• Yes, Virginia — July and August Were the World’s Hottest Months on Record
• Who’s Planning for a Resilient Future? Washington, DC!
• Hear All About It! PrepareAthon Organizers on Richmond’s PBS Station (88.9 FM)
• Resilient Events Calendar
• Your Membership Counts!

WHAT’S NEW

Yes, Virginia — July and August Were the World’s Hottest Months on Record

The latest reports from NASA have shown that August tied July as the warmest months ever recorded. With temperatures 1.76°F (0.98°C) above the 1951–1980 August average, last month became the 11th straight one to set a new heat record. NASA data also indicates that this year is likely to be the hottest ever recorded.

With this kind of news, we might want to take a look at what states are doing to move away from greenhouse-gas enhancing fossil fuels. A recent article from Renewable Energy World reports that the Energy Information Agency (EIA) indicates movement away from the traditional fuel sources in a state-by-state analysis. They report that 23 states are projected, by the close of 2016, to include geothermal, solar, or wind power as one of their primary sources of electric generation.

In Virginia, however, a new report from the Environment Virginia Research and Policy Center ranks the state 39th in solar capacity per capita. North Carolina, in contrast comes in 5th in the rankings, with 100 times more solar capacity than Virginia.

Despite the current status of Virginia’s solar capacity, renewable energy industry leaders in the state are seeing a stronger trend toward more clean energy. You can hear about current initiatives and financing incentives in the commercial and utility scale renewable energy industry at a September 29th Leadership in Energy Advancement and Development (LEAD) Forum in Charlottesville. Find out more about this event, which is presented by the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance, at www.va-rea.org.

If you are interested in what a 100% clean energy-powered Virginia would look like, you can view an infographic on this topic, developed by Mark Jacobson, Ph.D., Director of Atmosphere and Energy Program at Stanford University, at this link. Or tune in to a September 29 webinar, “A Roadmap for Transforming Energy to 100% Wind, Water, and Solar,” to hear directly from Dr. Mark Jacobson about his vision for a clean energy future. Find out how to register at this link.

(Information for this article came from Climate Nexus.org (9/13/2016), Renewable Energy World.com (September 8, 2016), EnvironmentVirginia.org, TheSolutionsProject.org)

Who’s Planning for a Resilient Future? Washington, DC!

Washington, D.C. is the latest mid-Atlantic city to be awarded the 100 Resilient Cites grant from the John D. Rockefeller Foundation, which will enable them to hire a Chief Resiliency Officer for two years. Norfolk, Virginia had received this award two years ago and has developed their own Resilience Strategy.

Washington, D.C. will start down the resiliency planning path ahead of where many communities begin the process, since they have already conducted extensive analysis on the risks they are facing; have looked at the vulnerabilities of their infrastructure, utilities, building stock, and community members; and have formulated the “Climate Ready DC” plan. This plan is now available for public comment.

Resilient Virginia is pleased to announce that you can hear about the Washington, D.C. Climate Ready plan at an event on October 20th, that we are jointly hosting with Leaders in Energy. This Washington, D.C.-area organization hosts monthly evening events to bring together thought leaders to learn about innovative programs taking place around the metro area. The October 20th event, “Sustainability, Resiliency and Economic Opportunity,” takes place from 6:00–8:30 PM at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments office. Learn more at the Resilient Virginia calendar or at the Leaders in Energy website, www.lercpa.org.

Hear All About It! PrepareAthon Organizers on Richmond’s PBS Station (88.9 FM)

You can hear the interview conducted by Catherine Komp, radio producer and reporter, of the Science Museum of Virginia’s Chief Scientist, Eugene Maurakis, Ph.D., and Annette Osso, Managing Director of Resilient Virginia, at this link. Stay tuned for more resiliency reporting in the coming year.

You can also participate in the Science Museum’s Extreme Event Challenge on October 13 (5:30–7:30 PM) by calling 804-864-1400 to reserve one of the limited spaces. The idea behind the Extreme Event Challenge is to involve community members in an exercise that puts them in positions of responsibility to address the aftermath of an extreme weather event. The first Extreme Event Challenge took place on September 15.

Finally, if you missed the PrepareAthon and would still like to test your resiliency star power, you can download the Family Resiliency Checklist at this link. Let the Museum know you have taken on this challenge by emailing a copy of your completed checklist to info@smv.org.

All of these Science Museum of Virginia events are funded by a three-year NOAA grant to promote climate literacy and community resiliency.

RESILIENT VIRGINIA CALENDAR

Highlights for September and October

Virginia Engineers Conference – September 28–30. Resilient Virginia will be represented at this conference by a session presentation carried out by Board of Directors Member James Redick (Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response, City of Norfolk) and Deborah Mills, Associate, Dewberry.

In addition to other events highlighted in the What’s New articles, check our Resilient Events Calendar on a regular basis to find resiliency oriented events happening in Virginia and virtually through webinars.Check our event calendar on a regular basis to find resiliency oriented events happening in Virginia and virtually through webinars.

Thanks to Our 2016 Annual Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Lifeboat Sponsor

Villager Sponsor

YOUR MEMBERSHIP COUNTS! HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RESILIENCY

JOIN TODAY—IT’S OUR FUTURE!

Support Resilient Virginia’s goals to:

• INFORM diverse leaders from government, business, and the community about natural, climate-related and man-made risks and vulnerabilities;
• EDUCATE key groups about the models for community resiliency planning;
• ACTIVATE Virginia communities by providing tools to engage in resiliency planning.

Take one of the following actions today:

• Join as an Annual Member,
• Sign up as an Annual Sponsor,
• Go to GoodSearch or GoodShop and designate Resilient Virginia to receive donations every time you search or shop.

Thanks to our recent new members and supporters!

Karl Bren (Retired VSBN Founder)
Vestal Tutterow