Virginia jobs of the future are in clean energy manufacturing

October 25, 2012

The Washington Post reports, "George Allen, the Republican fighting Democrat Tim Kaine in Virginia's closely watched battle for the U.S. Senate, caught some unexpected flak Wednesday over his energy policy in the form of friendly fire from a Republican congressman in Maryland. During a campaign stop in Gaithersburg on Wednesday, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, who is in a tough election fight of his own in Maryland's 6th congressional district, was waxing passionately about the need to move the country beyond fossil fuels. Sometimes members of his own party don't seem to understand how critical the need is to push toward new, renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources, Bartlett said."

Progressive Point: Virginia needs leaders who work for the people who elected them, not the fossil fuel lobbyists bankrolling campaigns. George Allen stands with coal and Big Oil against clean energy jobs but that won't bring down gas prices or put Virginians back to work.

The middle class jobs of the future are in clean energy manufacturing. We need to create these jobs now to stay competitive with countries like China. Fossil fuel company CEOs don't need any extra help from taxpayers and George Allen. The best way to lower gas prices is to reduce our dependence on oil by developing clean, safe sources of energy that will create American jobs and never run out. It's time we start exporting energy, not jobs. Let's put Americans back to work building wind turbines, solar panels, and energy-efficient products that say "Made in America."

Get the Facts:

• Offshore wind could create up to 10,000 jobs in Virginia according to a study cited by Delegate Joseph Morrissey and 13 fellow state legislators. (The Virginian-Pilot, May 8, 2012)


• "Wind power advocates have said Virginia is uniquely positioned to nurture the industry because of the relatively shallow waters offshore and strong winds. It also has the coastal infrastructure - a shipbuilding industry and a deepwater port - to allow for building and delivering turbines." (Associated Press, October 10, 2012)


• "Clean energy is the fastest growing industry in the U.S. today. Developing new clean energy technologies like wind and solar could support 20 million jobs by 2030 and trillions of dollars in revenue." (Media Matters)


• President Obama supports renewing tax incentives for new wind project while Mitt Romney opposes them. Despite wind energy's huge potential for Virginia jobs, Bob McDonnell has not taken a position on the issue because of the election. (Virginian-Pilot, October 10, 2012)

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