Before 10, or so, supporters in the parking lot at Oakey’s funeral parlor in Vinton, the Republican candidate in the 11th House of Delegates district made his case earlier this week for a sensible approach to energy policy. Troy Bird said there was nothing wrong with going green, but he added it’s way too soon to write off coal, since it supplies the bulk of electricity generation for Virginia.
“The big buzz now is to go green [but] it’s not a quick fix – its unfeasible,” said the 27 year old, who will face off against incumbent Democrat Onzlee Ware this November. Coal powered plants help “make Virginia the place to do business,” said Bird, who called himself “pro energy.” He also wants to see incentives for smaller businesses that might seek to develop new energy technologies in the Commonwealth.
Cutting consumption significantly or ramping up the amount of wind, solar or other alternative energy sources is “a slow process,” said Bird, who picked the Oakey’s parking lot for an event because a nearby gas station provided a backdrop. Much of Vinton is also in the 11th District.
Bird said the “extreme left wing” of the Democrat Party wants to go green at the expense of the American life style, claiming, “the jury is still out,” on global warming.
Bird is not a fan of cap and trade for carbon credits, claiming, as do many Republicans, that it will force energy prices to rise. As a delegate, he would seek a balance between a green approach and using what is available now.
“We are so rich in natural resources. You can’t be too extreme.” He said emissions nationwide went down 1% last year, an encouraging sign. “Use what we have,” he said, referring to coal, “and [also] invest in the future.”
Bird is knocking on doors up to six days a week now in his uphill quest to unseat Ware.
“I’ve had a really good response.” One man that was ready to close the door on him spent half an hour listening, then wrote a check and took a bumper sticker. “Even a lot of the hardcore Democrats around here are still conservative Democrats – that’s what I stand for. I’m a conservative, Christian guy.” He’ll need some crossover votes to win in the fall.
