Virginia Conservation Network

In recent years, Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) has evolved from a reactive institution to Virginia's proactive "Voice of Conservation." In addition to an annual conference, VCN now provides members of 125 conservation and community groups with year-round opportunities to collaborate and learn.  Learn more at www.vcnva.org

The success of VCN’s collaborative advocacy model was demonstrated in 2008, when the network made energy efficiency its top priority.  Some 250 people attended a pro-efficiency lobby day, and many more sent in letters of support. The reforms that resulted have leveraged private sector utilities to help educate customers, weatherize homes in low-income communities and install smart meters and high-efficiency lighting in homes across Virginia.   

Virginia Conservation Network has also made restoration of Virginia’s streams and rivers a top priority.  Through its workgroups and events, VCN has helped thousands of Virginia’s to understand the complex regulatory processes of the Clean Water Act. Through research published in the annual Conservation Briefing Book, VCN is helping lawmakers identify the most cost-effective ways to the stop polluted runoff that has caused fish kills and beach closures across Virginia.  Learn more at www.choosecleanwater.org

Finally, the network is a driving force behind the Keep the Ban campaign to maintain a ban on uranium mining and processing that has protected Virginian's health and property values for 30 years.  The debate over uranium mining is expected to reach a fevered pitch in the upcoming 2012 Virginia General Assembly. Learn more at www.keeptheban.org

#give2max