Moran Takes Lead on Enviornment

Moran Announces Support for Bold Renewable Energy Initiative: 25% by ‘25

~ Bold Call for Renewable Energy Standard is the Most of Any Candidate ~

~Make Va. a National Leader in Fighting Global Warming and Creating Green Jobs~

 

ALEXANDRIA – Today, Brian Moran announced his support for a mandatory commitment to renewable and alternative energy to create thousands of jobs across the Commonwealth. The announcement is a preview of his campaign’s energy and environmental plan which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Virginia currently has a voluntary goal reaching 12% of Virginia’s energy from renewable resources and Moran’s bold plan will more than double the current standard and make it mandatory – he is calling for a 25% mandatory standard by 2025, making a quarter of our energy from renewable sources. 

Virginia can be a leader in the area of renewable energy, and Moran’s bold proposal will put Virginia in the top ten states nationally. Moran’s plan is the boldest of any candidate for Governor.

Governor Kaine’s Climate Change Commission has called for an increase from the current voluntary 12% Renewable Portfolio Standard (SB1416, 2007) to 15%. Recently, candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe called for making the existing 12% standard mandatory (Gubernatorial hopeful touts renewable energy sources, “Danville Register and Bee,” 1/9/2009). Moran’s plan is the most progressive of any of the candidates for governor and echoes President-elect Obama, who has called for a nationwide 25% mandatory standard by 2025.

“I have proposed a bold step, which will make Virginia a leader in renewable energy,” Moran said. “The next governor needs to be looking toward the future and creating an environment which will attract good high-paying green jobs, and help Virginia grow in the green economy. My commitment to our environment and our economy is too strong to do anything less.”

Sources of renewable energy that can meet this commitment include solar, wind, energy efficiency, geothermal, hydropower, wave, tidal, waste to energy, and biomass. Currently, 28 states have mandatory RPS standards according to the Pew Charitable Trust. Five others, including Virginia, have voluntary standards.  Seven states have 25% RPS (Ill., Minn., N.H., N.Y., Ohio, Ore. and Vt.), while Connecticut is at 27% and Maine at 30%. Moran supports an RPS of 20% by 2020 on the way to his goal.

Moran presented his approach to environmental issues in a September, 2008 speech, in which Moran said “We must reject the false choice between growing our economy and protecting our environment. We can create jobs by investing in a 21st century energy economy.” Link to full speech text: 

Brian Moran has been repeatedly named a Legislative Hero by the League of Conservation Voters. In the General Assembly, he worked for new energy efficiency standards and incentives for renewable energy production.

Comments

[Baffled Democrat]

Yet another instance of the Moran campaign responding, and playing secnd fiddle, to the McAuliffe campaign. Just two days ago, Terry was promising a mandatory RPS. Bravo.

[Hokie Guru]

This is good news for the State. I like seeing us debate on these terms.

[notlarrysabato]

Baffled Dem, I think Terry promised a mandatory RPS of 12%. Moran has raised him to 25%.

Let's hope Terry or Creigh takes this opportunity to go all in for 100%

Awful lot of typos in that press release.

[t]

Good plan from a bad candidate.

[Brian Come Lately?]

Did Moran cosponsor SB 446, which called for renewable standards last year?

[AnonDem]

Moran's HB1195 Establishes Green Buildings Act from 2008. Unfortunately, it was left in General Laws.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+sum+HB1195

[SE VA MWC Alum]

I like this plan because it is ambitious. However I am not sure that mandatory for that much is the best option. Some form of voluntary "plus" with incentives for utility companies who beat the goals or a blend of mandatory (up to 15%) with voluntary plus above that (to 25 or 30%) may be better. We should set higher goals still for 2035.

[Sven]

The plan will be ridiculed as infeasible by people who don't want it to happen.

The plan is bold, ambitious, and in all likelihood, if implemented, would fall a little short.

But that is the type of plan we need for this sort of thing. Something that dares and challenges us. If we can't reach 25%, and we fail and only reach 20%... that is still a great triumph. Aim high.

[Church Hill Dem]

I love Brian to bits and pieces, but it's a lot easier to support a mandatory 25% RPS when you don't have to vote on it.

[kelley in virginia]

if this doesn't defeat him, i don't know what will.

We're all going to get rich selling wind mills to each other.