Terry McAuliffe Calls For Clean Energy Jobs In Virginia

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Saturday said he will fight for clean energy jobs in the Old Dominion, telling the energized crowd at the campaign's first state-wide field office opening in Arlington that "I've been involved in a lot of businesses, including renewable energy. We need jobs for the 21st century. I've met some folks here doing wind and solar and I congratulate you. I promise you as governor we are going to do something about making our renewable energy standard mandatory. Because it's about job creation. We ought to have wind turbines. But we ought to build the blades and the rotors here in Virginia."

In Virginia, the 2007 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is voluntary, meaning the state is losing business to the 29 states and the District of Columbia that have mandatory renewable energy standards. Not a single solar, wind or other clean energy project has broken ground in Virginia since the law was passed.

Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe Charged Up About Green Economy

Terry McAuliffe in a Greentech electric car.

Yes Virginia, there are forward-thinking leaders in your state. I know it seems like all hope is lost with the Republican legislature, governor and attorney general determined to turn the clock back by forcing a radically divisive social agenda upon the residents of the Old Dominion. The right-wing regime in Richmond would like to roll back all the progress that has been made. That’s one reason why it was refreshing to hear former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe give a positive message about clean energy jobs and growing the green economy.

The McLean resident spoke this past November at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy in Arlington about his electric car company and how to get Virginia and the United States competing in the global green economy. The event was titled “The Green Economy: Competing Globally for Jobs of the Future.”

Capital Bikeshare Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Capital Bikeshare celebrated a successful first year of operation as the largest bike sharing system in North America with 1,100 shiny red bicycles and over 110 stations spread across Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia. The birthday bash was held Thursday evening under gray skies at The Yards Park next to the Nationals baseball stadium, but the mood was ebullient. 

The crowd rocked out to '80s cover band The Reflex, drank eco-friendly beer from New Belgium Brewing and chomped down tasty eats from food truck vendors like Red Hook Lobster Pound. The attendees, many whom biked to the event, heard nothing but praise about Capital Bikeshare from Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette, D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells and District Department of Transportation Director Terry Bellamy, who announced the planned installation of an additional 54 stations in D.C. next year.

Fisette reminded the audience that CaBi is the only bike sharing system in North America that serves two jurisdictions -- Arlington and Washington, D.C. He said that biking isn't about spandex or carbon frames, but, like in Europe, it is about a leisurely city ride to the grocery store with a basket on the front. Capital Bikeshare is making that dream a reality in the Nation's Capital.

Here are more photos from the event.