Bolling Urges Kaine to Ignore Sierra Club and Sign VA Energy Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2006

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING ENCOURAGES GOVERNOR KAINE TO SIGN VIRGINIA ENERGY BILL
-Calls Sierra Club’s opposition anti-business, anti-energy-

RICHMOND – Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today encouraged Governor Tim Kaine to sign the Virginia Energy Bill, SB262, sponsored by Senator Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) into law without amendment.

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.”

Lieutenant Governor Bolling criticized the Sierra Club’s simplistic opposition to this important legislation and off shore drilling. “The passage of SB262 does not mean that off shore drilling will ever take place. It merely provides a framework in which off shore deposits of natural gas could be developed, under adequate safeguards, if that is determined to be feasible and beneficial to the Commonwealth.”

SB262 also includes other provisions important to creating a statewide energy plan that are unrelated to off shore drilling. Lieutenant Governor Bolling wrote, “The Sierra Club’s simplistic approach appears to totally ignore these other important provisions of the legislation. This is another example of the Sierra Club’s blind anti-business, anti-energy orthodoxy.”

During his ten years in the Senate of Virginia, Lieutenant Governor Bolling was a leader on natural resources issues having served as Chairman of the Commission on the Future of Virginia’s Environment and Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

A full text of Lieutenant Governor Bolling’s letter to Governor Kaine follows.

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March 17, 2006

The Honorable Timothy N. Kaine
Governor of Virginia
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, Virginia 23218

Dear Governor Kaine:

During the 2006 legislative session the members of the Senate and House of Delegates gave their overwhelming approval to SB262. This legislation, which was sponsored by Senator Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, would require the Commonwealth to move forward with the development of a comprehensive statewide energy plan. I am writing to encourage you to sign this legislation into law without amendment.

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 members of the General Assembly.

Last week representatives of the Sierra Club held a press conference in Virginia Beach to encourage you to veto this important legislation. The Sierra Club’s primary opposition to this legislation appears to be their concern over the possible implementation of off shore drilling. However, and as you know, the passage of SB262 does not mean that off shore drilling will ever take place. It merely provides a framework in which off shore deposits of natural gas could surveyed, mapped, explored and developed - under adequate safeguards - if that is determined to be feasible and beneficial to the Commonwealth.

In addition, SB262 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.

Governor Kaine, I would submit to you that this is an issue of great importance to the people of Virginia and Virginia’s business community. The time has come for us to recognize our long term energy needs and begin the process of meeting these needs in an aggressive and responsible manner. SB262 provides the framework to accomplish this important goal, and I encourage you to sign this legislation into law.

Thank you for your consideration of my views on this important issue.

Very Truly Yours,

WILLIAM T. BOLLING
Lieutenant Governor
Commonwealth of Virginia