Developing renewable energy and Banning Fracking Technology in Virginia

A future of clean energy cannot be achieved without curtailing the use of technology that produce greenhouse gases.

Developing Renewable Energy: 

Expand access to customer-owner solar roofs through tax incentives.

Implement affirmative policies to incentivize greater levels of energy efficiency through the use of higher standards on buildings.

Attract companies that will build offshore windfarms.

Require energy providers to have a percentage of their energy (no less than 25% for now) to come from renewables and open the energy market to competition

Encourage the purchase of electric vehicles through tax deductions, exemptions from tolls, opening use of HOV lanes to single drivers of EV, and special parking accommodations in public buildings.  In addition, charging stations could be built in private property, such as shopping centers lots, etc. with the consent of the stakeholders. 

I think all these suggestions are a good beginning and easily implemented.

Banning Fracking Technology in Virginia

Fracked gas releases methane a powerful greenhouse gas that pollutes our environment. Natural gas production is the largest manmade source of methane.  Pollutants emanate from gas production and leaks from storage facilities, pipelines and valves.  Fracking requires the use of millions of gallons of clean water that are being diverted from individual and agricultural use. This clean water is then mixed with poisonous chemicals that are used to break the rocks underground and release gas.  Once used, the poisonous water is re-injected underground where it risks contaminating our water supply.  The pumping of waste water deep into injection wells can cause tremors.  Earthquakes in Central and Eastern U.S. coincide with increased fracking in disposal wells in Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Ohio.

And this is just a description of the technological aspects.  I does not include the health-related consequences of pollution,  the legal consequences of the land appropriation, the social unrest from the communities impacted by the construction of compressor stations, the environmental devastation by removal of large swatches of forest just to name a few. 

All told, fracking is a technology too destructive to even be considered.