CHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. At CCAN, we envision an equitable energy future where efficiency and truly clean sources of power — solar and wind — sustain every aspect of our lives, and dirty fossil fuels are phased out; where communities sacrificed to the fossil fuel industry – from South Baltimore to Southwest Virginia and beyond – have the freedom to decide where their energy comes from and how it’s used; and where we’ve kept the increase in the global average temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius, protecting the most vulnerable communities in our region and the world from the worst impacts of climate change. \n\nMore specifically,we are working to expand, deepen, and diversify our base of supporters and the coalitions with which we collaborate. We aim to educate individuals and lawmakers about policies and programs that help us:\n 1. Stop new fossil fuel projects in their tracks;\n 2. Put our region on an equitable path to cut emissions through means such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and transportation reform;\n 3. Continually broaden and deepen the movement of people calling for ambitious solutions to the climate crisis.

To achieve our goals we're finding innovative ways to work with allies for a swift and just transition to a clean energy future that benefits everyone. We work side-by-side with local community groups right here in our region to make the case to our leaders that we can--and must--cut climate pollution in half by 2030. Together, we take on our region's biggest polluters, including fighting an unpopular wave of new fossil fuel projects to ensure we keep fossil fuels in the ground. Just as importantly, we work to incentivize our economy’s shift to clean sources of energy, such as wind and solar power. Together, we attack the systemic problems that got us here in the first place - including the fossil fuel industry’s stronghold on our political process. \n\nAs we move forward, we will continue to grow our base of supporters, utilize our online list to take action, and develop more on-the-ground leaders. We are also working to expand our coalition to non-traditional allies to ensure that our campaigns are community-led and long-lasting.\n\nOver the next several years, we will be working to stop new natural gas pipelines proposed in the region. We will also educate our lawmakers on policies that will bring 100% clean energy, reliable jobs, and environmental justice to the region. \n\nWe are building a movement that includes everyone and reflects the diversity of our region; a movement that empowers people to become their own leaders, and that isn't afraid to take bold, creative steps to win. We'll continue to set groundbreaking local policies for clean energy in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C., while we use our proximity to the nation's capital to make our voices heard in the halls of Congress, the White House, and across the world.

CCAN considers our biggest and best resources to be the talented organizers and policy advocates we employ, the activists they mobilize, and the decision-makers who are inspired by our efforts and take bold actions for the climate.\n \nCCAN has six grassroots organizers dispersed across the region, and policy advocates leading in Maryland, Virginia, and Capitol Hill. We have over 70,000 supporters on our email list and hundreds who take action through each of our campaigns. We have a central leadership team with over 30 years of collective experience who provide visionary direction along with nuts-and-bolts support. And, we have a committed and talented communications team of two to ensure our work is amplified across all channels of media. \n\nDecision-makers in the region take note of our strength and often follow our lead toward solutions-oriented climate policies. We are known for our creativity, our tenacity, and our wide breadth of relationships in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and climate leaders across the United States. We work in partnership with frontline communities impacted by the changing climate as well as professional environmental groups in the region for nearly all of our efforts. These partnerships, coalitions, and networks are critical to seeing success in our region. They also ensure a diversity of voices are heard by our leaders and elected officials.\n \nAdditionally, CCAN's budget is strong and diverse. We are actively working to increase the percentage of our budget from individuals to reach an even more stable source of funding. We also have regional grantmakers who are extremely committed to CCAN and our work.

In Washington, DC, CCAN played a key leadership role in the DC Climate coalition to pass the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act. The law transitions the District to 100% clean renewable energy by 2032, while investing in energy efficiency, creating groundbreaking building standards, and funding local programs to help low-income residents and make the city a sustainable place to live.\n \nIn Maryland, we've made great strides toward the clean energy future we envision. Since 2017, we’ve banned fracking across the state, passed legislation in Baltimore to put an end to new crude-oil train terminals, passed the 2019 Clean Energy Jobs Act which will create more than 20,000 jobs and increase the state Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% by 2030, and put us on the path to 100% by 2040, and we have been working to reduce state house greenhouse gas emissions while also carrying out our “No New Fossil Fuels” campaign.\n\nIn Virginia, we have persistently organized to loosen Dominion’s stranglehold on the state’s legislature and put an end to reckless fossil fuel projects across the state. Since 2017, federal courts have thrown out multiple permits for the Atlantic Coast (ACP) and Mountain Valley (MVP) pipelines, and in 2020 we succeeded when the ACP was halted. Our legal and grassroots actions against new fossil fuel infrastructure have halted and/or delayed the construction of numerous projects over the years. Additionally, over the past couple of years, CCAN and partners successfully advocated for 60% clean electricity by 2036 and to determine the best way to get to 100% shortly after, and to put in place standards to make it easier to purchase electric vehicles.\n\nOn Capitol Hill, we are taking our nearly two decades of experience successfully advocating at the state level and mobilizing our grassroots support to promote federal action toward 100% clean electricity.