Message from the Chairman

America is facing challenging times, where environmental, economic, and security concerns are converging to insist that Americans put an end to our business-as-usual approach to energy production and consumption. According to the Energy Information Administration, world energy consumption is projected to increase by 44 percent from 2006 to 2030. And, the United States remains the world’s largest energy consumer.

In April of 2009, President Obama declared that a “new era of energy exploration in America” would be a crucial element of leading the nation out of the current economic crisis. The fact is that Americans are too dependent on foreign energy sources-some of which come from unstable or even unfriendly countries. It is imperative to our national security, future energy supply and economic future that we develop more domestic energy. Tapping into our own supplies and technologies will make these resources cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient-and help to fuel our economy.

In late 2007, Governor Tim Kaine released the Virginia Energy Plan, which calls for greater energy independence through increased in-state energy production-among other measures. The Plan calls for increasing in-state energy production by 20 percent through expanded production of traditional, renewable, and biofuel sources.

Since taking office in 2010, Virginia’s current Governor Bob McDonnell has built on the efforts of his predecessor to unleash Virginia’s potential to be a leader in the domestic production of energy.  In July 2010, Governor McDonnell released the updated Virginia Energy Plan, which announced the goal of making Virginia the “Energy Capital of the East Coast.”  By bolstering Virginia’s production of traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas and oil and fostering growth in alternatives such as nuclear, wind, solar and biofuel, Governor McDonnell is committed to unleashing Virginia’s boundless energy potential.

Virginia is home to an array of opportunities-natural, technological and industrial-that can contribute to the goal of energy independence. It’s time we use our own abundant supplies of natural energy resources-uranium, wind, solar, biofuel, oil and gas, and coal-to cure our dependence on foreign energy.

I’ve spent a career in the nuclear technology industry, but I know that we’re not looking for a one-size-fits-all solution.  It will take a collage of resources, and plenty of collaboration, to pave the road to energy independence for the US and for Virginia.

I invite you to add your voice to the growing chorus actively supporting the development of domestic energy resources in Virginia by joining the Virginia Energy Independence Alliance.

Sincerely,

Ray Ganthner
Chairman
Virginia Energy Independence Alliance
chairman@virginiaenergy.org