Mark R. Warner
U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia
Senator Warner believes we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while investing in new technologies that reduce harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. He favors an "all of the above," portfolio approach that employs solar, wind, bio-fuels, nuclear energy and next generation battery technologies. Senator Warner believes we need to invest in research that focuses on using carbon capture technology so we can continue to use our domestic resources, such as coal, more responsibly. The science surrounding climate change supports the need for dramatic changes in policy, and Senator Warner believes any comprehensive legislation to address this issue must be balanced with the need to keep our economy viable during this challenging time.
Senator Warner's Progress:
- In May 2010, Senator Warner joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the HOMESTAR Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, legislation that will provide targeted incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes.
- In March 2010, Senator Warner praised the Obama Administration's plan to allow oil and gas exploration off the coast of Virginia. He continues to work with his Senate colleagues to find appropriate revenue-sharing formulas between the federal and state governments.
Recent News on Energy & the Environment
Here is what Senator Warner has been doing recently regarding energy and the environment:
December 2010
- 12/01/10 -Sen. Warner Disappointed in Coastal Drilling DecisionSecretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that no offshore oil drilling will be allowed off the coast of Virginia for at least the next seven years. This announcement reversed an earlier Obama administration decision to open certain parts of the American coastline to drilling, including off the Atlantic Coast of Virginia.
November 2010
- 11/09/10 -Day Two in the Shenandoah ValleyOur second day of travel in the Shenandoah Valley began in Hot Springs, where Senator Warner delivered the keynote address for the Virginia Association of Counties annual conference. Senator Warner praised the hundreds of local elected officials for their continued hard work before taking questions from the crowd.
September 2010
- 09/16/10 -Award-winning homegrown innovationA team from Lynchburg won $5 million and top honors today for their “Very Light Car” – an 840 lb, 102 mpg entry in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize Competition.
July 2010
- 07/09/10 -On the Peninsula: from cancer therapy to Bay researchSenator Warner highlighted cutting-edge scientific research underway on Virginia's Peninsula today.
June 2010
- 06/10/10 -Murkowski AmendmentSenator Warner voted against Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s proposal to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of the authority to regulate air pollution and health standards under the Clean Air Act.
- 06/10/10 -Urging better coordination before oil spill reaches Virginia coastSenator Warner joined a bipartisan group of Senators today to urge federal authorities to coordinate with emergency preparedness officials in Virginia and other coastal states in the event that the Gulf oil spill reaches Atlantic coastal areas.
May 2010
- 05/28/10 -Green jobs and energy savingsSenator Warner joined a bipartisan group of senators this week to introduce legislation that will provide targeted incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes.
- 05/27/10 -Lease sale cancellation "makes sense"Senator Warner said today that he supports cancelling the proposed lease sale off the coast of Virginia in light of the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Watch video of his comments to Virginia reporters.
- 05/06/10 -Statement on delay in offshore energy exploration/production hearingsStatement from Communications Director Kevin Hall on the announcement today that the U.S. Department of the Interior is temporarily postponing public meetings on potential offshore activities in the mid-Atlantic so that information from the ongoing review of OCS safety issues can be appropriately considered in those meetings.
April 2010
- 04/30/10 -Support for White House action on offshore delaySenator Warner said today that he believes it was appropriate for the President to delay any new offshore oil projects until safeguards are in place to prevent rig explosions like the one that caused the Gulf spill.