Opponents of coal power are organising what they say will be the “biggest ever civil disobedience on climate” at the Capitol Power Plant in Washington, DC, next month.

Set for March 2, the protest is being planned by a national coalition of some 40 environmental, social justice, public health, advocacy and other groups. Organisers who announced the action today said that more than 1,000 participants — include top climate researcher James Hansen — have already signed up.

“The Capitol Climate Action comes not a moment too soon,” Hansen said. “For more than thirty  years, scientists, environmentalists and people from all walks of life have urged our leaders to take action to stop global warming; and that action has yet to come.”

He added, “Coal is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country and that must change. The world is waiting for the Obama administration and Congress to lead the way forward on this defining issue of our time. They need to start by getting coal out of Congress.”

Owned by Congress, the Capitol Power Plant burns coal to provide heat to a number of buildings on Capitol Hill.

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