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Virginia's 2009 Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates (Click here to view responses from Virginia's 2009 Republican Gubernatorial Candidate.)
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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| Introductory Statement of the Candidate |
From my experiences growing up on a farm, to being a ranger at Douthat State Park, to my fight to clean up the Kim-Stan Landfill, I am passionate about enjoying and preserving Virginia’s environment. I have taught my children and focused legislative efforts on promoting good stewardship of our natural resources and our need to address the fundamental moral issue of our generation: the pollution of our air and water and destruction of our climate.
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We need to protect our environment and make the investments in clean energy that represent the future for Virginia. The strategic investments we make right now in the clean energy sector will create thousands of good jobs for Virginians and help to reverse the harmful effects of climate change. I’ve spent my life building businesses, turning around struggling ones, and volunteering for the Democratic causes that I believe in. I am confident that we can do right by the environment and position Virginia for future economic success, but it will take strong leadership and bold ideas that don’t always come from Richmond. And I believe we need to start planning now. My Business Plan for Virginia contains incentives for renewable power generation, investments in efficiency measures, and other demand-reducing technologies, including incentives for innovative clean technologies that produce energy from biomass, such as chicken waste.
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My Green Virginia Plan will fight global warming,
protect our precious natural resources, and create tens of thousands
of green jobs. I believe we must invest in energy efficiency,
renewables, and innovation in energy technology. We can’t solve 21st
century challenges with 19th
century fossil fuels. I am the only candidate
for governor to oppose offshore drilling and the proposed coal
mega-plant in Surry County.
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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What Measures Would You Promote to Address
Climate Change in Virginia?
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As a member of Gov. Kaine’s Climate Change commission, I have endorsed the many measures undertaken through our work. I believe we must promote conservation as well as be on the cutting edge of technology development to address climate change. I successfully fought to require all new and renovated state-owned facilities meet LEED standards. As Governor, I will establish a bold new collaborative effort between our research institutions that will harness our natural resources to improve upon existing technologies and develop new ones to reduce Virginia's dependence on foreign oil and other fossil fuels. |
We need to take aggressive action to combat climate change. Not only is it the right thing to do by our environment—failing to act will have devastating economic consequences, especially for Virginia’s coastal communities. A necessary first step is to institute a mandatory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 25% by 2025, which would make Virginia’s RPS competitive with other states in the region. I was the first candidate for Governor to call for such a mandatory standard. |
I have the boldest plan to address climate change and preserve our environment for the next generation. I was the first candidate for governor to support a 25% mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2025, requiring a quarter of our energy come from renewable sources. I am the only candidate for governor who has called for electric decoupling, because we should be compensating utilities for increasing efficiency, not just more generation. Finally, I fought in the legislature for Green buildings and I am the only candidate committed to all new state buildings to be built to LEED green building standards. |
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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What Changes in Transportation and Land Use
Policy would you Propose to Promote Smarter Growth and Prevent
Sprawl Development?
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In 1999, I wrote and passed Virginia's land preservation tax credit program-one of the most progressive environmental protection laws in the country. Since its passage, more than 100,000 acres have been preserved. I continue to push for legislation I introduced during the 2008 special session on transportation to encourage telecommuting, flextime and alternative transportation to ease congestion. And I will look forward to integrate land use and transportation policy, and promote mass transit and rail.
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As Governor, I will encourage smarter growth and
responsible land use. As we address our transportation problems, we
need to shift the focus to more efficient ways of moving people and
goods, like high-speed passenger rail from Northern Virginia to
Richmond and Hampton Roads, light rail in our local communities,
freight rail along the I-81 corridor, and other intermodal
transport.
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We must focus on smart growth, creating livable communities and reduce the number of cars on our roads. I support high-speed rail, increasing mass transit and passenger rail and developing density around mass transit through transit-oriented development. I will increase land conservation by incentivizing urban redevelopment and expanding the Land Preservation Tax Credit.
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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What Policies Would you Implement to Reverse the
Declining Health of the Chesapeake Bay?
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Implementation of Climate Change commission recommendations will assist with improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay. As a legislator, I have supported any idea that increases the success of cleaning up the Bay. I have supported increasing penalties on polluters as well as finding additional sources of revenue to support Bay cleanup. As governor, I will continue to be an advocate for accelerating Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
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The Chesapeake Bay is one of our most precious
natural resources. As Governor, I will work with the Obama
administration and our neighboring states to set short-term,
reachable goals to protect the Bay. We can also do more by
supporting win-win technologies that reduce nutrient runoff from
poultry manure and create economic value.
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I will make protecting the Bay a priority. The first step is stopping the proposed coal mega-plant in Surry County, which would dump thousands of tons of pollutants into the Bay and its tributaries. These pollutants, and the destruction of wetlands necessary to construct the Surry Plant, would further devastate the Bay. I stand alone among the candidates in opposition to the Surry Plant. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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What is your Position on each of these energy
policy issues facing Virginia?
1. New Coal Fired Power Plants in Virginia: |
I believe in the goal to rid our society of the dependence upon
fossil fuels and have fought to incentivize businesses to create and
consumers to use any number of alternative energy sources. I also
believe we must be realistic about the sources of energy available
to our generation of consumers. I support continued research and
development of carbon sequestration technology.
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Virginia should focus on reducing demand for energy and investing
in clean, renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar, before
building new coal-fired power plants or nuclear facilities.
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I am the only candidate to oppose the proposed coal mega-plant in Surry County. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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2. New Nuclear Reactors in Virginia:
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SUPPORT
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(same response as above)
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My Green Virginia Plan does not include nuclear energy and I don’t believe it should be our primary focus. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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3. Drilling for Oil and Gas off the Virginia
Coast:
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I believe that drilling for oil and gas off Virginia’s shores should only be done if it can be done without negative impact to the environment and if Virginia receives financial compensation.
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I support Virginia’s current bipartisan policy of exploratory
drilling for natural gas only.
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I am the only candidate to oppose offshore drilling. While some claim to be against drilling for oil, but support drilling for gas, there is no practical distinction between the two. There is no known way to exclusively drill for gas.
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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4. Uranium Mining in Virginia:
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I have supported a responsible and updated study of the issues surrounding uranium mining, but I remain skeptical that the vast uranium sources in Virginia could be mined safely.
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I will not support mining for uranium if doing so poses
significant health or safety risks. I look forward to reviewing the
results of the scientific study ordered by the General Assembly
subcommittee.
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I do not support uranium mining unless it is found to be absolutely safe. This requires an independently-funded and conducted study. Unlike my opponents, I do not believe that industry funded studies are credible. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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5. Renewable Energy:
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I support this and speak about it extensively on the campaign trail.
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I want Virginia to be a national leader in developing renewable
technologies. I will make a top priority of my administration to
attract clean energy companies to Virginia and to encourage
communities and individuals to invest in renewable energy.
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I was the first candidate to call for a 25% mandatory RPS by 2025, to produce a quarter of our energy needs from renewable sources. I have proposed creating a Center for Innovative Green Technology to provide funding for green energy companies and Energy Technology Parks to spur innovation. I support revolving loan funds and renewable energy tax credits to strengthen the green energy economy. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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6. The PATH and TRAIL transmission lines in Northern Virginia:
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OPPOSE | We should invest in efficiency and renewable energy in order to eliminate the need for divisive fights over large transmission lines. | We should look at energy efficiency first before than increasing production and building more transmission lines. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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7. Mountaintop Removal:
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I am very concerned about the environmental impact of
steep slope mining and have always supported requirements to return
steep slopes to their original shape upon completion of coal
removal.
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I have serious concerns about the environmental impacts of
mountaintop removal of coal.
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I support President Obama’s decision to review these permits to evaluate the impact of mountaintop removal on our rivers and streams. | |||
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R. Creigh Deeds |
Terence R. McAuliffe |
Brian J. Moran |
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| Contact Information: |
214 Ridge St Charlottesville 22902 804-355-5511
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PO Box 778 Mc Lean 22101 (703) 675-5501
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4154 Duke St Alexandria 22304 703-370-2890
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