Bolling to Kaine: Sign the Energy Bill!

In a letter to Governor Kaine, Lieutenant Governor Bolling wrote:

"There is no issue more important to the Commonwealth, our citizens and our business community than developing a comprehensive statewide energy plan. We must begin the process of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, expanding the use of alternative energy sources and looking for ways to conserve energy. SB262 attempts to accomplish these important goals in a responsible manner that has been thoroughly reviewed and considered by the General Assembly."

The bill, sponsored by Senator Wagner (R-Virginia Beach), has come under fire from extreme environmental groups, like the Sierra Club, for including the potential for off-shore drilling. Bolling went on to state that the legislation "includes many other provisions that are important to the development of a comprehensive statewide energy plan that have absolutely nothing to do with off shore drilling. The Sierra Club's simplistic approach totally ignores these other important provisions of the legislation." The Sierra Club seems to be using off-shore drilling as a red herring in an attempt to sink the bill via veto.

The President declared in his most recent State of the Union that Americans must end their addiction to foreign oil, and the Virginia legislature has put forward a plan that will move our Commonwealth toward this goal. Environmental groups should be jumping at the opportunity to work with the Republican Party to find a real solution to our energy crisis, but their leaders seem to be more concerned with playing politics. Governor Kaine, who are you listening to?