Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Bob McDonnell's record of results from his years as a Delegate and Attorney General can be seen all across Virginia. As Attorney General, he championed legislation to ban the use of phosphorus in detergents for household dishwashing machines and asked for legislation to be introduced to use environmentally sensitive cleaning products in schools. He also successfully filed suit to stop a wastewater treatment operator from polluting the Shenandoah River. He established a Regulatory Reform Task Force which revised and improved environmental regulations.

As a legislator, Bob McDonnell supported several efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay, including establishing an income tax refund for contributions made to help restore the Bay. Bob also supported the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997 to dedicate funding to address water pollution, as well as the Open-Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund.

As Governor, Bob McDonnell will continue to support initiatives aimed at protecting our beautiful natural resources here in the Commonwealth. He is committed to protecting our environment using innovative technology, pollution prevention programs and holding polluters accountable. His key priorities will be to:

* Protect the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Watersheds
* Preserve 400,000 new acres of open space
* Establish Virginia as a "Green Jobs Zone" to encourage renewable energy technologies

The Chesapeake Bay is a marvelous estuary and one of our nation's greatest natural resources. We must ensure that we are responsible stewards so that future generations may enjoy it as we have. The Bay has an important role in our nation's and our Commonwealth's founding. It provides a great source of recreation for Virginians and many others, and provides food, jobs and significant economic opportunities in the form of ecotourism.

Bob McDonnell is committed to working with the other Chesapeake Bay states to continue responsible policies to protect and improve the health of the Bay, including making every effort to meet the goals for the nutrient reduction outlined in the Chesapeake Bay agreement signed in 2000. We must continue to find sustainable funding for reducing nitrogen levels in the Bay. While wastewater treatment investments have helped to reduce point source pollution, we must be more creative in implementing the most effective BMPs to reduce nonpoint source pollution. We should promote the creation of natural and artificial oyster reefs, and work with all interested parties to expand aquaculture in appropriate areas.

On Earth Day, Bob McDonnell set a goal of preserving an additional 400,000 acres of land in the Commonwealth during his term as Governor. The conservation and preservation of Virginia's beautiful open spaces is an ongoing bipartisan effort. Governor Tim Kaine and Speaker Bill Howell both deserve our appreciation for their work to conserve over 400,000 acres of open space during this decade. As our population increases, and land is developed in Virginia at a rate of roughly 60,000 acres a year, it is important we continue this bipartisan conservation effort. As Governor, Bob McDonnell will help keep Virginia beautiful by ensuring that we conserve another 400,000 acres by the conclusion of his term in January 2014.

Bob McDonnell will establish Virginia as a "Green Jobs Zone" to incentivize companies to create quality green jobs. Qualified businesses would be eligible to receive an income tax credit equal to $500 per position created per year for the first five years (up to 350 jobs annually). If the position is created within Virginia's enterprise zone, the business will qualify for the current enterprise zone grant in addition to the new $500 income tax credit. The existing requirements pertaining to Enterprise Job Creation Grants will also apply. Qualifying businesses could include suppliers, manufacturers, installers and construction contractors for solar, wind, or biomass products and services, energy-efficiency products and services, pollution management systems and production of alternative transportation fuels.

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