Friday, January 06, 2012
McDonnell touts 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy
The latest from The Ticker blog
RICHMOND — Gov. Bob McDonnell rolled out his 2012 energy initiatives Thursday, proposing $500,000 to promote the development of wind power off Virginia's coast and knocking the federal government anew for blocking oil and gas development in the same waters.
McDonnell said the package will advance his goal of making Virginia the "Energy Capital of the East Coast" through policies that encourage the use of fossil fuels, help develop renewable sources such as wind and solar, and promote efficiency and conservation. The Republican governor calls his approach an "all-of-the-above" strategy.
A leading advocate of pursuing offshore oil and gas, he said the state "continues to aggressively fight back" against the Obama administration's decision to keep off limits until at least 2017 East Coast energy exploration in waters off Virginia.
McDonnell has argued that the Department of Interior should at least allow exploration off Virginia to assess the potential of oil and gas deposits in coastal waters. He has found bipartisan support, notably from Virginia's Democratic U.S. senators, in his call to put the East Coast in play for oil and gas development.
