Kaine’s Real Energy Plan: Devastating Job Losses
for Virginia

“It’s ironic that Tim Kaine calls for ‘all of the above’ approach yet he supports Cap and Trade national energy tax and praises new EPA regulations  that would decimate the Virginia coal industry and devastate Virginia families,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore. ”The coal industry  is a powerful force in Virginia’s economy and Tim Kaine’s anti-coal agenda will not only cause enormous job losses in Southwest Virginia, it will cause electricity prices to skyrocket and the negative effects will be felt all over the Commonwealth.  Our economy is already hurting enough – Virginians can’t afford Tim Kaine’s plan that will destroy Virginia jobs.”

And while Tim Kaine may have suddenly decided to support drilling off our coast, he consistently worked to delay the production of oil off Virginia’s coast when he was Governor.  Then he stood with President Obama while he rejected the Keystone Pipeline, saying no to thousands of good-paying jobs.

“Tim Kaine has had a curious election year conversion,” said Delegate Chris Stolle. “Yet even with this new found support he has yet to ask the one person who has directly denied us the opportunity to produce energy off our coasts and create thousands of Virginia jobs: President Obama. As an ‘unabashed supporter’ and ‘good friend’ you would think Tim Kaine would ask President Obama to put Virginia jobs and families above their Washington political agendas.”

Tim Kaine may be a ‘good friend’ of President Obama and his counterproductive energy policies but those policies are no friend of Virginia families and workers.

Kaine’s Real Energy Record

Longtime Advocate For Cap And Trade

September 2007: Kaine Said He Supports “Legislation That Includes A Cap-And-Trade Program For Emissions Of All Greenhouse Gases.” “I support legislation that includes a cap-and-trade program for emissions of all greenhouse gases, imposes economy-wide controls, rather than singling out a particular sector, and accounts for state efforts to standardize methodologies to record and measure green house gas emissions through the Climate Registry.”  (Governor Tim Kaine, Testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 9/26/07)

February 2009: “Governor Kaine Has Long Advocated A Federal, Nationwide Cap-And-Trade Program.” “Governor Kaine has long advocated a federal, nationwide cap-and-trade program to bring about annual CO2 reductions in the United States and has proposed a 19% reduction in electricity consumption in Virginia by 2025, the top recommendation of the governor’s commission on climate change.”  (Governor Tim Kaine, “Governor Kaine, United Kingdom Forge New Agreement To Address Climate Change Issues,” Press Release, 2/12/09)

June 2009: Kaine “I Do Think We’ve Got To Have A Cap And Trade Or Equivalent System.” “Yeah, it would be difficult for me to either cap and trade or universal health care as governor if the feds don’t do it. I mean, I do think we’ve got to have a cap and trade or equivalent system, uh, to start to control carbon emissions.”  (“Ask The Governor” with Tim Kaine, 1140WRVA, 6/25/09)

But Cap And Trade Is A “Great Big” National Energy Tax That Would Cause More Unemployment And Harm The Economy

MASSIVE JOBS LOSSES OVER TIME:

According To A Study By The National Black Chamber Of Commerce, Cap And Trade Will Reduce “Net Employment By 2.5 Million Jobs” And Reduce Wages. “[C]ap-and-trade system outlined in bill would: reduce national GDP roughly $350 billon below the baseline level; cut net employment by 2.5 million jobs (even after accounting for new “green” jobs), reduce earnings for the average U.S. worker by $390 per year.” (National Black Chamber of Commerce, “NBCC Study Finds Waxman-Markey Reduces GDP by $350 Billion,” Press Release, 5/21/09)

According To An Analysis By The Heritage Foundation, Nearly 2.5 Million Jobs Will Be Lost As A Result Of Cap-And-Trade.  “Job losses due to Waxman-Markey’s energy restrictions would be in the millions. . . . Job losses will be nearly 2.5 million.”  (David Kreutzer, “Heritage Analysis Of Waxman-Markey Hits Where Others Miss,” The Heritage Foundation, 8/6/09)

According To The Left-Leaning Brookings Institution, Cap-And-Trade Legislation Would Result In Job Losses. “A report issued by the left-leaning research organization [The Brookings Institution] said that if Congress passes something similar to President Obama’s or the House’s proposed plan, the economy would take the biggest hit around 2025. . . . About 35 percent of crude-oil-related jobs and 40 percent of coal-related jobs would be lost in 2025, according to the analysis. It assumes that the majority of workers would find new jobs, but the net job loss would be 0.5 percent over the first 10 years that the legislation is in effect.”  (Amanda DeBard, “Study: Cap and Trade Would Hurt Economy,” The Washington Times, 6/9/09)

CAP AND TRADE WOULD CAUSE AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY RATES AND GASOLINE PRICES:

According To An Analysis By The Heritage Foundation, “Electricity Prices Will Rise 90%.”  “In particular, the Heritage analysis projects that by 2035 the economic impacts (in constant 2009 dollars) of this bill are: . . . Electricity prices will rise 90 percent.”  (David Kreutzer, “Heritage Analysis Of Waxman-Markey Hits Where Others Miss,” The Heritage Foundation, 8/6/09)

Gas Prices Will Increase 58%, Or $1.38.  “In particular, the Heritage analysis projects that by 2035 the economic impacts (in constant 2009 dollars) of this bill are: . . . Gasoline prices will rise 58 percent (or $1.38).”  (David Kreutzer, “Heritage Analysis Of Waxman-Markey Hits Where Others Miss,” The Heritage Foundation, 8/6/09)

CAP AND TRADE WOULD HARM VIRGINIA:

Cap And Trade Would Cost Virginia Between 41,400 And 56,400 Jobs. “The jobs impact of W/M is delayed by the free allocation of permits and generous carbon offsets. By 2030, as emission reduction targets tighten and other W/M provisions phase out, Virginia jobs decline by 41,400 under the low cost case and by 56,400 under the high cost case.”  (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

Household Income Would Decrease By As Much As $1,096. “Higher energy prices would have ripple impacts on prices throughout the economy and would impose a financial cost on households. Virginia would see disposable household income reduced by $103 to $235 per year by 2020 and $608 to $1,096 by 2030.”  (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

“By 2015, Gasoline Would Increase Between 6% And 8%, Electricity Between 2% And 3% And Natural Gas Between 13% And 20%.”  (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

“By 2030, Gasoline Prices Increase Between 20% And 26% While Electricity Prices Increase By Up To 53% And Natural Gas By Up To 64%.”  (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

“High Energy Prices, Fewer Jobs, And Loss Of Industrial Output Are Estimated To Reduce Virginia’s Gross State Product (GSP) By Between $1.0 And $1.8 Billion Per Year By 2020 And $10.9 And $14.9 Billion By 2030.”  (“Virginia: Economic Impact on the State from the Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” American Council For Capital Formation, 2009)

EPA Regulations And The War On Coal?

Kaine: “My Advice Is, Don’t Try To Weaken Regulations”

“‘My Advice Is, Don’t Try To Weaken Regulations,’ [Kaine] Told Voters In Southwestern Virginia Last Week. ‘Sell Your Story. Say We Can Meet These Standards.’”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

Under Proposed EPA Regulations Kaine Says Shouldn’t Be Weakened, The Wise Plant Wouldn’t Meet New Standards

“. . . Last Week, The Environmental Protection Agency Proposed A Regulation Limiting Newly Constructed Coal-Fired Plants To 1,000 Pounds Of Carbon Emissions Per Megawatt Generated.”  (David McGee, “Kaine, Warner Tour Local Businesses,” Bristol Herald Courier, 4/5/12)

• “The average coal plant emits about 1,760 pounds per megawatt.”  (David McGee, “Kaine, Warner Tour Local Businesses,” Bristol Herald Courier, 4/5/12)

“‘The Virginia City Center [In Wise County] Is Permitted To Burn Up To 20 Percent Biomass. But At 10 Percent Biomass, The Plant Would Produce About 1,740 Pounds Per Megawatt Hour,’ [Company Spokesman Dan] Genest Said.”  (David McGee, “Kaine, Warner Tour Local Businesses,” Bristol Herald Courier, 4/5/12)

Kaine Brags About Wise County Coal Fired Plant “Virtually Everywhere He Goes,” Even Though No One Remembers Him Playing A Role

Kaine’s New “Energy” Policy: “As Governor, I Promoted Next-Generation Clean Coal Technology By Supporting The Permitting Of A State-Of-The-Art Coal-Fired Plant In Wise County.”  (“Strengthening Our Economy Through Energy Innovation,” Tim Kaine for U.S. Senate, 7/31/12)

“A Key To [Kaine's] Record Is The Looming Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, A State-Of-The-Art 585-Megawatt Coal-Fired Power Plant On The Outskirts Of St. Paul That Started Commercial Operations On Thursday.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

“Mr. Kaine Mentions The Plant Virtually Everywhere He Goes As An Antidote To Efforts To Link Him To Obama Administration Policies That Have Been Tough On Coal.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

“The Plant Is Proof, He Said, That Coal And Clean-Air Regulations Can Coexist.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

“In More Than A Dozen Interviews In St. Paul, No One Was Familiar With Any Role That Mr. Kaine Had In Getting The Plant Going.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

“As Recently As March, The Former Governor Toured The Plant In A Campaign Swing. It Did Not Seem To Make An Impression.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

“‘I Did The Permitting, And I Don’t Remember That,’ Jeff Kite, 44, An Environmental Engineer, Said About Mr. Kaine’s Role.”  (Jonathan Weisman, “A Hunt For Split-Ticket Voters In A Tight Virginia Senate Race,” The New York Times, 7/19/12)

Election Year Conversion On Offshore Drilling

In 2006, As Governor, Tim Kaine Amended Legislation That Would Have Called For A Return To Drilling For Natural Gas To Instead Call For A Study

“Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) Blocked Provisions Friday Of An Energy Bill Passed By The General Assembly That Advocated Resumption Of Drilling For Natural Gas Off Virginia’s Coast.”  (Chris L. Jenkins, “Kaine Amends Energy Bill That Sought Drilling Exemption,” The Washington Post, 4/8/06)

“Kaine Amended The Bill So It Simply Supports Any Federal Efforts To Determine How Much Natural Gas Exists 50 Or More Miles Off The Atlantic Coast.”  (Chris L. Jenkins, “Kaine Amends Energy Bill That Sought Drilling Exemption,” The Washington Post, 4/8/06)

In 2007, As Governor, Tim Kaine Outlined His Energy Plan That Maintained His Long-Held Position: Study But No Drilling

“Gov. Timothy M. Kaine Has Mapped Out An Energy Strategy For Virginia That Would Boost In-State Energy Production, Conserve Usage And Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”  (Patrick Lynch, “Kaine Pushes Conservation In His Virginia Energy Plan,” Daily Press [Newport News, Virginia], 9/13/07)

“Kaine’s Plan Addresses The Possibility Of Natural Gas Reserves Off The Coast Of Virginia, But Does Not Change His Administration’s Previous Position On Offshore Drilling: That Only Exploration Should Be Allowed At This Time Before Leases Are Sold To Allow Actual Drilling And Production.”  (Patrick Lynch, “Kaine Pushes Conservation In His Virginia Energy Plan,” Daily Press [Newport News, Virginia], 9/13/07)

In 2008, Democrats In Congress Allowed Moratorium To Expire And Set In Motion Plans To Allow Natural Gas And Oil Drilling Offshore, Which Governor Tim Kaine Said He Supported

“Democrats Have Decided To Allow A Quarter-Century Ban On Drilling For Oil Off The Atlantic And Pacific Coasts To Expire Next Week, Conceding Defeat In A Months-Long Battle With The White House And Congressional Republicans That Was Set Off By $4-A-Gallon Gasoline Prices This Summer.”  (“Democrats Will Let Drilling Ban Lapse,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 9/24/08)

“The Federal Government Is Moving Forward With The Process To Lease Land Off The Virginia Coast For Oil And Gas Exploration.”  (Neil H. Simon, “Off-Shore Drilling Moves Forward In Va.,” McClatchy, 11/12/08)

“Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, A Democrat, Has Supported Off-Shore Exploration For Natural Gas. He Welcomed The News.”  (Neil H. Simon, “Off-Shore Drilling Moves Forward In Va.,” McClatchy, 11/12/08)

• “‘The Process Is Long. There Is Nothing Wrong With Listening To Public Comment,’ Said Kaine Spokesman Gordon Hickey. ‘The Governor Strongly Believes Exploring Is The Thing To Do.’”  (Neil H. Simon, “Off-Shore Drilling Moves Forward In Va.,” McClatchy, 11/12/08)

But Then Kaine Asked For The Permitting Process To Be Put On Hold Until The Obama Administration Could Take Office

“In A Letter Before Christmas, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine Asked The Federal Minerals Management Service To Put Off Its Offshore Planning Process Until Feb. 28 ‘To Allow Time For The New Administration That Will Take Office In January To Consider Its Options To The Proposed Actions.’”  (Scott Harper, “Regulators Reject Va. Leaders’ Pleas To Delay Drilling Plans,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 1/2/09)

Rejected, Kaine Increased Pressure By Writing To New Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

“Gov. Timothy M. Kaine Has Stepped Up Efforts To Persuade President Barack Obama To Slow Plans For Oil And Gas Development Off The Virginia Coast, A Shift Panned Earlier This Month By Obama’s Interior Secretary.”  (Dale Eisman, “In Letter, Kaine Urges Slowing Plans To Drill,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 2/25/09)

“Virginia ‘Policies Do Not Support Exploration For Oil Or Production Of Gas Or Oil,’ Kaine Asserted In A Letter To Secretary Ken Salazar That Was Made Public Tuesday. State Law Now Backs Only Exploration For Gas, He Said.”  (Dale Eisman, “In Letter, Kaine Urges Slowing Plans To Drill,” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, Virginia], 2/25/09)

Keystone Pipeline?

“Anyone Surprised? Anyone? At All? – Kaine Backs Obama On Keystone”

Headline: “Anyone Surprised? Anyone? At All? – Kaine Backs Obama On Keystone, Both Dems Hit By Allen.” (“Anyone Surprised? Anyone? At All?” National Journal Hotline, 1/19/12)

Kaine Echoed Obama On Keystone Decision. “But Kaine’s campaign issued a statement of its own Wednesday afternoon, largely echoing the Obama administration’s position – and assigning some blame to the GOP for the whole controversy.”  (Ben Pershing, “Keystone Decision Ripples In Kaine-Allen Race,” The Washington Post, 1/18/12)

The XL Pipeline Is A Shovel-Ready Project

“The Plan Would Be To Immediately Begin Construction After Receiving A Presidential Permit And Then To Begin Operating The $7 Billion, 1,700-Mile Pipeline In 2013.”  (Dan Berman and Darren Goode, “Obama Punts Keystone XL Pipeline,” Politico, 11/10/11)

“Obama Punts On More Than 20,000 Shovel-Ready Jobs.”  (Editorial, “Keystone Cop-Out,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/11/11)

• “President Obama used to be fond of ‘shovel-ready projects.’ He’s also demanding that Congress pass his jobs bill immediately because 9% unemployment is a crisis, and, by the way, he’s for making the U.S. less reliant on energy from tyrants. So how about putting 20,000 Americans to work on a North American energy project that’s as shovel-ready as they come? Sorry, Mr. Obama is voting present.”  (Editorial, “Keystone Cop-Out,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/11/11)

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