BY WESLEY P. HESTER

Former governor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Timothy M. Kaine has released another piece of his campaign platform – an energy plan.

Called “Strengthening Our Economy through Energy Innovation,” the plan is described by the campaign as “an all of the above energy strategy to expand the use of all sustainable forms of domestic energy that will create jobs in Virginia and increase security and sustainability.”

The plan’s proposals include building energy infrastructure, increasing conservation, and developing new technologies in alternative fuels like wind, solar, and biomass.

“In order to compete in the emerging $2.3 trillion clean energy market, we need to be on the cutting edge of new technologies like wind, solar, and nuclear power while continuing to utilize our wealth of traditional domestic energy resources like Virginia’s plentiful coal reserves and natural gas,” Kaine said.

A release from the campaign says the plan also “contains an openness to drilling for natural gas and oil off the coast of Virginia with revenue sharing agreements to boost conservation and infrastructure.”

See the plan in full here.

The Republican Party of Virginia responded Tuesday afternoon by criticizing his plan, claiming it “ignores his support for counterproductive energy policies that would lead to devastating job losses in Virginia and higher electricity costs.”

In the release, Del. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Scott, said Kaine “supports Cap and Trade national energy tax and praises new EPA regulations that would decimate the Virginia coal industry and devastate Virginia families.”

Kaine kicked off a tour in support of the plan today with two events in the Richmond area.

This morning, he made a stop at Abakus Solar USA Inc. and this afternoon will visit the Dominion Dutch Gap Plant in Chester.

George Allen, Kaine’s GOP rival, has also released an energy plan as part of his “Blueprint for America’s Comeback.” See that here.