Senator Whipple's bill as it currently stands* mandates that 17% of the energy provided to Virginians by the year 2020 must come from renewable energy resources. With passage of this bill, Virginia would join 21 other states that have implemented RPS standards. Senator Whipple's bill also requires as part of its mandate certain energy efficiency standards in addition to its clean energy standards.
Virginians get most of their power from coal, nuclear and natural gas. There is very little to no renewable energy sources being utilized in the state today for power. By creating incentives for renewable energy in Virginia, these sources of energy can provide jobs, stabilize future electricity prices and increase national security.With threats of offshore drilling, strip mining ravaging VirginiaGÇÖs landscape, and threats to national security because of our dependence on foreign oil, there is only one logical solution for the Commonwealth of Virginia: Clean, renewable energy.
1. Economic Development: Development of renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass) in some of the most economically distressed regions of Virginia would spur economic growth, increase local tax revenues, and provide jobs. A General Electric plant that builds component parts for wind turbines in Salem, Virginia, for example, has already created new jobs and is providing an economic beacon of hope in the area. Renewable energy provides an opportunity to restore many of the jobs lost to the declining coal industry. Also, switchgrass, an energy crop, which is native to much of the US including Virginia, could help distressed Southside farmers develop a new cash crop other than tobacco, cotton or peanuts.
2. National Security: With increased concern over the security of power grids, and our countryGÇÖs dependence on foreign sources of energy, switching to home-grown, Virginia energy will move the state in the direction of energy independence.
3. Stabilize Future Electricity Rates: Rising and fluctuating fossil fuel costs plus electricity deregulation are projected to increase the cost of natural gas and coal-fired electricity. Wind and solar energy, however, are GÇ£freeGÇ¥ fuels, and therefore are immune to the fluctuations that are causing coal and natural gas prices to rise. In some states such as Colorado and Texas, wind energy is already cheaper than energy from fossil fuels and has proven to save businesses and residents millions of dollars.
4. Improve Public Health and Curb the Effects of Global Warming: Wind, solar and biomass power produce few to none of the harmful pollution associated with coal-fired power plants. EPA's own consultants estimate that fine particle pollution from power plants shortens the lives of about 989 Virginians each year. Fine particle pollution from power plants also causes 140,620 lost work days, 895 hospitalizations and 23,736 asthma attacks every year, 1,094 of which are so severe they require emergency room visits.
These power plants also produce nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to our streams and waterways; sulfur dioxide, which causes asthma; mercury, which causes developmental disorders in children; and carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.
With over 3,000 miles of tidal shoreline, Virginia is one of the most vulnerable states to the impacts of global warming and sea level rise. Intense hurricanes caused by global warming could also reek havoc on the Commonwealth, causing destruction of homes, businesses and the agricultural sector. Virginia needs to address global warming concerns by moving in the direction of a clean energy future.
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Virginia's clean energy future starts with a renewable energy standard. Please contact the following legislators and let's at least get this bill into committee.
Senator Tommy Norment (Williamsburg): Chair: (757) 259-7810 district03@sov.state.va.us
Senator John Watkins (Midlothian): (804) 379-2063 jnwatkins@aol.com
Senator Kenneth Stolle (Virginia Beach): (757) 486-5700 vasenate08@kenstolle.com
Senator Richard Saslaw (Springfield): (703) 978-0200 vasenate35@aol.com
Delegate Terry Kilgore (Gate City): (276) 386-7701 DelTKilgore@house.state.va.us
Delegate Robert Tata (Virginia Beach): (757) 340-3510 DelBTata@house.state.va.us
Delegate Allen Dudley (Rocky Mount): (540) 489-8989 DelADudley@house.state.va.us
Delegate Kenneth Plum (Reston): (703) 758-9733 DelKPlum@house.state.va.us
Delegate James Scott (Merrifield): (703)560-8338 DelJScott@house.state.va.us
Delegate Clark Hogan (South Boston): (434)575-0000 DelCHogan@house.state.va.us
* Sen. Whipple's bill SB278 was prefiled and ordered printed on 1/10/06. On 2/13/06 it was continued to 2007 in Commerce and Labor. SB278 as it stood in 2006 required 20% generated from renewable energy source by 2015/2016.