Tim Kaine Talks Energy With Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine told employees at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative that he is pro-nuclear and pro-coal if its safe and cleaner.

"I think the performance of North Anna during the earthquake offers some positives about the design and about response," Kaine said to just more than a dozen employees during a roundtable discussion Monday afternoon at the Cooperative in Fredericksburg. "I am in favor of continuing to explore safe nuclear"

North Anna wants to built a third plant and still needs the permits. Kaine said France is a good example of a place where electricity is powered by nuclear compared to 35 percent in Virginia.

I know that North Anna is still pursuing their permit. I think that other nations plans and others have demonstrated a safe nuclear program can power a lot of electricty, about 35 percent in Virginia is powered nuclear, France is a good lesson

Kaine also said he is pro-coal and he believes coal will continue to be an important part of the baseload power for the country for a long time.

"Everything you build ought to be cleaner and better and more innovate than the last thing you built," he said. "You don't want to set that standard so far out that you can't build that next thing."

Kaine said the biggest challenge for coal is not regulations, but it's gas prices. He said if hydrofracturing continues and the size of the reserves remain what they are, cost of natural gas will be significantly lower than coal.

Listen to the attached audio of Kaine's conversation with the employees.