Governor McDonnell Points to Latest Billion Dollar Gulf Sale as Evidence of Demand for Additional Oil and Gas Off Virginia

RICHMOND– Governor Bob McDonnell today pointed to information released from the U.S. Department of the Interior –Minerals Management Service as evidence of additional demand for oil and gas off Virginia's coast.  This information comes at a time when Virginia has just passed legislation sending a clear statement of the Commonwealth in support of oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production 50 miles or more off Virginia's coast as well as  allocating revenue to go toward transportation and renewable energy research and development.  

Referencing the information from the Central Gulf of Mexico lease sale, Governor McDonnell remarked, "I congratulate Secretary Salazar on a successful lease sale.  The news from the Gulf today signifies that with a green light from the Department of the Interior, Virginia will be able to attract high bids and start to move forward to produce oil and natural gas off our coast in an environmentally safe manner.  Virginia is ready to become the 'Energy Capitol of the East Coast'; we've taken action legislatively to ensure that the royalties go toward key areas–transportation and renewable energy research and development.  Doing so will create thousands of energy jobs, one of the fastest growing sectors of the Virginia economy.  So, today I point to these facts and again urge Secretary Salazar to allow Virginia to move forward with the proposed lease sale in 2011 so that we may reap the benefits, much like the Central Gulf of Mexico has proven it can do today."

# # #