I have just read "New Energy for the Fifth District: A Blueprint for Putting Southside and Central Virginia at the Forefront of the Clean energy Economy", which has been issued by 5th District Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello. I am completely in alignment with the vision described in the blueprint. Southside Virginia is poised to become a major player in an emerging bioenergy industry. Our rich agricultural heritage, the local farming community, our abundant natural resources, the biomass research efforts underway at the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources at IALR and the new Sustainable Energy Technology Center that was funded by the Tobacco Commission can be pulled together into an integrated, community-based energy economy that will keep our energy dollars in the region rather than go offshore, and will give the region tremendous opportunities for new investments that will create new jobs.

Here is a link to the Congressman's blueprint:
http://perriello.house.gov/uploads/Perriello%20Energy%20Blueprint1.pdf