If you look at the wind maps for the state of Virginia:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/win...

that most of Virginia's wind potential is offshore.  For onshore sites, the wind either isn't strong enough, or isn't regular enough.

as I am sure you know the market for exporting coal is booming right now, especially to China and South Africa requiring more and more coal for its manufacturing capabilities, especially the steel industry we all but handed to the Chinese in the last twenty years. As long as exports of coal are rising then politicans will be slow to wrap their arms around solar power or wind farms. While I agree on the jobs point, if you want to address jobs why not bring back a federal incentive for America to re-start or jumpstart our manufacturing base and steel industry by authorizing an infrastrcuture rehabilitation agenda to not only update our infrastructure but also put Amercians to work by taking back our manufacturing economy. It may not be the best thing (coal) for the environment when compared to solar/wind power, but then are we willing to put our environmental policy ahead of any program or agenda that seeks to rebuild America, stimulate the economy,create jobs, maybe address our road/bridge issues in the fashion of FDR. Hard question I know.

So, if coal exports are rising, why would we want to tie up those coal resources in supplying a coal fired power plant?  Demand we know is rising primarily due to China and at some point India will have an effect.  I think since economic growth is so high in both of those places, the increased demand will have a greater effect on prices as supply won't be as quick to catch up.  That being the case, the higher cost of fuel for the power plant will be passed on to consumers through rate-making.  So, in the end, it may not be cheaper for this power.

From a political perspective which is what I was addressing it certainly may have little to do with whether its "cheaper" or not I am afraid. We sometimes look at these things in abox, I know I do at times, but politicans have this nasty little ability to paint things with broad strokes and the weight of any impact with regard to trade in this area will surely be pitched to them be the lobbyists to oppose anything that might curb coal production for distribution.
In the end in terms of the rise in coal demand WE have ourselves to blame. The economies of China and India are direct beneficiaries to OUR consumption of their exports. We get an unfair dose of the foriegn oil rhetoric against the Middle East while we get more oil from the Western Hemisphere because its politcially fashionable to do so while every major contender for the Presidency backs off of talking about China. Even if we could manage to get things moving to address the environment in a sound way, does any of us actually believe we will ever get the Chinese to clean up its act while in trade talks. It hard to demand much from your banker when he holds all the notes against you.

Gila Bend thanks you, I'm sure, for that characterization. When I attended the U of A in Tucson, there were cotton farmers making a bundle in that town, irrigated cotton, of course, heavily subsidized by the federal government as well... which tended to keep Gila Bend green in another way.

The thing about solar or wind plants is, they require little water to run (only water to fabricate the initial panels or windmills) and so this is another good thing for Arizona, which, like Nevada, has drawn down its aquifer and the Colorado River about as far as possible, and the state is desperate for water. Looks like another Democratic Governor (Napolitano) has a keen eye for the future; the political dynamics are undoubtedly very different for her than for Kaine.  

That was the AP's characterization of Gila Bend, not mine. For the record, The Green Miles has never been there but is sure it is a rustic town with a rich history.

Don't forget how water shortages are affecting the nuclear industry, as well.

I have seen the reports of growing water shortage concerns, especially in areas now going after the ethanol market in the midwest but it begs the question how can we get serious about water shortage as an issue when the fasting growing consumer drink segment after the energy drink craze is the bottled water market now in the billions of dollars? Scary is'nt it.

I've seen it down there as well.  Un-freakin-believable.