Tilting toward wind off Virginia's coast

Despite today's stormy economy, the timing probably couldn't be better for proceeding with an experimental wind farm about 12 miles off Virginia Beach's shoreline.

After years of ignoring or downplaying the nation's energy problems and the significance of global warming, more Americans than ever - including public officials - seem to recognize the urgency of investing in clean, renewable energy resources.

In years past, there was skepticism that a productive wind farm could be safely built off Virginia's coast without interfering with the military, the fishing industry or tourism.

But, as The Pilot's Scott Harper recently reported, a group of scientists and energy experts - asked by the General Assembly in 2006 to generate ideas for green-power projects - has completed a two-year study showing that a wind farm off Virginia Beach would be viable.

The project, which would likely include 196 turbines about 300 feet tall, would cost about $1 billion and create more than 3,000 jobs, according to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium. Private companies would build the project, and the Navy could be a partner.

The consortium, based at Old Dominion University, includes scientists from multiple universities, Norfolk State and Virginia Tech among them. Other participants include the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

As promising as the group's findings are, the next phase is in doubt. The proposed state budget, cut heavily, doesn't include $1 million for a pilot project using a few turbines.

Some options are available, and they should be pursued aggressively. Republican state Sen. Frank Wagner, who represents Virginia Beach, is pushing to shift money from the state's tobacco settlement to help secure federal energy grants.

There's also talk of drawing money from the proposed economic stimulus bill on Capitol Hill. The package includes funds for development of renewable energy resources.

Wind energy alone can't produce enough electricity to meet the state's growing demand. But a broader range of options would make our state and nation less reliant on harmful sources like coal (think mercury emissions and mountaintop removal) and risky options like oil drilling off Virginia's coast.

Virginia's delegation to Congress, particularly Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, should get behind the wind project, which - as one researcher describes it - is "ready to go from theory to practice." In a time of crisis, it is a venture worthy of scarce tax dollars. DESPITE TODAY'S stormy economy, the timing probably couldn't be better for proceeding with an experimental wind farm about 12 miles off Virginia Beach's shoreline.

After years of ignoring or downplaying the nation's energy problems and the significance of global warming, more Americans than ever - including public officials - seem to recognize the urgency of investing in clean, renewable energy resources.

In years past, there was skepticism that a productive wind farm could be safely built off Virginia's coast without interfering with the military, the fishing industry or tourism.

But, as The Pilot's Scott Harper recently reported, a group of scientists and energy experts - asked by the General Assembly in 2006 to generate ideas for green-power projects - has completed a two-year study showing that a wind farm off Virginia Beach would be viable.

The project, which would likely include 196 turbines about 300 feet tall, would cost about $1 billion and create more than 3,000 jobs, according to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium. Private companies would build the project, and the Navy could be a partner.

The consortium, based at Old Dominion University, includes scientists from multiple universities, Norfolk State and Virginia Tech among them. Other participants include the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

As promising as the group's findings are, the next phase is in doubt. The proposed state budget, cut heavily, doesn't include $1 million for a pilot project using a few turbines.

Some options are available, and they should be pursued aggressively. Republican State Sen. Frank Wagner, who represents Virginia Beach, is pushing to shift money from the state's tobacco settlement to help secure federal energy grants.

There's also talk of drawing money from the proposed economic stimulus bill on Capitol Hill. The package includes funds for development of renewable energy resources.

Wind energy alone can't produce enough electricity to meet the state's growing demand. But a broader range of options would make our state and nation less reliant on harmful sources like coal (think mercury emissions and mountaintop removal) and risky options like oil drilling off Virginia's coast.

Virginia's delegation to Congress, particularly Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, should get behind the wind project, which - as one researcher describes it - is "ready to go from theory to practice." In a time of crisis, it is a venture worthy of scarce tax dollars.