PRESS RELEASE: UVA Sierra Student Coalition–– On Wednesday three University of Virginia students will head to Washington, D.C. for special meetings with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and the White House Liaison to Young Americans Ronnie Cho scheduled for Thursday. Kenneth Hawes, Isabella Artiles and Dyanna Jaye, all second year students, will join 35 student leaders from across the country for the event that will culminate 100% Clean: 100 Actions for Clean Energy, a month of over 100 actions on campuses including U.Va.
The U.Va. Sierra Student Coalition just held its own action, a Camp out for Clean Energy, on Wednesday. Over thirty students and community members camped out in McIntire Amphitheater to raise awareness about the coal plant on grounds. The students are working to pressure the University President, President Sullivan to set a retirement date for the coal plant and push the school onto 100% clean energy.
Student leaders will have the opportunity to brief both Administrator Jackson and White House Liaison to Young Americans Ronnie Cho on student efforts to transition their campuses and communities off coal and dirty energy to clean energy solutions. They plan to thank the Administrator for her leadership on new rules to protect public health from coal pollution – including efforts to clean up smaller coal plants such as the one on U.Va.’s campus. Then, they will head to the White House for a conversation with Ronnie Cho about urging the President to take bold action to transition the nation to cleaner energy sources that will create jobs and improve the health of communities like Charlottesville.
Schedule of Events – Thursday October 27th
10am Round Table Meeting with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at Howard University
12pm Visit Capitol Hill and offices of select Members of Congress
3:30pm Meeting with Ronnie Cho, Liaison to Young Americans and the White House Office of Public Engagement at the White House
Photos and video of the events will be available the following morning.
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