Kaine Touts 'All of the Above' Energy Approach While Allen Ridicules Clean Energy
Richmond, VA—As Governor Tim Kaine begins his "Energy Week" tour of Virginia facilities that generate power and jobs using both traditional and renewable forms of energy, it's worth remembering the clear contrast between Kaine and his opponent former Senator George Allen on clean energy and the jobs that come with it.
While Kaine stands for a balanced energy approach that leverages all of our American resources to power our economy and create jobs, Allen remains intent on shelling out billions in taxpayer dollars to big oil companies that don't need the help, while ridiculing new clean energy technologies.
In the Senate Allen voted to protect tax breaks for big oil companies while opposing legislation that would foster our country's clean energy economy. He has recently ridiculed research and development for wind and solar power despite the promise they hold to increase our energy independence and create 21st century jobs. And he continues to denigrate efforts to develop wind energy in Virginia even as Republicans like Governor Bob McDonnell support them.
Allen spends a lot of time talking about his support for energy, but time and again he has made it clear that he would continue to shell out tax handouts for highly profitable energy companies that don't need them while standing in the way of 21st century technologies that will increase our energy independence and create jobs along the way.
Virginians deserve better than a Senator who will leave clean energy and good jobs on the table just to protect his personal political agenda.
Background:
Washington Post: Allen Voted Against Fostering Alternative Sources Of Energy. The Washington Post reported, "As senator, [Allen] voted for tax breaks to oil and coal companies and against fostering alternative sources, including solar and wind, because he said they were not dependable." [Washington Post, 9/25/11]
2011: Allen Op-Ed Ridiculed Democrats For Pushing R&D For Clean Energy, Said Wind And Solar Is "Costly And Years Away - If Ever - From Widespread Use." In a April 2011 op-ed in the Washington Examiner, George Allen criticized President Obama "and his liberal allies in Washington" for pushing clean-energy technology and launching a "full-scale assault on conventional fuels." Allen wrote: "In answering a college student's question about high gas prices last week at Northern Virginia Community College, President Obama told Americans he believes the only real way to reduce our energy costs is to spend money on research and development of clean-energy technology. Sadly, the president and his liberal allies in Washington seem more concerned about tilting at intermittent, expensive windmills and throwing up bureaucratic roadblocks to using our American resources than the crippling impact of high energy costs. [W]ind and solar power technologies remain costly and years away - if ever - from widespread use, despite the tens of billions the U.S. Department of Energy has spent on renewable energy technologies since 1978, when Jimmy Carter was in the White House." [Allen Op-Ed, Washington Examiner, 4/26/11]
Allen Promoted Coal, Oil, And Natural Gas Over Alternatives Because "The Sun Doesn't Shine All The Time; The Wind Doesn't Blow All The Time." In June 2009, the Virginian-Pilot reported, "Former Gov. and U.S. Sen. George Allen launched the American Energy Freedom Center last week to promote coal, oil and natural gas as the best solutions to the world's energy problems. He said solar and wind energy are less dependable because 'The sun doesn't shine all the time; the wind doesn't blow all the time.'" [Virginian-Pilot, 6/13/09]
Roanoke Times Editorial: "Allen Dismisses Wind And Solar." A May 2011 Roanoke Times editorial criticized George Allen's energy proposals. The Times opined: "Allen dismisses wind and solar as 'costly and years away.'" [Editorial, Roanoke Times, 5/8/11]
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