Augusta Free Press

February 13, 2009

Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank on Thursday came out forcefully against a plan to drill off Virginia’s coast. The plan, Lease Sale 220, would lease land off the coast of Virginia for the purpose of drilling for oil and natural gas. His remarks come in response to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s recent announcement that he would not intervene to halt the Virginia proposal although expansion of offshore drilling along other parts of the United States would be delayed for 180 days.

“Drilling off Virginia’s coast is a backwards way of solving our energy problems. It will not produce enough oil to change our energy situation significantly; I do not believe there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons off the Virginia coast; it will potentially irreparably damage an internationally recognized environmental habitat; it poses challenges to our national security training capabilities; it will garner no revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia unless a new law is passed by Congress, but rather it will threaten tourism income at a time when we can least afford to lose it.

Article XI

February 13, 2009

Thanks to lieutenant governor candidate Jon Bowerbank for this statement, which he issued this morning under the headline, "Bowerbank Takes Strong Position Against Offshore Drilling Plan: Now is the Time for New Solutions to Our Energy Crisis."

    "Drilling off Virginia's coast is a backwards way of solving our energy problems.  It will not produce enough oil to change our energy situation significantly; I do not believe there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons off the Virginia coast; it will potentially irreparably damage an internationally recognized environmental habitat; it poses challenges to our national security training capabilities; it will garner no revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia unless a new law is passed by Congress, but rather it will threaten tourism income at a time when we can least afford to lose it. 

    "We need to invest in new energy solutions that can reduce our dependence on oil and create jobs in Virginia while helping our environment.  In the meantime there are 68 million acres of leased land available for energy extraction that are not being used by oil companies. Rather than expand the area available, companies should be using these previously leased areas. I urge President Obama and Secretary Salazar to halt the Lease Sale 220 proposal and not hurt Virginia's economy and environment.  We should be looking forward for solutions to our energy crisis," Bowerbank said.

Great statement by Jon Bowerbank. Now, I'd very much like to see similarly strong statements from other candidates for LG this year. Meanwhile, it's nice to see that at least Jon Bowerbank "gets it" on offshore drilling as posing a threat to the economy, national security, the environment, while offering essentially no "upside" potential for Virginia. This really isn't that complicated...
 

VB Dems

February 13, 2009

Bowerbank Takes Strong Position Against Offshore Drilling Plan. "Now is the Time for New Solutions to Our Energy Crisis."

    Cedar Bluff, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today came out forcefully against a plan to drill off Virginia's coast. The plan, Lease Sale 220, would lease land off the coast of Virginia for the purpose of drilling for oil and natural gas.  His remarks come in response to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's recent announcement that he would not intervene to halt the Virginia proposal although expansion of offshore drilling along other parts of the United States would be delayed for 180 days.

    "Drilling off Virginia's coast is a backwards way of solving our energy problems. It will not produce enough oil to change our energy situation significantly; I do not believe there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons off the Virginia coast; it will potentially irreparably damage an internationally recognized environmental habitat; it poses challenges to our national security training capabilities; it will garner no revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia unless a new law is passed by Congress, but rather it will threaten tourism income at a time when we can least afford to lose it.

And there's bulleted points! I love bullets! So much so that I think ol' Jon Bowerbank may have just won me over. Get your facts together as Jon has done here, present them as that line drawn in the sand between what is right or wrong, and stand firm on the side that is right. How refreshing to see that in a candidate! Reminds me of another candidate I also wholeheartedly support.  (Cough... name starts with "B"... hint, hint... link... )

Augusta Free Press

February 12, 2009

The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) has appointed Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank to the VACo Transportation Committee. As a committee member, Jon will provide transportation policy direction to VACo staff, assist with the analysis of statewide transportation issues as they affect Virginia’s governments and consider proposals to the annual legislative agenda affecting Virginia’s infrastructure.

“I believe that improving the Commonwealth’s infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges facing our state and that it is essential to our economic growth and Virginians’ quality of life. Virginia needs improved mass transit systems, better roads and greener traveling options. I will use my experience building infrastructure to assist VACo in its efforts to create better transportation solutions and I look forward to carrying on that process as Lieutenant Governor and bringing local government experience to Richmond,” Jon Bowerbank said.

VB Dems

February 12, 2009

Jon Bowerbank has been named to VaCo's Transportation Committee. I don't think anyone can argue that, of all the dozens and dozens of LG candidates those far in the race, Jon isn't the most versed on local government issues. "Virginia needs improved mass transit systems, better roads and greener traveling options", he writes. Exactamundo! 

What I also find intruiging about Jon is his "energy services" business. Over Corona's at Croc's last summer, he told me he was opposed to offshore drilling. But the oil rigs depicted on his business' webpage still makes me nervous. We'll have to get Jon on here for a live blog.

UPDATE: Just got an email from Jon stating his strong opposition to offshore drilling.  Nothing pussy-footed about this!

Washington Post Blog

February 11, 2009

"Will any other candidate for lieutenant governor break into the top tier? No. Former finance secretary Jody W. Wagner and Jon Bowerbank, a wealthy businessman from Russell County, remain the two leading candidates for the nomination."