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Kaine unveils his ‘green’ proposals

By Staff Reports

Published: January 12, 2009

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today proposed financial incentives for producers of biofuels and energy-saving equipment as part of an initiative to promote green jobs in Virginia.

"With this package of bills, not only will we be able to create jobs for hard-working Virginians, but we will be taking proactive steps to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and improve our environment," Kaine said in a statement.

Kaine's proposals include a 10-cents-per gallon incentive for those who produce biofuels from sources other than food crops. For example, some entrepreneurs are trying to produce fuel from the oil in algae.

Fuel produced from food crops would receive less support, 7.5 cents per gallon.

Kaine also proposed expanding a state grant program, now aimed at makers of solar-energy equipment, to manufacturers of gear for such energy sources as wind and nuclear power and for makers of goods used to make buildings more energy efficient.

In addition, Kaine proposed income-tax credits for people and businesses installing clean-energy systems such as solar and small wind-power systems, and a sales-tax exemption for those who buy solar and small wind-power systems.

The proposals require General Assembly approval. Kaine announced them this morning in Virginia Beach.

-- Rex Springston

Reader Reactions

Posted by ( ross ) on January 12, 2009 at 7:52 pm

Three billion dollar budget shortfall and Kaine wants to extend several million in tax credits to busineesses whose products will be so expensive that they will never be competitive in the marketplace.

I will be so glad when this incompetent idiot is out of office.

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Posted by ( Lloyd Schieldge ) on January 12, 2009 at 5:42 pm

What Kaine is proposing here is so tiny and insignificant that it really is not worthy of an article. I suspect that we will see many of these uneducated comments from the part time Governor now that he has his new full time job. These little insignificant blurbs are an attempt to keep his name in the news so it will appear Kaine gives a crap about the Commonwealth. Going “green” is much more than the fuel we use. Surely he has an engineer or architect somewhere in State Government that can speak intelligently for him, well. Or did he lay them all off.

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Posted by ( DarnYankee ) on January 12, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Good point 1twenty13: How does Kaine intend to “pay” for these incentives and exemptions; and why isn’t the media asking that question? How many times have Kaine and the demoncrats whinned about a tax break for the average taxpayer, claiming that either the proposal lacked an off-setting tax or cut somewhere else, or that there was no money in the budget to pay for it?

So now that we’re really $3+billion in the hole, comes Kaine dig us in a few shovels deeper.

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Posted by ( mtnyak ) on January 12, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Is it me or does Kaine look like the owner or Papa John’s pizza? Yeah, “green” jobs may help out those looking for work 15 years from now. So, what is the solution to creating jobs this year??

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Posted by ( james ) on January 12, 2009 at 5:04 pm

He’s catering to .01% of the population that’s just cracked enough to try this stuff on their own. If this garbage passes, the first time some brain-dead nutjob tries putting up a windmill, falls from a ladder and dies, I hope his family sues the beejeezus out of Kaine and the state for encouraging it.

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Posted by ( Lloyd Schieldge ) on January 12, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Sorry, thats lead, not leqad.

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Posted by ( Lloyd Schieldge ) on January 12, 2009 at 3:12 pm

What a crock! If Kaine gave a crap about “Green” he would leqad by example and require State owned or financed buildings to be designed and constructed under LEED Certification guidelines, but I guess that would be a bit much to ask of a part-time Governor. God help the DNC!

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Posted by ( james ) on January 12, 2009 at 2:17 pm

I’m checking off the days until this idiot is done.

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Posted by ( 1twenty13 ) on January 12, 2009 at 2:01 pm

So where is the money coming from for these “critical” programs? Last time I checked, we had over a 3 billion dollar shortfall. Let’s keep laying off state workers and putting off fixing the roads and pump money into projects that probably won’t produce any viable results. Stop trying to save the world, Timmy, and focus on saving your state (and your voter base)!

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Posted by ( englishsunset ) on January 12, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Green is the color of vomit.

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