Stephen Walz, Senior Advisor for Energy Policy in Governor Timothy Kaine's Office to Open Virginia Clean Energy Summit in South Boston, VA

Stephen A. Walz, Senior Advisor for Energy Policy in the Office of Governor Timothy Kaine and Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME), will open the upcoming “Show Me the Energy Money” energy summit on Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 a.m. at Riverstone Technology Park in South Boston. He will bring central focus to the discussion of opportunities for businesses and residents in Virginia to leverage the Governor's plans for energy, as well as the Tobacco Commission's plans for commercialization of emerging clean and renewable energy technologies.

Mr. Walz provides energy policy analysis and advice to the Office of the Governor and oversees state mine safety and mine environmental programs, state geologic services, and energy efficiency services at the DMME. He directs implementation of the Virginia Energy Plan, is Chair of the Governor’s Energy Policy Advisory Council, and served on the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change.

Mr. Walz has 29 years experience in program management, policy, and administrative duties at DMME. Prior to joining Virginia state government, Mr. Walz worked in energy and community development programs in Missouri and Nebraska. He has a BS in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.

So far this year, nearly $300 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds have been allocated to Virginia for energy-related programs, including $94 million for weatherization, $75 million for the Jefferson Laboratory, $70 million for the State Energy Program and $60 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants.

The programs to be supported by these federal funds will create or preserve jobs, reduce consumption of energy from conventional sources, increase production of renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs. "In Virginia, we have dedicated 2009 as our Year of Energy and the Environment, and these funds could not come at a more appropriate time," said Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. "This money will not only help Virginians adopt efficient energy practices and technologies, it will also go a long way towards creating and maintaining jobs for many Virginians."

“Show Me The Energy Money” summit dates are Tuesday, July 14, from 4:00pm-8:30pm at Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center and Wednesday, July 15, from 8:00am-4:30pm at Riverstone Technology Park in South Boston VA. Joining Mr. Walz are Drew Bond, Vice President, Battelle; Katherine Hamilton President, Gridwise Alliance; Henry McGuire, Vice President, Tetra Tech; Timothy Cook, Vice President, Alion Science and Technology; Charles Bonnucceli, Partner, Argy, Witse & Robinson, PC, and; James F. Groelinger, Executive Director, Clean Energy Alliance.

Registration is $225 and includes Summit presentations, Opening Welcome Reception and Dinner at Berry Hill Resort on July 14, and Presentations, Breakfast and Lunch at Riverstone Technology Park on July 15. To register and for additional information, please visit online at www.virginiaenergynetwork.com or call the Incubator Offices at 434-575-7766.

Show Me The Energy Money!

Tuesday, July 14, 4:00pm - 8:30pm - Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center
Wednesday, July 15, 8:00am - 4:30pm – Riverstone Technology Park

South Boston, Virginia

Hosted by

The Virginia Clean Energy Incubator

www.virginiaenergynetwork.com

A Program of the Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Center for Collaborative Technologies

Gov. Kaine Declares Hurricane Preparedness Week May 24-30; Offers Sales Tax Holiday

Hurricane preparedness in VA is so vital that Gov. Kaine has designated a special "Hurricane Preparedness Week". He is also announcing the 2nd Annual "Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday". Given the dire statistics quoted in the article below, it's no wonder that hurricane preparedness is serious business in VA.

So...how can anyone want to throw uranium tailings into this already weather-endangered state? If uranium mining becomes a reality in Virginia, hurricane preparedness will take on a whole new meaning...preparing to keep radioactive sand in place. And since no other uranium mines are in an area related, climate-wise, to Virginia, there will be no way to advise the populace on safety measures. The governor's proclamation will be for "Hurricane Preparedness /Nuclear Avoidance Experimentation Week".

By Staff Reports on May 22nd, 2009

Governor Timothy M. Kaine has recognized May 24-30 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week and today reminded Virginians that the Commonwealth will mark its second annual Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from Monday, May 25, through Sunday, May 31.

“Hurricane season will soon be here and now is a good time to start thinking about what you will need if one of these devastating storms affects Virginia,” Governor Kaine said. “These tax breaks should help everyone buy the items they need to see them through the difficult days that follow the storms.”

During the sales tax holiday many items that are very useful during and after a hurricane will be exempt from the 5 percent state and local sales tax. Twenty-two items will be tax exempt, including batteries, flashlights, bottled water, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and generators that cost $1,000 or less. A complete list of tax-exempt products and frequently asked questions is available on the Tax Department’s Web site at www.tax.virginia.gov. All Virginia retailers who sell the tax-exempt products are required by law to waive the sales tax on these items during the seven-day exemption period.

“This sales tax holiday is the perfect time to go shopping and buy tax-exempt items that will help you get through a hurricane or other large storm when there are usually power outages and other problems,” said Tax Commissioner Janie Bowen.

Since 2003, Virginia has had 49 fatalities and suffered over $2 billion in damage from storms including Hurricane Isabel, Hurricane Jeanne, and Tropical Depression Gaston. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Camille, which left more than 100 dead and damage of more than $1 billion in Virginia.

Governor Kaine also encouraged Virginians to take advantage of the resources available on Ready Virginia to ensure that they are prepared for a hurricane, other natural disaster, or any emergency. Ready Virginia provides information to help Virginians prepare emergency kits, make emergency plans, and stay informed in the event of an emergency.

During the sales tax holiday, retailers are also permitted to pay the sales tax themselves on any non-qualifying item or items they sell and pass the 5 percent savings on to customers. Virginia will have two additional sales tax holidays this year - for school supplies and clothing from Aug. 7-9, 2009, and for Energy Star and WaterSense products will from Oct. 9- 12, 2009.

http://www.appomattoxnews.com/2009/hurricane-preparedness-week-may-24-30.html

Kaine predicts wave of environmental action on horizon

It's so apparent to me that this man has no interest in Virginia. His heart is elsewhere...maybe from whence he came...but it's certainly not in Virginia.

By Scott Harper
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 7, 2009

NORFOLK

About 10 minutes into his speech Wednesday night, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine stripped off his suit jacket, rolled up his white sleeves and jumped squarely from his prepared remarks.

"I'm getting warmed up," he told a crowd of about 300 people inside Old Dominion University's Webb Center. "I always do when I talk about this subject."

That subject is the environment, an issue he has put a focus on this year, his final year in office.

The environmental and energy initiative has its own name - Renew Virginia - and despite a cash crunc h in Richmond and an economic crisis nationwide, the governor said he still has big plans for going green in 2009.

Kaine hinted at some major changes coming to the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, steps that he and other mid-Atlantic governors will announce next week at a summit at Mount Vernon.

That suggestion brought a smile to the face of Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Baker has been pressing Kaine and the Obama administration to make the Bay a national priority and speed up its restoration, which began in 1983 and still is struggling.

The Bay Foundation co-sponsored Wednesday night's lecture as part of its Blue Planet Forum on environmental issues facing Virginia.

Kaine ticked off a list of state programs that soon will receive federal stimulus money - $75 million for energy efficiencies and green buildings; $39 million in incentives for solar, thermal and small wind projects; $5 million for alternative energy research - all dedicated to environmental progress.

He predicted that, as money trickles out of Washington over the next two years, Virginia and other states will experience "one of the greatest unleashings of American ingenuity" on new energy technology since the dawn of the combustion engine.

The governor said he intends to push ahead against two big pollutants affecting the Bay and impairing hundreds of Virginia streams - farm runoff and urb an stormwater.

The state is rewriting its stormwater regulations and hopes to complete this year these "extremely innovative" rules against tainted rainwaters that wash off parking lots, roofs, lawns, streets and gardens and pass oil, fertilizers and chemicals into the Bay.

In response to questions, Kaine said developing an offshore wind farm off Virginia Beach "is a spectacular idea."

Oil and gas drilling in those same waters should be confined to exploration only, "to see what resources are really out there," he said.

He urged expansion of nuclear energy in Virginia and defended his position to support a new, major coal-fired power plant in southwestern Virginia over objections from environmentalists.

The governor also said that if a study shows that uranium mining cannot be done safely in Virginia's wet climate, "maybe we ought to keep the ban in place and move on."

Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/kaine-predicts-wave-environmental-action-horizon