350 Loudoun is a child organization of 350.org, a left-of-center environmentalist organization that advocates for a complete elimination of the use of conventional fuels. 350 Loudon campaigns for total divestment from conventional energy and a complete transition to environmentalist energy sources. 350 Loudon also advocates against the development of the Rockwool factory in Ransom, West Virginia.
Activities
Rockwool Factory
350 Loudoun has campaigned against the operation of a factory managed by Rockwool since it discovered plans for the factory’s development. The group argues that the factory will emit chemicals that will damage the local environment and create health concerns in neighboring areas, including Loudoun County. 1
350 Loudoun has spoken with both Loudoun County legislators and West Virginia legislators in an attempt to force the factory to thoroughly examine and disclose pollution estimates before operating. Representatives from the Rockwool factory have told reporters that the factory has all the necessary permits to operate and has received no complaints regarding odor or noise. 2
Race Protests
Activists from 350 Loudon protested a statue of a Confederate soldier outside a Loudoun County, Virginia courthouse on the one-year anniversary of the 2017 riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. The activists protested by holding up signs stating, “Confederate Statue = Hate” and covered the statue with a trash bag. 350 Loudon representatives told reporters that the protest was necessary, claiming that pollution disproportionately harms non-white people due to a system of racism that has purportedly existed for the entirety of American history. 3
Political Advocacy
Natalie Pien, a 350 Loudoun organizer, publicly supported U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) when she ran against former U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock (R-VA) for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Pien claimed Rep. Comstock had a “terrible environmental record,” despite her joining the House Climate Caucus. 4
Financials
350 Loudon is a child organization of 350.org, a left-of-center environmentalist advocacy group, but 35 Loudoun does not independently have nonprofit status. It does not publicly disclose it funding or ask for donations.
References
- Greene, Renss. “West Virginia Factory Plan Sparks Loudoun Concerns.” Loudoun Now, August 9, 2018. https://loudounnow.com/2018/08/08/west-virginia-factory-plan-sparks-loudoun-concerns/.
- Cline, Nathaniel. “West Virginia Manufacturing Plant Raising Concerns in Loudoun County.” LoudounTimes.com, August 29, 2018. https://www.loudountimes.com/news/west-virginia-manufacturing-plant-raising-concerns-in-loudoun-county/article_0365a506-9cec-11e8-8ae0-ffcd68e01265.html.
- Nadler, Danielle. “Protestors Cover Confederate Statue on Loudoun Courthouse Lawn.” Loudoun Now, August 14, 2018. https://loudounnow.com/2018/08/13/protestors-cover-confederate-statue-on-loudoun-courthouse-lawn/.
- Hand, Mark. “Trump-Supporting Congresswoman Can’t Dodge Her Dismal Climate Record in Tight Virginia Race.” ThinkProgress, November 4, 2018. https://archive.thinkprogress.org/virginia-election-environment-climate-comstock-bcdd839f2c3a/.