The potential for capturing wind energy off the coast of Virginia received a huge boost with an announcement from the federal government that energy companies could be allowed to install wind turbines within 3 years.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar appeared with Energy Secretary Steven Chu in Norfolk to detail a quicker permitting process and the availability of $50 million in grants for research and development of the renewable energy source.
“The wind potential of the Atlantic Coast is staggering,” said Salazar, who pointed out that the nation’s only approved offshore wind farm is off the coast of Cape Code, Massachusetts. A process that was eagerly awaiting approval for almost 10 years.
The Interior Department will issue leases by the end of the year or early 2012 in four zones off the coasts of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
From there, companies could place turbines in the water, but industry leaders have said it would take longer than that because the turbines are still on the drawing board and the infrastructure, such as transmission lines, are not in place.
The zone under consideration for Virginia is about 12 miles off the coast of Virgina Beach. It’s part of an area a research consortium said could provide 3,200 megawatts of electricity, or roughly 10 percent of the state’s power use.
The turbines would not be visible from shore, much to the delight of residents of Virginia Beach. The area is also outside of NASA’s Wallops’ rocket-launching range and the Navy’s live-ordnance ranges. Two problems the Nantucket wind farm project encountered.
Federal grants for the project will be awarded over the next 5 years to companies that will design turbines and conduct environmental and economic research.
As outlined in my blog, Wind Farms- Courtesy of China, China is a top runner in the renewable energy market but that is no reason why Americans cannot step up to the plate and take control, especially since this project is on American soil.
The wind farm off the Atlantic coast, if it comes to fruition, will have the blessing of the National Wildlife Federation and other environmental groups which is rather significant as opposition parties of wind energy claim that there would be too many birds that would run the risk of being hurt in the endeavor for cleaner energy.
Offshore wind farms holds great potential to create jobs, cut pollution, and reduce our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. It is time for America to move forward boldly and responsibly with clean energy. I realize that there are more unknowns with green energy than there is with gas/oil production but the benefit far outweighs the speculation and willingness to stay in our comfort zone.
At a time that unemployment is at a whopping 9%, wind power development could prove to be a godsend not just to ease unemployment woes but also for a decrease in energy and gas costs as well as an increase in environmental benefits.
Copyright (c) February 16, 2011. All rights reserved.
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