Virginia Tomorrow

I thought I missed Earth Day.

The Democrats were all on message yesterday. Governor Kaine announced an incentive program for energy conservation and the development of green jobs as a major agenda item.

Creigh Deeds was at the Governor’s side, repeating his campaign theme that Virginia could become a national leader in energy research. Brian Moran released a call that Virginia institute a mandatory requirement that 25% of  our energy be produced from renewable sources by 2025, essentially doubling the amount that Terry McAuliffe had mentioned the previous week.

Anybody wearing a Democratic blue jersey yesterday was talking green.

But it’s not just Democrats doing the talking. Newt Gingrich has written a recent book on green politics. During the 2008 election, reporters noted that faith-based young conservatives had stewardship of the planet as a major concern. And Bob McDonnell is speaking about the environmental leadership he’ll offer as Governor.

There ’s something happening here.

About a decade ago, Scott Keeter and I produced a report for the Virginia Environmental Endowment that we titled The Paradox of Environmental Politics.  We indicated that while there was remarkably broad support for the environment in public attitudes, there was little indication that these attitudes had a real impact of elections.

Our data indicated that very few people said that the positions candidates took on environmental matters actually influenced their vote.

But there is evidence this is changing.

In his recent book The Way We’ll Be, John Zogby uses polling data to indicate that for young voters (who Zogby labels the “first globals”),  environmental attitudes influence how they think about politics.

I also suspect that the memory $4 a gallon gas and last winter’s heating oil bills is making conservation sound very appealing to the rest of us pre-globals.

Being green is becoming synonomous with living thoughtfully and responsibly.

It is also being mainstreamed. Green jobs, green energy, green cities,  and green roofing are just a few of the topics that I’ve heard discussed by business leaders at conferences during the past few years.

Public opinion is probably more favorably disposed about  environmental issues than at any time in my memory.

But not everyone is convinced. And the skeptics raise serious questions that have to be addressed

Can green policies be instituted in a manner that doesn’t simply raise the price of everything for already stretched consumers?

Will the highly touted green jobs materialize at both a rate and pay scale that make a meaningful economic contribution?

Will environmental groups in Virginia be helpful or an obstacle to resolving key challenges in the state such as transportation?

At the moment,  the candidates for statewide office are competing to out-green one another. It is one more indication of the changing nature of Virginia politics and culture.

On Thursday, I should note, we’ll be talking about a slightly deeper and more traditional shade of green.

That’s when the candidates for Governor will release their latest fundraising reports.