solar installations, which is about $6,300 on a typical system. As well as estimated to save the average household around $2,200 a year on electricity costs.
DEQ asks Virginians how to best engage environmental justice communities during permitting process (Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury)
When the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reviews permits for proposed projects that would impact water, air, or land, the agency must consider whether projects would be in or near environmental justice communities, areas that are low-income or whose residents are mostly people of color who experience a disproportionate rate of environmental harm. Now, state environmental regulators are seeking the public’s feedback on the best ways to meaningfully engage with EJ communities on projects that directly affect them, an action stemming from a new law that passed this year’s legislative session. https://apple.news/AlsEjp550QWCIGNQYwR3yhg
*** NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS ***
Defend the Roadless Rule – EarthJustice
The Trump administration just took action to rescind a rule that has protected these lands for a quarter-century. Who stands to lose? Wildlife, outdoor enthusiasts, millions of Americans whose drinking water flows through forests, and all of us at the mercy of a climate crisis. The landmark conservation policy under attack, the Roadless Rule, safeguards many of the most pristine backcountry areas of our national forest system against costly and harmful roadbuilding and logging. The administration has falsely claimed this as a solution to the wildfire crisis – despite evidence to the contrary. Fires are four times more likely to start near a road than in roadless forests.An official comment period just opened on the proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, and we only have 30 days to voice our opposition to Trump’s plan. Over 138,187 Earthjustice supporters joined over 625,000 other forest advocates when we sounded the alarm last year. This time, we’re aiming for 1 million comments in partnership with other organizations. Take action with Earthjustice and urge the Service to keep this rule in place. EarthJustice
First Statewide Moratorium on New Hyperscale Data Centers Launched by Governor Hochul Moratorium
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an Executive Order to create the nation’s first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, establishing the strongest standards for data center development and creating a blueprint to support localities. The Governor is temporarily pausing State environmental permits for up to one year in order to build a nation-leading regulatory framework that protects ratepayers, the environment, the energy grid and communities across the state.
Deep Dive: How the Supreme Court ruled on the environment this term (Earthjustice)
Earthjustice SVP of Program Sam Sankar gives his unvarnished analysis of the Supreme Court’s environmental decisions this term. Without question: The current make-up of the Supreme Court represents a major challenge for environmental law. If you want to learn more about this term’s rulings and what’s coming next term, Sam’s analysis published on Substack is a must read. Supreme Court
France Had Never Seen a ‘Fire Cloud’ Until This Month’s Record-Smashing Blazes (Wired)
Extreme fire conditions on the ground have created unprecedented conditions in the atmosphere.Firefighters in France are confronting a phenomenon never seen in the region before: fire clouds. It’s a sign of the intensity of the blazes burning—and how climate change is upping the odds that they appear. A wave of fires has swept over France and Spain, sending hundreds of thousands fleeing. Firefighters on the front lines are facing what a spokesperson for the French firefighter association told AFP said was an “operational impossibility”—in other words, a “natural force beyond our control.” France
After taking off in Charlottesville, feds plan national electric aircraft charging network rollout (Virginia Mercury)
A nationwide charging system for electric and automated aircraft is underway, following the federal government’s launch of its first pilot flight in Charlottesville last week. The announcement came as the nation prepares to expand advanced air mobility, a shift that could improve air transportation while benefiting public health and the environment. Archer Aviation, an aerospace and defense company, in partnership with BETA Technologies and Macquarie Capital, announced the formation of America’s Consortium for Electric Skyways to begin building the charging system for advanced air mobility aircraft across 250 aviation sites in the U.S. by 2030. Aircraft
Trains in Switzerland Are Now Running Over Solar Panels in a First-of-Its-Kind Test ZME Science
On a 100-meter stretch of active railway near the village of Buttes, 48 solar panels sit between the rails, low enough for trains to pass over them and removable enough for crews to take them away when the track needs work. The installation, developed by the Swiss startup Sun-Ways, is small. Its 18 kilowatts of capacity could generate about 16,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, roughly the annual use of a few European households.
But this is just a pilot program. If the system works safely on a busy rail line, it could point to a new way of expanding solar power without covering farmland, forests or mountain slopes with panels. That’s perhaps important in Switzerland, more so than in other places, where renewable energy is urgently needed, but new solar projects can face resistance when they move into cherished landscapes. NIMBY is sadly a global phenomenon. Trains
A faith-driven approach to climate change can sway hearts and minds (The Hill) https://apple.news/AkCNzR5bIQ9290qCYV6icEA
Despite its disastrous effects, recent extreme weather also provides an important teachable moment. We should use it to more fully develop and disseminate effective messages by drawing on commonly shared moral principles and narratives that have meaning to climate change deniers, and improving education about how to address such polarized political debates. Recent studies show that shifting attitudes about climate change is possible. Yet such research has not informed practice very much — we need to use it more. Studies reveal that debunking misinformation with facts fails to alter public opinion, but that targeted, strategic messages designed for particular audiences, reframing the issues in ways that appeal to these groups, can help. Effective messages aimed at conservatives can appeal to national security, moral issues of purity and religious beliefs in stewarding the Earth.
*** NEWS YOU CAN USE!! ***
Rivanna Solid Waste Authority: Fall e-Waste Registration is now OPEN
Residents of Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the Town of Scottsville are invited to dispose of their unwanted electronic devices on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 9 AM to 3 PM. The free bi-annual event welcomes cell phones, tablets, computers, Plasma/LCD/LED screens, DVD players, VCRs, camcorders, stereos, printers, scanners, corded and cordless telephones, gaming systems, fax machines, adding machines, calculators, charging cables, and digital cameras. Advance registration is required. Interested community members are encouraged to visit Rivanna Solid Waste Authority’s webpage to sign up.
https://rivannasolidwaste.org/event/special-collection-day-e-waste-2/
Balcony Solar!!
Thanks to Patty Wallens for this tip! Patty’s husband has been exploring solar balcony panels and he found a nonprofit in California that has great prices and we have ordered 2 panels. it is more limited than a full system but more affordable. The organization is BrightSaver https://www.brightsaver.org/ They have been very helpful with actual people answering phones and responding to emails!
Researchers used electric stoves to treat asthma. It worked. (story by Sammy Roth, Climate Colored Glasses)
There’s already lots of research showing that gas stoves fill our homes with nasty air pollution, including cancer-causing chemicals and toxins that increase the risk of kids getting asthma. Still, a study published this month blew my mind. Led by Dr. Ash Sehgal, a professor at Case Western’s School of Medicine, researchers recruited families from across the Cleveland and Akron areas where at least one person had asthma. Using funds from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, they replaced gas stoves with electric induction stoves in 91 homes. Asthma
Mark your calendar! Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi has launched a listening tour about the Dominion Next Era merger and she will be in Cville on September 14 6pm – 7:30pm (venue will be announced). You can RSVP to attend here https://www.vaenergytour.com/
*** FROM THE REFILL NEWSLETTER ***
Biodegradable Sunglasses!
With UV400 protection and polarized lenses, these might just become your new favorite pair. Of course, we carry a variety of styles and colors. Cellulose Acetate Frames! A hypoallergenic, plant-based “plastic” made from natural cotton and wood fibers. Flexible, lightweight, and strong. Guilt Free!
If dropped in the river or left behind on the slopes, you can relax knowing they won’t stay there forever, like all those lost plastic sunglasses….not that any of us have had that experience before…FOR MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION GO TO THEIR WEBSITE
Yours for the planet!
Ellie Syverud
Co-Leader Ministry for the Earth