A Year in Review: VCN’s 2022 Annual Report
Over the last year, VCN worked with our 150+ Network Partners to maintain momentum around policy gains while continuing to navigate working within the confines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The year was defined by a gubernatorial election and the infusion of federal money into the state budget. It ended with a vastly different political landscape including a new, untested Governor and a change in conservation strategy from offense to defense.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2021 to Winter 2022. 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,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- VCN staff updates,
- …and more!
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
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.
Chesterfield Gas Plant Health Impacts Fact Sheet
SELC has released an updated health impacts factsheet on Dominion's proposed 1,000-megawatt gas plant. The update includes a new map indicating both potential sites and revised pollutant data, emphasizing that the gas plant will generate more pollution than the existing coal plant.
Transportation Equity Dashboard
TransitCenter recently updated their Transportation Equity Dashboard, a tool which tracks how well transit connects people to opportunities in the seven regions with the largest transit systems, including Washington, D.C..
Opinion: The James is healthier today, but our work isn’t finished
Virginia should boldly recommit to the collaborative, multistate effort and vision of a renewed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. In an Op-Ed, VCN highlights how our beloved local waters depend on the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to improve water quality.