Senator Warner and Deputy U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Poneman announced on Friday that Virginia will receive close to $37 million from the economic recovery package to help weatherize low-income homes -- improvements that can help families save energy costs in the long-run.

The announcement was made at Hampton University on Friday during Senator Warner's "Virginia Summit on Energy Opportunities," a half-day conference of government officals, business leaders, industry experts, and activists. 

As Senator Warner described it (per the Virginian-Pilot): "the intent was simple: connect idea people with money people, then sit back and watch innovation and deal-making flourish."  The goal was to bring all the stakeholders together so Virginia can become a leader in new energy development -- including alternative energy sources and green energy technologies.

During the conference, both Senator Warner and Deputy Secretary Poneman spoke about the opportunities available in the economic recovery package to jump-start a new, green energy economy.  Senator Warner said that, over the next 25 years, he believes that more jobs and more wealth will be created in the energy sector than any other industry.  And, he said, he hopes Virginia can become a leader in that new green economy:

"In the '80s, Virginia was able to be a leader in telecom.  In the '90s, it was the Internet, with AOL and other companies making Virginia the leader.  We've got the chance for Virginia to plant the flag and be, in effect, the Silicon Valley of new energy development for the entire country."

Here is Senator Warner's wrap-up of the event:

Friday's Energy Summit was the second in a series of conferences hosted by Senator Warner that will help Virginians take advantage of funding available through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  In May, he hosted the "Virginia Conference on Health Information Technology" at VCU.

Click here for more info from the Energy Summit.