Energy: Drill, baby, or go green?

Robert F. McDonnell wants to make Virginia the East Coast energy capital, while R. Creigh Deeds plans to use Virginia universities to create an energy-based research triangle similar to one in North Carolina.

Energy policy helps paint the sharp contrasts between the state’s two gubernatorial candidates, not only in their approach to the issues but in the tack and quality of their campaign strategies, analysts said.

McDonnell’s idea of an alternative energy plan includes offshore drilling, energy research and development in Virginia’s depressed Southside and Southwest regions as well as incentives for businesses to create green jobs. The overall strategy by the Republican nominee is tied to economic development.

It is savvy of McDonnell to tie energy policy to the economy, Christopher Newport University political scientist Quentin Kidd said. It reinforces McDonnell’s theme as the governor who would create jobs and revive the economy.

“McDonnell hasn’t made energy an issue but as part of an economic recovery,” Kidd said.

“He does not have to defend himself on offshore drilling and wind farms if the economy recovers,” he said.

McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said there are three goals in the candidate’s approach to energy.

“If it can turn on lights, keep prices low and create jobs then Bob is for it, and he will promote it as governor.”

McDonnell points to a 2005 study by an Old Dominion University professor that estimated offshore natural gas production alone over a 10-year period could create 2,578 new jobs, add capital investment of $7.84 billion, yield $644 million in direct and indirect payroll and result in $271 million in state and local taxes.

Deeds spokesman Jared Leopold said the Bath County Democrat thinks alternative and renewable energy technologies are a part of Virginia’s future economic revival.

The research triangle Deeds envisions at four Virginia universities would help bring green jobs to the commonwealth, Leopold said.

And Deeds has committed to helping private industry build at least three biomass facilities in the commonwealth, as well as working with Virginia Tech and Virginia’s congressional delegation to push research into carbon sequestration, a technology aimed at reducing the high carbon emissions that make coal plants a target of environmentalists. Carbon emissions are blamed for global warming.

That’s a key factor in the lingering debate over federal cap-and-trade legislation aimed at seeking to limit carbon emissions nationwide. Critics say that because of the country’s heavy dependence on coal, utility bills will spike.

“[V]others are adamantly against that,” said James Madison University political scientist Bob Roberts.

McDonnell repeatedly has said he opposes cap-and-trade, and even visited MeadWestvaco in Covington the day before the first gubernatorial debate in July to show solidarity with workers in his opposition. Officials at the paper plant say cap-and-trade would cost 1,400 company jobs.

While McDonnell has said Deeds favors the legislation, Leopold said it isn’t so.

“He believes global warming is a problem but is opposed to cap-and-trade and anything else that would take away Virginia jobs,” Leopold said.

Kidd said the McDonnell energy message is clearly articulated like the rest of his campaign.

“McDonnell is the jobs governor and his supporting elements articulate his central message,” Kidd said.

Kidd said Deeds’ energy message has come out as muddled as much of the rest of his campaign, leading to the Democrat’s difficulties with core constituencies such as African-American voters and women.