Drake rival Nye touts plan he says will lower gas prices

VIRGINIA BEACH

U.S. congressional candidate Glenn Nye, who's challenging Rep. Thelma Drake in the 2nd District, has outlined an energy plan he said would help lower gas prices.

The Democrat's announcement Saturday at a Beach gas station that sells bio diesel fuel came three days after Drake, a Republican, unveiled an energy proposal in Washington with a group of bi partisan lawmakers.

Nye's plan includes more drilling on lands now leased to oil companies, more regulation on oil speculators, and more investment in alternative energy.

For the first time, he said he is not opposed to lifting the congressional moratorium on new offshore drilling sites but said there should be no drilling off Virginia's coast unless the Navy approves it. The Navy has voiced concern that drilling could threaten training exercises. "If they were to change their stance, I'd be willing to revisit it," Nye said.

Drake called Nye's new position on offshore drilling a ruse and said since Nye entered the campaign, "He's opposed it every single day."

A Drake staffer at the event was passing out fliers criticizing Nye for opposing drilling. Part of the flier said, "We can drill now and pay less or vote Nye and gas prices will go even higher."

Nye said public money used to subsidize oil companies should instead be invested in researching alternative energy sources, citing efforts to make fuel from algae and switchgrass. He said he would stand up to companies such as Exxon Mobil and say, "You made $11.6 billion in the last three months. You don't need our tax dollars, too."

The oil giant reported Friday the highest quarterly and annual profits ever for a U.S. company - $11.66 billion.

The event drew about 60 Nye supporters, including Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk.

A handful of protestors displayed signs that said Nye's plan would increase gas prices.

The 2nd District includes all of Virginia Beach, part of Norfolk, part of Hampton and the Eastern Shore.

On Wednesday, Drake signed onto an energy plan called the National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act. It would restrict drilling rigs to 25 miles offshore and give each state an option to extend the no-drilling zone to 50 miles. It also would preserve a ban on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Nye accused Drake of doing nothing while gas prices spiked.

Drake blamed Democrats in Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not allowing a vote on the moratorium on offshore drilling before lawmakers recessed Friday.

Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com