Leading a new energy policy
Governor Warner has been a leading advocate for creation of a national energy policy that connects the dots between job creation, national security, and climate change.
Virginia is ideally situated to be a national leader in the development of alternative energy – wind, solar and biomass – and its coal deposits in Southwest provide an opportunity for the Commonwealth to lead in development of “clean coal” technology.
The Governor had an opportunity to speak to leaders of Wise County yesterday about the necessity of finding new energy resources.
The Bristol Herald-Courier reports:
With the current situation, Warner said it presents opportunities, especially for Southwest Virginia.“I believe in the next 20 to 25 years, the greatest job creation could come from how we create new energy,” the former Virginia governor said.
Energy sources include wind, solar, biomass and a dose of conservation, Warner said.
“It’s also going to take coal to increase our capacity,” he said.
The nation must find ways to cleanly burn coal, he said.
“Southwest Virginia can be a leader in this,” Warner added.
The federal government spent just $2 billion on energy development two years ago, Warner said.
Southwest Virginia could be on the cutting edge of new technology to develop cleaner coal-burning methods, he said. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions at coal-fired electricity generation plants, then burying the gas in the ground would make coal a cleaner fuel, he said. It would also give the region an economic boost by creating new jobs, he added.