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Dear Craig – Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the Council and me on divestment from fossil fuels. Let me rest your mind that the Town does not invest any funds for fossil
fuel industries. Herndon is working on increasing environmental
awareness in the Town and is looking at various areas in green
technology, renewal energy sources and conservation.
In 2011, the Town was awarded
the Virginia Municipal League (VML) "Green Government" Certification.
Herndon’s participation in the “Green Government Challenge” spearheaded
initiatives in the Town that included change in specific environmental
policies and actions to reduce the carbon emissions. For further
information on the program, here is the link to our Webpage:
Also,
you might be interested in getting in touch with Carlin Anderson,
President of the Herndon Environmental Network. I have met with her a
few times and she has provided me with some information and insight.
Here is their Facebook page and check them out and see if you're
interested in joining:
Another
individual you might want to contact is Joe Plummer, President and CEO
of the Three Birds Foundation, an organization that believes every
student should have meaningful learning experiences with renewable
energy before graduating high school. He can be contacted via email at Joseph.Plummer@threebirds.org.
I hope the information I have provided is helpful.
Regards,
Lisa C. Merkel, Mayor
******************************
From: Craig Schwanke [mailto:bucknackt@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 7:56 AM
To: Hutchinson, Connie; Jonas, Melissa; Kirby, Dave; Olem, Sheila; Charlie.Waddell; Wolf, Grace; Mayor Lisa
Subject: Divestment from fossil fuels
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 7:56 AM
To: Hutchinson, Connie; Jonas, Melissa; Kirby, Dave; Olem, Sheila; Charlie.Waddell; Wolf, Grace; Mayor Lisa
Subject: Divestment from fossil fuels
As
a resident of Herndon I am interested to know the Town Council's
opinion on divesting any and all funds the Town of Herndon may have in
fossil fuel industries. While Herndon is not threatened by coastal
flooding. rising sea levels, and massive wild fires we have experienced
higher Summer temperatures and severe storms with an intensity has been
increased due to global warming. We are also at risk from hurricanes
moving up the East coast, hurricanes with increased winds and heavy
rains that could cause damage to our community. Though we have been
spared, so far, the worst effects of climate change, that will not last.
And we do have a responsibility to our neighbors and fellow citizens in
the Commonwealth, D.C., and Maryland as well as the rest of the nation.
Coastal flooding and rising sea levels are problems along the lower
Potomac and the Tidewater region, the Eastern Shore is at risk from more
powerful hurricanes, rising sea levels and coastal flooding. Climate
change is having a fiscal effect on Herndon. Every Commonwealth and
Federal dollar spent on dealing with the consequences of climate change
means less money available for projects and programs in Herndon.
It
just doesn't make sense to invest in the very companies that are
responsible for the problems created by climate change, forcing the
government to divert scarce tax dollars to deal with these problems.
Divestment by the Town of Herndon may seem like a drop in the proverbial
bucket, but combined with all the other divestment actions by local
governments across Virginia will not only bring long term benefits to
our community, but to the entire nation. Herndon can and should invest
in green technology, renewable energy sources and conservation, setting
an example for the rest of the Commonwealth and the Metro D.C. region. I
hope you will consider divesting all Town of Herndon funds from all
fossil fuel industries, coal, oil and gas, and I look forward to hearing
from you on this issue.
Sincerely,
Craig Schwanke
839 Locust Street, Apt 210
Herndon, VA 20170-4956
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