Polls closing...

At 10:00 polls will close in Montana, Nevada and Utah... as well as sections of a few other states.

While the conservation community has seemingly lost a champion in Lincoln Chafee, maybe Ben Cardin will take his place. Here is what he had to say about global warming, "I believe we must establish a comprehensive energy policy that will not only help consumers in the short term, but strengthen our nation's long-term energy supply and protect our environment. Today America imports almost 60 percent of her oil, yet rather than developing alternative, renewable resources or cutting back on our energy use by encouraging conservation, the Administration thinks the answer to this problem is to provide tax cuts for oil and gas companies, while exempting them from provisions of the Clean Water Act. I disagree. To have the greatest impact, our energy policy must create incentives to change behavior, both in the form of leveraging federal dollars to bring renewable energy options and energy efficient goods to consumers, and through the imposition of limits - including strengthening CAFÉ standards, creating a federal renewable portfolio standard, and requiring specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

It also appears Martin O'Malley has won the Gubernatorial election... according to CNN Governor Ehrlich did some very good things for the conservation community, including Chesapeake Bay restoration fee (aka the "Flsuh tax"), but he also attempted to sell off protected open spaces in southern Maryland to developers. Is this a win for the conservation community?

- Mike Williams