Virginia is Blazing a Green Trail
By Governor
Timothy M. Kaine
Richmond Times-Dispatch
April 22, 2009
Virginia has been blessed with an unsurpassed treasure of natural resources and beauty, and it is the responsibility of each Virginian to ensure that future generations will enjoy the treasures we have enjoyed for more than 400 years. On Earth Day 2009, I am encouraged to see that more and more Virginians are awakening to the fact that sustainable economic development, and the cultivation of a “green economy,” will enhance not only the Commonwealth’s mountains and rivers, but its bottom line and continued economic viability. There is common ground to be found between environmental leaders and business leaders, and my administration will continue to develop a strong and healthy environment and economy.
Virginians have never been content to sit on the sidelines and let others test the waters. We are a people of bold action and enjoy a well-earned reputation as leaders. The economy of the 21st century will be defined by a transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy, as well as improved efficiency and reduced consumption. With our superlative network of colleges and universities, our agricultural, coastal and mountain resources, and our well educated workforce, Virginia will continue to be a leader in the coming green economy.
In December 2008, I launched my Renew Virginia initiative, a series of legislative and executive actions to make Virginia a leader in energy conservation and efficiency and protecting the environment. As part of the Renew Virginia initiative, we are recruiting green businesses, improving energy efficiency in state buildings, investing aggressively in Chesapeake Bay cleanup, and I have used my position as chair of the Southern Governor’s Association to create a dialogue within the Southern states on the regional impacts of climate change, and regional assets for the development of green energy businesses. We also are on track to preserve 400,000 acres of open space in the Commonwealth before the end of my term in January. In fact, as of today we have preserved more than 325,000 acres.
In the 2009 Legislative Session, I was proud to put my signature on a number of bills that advance my Renew Virginia initiative. Virginia’s regulatory structure has been adjusted to encourage generation through renewable and cleaner methods, our biofuel producers now have incentives to use crops that don’t compete with our food sources, and customers that self-generate green energy can sell the surplus energy back to the electrical grid at an enhanced rate.
I have worked to ensure that businesses in Virginia operate in a manner that is respectful of the environment. There is no inherent conflict between operating a profitable business, and respecting the environment. In 2008, the EPA sought to eliminate the “stream buffer rule,” a move that would have encouraged the highly destructive practice of mountaintop removal mining. I did not think weakening this regulation was a good idea and decided to maintain the stream buffer rule in Virginia. I have been encouraged by recent actions of the EPA’s new leadership, who have signaled their opposition to eliminating the rule, and taken steps to halt the issuance of permits.
Business leaders and environmental leaders should be natural allies, as improved efficiency and reduced consumption lowers costs for businesses and reduces environmental impact. As we pause on Earth Day 2009 to consider how much progress has been made and how much is still to come, I pledge that I will continue to use all the tools of the executive office to preserve the natural beauty of the Commonwealth, while positioning Virginia for economic success in the 21st century.