Virginia Conservation Network

Are you interested in participating in the Solar for All Advisory Board? ?? Virginia Energy just released a Request for Letters of Interest, due October 31st! Virginia Energy will use the groups' input to make final design decisions. Detailed information about the advisory group, letter requirements, and submission is available in link below. Also, please sign up for the email list on the same webpage! We will be sending out additional opportunities for stakeholder engagement and program updates to our list soon ??

Bill Owen is a TNC Virginia trustee with many interests and talents. While a lifelong musician, Bill is also the owner of a farm and the Raccoon Creek Pinelands in Southeastern Virginia. His passion for conservation has led him to plant more longleaf pine on his property than anywhere else in the state. To get around his farm and growing longleaf forest, Bill bought an electric Ford Lightning pickup truck, and he sings its praises as "clean, quiet and fast" — the perfect vehicle for his needs and for helping to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy. Watch the video to see Bill and his beloved truck in action, and to hear about how it once helped a tour bus out of a sticky situation.

The rain hasn’t dampened our spirits at the Virginia Conservation Network’s Annual Retreat! ?? Calandra Waters Lake | David W Sligh

The Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) is a statewide grant and loan program offered annually that supports community-scale and nature-based flood resilience planning, capacity building, studies, and projects. Local governments, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and resource authorities are eligible to apply for this funding! Wetlands Watch will host a hybrid training next Friday, September 20th in Roanoke, VA for any local government, soil and water conservation district, and resource authority staff interested in learning more! Details and registration link here: https://lnkd.in/eiVWCD_f

Our 2025 Common Agenda is here! Our Common Agenda is the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. This year's publication features 49 of the most pressing issues facing Virginia's environment. The collection of papers, written by over 99 environmental experts and vetted through VCN’s 170+ Network Partners, outlines why the issue matters, the background for the existing policies that are in place, and opportunities to address clean water & flood resilience, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance. See it now: https://lnkd.in/ecXN8KsT

The VCN Common Agenda brings together the collective knowledge and experience from organizational experts all over the state to address the most pressing environmental issues of our time. From preventing polluted stormwater runoff to curbing the political influence of electric utilities, it's all in there. Responsible Data Center Development is on page 45 of the pdf (77/78 of the document) ??

Make sure to check out "Connecting Wildlife Habitats for Resilient Communities" to learn more about wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, co-authored by: ?? Jessica Roberts, Ph.D., Wild Virginia ?? Misty Boos, Wildlands Network ?? Jamie Brunkow, James River Association ?? Taylor Evans, Valley Conservation Council

Stay tuned for the video on Charlottesville's zero-emission public transit fleet! ?? ? ??

Our 2025 Common Agenda is here! Our Common Agenda is the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. This year's publication features 49 of the most pressing issues facing Virginia's environment. The collection of papers, written by over 99 environmental experts and vetted through VCN’s 170+ Network Partners, outlines why the issue matters, the background for the existing policies that are in place, and opportunities to address clean water & flood resilience, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, climate & energy, and good governance. See it now: https://lnkd.in/ecXN8KsT

Last week, VCN concluded its 2024 Environmental Advocacy Fellowship, bringing a meaningful 10-week journey to a close. Throughout the program, our fellows engaged in various projects, such as leading an educational webinar series tailored for interns & fellows and engaging in policy research through a blog series. Fellows were also able to work alongside VCN Network Partners, gaining invaluable experience and forming meaningful connections within the environmental movement. In overseeing the fellowship, I was able to witness the remarkable growth of our fellows as they undertook their summer projects and deepened their understanding of VCN's mission and role within the Commonwealth. A huge shoutout to our three dedicated Environmental Advocacy Fellows—Finn Pollard, Sophie Gajadhar-Smith, and Kacey Chung—for their hard work and commitment this summer. I’m excited to see where your journeys will lead you next!