According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sen. William C. Wampler, R-Bristol, chairman of the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, has named John Watkins, R-Powhatan, to lead the development of a “long-term energy policy” for the General Assembly’s consideration. (See story here.) Of special concern: price gouging after hurricanes and heating bills for poor people.
Gut reaction: If I’d put my mind to come up with the most short-term issues that I could think of, it would be those two. Now, it’s entirely possible that the state Senate will address matters other than those mentioned by reporter Greg Edwards, so I will withhold judgment.
My humble suggestion: Sen. Watkins should focus on ways to conserve energy and shift to more stable energy supplies. In contrast to the 1970s, when the old Virginia Electric Power Co. was every populist’s favorite bad guy, Dominion is supplying electricity at very stable and competitive rates. To the extent that Virginia can shift its energy consumption from gasoline to electricity — electric cars, anyone? — we benefit.
If this new study commission wants to tackle a real “long-term” issue, it ought to take a look at nuclear power. Nuclear energy has turned out to be quite a bargain. The more of it we can get, the cheaper and more stable our electric supplies. Dominion has made preliminary moves towards erecting two more nuclear-powered units in Virginia. This task force could act to remove the regulatory hurdles.
