A Year in Review: VCN’s 2023 Annual Report
Thanks to highly coordinated efforts and despite political headwinds, VCN — in our role as the strategic facilitator of our 150+ Network Partners — was successful in holding onto major environmental and climate policy successes from the last few years while celebrating historic investments in conservation funding through the budget.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2022 to Winter 2023. While it feels almost impossible to cover everything we worked on last year in only a few pages, we did our best to squeeze in the highlights, including:
- our strategy to advance conservation initiatives year-round,
- our policy gains and challenges through the General Assembly session and beyond,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- and more.
As we sent this annual report to the printer, we learned of the tragic loss of our Clean Energy & Climate Justice Policy Manager, Shawn Soares, on May 4th, 2023. Shawn was committed to devoting his career to bettering the Commonwealth and was a rising star in the climate movement. We are dedicating this annual report to him and are committed to working in his honor moving forward.
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
New Laws: Reducing Toxic Threats to Our Water and Health
Starting July 1st, most bills from the 2024 General Assembly session became law in Virginia, including bans on high PAHs in pavement sealants and cyanide in gold mining. These laws aim to cut toxic pollution in Virginia's waters and protecting human and ecological health.
New Laws: Protecting Customers from Utility Shutoffs
The Emergency Utilities Protection Act went into effect July 1st, and it prevents utilities from cutting off customers on days of extreme weather, or other situations that warrant high usage. These protections address the ever growing threat of climate change’s consequences in a just manner that brings Virginia up to speed with the rest of the South.
Check It Out: VCN Intern/Fellow Day!
VCN Partner Interns joined us at our Richmond office for our first ever Intern/Fellow Day!
Offshore Wind Propels Virginia’s Workforce Through Cable Manufacturing Facility
Virginia’s offshore wind energy industry continues to build the Commonwealth’s reputation (and economy) as the leader of one of the fastest-growing clean energy sectors in the world with the announcement of a supporting cable manufacturing facility in the City of Chesapeake.
Article: Whales Are Dying but Not from Offshore Wind
Scientific American published an article debunking the myth that offshore wind projects are responsible for killing whales, instead identifying ship strikes and rising ocean temperatures as the real causes.
CCWC Member Highlight: Southside ReLeaf
For Choose Clean Water Coalition's Member Highlight, Pat Calvert, VCN's Director of Clean Water & Land Conservation Programs, recently interviewed Amy Wentz and Sheri Shannon, co-founders of Southside ReLeaf, about their organization, current projects, and more.