This has been a big week for conservation in the Virginia General Assembly. Bills on coal ash, fracking, and renewable energy were all up, in addition to a bill on redistricting reform. Virginia Conservation Network took positions on three new bills and eight new budget items. As we approach crossover next week, it's critical that Virginia's conservation community is putting as much pressure on legislators as possible to continue pushing good bills forward and to kill the bills that threaten our health, communities, and natural resources. [...]

This past Monday, January 23rd, over 200 conservation organizations and activists joined together in Richmond to participate in Virginia Conservation Network’s largest Conservation Lobby Day in recent history. Nearly 100 meetings were held with state legislators and aides urging them to support environmental policy advancements. Priority issues that participants brought up with their legislators included: Keeping our drinking water and rivers clean by updating storage for toxic coal ash and preventing the oil and gas industry from hiding what chemicals [...]

We are proud to report that on Monday, January 23rd, Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) hosted its largest Conservation Lobby Day in recent history. Over 200 conservation organizations and activists from across the Commonwealth joined together in Richmond to hold nearly 100 meetings with their state legislators and urge them to support environmental policy advancements. Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam addresses Virginia's conservation community to kick off VCN's 2017 Conservation Lobby Day. Bi-Partisan Group of Elected Officials & 3 Gubernatorial [...]

Finishing out the second week of the 2017 Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Conservation Network has taken 39 new bill positions, totaling 59 so far. Updates from the General Assembly Good news: Bill to cut Virginia land conservation funding tabled in subcommittee! Yes, you read that right—HB1470 was tabled in subcommittee! This bill that would have cut the Land Preservation Tax Credit—Virginia's single most effective tool to protect farm and forest land, historic and scenic landscapes, and important natural communities and ecosystems. A [...]

Today, we are wrapping up the first of six weeks that make up the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session. Each January, our elected legislators convene in the Capitol to introduce, debate, and vote on potential policy change. To keep Network Partners and conservation supporters informed how these debates may influence our air, water, landscapes, and wildlife here in Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network will publish a weekly blog post throughout session highlighting the most notable bills and the status of those [...]

Mary Rafferty will join the VCN team as Executive Director on December 1, 2016. The Board of Directors of the Virginia Conservation Network is pleased to announce that Mary Rafferty will be joining VCN as its Executive Director. Mary has spent the last nine years working with nonprofits to advance conservation policies—she brings with her a wealth of advocacy and management experience. Regarding the opportunity to serve as VCN’s Executive Director, Mary says, “I couldn’t be more excited [...]