Press Release

Lieutenant Governor Bolling Encourages Governor Kaine to Sign Virginia Energy Bill

Randy Marcus
804-786-2078 or 804-814-7117 (cell)
randy.marcus@governor.virginia.gov

Monday, March 20, 2006

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 can be viewed here.

For additional information contact Randy Marcus at 804-786-2078 or 804-814-7117 (cell) or randy.marcus@governor.virginia.gov.