GOP Ticket Visits Abingdon

By David McGee
Staff Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 2, 2009

ABINGDON, Va. – Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell emphasized the importance of coal in the state’s energy future Monday, when he kicked off a day of campaign stops across the state.

Fresh from receiving their party’s nominations Saturday, McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli, nominee for attorney general, spoke to a crowd of about 40 here, during a hastily organized morning rally at Virginia Highlands Airport. It was the first of six events Monday in which the candidates emphasized differences with the Democratic Party.

“Coal is an important part of our energy plan,” McDonnell said later in a phone interview. “And the promise of clean coal is so important to Southwest Virginia. Coal will be a part of our energy program along with natural gas, nuclear, offshore drilling and the green initiatives like wind, biomass and renewables.” (emphasis mine...SB)

McDonnell said the state and nation already rely heavily on coal and he expects carbon sequestration and capture technology to drastically reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants.

“Once the CO2 is removed, the coal industry will boom. That is vital to Virginia because we have one of the nation’s largest natural deposits, especially with the new plant in Wise and likely the one in Surry County,” McDonnell said, referring to the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Wise County.

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