Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (also a birthday boy) is going green.
McDonnell, who has said he wants to make Virginia “the Energy Capital of the East Coast,” signed a host of bills Wednesday to encourage the development of renewable energy in the commonwealth.
One bill directs the State Corporation Commission to consider approving distributed solar generation facilities and another establishes a grant program to provide financial incentives to companies that manufacture products used to produce renewable energy.
The governor also signed into law identical measures patroned by Del. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, and Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, to establish a voluntary fund that would provide loans for solar energy projects in the state.
“Virginia must take an ‘all of the above’ approach to developing wind, solar, nuclear, oil, natural gas, coal, and biomass energy sources that can create new jobs in the commonwealth while moving Virginia and the nation closer to energy independence,” McDonnell said. “These pieces of legislation will foster innovation and support expansion of our domestic power generation, conservation, efficiency and resources.”
McDonnell is also hoping for some green this evening, when he’ll host a birthday fundraiser for his Opporunity Virgina PAC at the Boathouse at Rocketts Landing in Richmond.
