NBC - "Gilmore, Warner Discuss Energy Positions"

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NBC - "Gilmore, Warner Discuss Energy Positions"

The pain at the pump is pumping up the political rhetoric this campaign season, with candidates on both sides of the aisle weighing in on what can be done to improve America's energy policy.

For Republican Senate hopeful Jim Gilmore, his top idea comes from under the sea. "We have to go offshore, and we have to produce that oil, not just off the shore in Virginia, but offshore across the entire United States and bring in that oil also," he said.

Democrat Mark Warner agrees to an extent, and says this might be part of the solution. "My opponent will tell you that's the whole answer; it's not, but we ought to go ahead and put it into the portfolio, even though that oil may be years away from being able to be drilled and found," he said.

But Gilmore says there is more to his energy plan, calling his proposals "broad ranging and very forward looking."

"We know we have to have renewable energy, like wind mills and wind power and also like solar power," he said.

Gilmore says while these forms of energy are emerging, there should be tax incentives for their development. Warner wants a different type of tax incentive: a $5,000 tax credit for 100 mile per gallon cars that are next generation hybrids or plugins. He also wants the automobiles of the future to be American made.

"This is an area where if we do it right, we can help Americans in terms of their pocket books; we can make our country more secure; we can create jobs right here," Warner said.

Warner says he believes most new jobs and new wealth will be created in the energy field.

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