GOP’s McDonnell and Bolling present energy plans
AP Photo / Steve Helber
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell gestures during comments before the Virginia Education Association on April 23.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling unveiled twin energy plans yesterday that call for drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast of Virginia.
McDonnell, at a stop in Norfolk, and Bolling, across the state in Roanoke, said Virginia must take advantage of traditional sources of energy -- coal and nuclear power as well as oil and gas -- while promoting alternative-energy sources.
They said they want to make Virginia the energy capital of the East Coast.
Bolling, a Republican, is seeking re-election as lieutenant governor. He is running in tandem with McDonnell.
Because Virginia is the second-largest importer of electricity, after California, it must develop the energy sources it has in abundance, such as oil and coal, McDonnell said.
He said offshore drilling can be done safely.
A portion of the royalties derived from drilling could be used for alternative-energy and renewable-energy research and development, and a portion could be used to fund transportation projects, he said.
McDonnell pledged to leverage Tobacco Commission funding to make Southside and Southwest Virginia a hub of energy research and development.
McDonnell and Bolling said they would make Virginia a "Green Jobs Zone," which would offer tax incentives to companies that locate here and create green jobs.
Of the three Democrats seeking the nomination to run against McDonnell, only state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County favors drilling for oil and natural gas, but only with some safeguards. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean favors drilling for natural gas, but not oil. Former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria is against oil and gas exploration.
Moran also has come out against a proposed coal-fired electricity plant in Surry County.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or
.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
McDonnell’s going to have to have a plan besides offshore drilling. That’s old and tired and people need a new idea. Just rhetoric.
Renewable energy is the way to go. Virginia continues to fall behind states like New Jersey in solar and wind. Truly sad that Virginia leaders are so bought out by the fossil fuel corporations.
Jer, good to know we’ve got some common ground.
I contend that the increase in conventional energy costs is coming, one way or another. It’s simple supply and demand. There is a finite amount of fossil and nuclear fuel which exists in this world, while demand for energy continues to grow. Scarcity is an inevitibility.
For this reason, I believe it is wise to start priming the market to a degree. Economic behavior takes precedent over other considerations for most people. People won’t change unless it’s economically viable. I’d rather see a little planning for the future, so that when crunch time comes for fossil fuels we’re not caught with out pants down and butts in the breeze. I’m not talking about artificial shortages like those created by OPEC, I’m talking about “there is not enough for us to continue living as we were”. We will be better off for having realized and prepared for the situation which we’re setting ourselves up for.
I think people delude themselves when they oversimplify the issue. “Drill baby drill” is no more a stand-alone solution than “a wind turbine for every man woman and child”. Both amount to political posturing, in my opinion.
Just like the stock market, our future energy needs have a better chance of leading us down the path of prosperity if out investments in it are diverse.
12 step forgive me but I agree with you. ALL tyes of energy should be considered when talking about independance from foriegn countries. Unfortunately many will not hear of the words fossil fuel and nuclear thinking that “green” energy will be able to provide all the energy needs of this country in the future. That remains to be seen but until it happens oil and nuclear are the most viable large scale energy source this country has. By the time of the next election there will be such an increase in fuel cost for all manner of energy it will be outragous but it will definitly be grenn - money wise.
“Show the public that green can be promoted without kooky ideas like windmills and solar panels”
I’m all for a combined energy approach, so don’t try to label me as some environmental nutjob (although someone most assuredly will). That aside, what you don’t understand is that you portray yourself as old, ignorant, and closed minded (as well as detract from the credibility of the rest of your position) when you make statements like that. The world is changing… we all know you liked it the way it was, but that’s progress, fella. It’s not asking your permission. I’m sure there were people out there back in the 1920’s who decried the automobile as a new-fangled fad, too.
Solar and wind power are quite legitimate as sources of energy. Though they alone cannot at the present time sufficiently accommodate our needs, they have a place in our nation’s/state’s energy policies. Most reasonable people would agree.
Ok before it gets really started here is the question to be answered - When was the last major disaster as a result of a failure on an offshore oil rig? Come on all you environmentalist and anti-oil/gas drilling advocates. You predict all the doom and gloom from this kind of drilling so when was the last time it happened? I know IT MIGHT happen.
Dave… this is the new liberal PC world. In this world the liberals believe Republicans are not capable of having solid energy proposals, no matter what the proposal is. They don’t bother to study the proposal. They just say no because of who states the proposal, not because of the proposal itself.
We as conservatives are going to have to stand up and fight if we want a normal world back. This is one way to do it. Show the public that green can be promoted without kooky ideas like windmills and solar panels.
Uh, which party is the party of ‘no’? People crow about ‘energy independence’, but when proposals are made to achieve that, they are criticized unless they involve windmills, solar panels, taxing carbon and regulating the energy industry to a standstill.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement