McDonnell Announces Energy Plan at News Conference on Campus

Bob McDonnell, the Republican gubernatorial candidate and former attorney general of Virginia, visited Old Dominion University on Monday, April 27, to meet alternative energy researchers and visit the headquarters of the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC), where he held a news conference to unveil a plan he calls "More Energy, More Jobs."

"Right now Virginia is the second largest importer of electricity behind California," McDonnell said. "The time has come for bold action to harness the energy available to us today, while continuing to develop the energy sources of tomorrow." His plan calls for drilling for national gas and oil off the Virginia coast, as well as for establishing a "Green Jobs Zone" in the commonwealth to spur alternative energy solutions.

McDonnell, introduced by Sen. Frank Wagner, also met with Patrick Hatcher (pictured), the ODU professor who is executive director of the VCERC, as well as with Mohammad Karim, vice president for research, and Chris Platsoucas, dean of the College of Sciences.