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With Gov. Bob McDonnell pounding away at "jobs, jobs, jobs," while focusing little on the jobs that would be created from the clean energy sector, it shouldn't be a surprise that a number of Virginians voiced their disapproval at McDonnell's second yearly energy conference.
The paltry steps McDonnell has taken to ensure the viability of clean energy sources in the near future belies his initial gubernatorial promises to increase Virginia's use of clean energy.
In the real world where most Virginians live, the issue isn't theoretical or based upon some preconceived belief in the inherent goodness of clean energy. Clean energy literally is a life-saver.
What's more, clean energy is also a money saver as well. This point has been lost by those in Virginia politics who see clean energy as some kind of scam or backdoor trick, as if behind the advocacy of clean energy there is some deeper and more pernicious objective.
The only objective those who believe in clean energy have is seeing Virginians lead healthier and happier lives. The harmful effects of nonrenewable sources of energy cannot be questioned nor the moral and economic imperatives of moving further away from these energy sources.
The choice is clear for anyone who chooses to open their eyes and see, clean energy is the future and for the future.
The Virginia Sierra Club recently announced its intentions to attend the second Virginia Energy Conference, held by our dirty energy-loving governor, Bob McDonnell. The conference will be held on October 17-19 and anyone in favor of clean, renewable sources of energy for VA are encouraged to attend.
For all of his promises to the contrary, Gov. McDonnell has focused his administrations attention on bolstering VA's coal, gas, oil, and nuclear commitments to the exclusion of renewables.
We can of course discuss the political cronyism that's obviously taking place, but the more important issues are the human and environmental ramifications that a continued reliance on nonrenewable sources of energy will have in VA.
First, committing to more "domestic" sources of nonrenewable energy will almost inevitably mean higher rates of diseases and illnesses related to the increased domestic production of nonrenewable energy. That is, more Virginians will become sick or die.
Secondly, Virginia's various and invaluable ecosystems will take unparalleled "shocks" that may lead to their irreversible decline.
The issue of uranium mining in southern Virginia is a great example.
Since uranium mining has never been done in a climate like ours, no one can say with a comfortable degree of certainty that such an endeavor will be benign in terms of human and environmental health.
But solar and wind power, just to give 2 examples, are benign sources of energy.
While Gov. McDonnell is rewarding his friends who aided in his election, he is doing so to the neglect of the interests of all other Virginians and their natural environment.
Dominion VA Power met with officials of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Monday to discuss the NRC's report on the impact of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake at Dominion's North Anna Power Station.
A public meeting with Dominion and NRC officials was also held on Monday afternoon at North Anna's nuclear information center in Mineral.
After the August 23 earthquake, the NRC's inspection team spent 3 weeks at the plant.
According to Dominion, North Anna's two nuclear reactors were shut down by seismic vibrations.
Dominion says that it has found no "significant" damage to structures, safety systems, pipes, valves, or the Lake Anna Dam over the course of numerous inspections.
Nonetheless, the earthquake brought to light the serious possibility of natural disasters causing unforeseen damage to VA's nuclear facilities.
In the wake of Japan's own nuclear disaster, the question of risk, of cost versus benefit, is more prescient now than it has been in decades.
For those that would claim that nuclear power is safe, they probably would not have predicted that an earthquake would have been able to shut down operations at North Anna for as long as it has.
While there are better, safer, and cleaner alternatives to nuclear energy, why not attempt to use them?
It's understood that the lobbyists for the nuclear industry have done a good job at holding the attention of our elected officials. It's up to us as citizens to make sure that our political representatives are listening to us, not lobbyists and their respective clients.
Public opinion polling consistently shows that Americans want investments in wind and solar first but they are not ready to abandoned conventional fuels just yet.
This reasonable approach by the public is consistently perverted by politicians who insist they are for an "all of the above" approach but then only find time to seriously focus on coal, oil, gas and nuclear.
Governor McDonnell has made very limited efforts to support offshore wind development, but his Second Annual Energy Conference agenda, organized for the first time with the VA Chamber of Commerce fails to even mention renewable energy on Day 1 and Day 2 has not yet been published. http://www.vachamber.com/uploa...
With the mounting evidence of climate change threatening Virginia's coast and the well being of the planet, it is hard to understand why clean, renewable energy is not at the top of the Governor's energy agenda instead of at the bottom. "Bob for Jobs" position is all the more puzzling because renewable energy investments create far more jobs than investments in coal where jobs continue to decline, in oil which exports $1 billion dollars of US wealth to oil oligarchs around the world each day or in the nuclear industry which has been stagnant for 30+ years.
Gov. Bob McDonnell recently issued an executive order to transition thousands of state vehicles in Virginia's fleet to alternative forms of fuel.
The executive order was signed on Tuesday by McDonnell at the Office of Fleet Management Services in Richmond.
McDonnell also pushed a new Virginia law that would allow Virginia's retailers to provide additional charging locations for electric vehicles.
According to McDonnell's executive order, a plan to transition Virginia's vehicle fleet is to be finished for his review and approval by January 1.
Reducing Virginia's, and the U.S.'s, reliance on foreign oil "makes sense" according to the Virginia governor, which is why he called for a shift to fuels like biodiesel, electric, and other mixes.
Of course, one would have liked to have seen these moves sooner. But the transition orchestrated by McDonnell illustrates that fact that conservative policy-makers and environmentally conscious Virginian's can work together to promote each other's goals.
It's also noteworthy that a conservative governor has "gone green" (kind of) in the midst of a political environment that appears to scold anyone who promotes progressive environmental policies.
Indeed, maybe conservative politicians are the individuals most politically able to get away with conservation-type policies, even if their primary motivations are different from the environmental community's.
Virginia may be the "Top State for Business," but it is among the least sensible when it comes to responsible energy policies. So far, the McDonnell administration has paid lip-service to the advantages of renewable forms of energy. But change towards a more inclusive renewable energy "portfolio" in Virginia has been slow, and in some respects stagnant.
While most proponents of renewable energy understand that wind energy, solar energy, energy from biomass, and geothermal energy will only make up a part of Virginia's energy future, it's a sizable part nonetheless that cannot be ignored. Bulldogs for the McDonnell administration like Virginia Senator Steve Martin contend that the governor has made significant moves towards "greening" Virginia. It seems, however, that we have different conceptions of what a "green" Virginia will look like.
And here's the real kicker: renewable energy has the enormous potential to save businesses in Virginia considerable revenue over the long run. Furthermore, for a billion-dollar-a year-tourism industry in Virginia, renewable sources of energy could help alleviate some of the negative environmental impacts of nonrewable sources of energy like excessive air pollution (i.e. air pollution that causes ill health effects), thus sustaining the windfall revenue stemming from tourism-related activities. Renewable sources of energy can also bring "home-grown" sources of energy to Virginia, helping to alleviate foreign energy "shocks" that could throw Virginia's economy in the wrong direction.
Renewable energy, then, cannot and should not be put off any further if Virginia wishes to retain its position as top state for business. Virginia is an energy intensive state that cannot afford to sit and wait for the next energy shock to ransack its business success. Virginia has the education system, the capital, the people, and the political and grassroots will to turn our state into a renewable energy capital. It's time we moved in this direction inexorably for current generations and those still to come.
Virginia's State Motor Fuel Program is assisting over 80 universities and local governments reduce their fuel costs by using its buying leverage to acquire the best prices on fuel, according to the Department of General Services.
Participants in the fuel program can buy fuel in large quantities with Virginia's fuel card or by consignment. The fuel card program has 40 participants while the bulk fuel program has 72.
State agencies in Virginia are required to take part in the program while participation by local governments and universities remains optional.
On Wednesday, the department said that the savings from the program depend on the needs of the participant.
But while saving on gasoline is an economic plus, it also tends to increase the use of gasoline and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
So while Gov. McDonnell claims that he wants to turn more towards clean and renewable forms of energy, the Motor Fuel Program is yet another example of the obstacles that still remain before that sustainable energy bridge can be crossed.
As long as gasoline remains affordable, Virginians will not seek out renewables in a timely or wholehearted manner.
Yes, it's that time of the year again, time for Dominion Virginia Power to throw more costs on the backs of its electricity consumers.
Dominion recently filed a request with the State Corporation Commission asking Virginia regulators for three separate rate increases to assist Dominion in covering its fuel and transmission costs as well as paying for a new power plant near Front Royal.
In Virginia, companies are allowed to bill customers for the cost of fuel used in the generation of electricity in addition to the power it buys to "serve" its customers.
Of course, there is still one last request. Dominion is also asking regulators to approve a surcharge for the construction of the Warren County Power Station near Front Royal as well as modifications to assist in paying for replacing old equipment and installing new infrastructure.
The audacity of such requests is almost too ludicrous to be commented upon. Not only has Dominion rebuffed numerous efforts to swiftly shift to renewable sources of energy, it has clearly refused to even begin moving away from dirty sources of energy like coal in a truly meaningful way.
Despite the vast sums of money which will no doubt be spent on touting its "green" agenda, Dominion is still an electric company living in the past, beholden to nonrenewable and publicly unhealthy sources of energy such as coal and natural gas.
Dominion has to be held accountable, and it's up to each of us to do just that.
Governor Bob McDonnell likes to talk about an "all of the above" approach to energy. The problem is, the only energy he seems to want to focus on is the old, dirty kind. Fans of offshore drilling had a big week last week when President Obama announced the opening of additional offshore areas (including Virginia) for potential oil drilling. Gov. McDonnell has made pushing for offshore drilling in Virginia a cornerstone of his first year.
Unfortunately, He doesn't seem to have the same commitment to offshore wind, which holds far more potential for long-term energy production, economic development and energy independence for Virginia and the United States. The Governor has pulled Virginia out of the bipartisan Governor's Wind Energy Coalition. The Governor is upset that the Coalition has backed a mandatory Renewable Electricity Standard. The Washington Post has more.
What the Governor doesn't understand is that the actions of Virginia with regards to offshore drilling and wind send the message that Virginia is committed to drilling but not to wind. If you are a wind energy company, are you going to invest in a state that hasn't shown the slightest commitment to helping you establish a market for your new and promising product? Answer: NO
The Governors' Wind Energy Coalition released recently its 2010 Wind Energy Recommendations. The full report (available here) is entitled "Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development". Here's a summary of its recommendations:
Adopt a Renewable Electricity Standard The nation's wind energy industry and supporting infrastructure will not reach their full potential unless the nation sets a minimum requirement for the use of renewable electricity.
Develop New Interstate Electric Transmission System Infrastructure as Needed to Provide Access to Premier Renewable Energy both On-Shore and Offshore Developing the states' rich domestic renewable resources will require improvements to the electric transmission system.
Support Coastal, Deep Water, Offshore Wind Energy Technology Research and Development If the nation is to meet the goal of providing 20 percent of its electric needs from wind power by 2030 and then continue wind's expansion to provide even greater contributions in both the electricity and the transportation sectors, it must develop and use all the nation's wind energy resources, including the rich wind areas along the nation's coastal and Great Lake states.
Streamline Permitting Processes for Both Offshore and On-Shore Wind Development Projects Congress must approve legislation that will allow for the efficient and timely review of wind projects on federal lands and in off shore coastal regions. While legislation is needed to improve the permitting process, dramatically improved coordination among state, federal and industry participants is equally important.
Dramatically Expand Wind Research, Innovation, and Collaboration Wind power technology is one of the best economic development opportunities for our states. Production of wind energy components and systems can help revitalize the manufacturing sector, and will provide substantial benefits to the nation's economy through domestic and export markets.
Extend the Treasury Department Grant Program Created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Adopt a Long-Term Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) with Provisions to Broaden the Pool of Investors Eligible to Participate An extension of the Treasury Department grant program is necessary while financial markets continue to recover. Over the longer-term, the Production Tax Credit, which has been the primary federal incentive for wind energy, should be extended for at least five years to provide a stable incentive for wind energy investment.
Despite the nor-ester hitting Hampton Roads, the GreenUp Expo goes on.
The first session that I attended was supposedly entitled "Renewable Energy Resources/Clean Energy". I say "supposedly" because one of the speakers was Cathie France, director of government relations with Virginia Natural Gas.
She talked about natural gas as the "bridge" to renewable energy. Makes no sense! Why invest $ in a nonetheless dirty fossil fuel that reeks havoc on the environment w/ its production process? The "bridge" fuel is bio-diesel, geo-thermal, energy efficiency, etc. But hey, the fat cats in t...he oil & gas industry can't pad their wallets w/ those resources. Drill, baby, drill.
I'm now sitting in a session on "Eco-tourism". Only 1 of the 3 speakers showed up. The moderator, a guy I've met before and whose name escapes me, is pitch hitting. This guy is the recycling coordinator for the City of Newport News. He told me they have a new Sustainability Plan for Newport News. It's not online yet, but I'm anxious to see it. I'm working with Virginia Beach to develop their Sustainability Plan. The City Council wants it by the end of December 2009.
I'm feeling obnoxious so I had to ask how the Virginia Beach Hotel & Motel Association could endorse offshore drilling considering how spills happen despite the "new technology" (note Australian oil spill) and the devastation to our tourism and fishing industries.
Alright, I'm moving on to the third session, "Marketing Green".
The Mineral Management Services (MMS) is now open for business and accepting applications for renewable energy leases in the outer continental shelf (OCS)!
First up to bat will be New Jersey, Delaware and Rhode Island who already each have a developer in hand. Virginia will take the more conservative approach, hoping that all the early Guinea pigs work out all the kinks before they file. But I do predict Virginia to be fourth in line. Very exciting stuff!
Here's press on NJ, DE and RI efforts:
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 12 (UPI):
Rhode Island may have first offshore wind
"Rhode Island lawmakers recently signed an agreement to develop an offshore wind farm.
The agreement took months to negotiate, and now Deepwater Wind and the state will be able to build an offshore wind farm, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri told the Providence Business News.
The wind farm will include 100 turbines with the capacity to generate 1.3 million megawatt-hours of electricity per year. That is estimated to be enough to provide 15 percent of Rhode Island's electricity demand."
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The Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2008:
N.J. Awards Grant for First Offshore Wind Project
New Jersey regulators Friday selected Garden State Offshore Energy to develop the state's first offshore wind farm, in a move to spark development of a clean power source that has met resistance in other states.
Garden State Offshore Energy, a joint venture between a unit of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. and wind-power developer Deepwater Wind, was selected by the state Board of Public Utilities from five firms vying for state support and a grant of up to $19 million. The state program provides aid for up to 350 megawatts, or enough continuous power for about 125,000 homes.
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Associated Press, Tues., Sept. 9, 2008
Delaware leads race to build offshore wind farm State clears hurdles, hopes to have construction completed by 2012
WASHINGTON - Visitors to Rehoboth Beach, Del., soon may be greeted by more than sand dunes, seagulls and beach umbrellas. If offshore wind advocates have their way, scores of 140-foot blades will be spinning in the ocean breeze nearly a dozen miles away, barely visible to the sunbathers.
Show Your Support for Wind Energy on Global Wind Day, June 15. Join AWEA's Visual Petition, Call for a National Renewable Electricity Standard,
Organize or Attend a #GWind09 Tweet-Up Near You.
Washington, D.C. - On Monday, June 15, the first-ever Global Wind Day will be celebrated in 25 countries. Organized by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Global Wind Day promotes awareness of wind energy worldwide, inviting the public to celebrate wind power as a near-term solution to global climate change and a driver for economic growth in local communities.
"In the United States, Global Wind Day comes at a time when the nation is surging forward in wind and renewable energy development," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode,"but we risk losing this momentum and tens of thousands of jobs if Congress does not adopt a strong national renewable energy standard, or RES. America could lose ground to China and Europe where strong renewable energy policy commitments are driving investment in manufacturing and development. It's time for a national RES here in the U.S. We need to seize this historic opportunity to create jobs, build up our renewable energy industry, and fight climate change."
Wind energy supporters can join AWEA's call for an RES through a number of events and activities on Global Wind Day, including:
• Asking representatives in Congress to support a STRONG national renewable electricity standard. Right now in the U.S., Congress is voting on a national RES that could bring more wind and renewable energy to the electricity grid. But significant challenges threaten this critical policy and many members of Congress are still undecided about their votes. Supporters can ask their representatives in Congress to support a strong RES through www.powerofwind.com or www.globalwinddayusa.com.
• Submitting a photo or comment to AWEA's visual petition, Why Wind Matters to Me! AWEA is organizing a visual petition at www.globalwinddayusa.com. Wind energy supporters can submit a photo or a comment that shows how wind energy is making a difference today. These photos will be presented to members of Congress to highlight their constituency's support of wind power. Why Wind Matters to Me! photo categories include: My Wind Energy Job, I Love Wind Technology, Faces of Wind, My Wind Turbine, and Scenic.
• Attending or organizing a #GWind09 Tweet-Up near you: AWEA is hosting Global Wind Day Tweet-Ups (Twitter tag: #GWind09) in Washington, D.C. and New York City on June 15. For details, visit www.twitter.com/awea or host your own Tweet-Up in your home town!
Also on Global Wind Day, the Western Governors' Association will feature U.S. Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Jon Wellinghoff, and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in a panel discussion about tapping the nation's vast renewable energy resources at its annual meeting in Park City, Utah. For more information, visit http://www.westgov.org/wga/meetings/am2009/index.htm.
Local small-business leaders and residents of Hampton Roads gathered at Solar Services Inc. in Virginia Beach to learn more about the potential for expansion of their businesses and further job creation as a result of investment in a clean energy economy, as could be provided with passage of a strong American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act.
The event was organized by MoveOn and the local Sierra Club group. Participants also included a representative from Congressman Glenn Nye's office. Hampton Roads citizens are calling on Senators Warner and Webb and Rep. Nye to pass a strong clean energy jobs bill.
As I pointed out in my remarks, the ACES Act presents an opportunity to not only clean up global warming pollution by holding polluters accountable, but to also simultaneously and very quickly drive a shift in U.S. energy production toward cleaner, cheaper sources, like wind and solar, which are key to solving both our environmental and economic crises.
More specifically we here in Hampton Roads stand to reap a tremendous amount of benefit with passage of a strong ACES Act with both its investment in renewable energy production and its curbing global warming pollution. Hampton Roads is blessed with ideal offshore wind energy potential. Meanwhile, of all the places in the U.S., the effects of climate change are felt hardest here in Hampton Roads with $ billions of our assets vulnerable to sea level rise and greater and greater storm surges battering our coast.
Damn! I'm speaking on the same program as Stephen Walz! See agenda on the flip.
With funding support from the state, the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC) has studied the engineering feasibility, cost, and economic development potential of Virginia's offshore wind resource.
VCERC has identified large areas of powerful Class 6 winds located in relatively shallow waters beyond 12 nautical miles offshore on the outer continental shelf off Virginia Beach. These areas are suitable for installing commercially proven monopile-based offshore wind turbines sufficient to meet at least 20% of Virginia's annual electricity demand. The immediate commercial opportunity would entail a 20-year build-out, ensuring new career-length jobs in the Hampton Roads maritime industry, and creating thousands of new jobs throughout the state, with a cost of energy less than that from a new coal-fired generating plant.
Learn more at this community meeting:
When: Thursday, May 14, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Westin Town Center, 4535 Commerce Street, Virginia Beach
Sponsors: City of Virginia Beach, SAIC and VCERC
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The Governors' Wind Energy Coalition released recently its 2010 Wind Energy Recommendations. The full report (
Despite the nor-ester hitting Hampton Roads, the 
The Mineral Management Services (MMS) is now open for business and accepting applications for renewable energy leases in the outer continental shelf (OCS)!
Local small-business leaders and residents of Hampton Roads gathered at 
Damn! I'm speaking on the same program as Stephen Walz! See agenda on the flip.
