The Port of Virginia announced its support for Congressman Scott Rigell’s (VA-2) push for Virginia coastal energy to create 18,000 jobs and diversify the Hampton Roads economy. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act (H.R. 2231), which included language introduced by Rigell to pave the way for developing Virginia’s coastal energy. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
A letter signed by Rodney W. Oliver, Interim Executive Director of the Port of Virginia , said: “We support the goal of making this nation energy independent and this can only be accomplished by domestically developing our traditional sources such as oil and gas along with renewable such as wind and nuclear.”
Rigell said: “We continue to see broad support for leveraging coastal energy to create jobs. The House passed a jobs and energy bill last month that will change lives right here in Hampton Roads. I am so pleased this effort has received the full backing of the Port of Virginia. I encourage the Senate to pass, and the President to sign, this important legislation.”
Offshore energy has the support of Governor Bob McDonnell along with Virginia’s Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who have introduced similar legislation in the Senate. Rigell’s efforts to open up Virginia coastal energy have also been publicly endorsed by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce; the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; the Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council; and a local branch of the NAACP.
If signed into law, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would open the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coast of Virginia for energy development. It also fast-tracks the process for offshore renewable energy development, such as wind.
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Press release, July 11, 2013; Image: Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance