Dem leader jumps on Cuccinelli gubernatorial run

Chris Graham

The prospect that Ken Cuccinelli will be making official his plans to run for the 2013 Republican nomination for governor has Democrats salivating. “Ken Cuccinelli’s impending gubernatorial announcement is further proof that his political career is about one thing and one thing only: Ken Cuccinelli. Instead of fighting everyday for Virginia families, he has used…

Car-charging station comes to Harrisonburg

AFP

In October, Harrisonburg will become the first city in the Shenandoah Valley and one of only a handful of cities in the state with a public, Level II electric car charging station. Located behind Harrisonburg Electric Commission in Downtown Harrisonburg, the charging station will provide citizens with clean energy for their electric vehicles. A ribbon-cutting…

Solar array at EMU exceeds output expectations

AFP

Judging by its performance over the past 10 months, the solar energy system at Eastern Mennonite University will exceed the annual guaranteed power production by 12 percent, according to officials at Secure Futures, the company that owns and operates the system at EMU. Secure Futures guaranteed an annual output of 126,783 kilowatt hours of electricity…

Webb, Warner introduce offshore-drilling legislation

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas exploration and production off of the Virginia coast. Both senators have consistently supported safe and responsible energy exploration on Virginia’s outer continental shelf. The Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011 would also expand the…

Sen. Webb: Offshore drilling bill fails to grant Virginia fair share of revenue

AFP

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) on Wednesday voted against legislation that would have prevented Virginia from using revenues from lease sales of its offshore resources to fund transportation and other critical projects. The Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011, introduced by Sen. Mitch McConnell, failed today in the Senate. “I have long advocated opening up…

Forum to detail issues with fracking

AFP

A request for a special-use permit that would allow a Texas-based energy company to drill for natural gas in Rockingham County is perhaps permanently on the table. Locals still need to arm themselves with knowledge of the process known as hydrofracture that companies use to extract natural gas from the ground and its long list…

EMU sustainability video wins award

AFP

Eastern Mennonite University has been honored as a winner of the National Wildlife Federation’s annual competition “Chill Out: Climate Action on Campus.” This award program recognizes U.S. schools that are designing and implementing creative approaches to advance sustainability on campuses. EMU is one of six winning schools that were chosen from a national pool of…

Goodlatte bill would push offshore drilling off Virginia waters

Chris Graham

Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte has reintroduced legislation that would open exploration for natural gas and crude oil off the Virginia coast. “Every day, folks across Virginia and the nation are confronted with the rising cost of energy, from the cost at the pump to soaring electric bills. I believe that Virginia should have every…

Harrisonburg passes tax exemption as incentive for solar power

AFP

Harrisonburg City Council Tuesday night passed an ordinance offering a 100 percent exemption from local taxes for solar power installations, helping the city to join 13 other localities in Virginia that offer a 100 percent exemption for developers and homeowners to install solar power in their communities. The ordinance, passed by a 4-1 vote, exempts…

Webb: Investments in nuclear will boost economy

Chris Graham

Sen. Jim Webb is on board with President Obama’s push for new investments in nuclear energy. “These investments in nuclear energy technologies will help invigorate the U.S. economy and expand access to clean, domestic energy,” Webb, D-Va., said today. “They are going to keep the United States competitive in a global marketplace that has accelerated…