Moran Releases “Green Virginia” Plan

~ Proposal Will Protect Environment, Build Energy Economy ~
~ Former Warner Environment Agency Head Endorses Moran ~

NORFOLK – Today, Brian Moran released a bold environment and energy plan: Green Virginia: Building the 21^st Energy Economy.  The Green Virginia plan will make Virginia a national leader in renewable energy and create tens of thousands of new jobs. It is the boldest commitment any candidate for Governor has made to preserve the environment and build lasting economic growth.

Bob Burnley, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality in Governor Warner's administration, announced his endorsement of Brian Moran for Governor today.

The highlights of Moran’s plan

• A commitment to offshore wind and solar power to meet future energy needs with clean renewable technology
• Investments in “smart grid” technology to increase efficiency and bring our infrastructure into the digital age
• Creation of a Center for Innovative Green Technology to coordinate statewide investments and planning
• Requiring that 25 percent of Virginia’s energy come from renewable sources, doubling Virginia’s current voluntary goal and making it mandatory

“Virginia can and must become a leader in renewable energy and get our economy moving. The time for leadership on this issue has come, and I’m committed to bold action. This plan will create tens of thousands of jobs in growing industries,” Moran said. “These investments will produce returns for years in the form of new technologies and new jobs.”

Previous to this release, Moran announced his opposition to offshore drilling, his opposition to the coal mega-plant in Surry County, and his commitment to get 25 percent of Virginia’s energy from renewable sources by 2025.

The complete Green Virginia plan includes:

• Protecting our Environment: Restoring the Chesapeake Bay, increasing land conservation, opposing the Surry coal mega-plant, and opposing offshore drilling

• Investing in Renewable Energy: Requiring that 25 percent of Virginia’s energy come from renewable sources by 2025, investing in wind and solar energy, exploring biomass and waste-to-energy
• Developing Green Energy Technology: Jumpstarting university research, creating a Center for Innovative Green Technology, and founding Energy Technology Parks
• Increasing Energy Efficiency: Creating incentives for efficiency through utility “decoupling,” investing in green buildings, building smart grid technology, winterizing homes, and creating incentives for high-mileage vehicles
• Creating Green Jobs: Promoting energy technology small businesses, coordinating workforce training, and creating tax and financial incentives for investment in energy technology.

"As someone who has spent a career working to protect Virginia's environmental treasures and worked with Mark Warner to help clean up the Bay and enforce Virginia's environmental laws and regulations, I know what it means to demonstrate strong environmental leadership,” said Bob Burnley, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality for Governor Warner. "This is a progressive plan that will invest in our energy future and protect our environment.  This is exactly the type of leadership Virginia needs to address all of the serious energy and environmental issues we are struggling with every day."

Moran will hold a series of events in different parts of Virginia to announce the Green Virginia plan, including stops in Arlington, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville.