Virginia’s outgoing secretary of natural resources, Preston Bryant, said Thursday that nuclear power is an energy resource Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell ought to pursue, along with offshore wind power and energy conservation.
“Virginia is rich in nuclear assets — four nuclear reactors and a fifth to be put online by about 2017,” Bryant said, referring to Dominion Power’s plans for expanding its North Anna plant in Louisa County.
“We also have thousands of people currently working in the nuclear services industry, and we know that AREVA in Lynchburg and Northrop Grumman have formed an exciting new partnership in Newport News,” said Bryant, a Lynchburg native.
Bryant also said federal legislation proposed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., calls for “expanding our nation’s nuclear power capabilities.
“I think Governor McDonnell can reach out to Senator Webb and form a partnership that could prove productive for Virginia,” Bryant said.
Four years ago, Bryant left a seat as Lynchburg’s member of the House of Delegates to join Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s administration.
That job comes to an end Jan. 16 when Kaine leaves office.
Bryant has said he plans to continue living in Richmond, and is close to lining up a new job.
Bryant’s remarks Thursday, in a speech to the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Conference on Economic Leadership, probably constituted the last major speech he will make as a member of Kaine’s Cabinet.
Bryant spent the first half of his speech listing accomplishments in the environmental sector, starting with Kaine’s goal of placing 400,000 acres in conservation easements. That goal will be met, although about 35,000 acres of easements still are needed, Bryant said.
The state is about halfway to Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals that were supposed to be met by 2010, Bryant said.
Kaine’s administration invested $1.1 billion to improve wastewater treatment plants, and arranged stable funding for agricultural programs to help farmers reduce stream pollution, Bryant said.
But if Virginia doesn’t keep making progress on bay cleanup, Bryant said, “I assure you the EPA will flex its muscle,” referring to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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