Citizens Climate Lobby - Charlottesville Chapter

07/29/2026

40 Virginians just got home from lobbying Congress on climate legislation for Citizens Climate Lobby. Here are a few of them.

07/04/2026

In today's Washington Post, a letter from a CCL Volunteer-
Gift this to future Americans
I was interested to read the June 30 news article “Dangerous heat to envelop Midwest and East this week” about the current heat dome. The article’s mention of fireworks and July 4 made me sad: Who wants to be outside on the National Mall or grilling in the backyard with this heat and humidity?

As the article noted, next year will probably be the hottest year ever recorded globally, surpassing 2024. That is due in part to higher ocean temperatures from human-caused climate change, which fuels El Niño weather patterns.

The heat is ruining our beloved traditions. For America’s 250th birthday, Congress should give us the gift of renewed climate action. Bipartisan legislation would honor our past and help us keep the best things going for our kids and grandkids.

Lyla Fadali, Rockville

07/02/2026

Europe is in the midst of a record-breaking and deadly heatwave. The scientists at World Weather Attribution studied the event to estimate global warming's contribution.

They estimate that nearly half of Europe will break heat stress records, based on wet bulb temperatures that also account for humidity. They also note that in Europe, heatwaves cause more deaths than all other natural hazards combined, and this heatwave is the most severe ever recorded in Europe. Just 50 years ago, this magnitude of heatwave would have been virtually impossible, and 10–100 times less likely in 2003.

The Eastern half of the U.S. is facing a similar, record-breaking heatwave this week, right in the midst of hosting the World Cup. This type of heat is dangerous. As temperatures continue to rise, we must urge Congress to act.

Write to your representative at cclusa.org/take-action

06/26/2026

from the Richmond Times Dispatch-
Dear Editor-
We are in your debt for your coverage of the Data Center fight. Your coverage, plus attending Tuesday’s “listening tour” with Senators Lucas and Jones in Manchester, has given me a pretty good understanding of the situation.
I understand that the State Senate wishes to kill the tax exemption, that the House of Delegates does not, and that the Governor is stuck in between them. I agree with your article that most of us oppose the construction of a data center in our own community. The only speakers at the listening session who supported data centers were people who worked at one.
While the General Assembly session made wonderful progress on energy policy in many areas, the data center mess has been allowed to become too big for the GA to feel comfortable with decisive action. I’m concerned that the data center explosion will continue with localities wanting the tax revenue and citizens trying but failing to block permits. This will result in electricity rates spiking higher, and the construction of six to eight large methane burning power plants which will kill the Virginia Clean Economy Act by simply ignoring it. Data Centers need to be powered by cheaper clean energy and there is no requirement for that to happen.
Sometimes it is tough to be decisive. But the natural tendency to “study” things that make us nervous is just going to make things worse. It is time to show data centers that they are not the boss of us.
Chris Wiegard

06/17/2026

To live in a fool's paradise, you must first become a fool. Washington Post.

12/18/2025

The Trump administration is breaking up the crown jewel of global climate research in order to pursue a senseless culture war and to ingratiate themselves with fossil fuel interests. Our great great grandchildren will read about this crime in history books 100 years from now.

OMB Director Russell Vought said the National Science Foundation "will be breaking up" the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado.