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Bob McDonnell on Energy & Oil |
Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore. But this Administrations policies are delaying offshore production, hindering nuclear energy expansion, and seeking to impose job-killing cap and trade energy taxes.
Now is the time to adopt innovative energy policies that create jobs and lower energy prices.
"I tell you, whether it's a Republican or Democratic Congress, it doesn't make any difference to me," McDonnell said. "As governor of Virginia, if there are policies generated at the federal level that are bad for Virginia, kill jobs and hurt our business & hurt our citizens, I will stand up against them."
Republican McDonnell thinks transportation is important as well, which is why he says he supports off shore drilling. "Fifty miles off coast. Environmentally friendly. Safe in a way that generates billions in capital investment. Thousands of new jobs. Hundreds of millions in royalties & tax revenue. And I want to put that money into transportation & alternative energy research," says McDonnell.
Following a public outcry due to the recent closing of rest areas, both candidates have vowed to reopen them if elected. Deeds says they're a necessity. "If we're going to have a law that says you can only drive a truck for 10 hours in a 24-hour period, we're going to have to provide places to pull over and rest," says Deeds.
Bob McDonnell supports the safe offshore exploration and drilling of oil and natural gas which could, over a 10-year period, create 2,578 new jobs.
He will continue to support Virginia's coal and nuclear industry to ensure affordable, reliable energy now.
Bob will push for expedited permitting and approval processes for energy facilities so that energy sources can be brought online faster.
We feel compelled to guard against a regulatory approach that would increase the cost of electricity and gasoline prices, manufactured products, and ultimately harm the competitiveness of the US economy. As governors, we strongly urge Congress to stop harmful EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that could damage those vital interests. We ask that Congress continue its work to pass comprehensive legislation that balances the role of conservation and climate security with the production of abundant and affordable American energy. The EPA has initiated efforts to impose greenhouse gas regulations that could be harmful to our economies at an especially critical time. As Governors, we are gravely concerned about such regulation.
EPA is not equipped to consider the very real potential for economic harm when regulating emissions. Without that consideration, regulation will place heavy administrative burdens on state environmental quality agencies, will be costly to consumers, and could be devastating to the economy and jobs.
We believe that EPA should offer input regarding complex energy and environmental policy initiatives, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but feel that these policies are best developed by elected representatives at the state and national level, not by a single federal agency. There is no question that broad bipartisan support exists to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while taking into consideration the difficult fiscal situation that our states and the nation face.
