Establishing Commission on Climate Change
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor
Timothy M. Kaine FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor December 21 2007
Contact: Gordon Hickey
Phone: (804) 225-4260
Cell Phone: (804) 291-8977
Internet: www.governor.virginia.gov
GOVERNOR KAINE SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS
~ Directs Commission to undertake yearlong study and prepare an action plan ~
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today issued Executive Order 59 establishing the Commission on Climate Change. In establishing this Commission, Governor Kaine is fulfilling one of the recommendations of the Virginia Energy Plan, which was completed in September of this year.
The Virginia Energy Plan identified four overall goals, one of which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2025, bringing emissions back to 2000 levels. The reduction in emissions will be partially achieved through energy conservation and renewable energy actions identified in the Energy Plan. The Commission on Climate Change will further study and formulate an action plan to fully achieve this goal.
“The Virginia Energy plan recognized that climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing us with regard to our use of energy,” Governor Kaine said. “The Commission on Climate Change will provide needed expertise and additional resources to help significantly reduce emissions in Virginia by 2025.”
The Executive Order directs the Commission, which will be chaired by Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr., to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan. The Commission will be charged with a number of tasks:
- Inventory the amount of and contributors to Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions projections through 2025.
- Evaluate expected impacts of climate change on Virginia’s citizens, natural resources, and economy.
- Identify climate change approaches being pursued by other states, regions, and the federal government.
- Identify what Virginia needs to do to prepare for the likely consequences of climate change.
- Identify any actions (beyond those identified in the Energy Plan) that need to be taken to achieve the 30% greenhouse gas reduction goal.
“The 32-person commission I am appointing is a broadly representative one,” said Governor Kaine. “It reflects my goal to consider the impacts of climate change and responses to those changes from economic, environmental, social and governmental points of view.”
The commission includes state legislators; scientists; economists; representatives from the energy, transportation, manufacturing, development, and agriculture industries; representatives from environmental organizations; and local government representatives. The commission will issue a report with recommendations by December 15, 2008.
The Commission on Climate Change will include the following:
LuAnn Bennett of Arlington County, President of the Bennett Group;
The Honorable Donald S. Beyer, Jr. of Alexandria, CEO of Don Beyer Motors Inc.;
The Honorable Joe Bouchard of Virginia Beach, member-elect of the Virginia House of Delegates;
The Honorable David Bulova of Fairfax County, member of the Virginia House of Delegates;
R. Daniel Carson, Jr. of Roanoke, Vice President of Appalachian Power;
Christine Chmura of Glen Allen, President and Chief Economist of Chmura Economics and Analytics;
Richard Cizik of Fredericksburg, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals;
The Honorable John Daniel of Richmond, partner with Troutman Sanders LLP;
The Honorable Paul Ferguson of Arlington County, Chairman of the Arlington County Board;
Bob Fledderman of Midlothian, Manager of Emerging Issues for Safety, Health and Environment for MeadWestvaco;
Stuart Freudberg of Fairfax County, Department of Environmental Programs Director for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments;
Felix Garcia of Richmond, President of Gatekeepers, LLC;
Dale Gardner of Rockingham County, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association;
Jack Gibbons of Fauquier County, former Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Director, Office of Science and Technology, Executive Office of the President (1993-1998)
Jodi Gidley of Virginia Beach, President of Virginia Natural Gas;
Bill Greenleaf of Richmond, Chief Operating Officer of William McDonough and Partners;
David Heacock of Richmond, President of Dominion Virginia Power;
Ann F. Jennings of King and Queen County, Virginia Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation;
Michael Lipford of Richmond, Virginia Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy;
Roger Mann of Mathews County, Director of Research and Advisory Services at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences;
The Honorable Robert E. Martinez of Norfolk, Vice President of Business Development for Norfolk Southern Corporation;
The Honorable Joe May of Leesburg, member of the Virginia House of Delegates;
Ty Murray of Midlothian, Director of Environmental Compliance and Engineering for Philip Morris USA;
The Honorable Ralph Northam of Norfolk, member-elect of the Virginia Senate;
R. Paul Orentas, of Loudoun County, Principal, Research & Analysis of Think Box Group, LLC.
Trip Pollard of Sewanee, Tennessee, Director of Land and Community Programs for the Southern Environmental Law Center;
The Honorable Ron Rordam of Blacksburg, Mayor of the Town of Blacksburg;
Harrison Rue of Charlottesville, Executive Director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission;
Bruce Smart of Loudoun County, former Commerce Department undersecretary for international trade for President Reagan;
William A. “Skip” Stiles of Norfolk, Executive Director of Wetlands Watch;
Michael Townes of Hampton, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit;
The Honorable Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, member of the Virginia Senate.
# # #
*** Please note you will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word Viewer in order to view documents on this page.
Contact Us Freedom of Information Act Web Policy WAI Level A Compliant