Brent Finnegan, winner of the primary for the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates 26th District, spoke to the Steering Committee on June 18, 2019. Finnegan runs a community documentary film business and is a planning commissioner for Harrisonburg.
In an informal discussion with the Steering Committee, Finnegan said that he supports a 45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2031 to ensure a sustainable future for the Shenandoah Valley. He supports state senator McClellan’s Solar Freedom Bill, which failed to advance out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on January 29, 2019.
When asked about a yard waste ban at landfills, Finnegan stated that he doesn’t want policies that hurt low income families, citing that half of the 26th district is in poverty. When asked about the methane that is generated from landfills as a result of organic waste, Finnegan said that he supports community composting and educating people about the effect of organic waste on climate change.
Steering Committee members cited the survey conducted by Luntz, a Republican, the results of which indicated that 70% of Republicans 40 years old and under want the government to implement fee and dividend and 55% are angry at the GOP for not addressing climate change. They also mentioned RGGI and the Green New Deal. Finnegan responded that these are all parts of the big picture on climate change.
Finnegan said that he is talking to people about climate issues. He is also a proponent of protecting waterways.
– Michele Thomas, acting CAAV recording secretary, June 2019
Climate Action Alliance of the Valley 