Green jobs coming to Virginia

Saw this and it put a smile on my face:

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced a new initiative Thursday that he said will get much of his attention in 2009: Renew Virginia.

The program will involve additional spending, legislation and executive orders all aimed at environmental protection and energy issues.

As part of that effort, Kaine said a newly formed task force will suggest ways to attract more alternative-energy companies to Virginia and create "tens of thousands" of green jobs by 2025.

"Our goal is to position the commonwealth as a leader in alternative-energy generation, energy conservation, and research and development," Kaine said at a media event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which itself is a "green building," constructed to save energy.

Despite the financial crisis, Kaine said, it is important for state leaders not to retrench, but to innovate. "By developing a green energy industry here," he said, "we will not only move toward a more environmentally responsible approach to addressing our growing energy needs, but we will also help stimulate Virginia's economy."...

The governor said he likes what other states have done to create incentives for home-owners and businesses to use more solar energy, and he praised existing efforts in Virginia to convert barley and algae into biofuels.

"We're doing some good things on a smaller scale," he said, "but we need to go further."

The governor's Commission on Climate Change last week recommended mandatory goals for energy conservation and efficiency and urged Virginia to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050.

Yesterday at my job at Frederick County DPW, the Director of Public Works spoke to us in a staff meeting about the economic crisis, and it was a very sober talk. The high note was that Obama may be directing money to public infrastructure. You are seeing the makings of a new Green Deal.