Kaine uses Staunton Lowe’s as backdrop to talk energy efficiency

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program, a new program to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances and products. The program will use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act to provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying appliances…

Loan program to promote energy efficiency

Contributors

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor. The loans are expected to be…

Public-private partnerships to fund green-energy projects at state agencies, universities

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today that the Commonwealth will move forward with almost $25 million of green energy projects for state agencies and universities through the Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act (PPEA). Funding for the projects will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and some of the projects will result in renewable…

Earth Talk | Energy-efficient appliances

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering upgrading some older appliances in my home. Where can I find information on which models are the most energy efficient? – Jonathan Duda, Olivebridge, N.Y. There has never been a better time to upgrade some of those older creaky appliances that are gobbling up much more energy (or water) than…

Page Shields | Can coal be clean?

Letters

With all of the controversy surrounding the construction of a coal plant in Wise County, VA it bears repeating that coal is not clean energy. The phrase “clean coal technology” fosters hope that scientists will find a way to take harmful elements, especially carbon, out of coal. Unfortunately this is a lost hope as the…

Earth Talk | ‘Clean’ coal?

Contributors

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, “clean” coal really isn’t—yet the Bush Administration gushed strongly for it. What is Obama’s take on it? – John Zippert, Eutaw, Ala. Barack Obama and George W. Bush differ in many ways, but both have embraced so-called “clean coal” for providing an ongoing supply of cheap and readily available…

A clear direction on energy

Chris Graham

We may not yet have a firm grasp on exactly what we need to do to merge the words clean and energy in perfect harmony, even with the 219-212 vote of the House of Representatives on cap-and-trade legislation last week. But we do at least have direction, and considering how much muck was thrown into…

Al Weed | Does renewable energy in Virginia have to gouge the public?

Contributors

Virginians want immediate government action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A recent survey by the Miller Center at the University of Virginia found that 55 percent of Virginians who see carbon emissions as a manmade problem, “strongly support” requiring electric utilities toproduce sizable amounts of renewable power. This would be power from sustainable sources such…

White House ’08: McDonnell talks up McCain, energy issues in ’08 race

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Attorney General Bob McDonnell is applying for another job next year, as you might have heard. But first things first. McDonnell is focused through Nov. 4 on the ’08 elections and what he can do to help keep Virginia in the Republican Party column. “It’s a competitive state. It’s obvious…