For Immediate Release
Friday, January 20, 2021
Contact: Tim Cywinski, Communication Manager, (540) 272-5358, tim.cywinski@sierraclub.org.
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Announces Legislative Priorities for 2021 General Assembly Session
Richmond, Va — Sierra Club Virginia Chapter is dedicated to advancing legislation that addresses the climate crisis and promotes environmental justice in Virginia during the 2021 state legislative session. The Chapter’s support of priority legislation reflects the urgent need to reduce harmful climate and air pollution from Virginia’s transportation sector, ensure a just transition away from dirty fuels, and address the systemic racism that both fuels the climate crisis and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
As of the writing of this release, the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter’s legislative committee has voted to support legislation that advances the following agenda in the Commonwealth:
- Adoption of advanced Clean Cars Standards (HB 1965)
- Expansion of environmental justice protections, community involvement, and planning (HB 2074)
- Ensure Virginia regulators can hold pipeline developers accountable and protect land and water (SB 1311)
- Expand access to energy provided by 100 percent renewable sources (HB 2048)
- Ensure the adoption of stronger energy efficiency standards in Virginia’s building codes that reflect guidelines of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (SB 1224 and HB 2227)
- Adoption and implementation of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus priorities
- Adoption and implementation of the Virginia Green New Deal (HB1937)
As a grassroots advocacy organization, the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter holds regular meetings with a volunteer-led legislative committee. The legislative committee is responsible for voting on legislative positions and monitoring the status of bills. Positions are subject to change if legislation is significantly altered by amendments.