Gov. Kaine green theme in Roanoke

5:53 p.m.

  In a near six-hour, whirlwind tour, Governor Kaine promoted green alternatives and conservation in what could be one his last trips to Roanoke while in office.

  Governor Kaine’s term ends next January.

  Kaine started his Roanoke tour with a five mile bicycle ride with supporters on the Roanoke River Greenway.

  The governor then took time to shower at Roanoke Fire-EMS station 11 in the Garden City area.

  Kaine stopped for lunch at the Roanoke Weiner Stand.

  Then the governor browsed the farmer’s market and talked to several vendors.

  After a meeting with the Roanoke Times editorial board, Kaine gave a short speech at a press conference hosted by the Roanoke Clean and Green Business Coalition.

  Kaine said the primary aim of his Star City tour was to promote green initiatives such as conservation and greenhouse gas reduction.

  “If we give people better strategy to conserve energy and use less, then their [utility] bills don’t have to go up,“ Kaine said.

  Kaine admitted energy costs could be going up soon.

  “I do think that it is likely in cases down the road, just due to the diminishing supply, that per unit energy costs will go up.“

  The State Corporation Commission and Appalachian Power heard from dozens Wednesday night in Wytheville at a public hearing on likely ApCo rate increases.

  Power companies have blamed recent rate hikes in part on additional environmental regulations.

  Kaine also addressed criticism from opponents about his travel as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

  Kaine said he had only made one trip out of state this week, to New York for a meeting Monday morning.

  The governor said he didn’t know when he had another event scheduled which will take him out of state in his role as chairman of the DNC.

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12:30 p.m.

Gov. Kaine went to the Downtown Roanoke Farmer’s Market to promote eating heathy and buying those healthier foods locally instead of importing from overseas.

Gov. Kaine then ordered from the Roanoke Weiner stand. I couldn’t see what the Governor ordered, but I’m working on it.

The Governor also spoke about green energy, and the potential of wind power.

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10:45 a.m.

From Scott Leamon, in the field
WSLS Reporter

Governor Tim Kaine has arrived in Roanoke, to begin a whirlwind tour of the City.

He’s on a bike ride on the Roanoke River Greenway with dozens of others right now.  The ride began at Wasena, and goes about five miles to near the Bennington Street bridge.

Before the ride began, the Governor stressed the importance of building more bike trails across the Commonwealth.  Kaine is well-known for his committment to fitness.

Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers was also with the Governor before the ride.  Mayor Bowers said Roanoke is working to build more Greenways, and revealed that the work on the Greenway connector that is set to begin this coming weekend is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving.  Last week, the City said in an e-mail news release that workers hoped to have it finished by the end of October.

According to the City, “The 600-foot section will connect to the existing lower trail bridge, cross under Carlion’s pedestrian walkway, and run alongside Hamilton Terrace until it connects back into the existing trail near the former Piedmont Street location.“

The Governor’s next stop is Fire Station 11.  Following a meeting with firefighters, the Governor will head downtown to the Farmer’s Market.