Blog Archives
Why Energy Matters?
The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently launched a new initiative, Vote 4 Energy, which will focus on why energy issues should concern many voters during the 2012 elections. According to API, this is not a partisan issue, rather energy is an issue that should concern many Americans, as it impacts the economy and job development for the future.
Below is a video featuring Tom of Virginia Right:
Energy is an important issue. With the potential rise in fuel prices, there is no doubt that something needs to be done to utilize our own resources to help curb our reliance on foreign oil.
Obama Administration Blocks Offshore Drilling
Go figure!
The Obama Administration decided yesterday to block drilling and exploration off the coasts of the Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. This is a major blow to economic development and will result in lost job opportunities, especially here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This also deals a major blow to energy independence.
Governor Bob McDonnell has been working tirelessly to get the Obama Administration to include Virginia in the lease sale.
“I am extremely disappointed that the Obama Administration has unilaterally blocked environmentally responsible, and economically crucial, offshore energy exploration and development in Virginia, along the Atlantic Coast and throughout other broad swaths of offshore territory nationwide. This is an irresponsible and short-sighted decision. It demonstrates a complete lack of confidence in the entrepreneurial spirit of American industry and its ability to fix the problems experienced in the Gulf spill, and no confidence in the ability of the U.S. government to better plan for and react to offshore emergencies. I personally relayed this message to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar during our phone conversation shortly before the announcement was made today.This decision comes in the midst of one of the toughest economies in our history. The cost of today’s decision will be seen in major lost job opportunities, surrendered economic growth, and increased dependence on foreign sources of energy, from nations often hostile to American interests.
Advances in technology continue to make offshore energy production more cost effective and safe. Instead of using that technology to produce more energy in a responsible manner here at home, this Administration apparently prefers that we continue to depend more and more on oil from other nations and foreign cartels with far-less stringent environmental regulations and policies. Further, the Administration’s policy of permitting thousands of oil and gas platforms in the Gulf and Alaska, but none off the Atlantic Coast, makes no sense. Punishing an entire industry because of the actions of one company is not good policy.
Virginians support the development of our offshore resources. They know that it would mean thousands of good paying jobs in our Commonwealth and billions in economic impact. Now, the White House has said no to that progress. They have closed the door on an industry poised to breathe new life into our economy and improve American security. This decision calls into serious question the priorities and focus of the Obama Administration. Americans want new jobs created, our economy improved, and more reliable sources of domestic energy utilized. I strongly urge the White House to reconsider this decision. We now look to our US. Senators and Congressmen, who will be playing significant leadership roles in the new Congress, to work on a legislative fix of this decision in order for Virginia to move forward on domestic energy production off our coast, and the creation of thousands of new jobs that will come with it. Left to stand, this policy will have a real, negative impact on the people of our state and this nation. It is the wrong decision at the wrong time.”
Emphasizing the negative impact that this would have on job creation and economic development, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling released the following statement.
“I am very disappointed that the Obama Administration has refused to move forward with the responsible development of our nation’s offshore energy resources. This is a baseless, misguided and short-sighted decision that will leave our nation dependent on foreign sources of energy, leave significant economic benefits associated with offshore energy development unrealized in Virginia and deny the creation of thousands of new jobs for Virginians.
“Governor McDonnell and I continue to support the responsible development of Virginia’s offshore energy resources. We believe that this can be done safely, and we know that development of these resources will help our country achieve a greater degree of energy security, while helping Virginia achieve a greater degree of economic security, including billions of dollars in capital investment, thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue.
“Unfortunately, as a result of the President’s unjustified decision, these considerable resources will remain unutilized and our over-dependence on foreign sources of energy will continue. This is another example of the Obama Administration pursuing anti-business policies that will perpetuate our current economic malaise.”
Americans for Prosperity-Virginia State Director Ben Marchi also released a statement calling the Obama Administration out for their decision that would have drastic economic effects across the nation and the Commonwealth.
“This excessive, sweeping and unnecessary move by the Obama Administration is nothing short of a kneejerk reaction that will have lasting repercussions on the economy of Virginia, potential job creation and the nation at large.
“Such a categorical action during an economic downturn denies the uniquely American ability to solve problems and formulate effective methods to overcome obstacles. By this action, President Obama is eliminating the possibility of creating thousands of jobs in Virginia and elsewhere. He has also cemented – at least for the foreseeable future – America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy while we have untapped resources here within reach on our own shores.
“This is an issue of national economic security, and we are deeply disappointed in President Obama’s actions. Now is the time for our members of Congress, including our two U.S. Senators, to express opposition to this shortsighted policy.”
I guess there is one thing that you can say about the Obama Administration. They really do know how to kill the economy and force complete dependence on government.
Americans Are Asking “Where are the Jobs?”
Guest Post by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)
Just two weeks ago the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest unemployment numbers and once again it was more bad news. The national unemployment rate is at 9.6 percent, with 95,000 jobs lost in the month of September alone. With joblessness topping 9.5 percent for the past fourteen months in a row, it is the longest such stretch since the Great Depression. Despite this alarming announcement, the Congress continues to pursue an agenda that will further threaten the American economy. While Americans are asking “Where are the jobs?,” the Majority in Congress continues to demonstrate that they do not appreciate how private sector jobs are created.
Twenty months ago President Obama signed into law the trillion dollar “stimulus” bill on the promise that it would create jobs immediately and keep unemployment below eight percent. The “stimulus” bill has failed to create robust private sector jobs. It certainly proves that the Democrats policies of higher taxes, runaway spending, government takeovers and record debt are having a chilling effect on the nation’ s small businesses, the economic engine of our economy.
I am committed to finding real solutions to address our nation’ s unemployment crisis. The first thing we must do is remove barriers to employment including the threat of higher taxes, new government regulations and costly mandates. It is common-sense that you should not raise costs and taxes on employers at a time when unemployment is at record levels. By stopping the looming tax increases it would allow working families to keep more money in their pockets, encourage investment and provide financial relief for America’ s small businesses. It would also provide immediate certainty for American job creators so they can hire new workers with the confidence that a higher tax bill is not on the way.
In addition, we must restore confidence in America’ s economic future by restraining federal spending. This would allow banks who are financing the debt to invest in more productive activities, like small business growth to help turn our economy around. Other common-sense solutions for job-growth including reforming the unemployment system to help those out of work find jobs, increasing the education and training of our workforce, and removing unnecessary barriers to domestic energy production. Energy independence by itself could create millions of American jobs with a national goal of reaching energy independence from foreign oil.
The American people want to see an end to the economic uncertainty and a plan to create jobs. Congress must abandon its job-killing, tax-and-spend policies and instead focus on real solutions that will grow our economy, create jobs and get Americans back to work.
To contact me about this or any other matter, please visit my website at www.goodlatte.house.gov.
Politics as usual for the Obama Administration
There have been a lot of references within the blogosphere and mainstream media recently comparing the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as President Barack Obama’s “Hurricane Katrina.” Why would such an analogy be posed? Well, take a look at today’s editorial in The Washington Examiner (reminder: the language in the editorial is a little salty) into why this crisis is being mismanaged by the Obama Administration.
An angry, frustrated President Obama reportedly exhorted aides to just “plug the damn hole” a week after the crude oil and natural gas began blowing out of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well a mile below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s a better piece of advice for Obama, his aides, and everybody else in Washington dealing with what is rapidly becoming the worst environmental disaster in American history: Stop the damn politics, quit pointing fingers, and focus on finding a solution. Nothing else matters until the well is capped. What has been desperately needed from the beginning of this tragedy is leadership. What we’ve gotten instead from the White House has been blame shifting, bureaucratic gamesmanship, and political opportunism.
This is great advice. Instead of playing politics and ahem…attending political fundraisers or vacationing in Chicago.
Now, the ramifications are being passed down to other offshore drilling sites. Recently, President Obama canceling the sale of the coast line off Virginia. This decision has been met with unfavorable reactions. Governor Bob McDonnell released this statement regarding the cancellation of the sale.
It is my hope that the President’s action does not signal the end of offshore energy exploration and production off Virginia in the years ahead. Once we have learned the lessons from this tragic accident, and made the necessary changes and improvements in the offshore industry and government oversight, we should move forward with environmentally responsible domestic offshore energy production for oil and natural gas. This nation needs more domestic energy production. If we decrease the amount of energy produced here in the United States, we will only increase the amount of energy we must import from overseas. We must have the foresight and objectivity to not let this tragic accident cripple our ability to increase energy production in the United States. That would be a tragedy in its own right.
Just as Americans did not quit or retreat from innovation after tragedies in space exploration, so must we learn, change and persevere in advancing energy independence by using all our natural resources. The spirit of American progress is to overcome adversity and conquer obstacles, not quit and accept failure. Our nation needs domestic energy production and the jobs and security that come with it. I am a strong proponent of a comprehensive energy policy for Virginia and America. We should greatly increase our domestic production and utilization of all energy sources. That includes offshore and onshore wind, coal, solar, nuclear, biofuels, waste to energy, natural gas and, with the appropriate improvements in the industry incorporated moving forward, offshore oil and gas. I have great confidence in American ingenuity, intelligence and innovation, and our ability to properly and reasonably move forward following this major setback.”
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling also released a statement saying:
“I am extremely disappointed that President Obama has chosen to cancel the Virginia lease sale for offshore energy exploration that was scheduled for 2012. While I certainly agree that we need to learn from the accident that recently occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and take additional steps to minimize the chance of an incident of this nature occurring again, I remain convinced that offshore energy development can occur safely and I do not believe that we should abandon or postpone responsible efforts to develop our offshore energy resources.
“Proceeding with this lease sale would enable our country to achieve a greater degree of energy security, while enabling Virginia to achieve a greater degree of economic security. The President’s decision will deprive Virginia of the economic resources and jobs that could be created as a result of offshore energy development, resources that are needed to help address critical needs like transportation; and it will keep our country dependent on foreign nations for large amounts of our energy resources. I do not believe that this is the right policy for our country, and I will continue to work to advance the exploration and development of Virginia’s offshore energy resources at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Perhaps, it is time for President Obama to quit playing the politics card and actually display true leadership.
Accessing Energy and Creating Jobs for Virginians
Guest Post by Congressman Bob Goodlatte
For many years the Commonwealth of Virginia has seriously been considering the potential positive impact that oil and gas exploration off Virginia’s coast would have on our state. Just two years ago, it seemed that Virginia would be able to take this first step toward energy independence, when Congress removed the hurdles that had previously blocked access to the energy resources located on the Outer Continental Shelf, also known as the OCS. However, since that point, Virginia has been confronted with a series of regulatory road blocks despite the strong support for a VA lease sale to begin OCS development by the Virginia Congressional Delegation, the Governor, the Virginia General Assembly, and the citizens of Virginia.
For this reason, I recently introduced legislation, with the support of a bipartisan group of Members of Congress from Virginia, that requires the Department of Interior, at the request of Virginia’s governor, to proceed with the Virginia lease sale no later than one year after passage of this legislation. My legislation, the ‘Virginia Access to Energy Act’ will remove any regulatory hurdles that may impede development and create a path for Virginia to become ‘the Energy Capital of the East Coast.’
In addition to setting Virginia on the path to energy independence, passage of my legislation and development of VA’s OCS will significantly boost the economy of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In fact, some estimates have shown that development of Virginia’s OCS will create over 2,500 full-time equivalent positions on an annual basis, induce capital investment of $7.8 billion, yield nearly $645 million in direct and indirect payroll, and result in over $270 million in state and local taxes.
While exploration activities alone will infuse the Virginia economy with a significant amount of new capital, this legislation will also authorize any qualified revenues generated by the lease sales to be shared between the federal government and the Commonwealth of Virginia for such things as federal deficit reduction, and various state projects including education, transportation, tax reductions, coastal and environmental restoration, energy infrastructure and projects, alternative energy development, and energy efficiency and conservation.
Virginians understand that a major component in lessening energy costs is to produce more energy. My legislation, the Virginia Access to Energy Act, is an important component to any long-term strategy to reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Most importantly the legislation ensures that Virginia has every tool available to access its energy supplies, while at the same time creating thousands of jobs for Virginians and infusing the Commonwealth with new capital growth.
To contact me about this or any other matter, please visit my website at www.goodlatte.house.gov.
Obama Allows Offshore Drilling in Virginia
President Obama cleared the way for offshore drilling off America’s coastlines today. This will also allow for the sales two years from now. According to The Washington Post, Obama said:
“Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth and produce jobs and keep our businesses competitive, we’re going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy,” Obama said. “So today we’re announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration — but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America’s natural resources.”
We can thank the hard work of Governor Bob McDonnell, both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators, and some members of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation for taking leadership on this issue.
McDonnell released the following statement upon learning of Obama’s decision.
“I thank the President and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for ensuring Virginia will be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce energy offshore. The President’s decision to allow energy exploration off Virginia’s coast will mean thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions in new state revenue and tens of billions of dollars in economic impact for the Commonwealth. It will also help our nation take a further step towards energy independence. Environmentally-safe offshore energy exploration and production is good for Virginia workers, the Virginia economy and national security. Just this session the General Assembly passed, with bipartisan support, legislation I requested to authorize offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling and to allocate 80% of revenues to transportation and 20% to green energy research and development.
The effort to ensure that Virginia stayed on track to hold an offshore lease sale as expeditiously as possible has been a bipartisan one at the federal level as well. I want to specifically thank Senator Mark Warner, Senator Jim Webb and Congressman Eric Cantor for their leadership and advocacy on the issue. I also want to thank all the Republicans and Democrats in our Congressional delegation who have strongly advocated for offshore energy production.
With today’s announcement, oil and gas can be produced in an environmentally-safe manner 50 miles off Virginia’s coast. Virginians will benefit from the thousands of jobs that will be created and the economic activity and development that will accompany this vital industry’s arrival in the state. However, to fully participate in the positive impact of offshore energy development, the Commonwealth must be included in all royalty and revenue sharing arrangements, in a manner equivalent to what the Gulf Coast states currently receive. Congressman Bob Goodlatte has already introduced legislation, with bipartisan support, to ensure revenue sharing. I urge our federal representatives to immediately move forward in ensuring Virginia receives our fair share of the revenues derived from our natural resources. I am confident that the United States Congress will act appropriately and expeditiously to ensure this occurs.
Offshore energy production is one part of an “all of the above” approach to ensuring energy security. It is an important component of the comprehensive energy policy that we must enact to move towards greater domestic energy security. We will also do more in Virginia to promote and produce other sources of energy in our borders, including wind, solar, biomass, coal and nuclear. Today’s announcement means future new jobs for Virginians and much-needed revenue for our Commonwealth. Again, I applaud the President for his decision, and thank all the Virginia leaders from both parties who have worked together to make this announcement possible.”
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling also made a statement regarding the decision saying:
“Today’s decision is a significant next step in making Virginia the ‘Energy Capital of the East Coast’ and will help spur our economic recovery. It will also help Virginia address the need for improved transportation infrastructure, create thousands of new jobs and bring in hundreds of millions in desperately needed revenue for Virginia. I am confident that our offshore energy resources will become a critical economic development tool for Virginia as we move forward.
“I would like to thank President Barack Obama and Secretary Ken Salazar for allowing Virginia to move forward with the 2012 lease sale and become the first state on the East Coast to explore for and ultimately produce offshore oil and natural resources. This decision will help bring the nation closer to energy independence and provide a significant economic development and job creation boost to Virginia.
“I want to congratulate Governor McDonnell and our federal partners in the Senate and House of Representatives on their successful and tireless efforts to encourage the Obama Administration to allow the lease sale to move forward. While I am a long-time supporter of developing our offshore energy resources and active advocate to the Obama Administration to keep Virginia in the 2012 lease sale, Virginia was ultimately successful because of broad bi-partisan support from our elected officials, businesses and citizens.
“Lastly, I would like to thank Governor McDonnell, the General Assembly and other stakeholder groups for working to pass legislation in support of Virginia’s offshore energy exploration. The legislative authorizations passed this session set the stage for the development of these resources and will help Virginia address a number of critical challenges in the future.”
RPV Chairman Pat Mullins said:
“President Obama’s announcement on offshore drilling is a victory for the Commonwealth and the entire country,” Mullins said.
“For the first time in decades, we will be able to tap the massive reserves of energy just over the horizon, lessening our dependence of foreign oil,” he said. “Exploration will also bring new, high-paying jobs to our economy, and will eventually bolster our transportation system with royalties from drilling.”
“Today’s announcement wouldn’t have happened without the leadership of Governor Bob McDonnell and a bipartisan majority in the Virginia General Assembly. While past governors have opposed drilling, Governor McDonnell pushed forward, letting Washington, D.C., know in no uncertain terms that Virginia was ready to become the Energy Capital of the East Coast,” Mullins said.
“Earlier this year, while some opponents in the Virginia Senate said offshore drilling was a ‘fantasy’ and ‘a train going nowhere,’ Governor McDonnell and a bipartisan team of legislators pressed on, working with Democrats and Republicans in Washington to make this new opportunity a reality,” he said. “The Governor’s team fought hard for this, and now we will all reap the benefits.”
“I congratulate Governor McDonnell and the bipartisan group that made this day possible for their foresight and persistence. This is truly a momentous day for the Commonwealth of Virginia,” he said.
Offshore drilling will bring more employment opportunities to Virginia and help boost the economy with new incentives, etc.
Blog Action Day 2009: The Public Dissent on Energy Taxes
This is the second post to share the truth about how cap and trade tax policy will not help to solve the energy crisis. Perhaps, we should ask people to share their views on how they feel about Congress passing climate change legislation to increase taxes.
Blog Action Day 2009: The Truth about Climate Change
Today is Blog Action Day, and this is supposed to be focused on climate change. Of course, many will be writing about how great the climate change legislation Congress is debating and how it is needed to save Mother Earth. Now, I am concerned about conservation by doing this is in a manner that does not place further regulations on businesses, people, or place heavy economic burdens on working Americans. However, I do not support legislation that will place an economic detriment on our country.
Currently, there are two bills being debated in Congress that will place more regulations on the energy industry and put millions of jobs on the chopping block. In the past, I have focused on both the Waxman-Markey bill (which was passed by the House on June 26th) and the Kerry-Boxer bill (Senate) and how it will increase the costs of fuel, along with raising the regulations that will be enacted on the coal industry, etc.
Today, I just want to focus on the costs that will be passed on to the consumer under the climate change legislation. Aside from rising fuel costs and the loss of employment, this legislation will not limit greenhouse gas emissions. It will also discourage the use of clean burning natural gas and benefit foreign oil producers by barring the U.S. from receiving domestic protections.
With all of the negatives, it would be worth the time for Congress to look over this carefully and utilize our natural resources without placing further regulations and taxes on energy, businesses, and the average family.
Who is the Better Candidate for Energy in the Governor's Race?
Bob McDonnell has a proven record on saving consumers $300 million in energy rate hikes. Meanwhile, Creigh Deeds would rather support the “Cap and Tax” Bill, which take away coal and energy manufacturing jobs. McDonnell has also advocated for offshore drilling, which could pass along more savings to energy consumers.
New Energy, New Jobs
Today, Bob McDonnell released another ad touting his initiative to bring new jobs to Virginia. Throughout the campaign, McDonnell has been bringing several initiatives that will create new jobs and bring new businesses to the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, Creigh Deeds has remained silent on what he will do to improve Virginia’s economy and how he will boost employment in the Commonwealth.
