VIRGINIA BEACH
From a proposed offshore wind farm with whirling turbines as tall as The Westin in Town Center, to regulations for backyard and rooftop turbines, Virginia Beach is on a wind-to-energy binge.
Wind-farm boosters, despite the ailing economy, held a mini conference here this week to build momentum for the project. It was the first formal gathering of government officials, potential investors, manufacturers and scientists since the release of a February study that concluded the project is viable.
Touting the creation of green jobs, organizers said that converting wind to electricity could create a new industry in Hampton Roads. Some suggested that the closed Norfolk Ford Motor Co. plant would make a good turbine factory.
On a smaller scale, the city is developing an ordinance to allow turbines on homes and businesses. The idea is to allow roof-mounted or free standing wind mills in many zoning districts, including neighborhoods.
Getting government, business, environmental, military and scientific groups to work together is the next challenge for the offshore wind farm, said George Hagerman, a Virginia Tech scientist and director of research for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, a state-funded academic group leading the project.
"We need to synchronize all these moving parts with slightly different agendas," he said.
Money is another issue, and probably the biggest obstacle. The estimated $1 billion project, envisioned 12 to 15 miles offshore roughly east of Back Bay, is unfunded.
"We're not going to get a big central government check to go and do this," said Tim Wilkins, who is a private consultant with Paliria Energy in Chesapeake and a consortium member.
Developing a stable manufacturing industry fed by a constant demand for wind-energy products is important to making the project work, advocates said.
For example, turbine manufactures won't set up shop in Virginia unless they can be guaranteed long-term business, said Neil Rondorf, a vice president of Science Applications International Corp., a consulting firm working on the project.
With an average wind speed of 10.4 mph, the ocean off Virginia Beach is well-suited for a wind farm, supporters said. At 12 miles offshore, the spinning turbines would be visible only on extremely clear days, researchers said.
One scenario envisions almost 200 turbines towering nearly 500 feet at their highest point.
There are no offshore wind farms in the United States, but Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island are working on projects.
The city supports the concept, Mayor Will Sessoms said.
"Look at the national level. The president is talking about it," he said. "Shame on Virginia Beach if we're not in a position to take advantage of it."
Advocates are seeking federal stimulus money.
Back on shore, resident Cindy Morey said she's been waiting for city regulations to install a small turbine on her home for electricity. Beach officials are working on an ordinance that will soon go to the Planning Commission and City Council.
Investing $5,000 to $10,000 in a home turbine to save money in the long run makes sense, Morey said. She said her electricity bill can run $500 a month.
"When you're paying the electric company, it's like an open wound," she said. "It bleeds money all the time."
Builder Allen Loree, chairman of the Tidewater Builders Association's Green Building Council, said that while turbines may not be appropriate for every homeowner, he looks forward to seeing them go mainstream.
"Obviously, I don't want to see one pop up in every backyard, but I don't want to see them only offshore and in Pungo," he said.
He suggested installing turbines on the boardwalk at the Oceanfront.
"They almost look like artwork," he said. "We could power the boardwalk 40 to 50 percent of the time."
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122. aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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The Green Economy - Like Selling Ice To The Eskimos...
“... government officials, potential investors, manufacturers and scientists since the release of a February study that concluded the project is viable... Touting the creation of green jobs, organizers said that converting wind to electricity could create a new industry in ___Insert Your City’s Name Here___”
This is the exact same Pie-In-The-Sky sales-pitch that’s being given to every level of gov’t in all 50 States, plus the 10 Provinces & 3 Territorial governments in Canada. Of course... You absolutely MUST jump onto the band-wagon now... Because the sooner you start to subsidize your Green Economy... The more market-share you’ll have...
Yeah... Right...
For about a decade... Or until all the State & Province subsidized wind projects have been completed... Then, one by one, the ‘Green’ manufacturers start to bleed red-ink for lack of any continuing business...
CAVEs
Putting this billion dollars towards a nuclear plant would be a far better investment in a stable power source but in the end it won't really matter. The CAVEs (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) will get their way and neither project will be built.
I have a better idea...
In order to save "future generations" for the alleged eco-catastrophe that the "save the planet" types claim is coming, why don't we just stop having children-then we won't have to worry about conserving the natural resources, we can just trash the place.
Everyone has their undies in a wad over "leaving a clean environment for the children". To them I'd say, first of all, I don't care about your children's future and second, ask anyone who works at Chuck E. Cheese about the mess those brats leave for adults to clean up and I'll bet they'll tell you the same-let them clean it up, it'll be their problem.
First it was "global cooling" in the early 80's, now it's "global warming" in the 21st century-as well as all the celebrity "environmental experts" who were claiming in "ten years" we'd all have to weak oxygen masks and the seas would boil-that was over 20 years ago and we're not even close to the global disaster. If I'm wrong, we all die-so what's the problem?
Yes, by all means....
let's put even MORE navigation hazards in the way of shipping entering and leaving the Chesapeake Bay! 'Alternative' energy sources like wind and solar power may be alright for the immediate point where they're implemented, like a solar panel on the roof of a home it will produce for, but they are very, VERY, inefficient as far as providing energy at any real distance away from where the power is generated. The power lines that transfer the electricty have to come ashore somewhere, and will no doubt have to be 'boosted' to get to many areas, much like an amplifier boosts the signals from a pre-amp in order to produce music thru a pair of speakers in a home.
It's interesting about the well known 'NIMBY' 'tudes by some leftists concerning these windmills. In many areas, clotheslines are not allowed in back yards to dry clothes, Hollywood comes to mind here. It seems that rescinding such restrictions could potentially 'free up' a lot of energy, IF people took advantage of that, and used clothes line to some degree. Just one example of how some common sense can do some good if allowed.
Wishful thinking
If anyone really thinks that if the wind and solar power fad catches on the equipment will be manufactured in the United States they are in a dream world.
The equipment will be manufactured where it can be made the cheapest. China or some other developing country. All that will be here is the distributors and installers. Sure some is made here but on a very limited basis. How much of our equipment is made here now? Very little.
Wind and solar are not cost effective. I did some research and it would take over 600 sq. ft of solar panels to generate 50 percent of what little power I use. I pay Dominion $159/mo on their budget plan so it would take me 40 years to break even. Keep in mind I still have 50 percent to buy from Dominion. I either heat or cool year round. Wind turbines are the same. A turbine to generate 30 percent of my needs would cost around $17,000.
Do some research on your own and stop believing the rosy articles from those who have agendas or stand to gain personally from this.
Green Energy hoax
The sad fact is that nothing you do, Green or not green, makes one tiny bit of difference. That's like saying an asteroid is going to hit the planet, but you'll protect it by holding up an umbrella! If the sun heats up, which it does, the planet heats up. If it cools, so do we. And wind turbines? You have to turn the entire state of Connecticut into a turbine farm just to power Manhattan! Grow up, Greens!
Fossil Fuels vs. Green Energy
Dr. Tabor, Name an industry that is not subsidized by government in some way? The Ford plant should be used to build hybrid vehicles and help reduce our reliance and addiction to foreign oil and the unnecessary cost of having to defend it. Just think if VA Power and other power industries could get carbon credit if they allowed citizens to generate their own power in their back yards with wind and solar? Power companies could really get on the band wagon and start merging with green technologies with conventional but polluting ones and over time introduce the REAL less polluting energy solutions that are out there but monopolized and prevented from coming to market because of the sad fact that there is too much money to be made in providing and defending FOSSIL fuels.
I'm ok with manufacturing wind turbines at the old Ford Plant and since we're losing part of our auto manufacturing base to foreign competitors, we need to manufacture something! We've allowed Asian auto markets to pass our up Big Three over the years with their high MPG well built autos and NOW WE need to be more progressive in all areas of energy generation, conservation and consumption. We need another U.S
Maintenance????
Has anybody suggesting wind turbines offshore thought about the maintenance issues regarding these already ineffecient power generators. Anybody who has ever owned a home at the beach can tell you, everything with moving parts has about a half life expectancy. the yearly maintenance alone to these offshore generators would cost as much as they would recieve in dollars per kilowatt hour. More wasted money!!!
Growth
So when it's all said and done you still need to increase your electricity output if you want to grow. Our current power plants only have so much capacity. Every area of the state and every special interest has a reason to nay say the current idea on the table. No wind turbines off shore. No wind turbines in the mountains. No coal power plants. No nuclear plants. End result I guess will be rolling blackouts throughout the state.
Tax and fine the heck out of the offenders!
I posted earlier and someone afraid of getting taxed pulled the plug. Well here it is. Take a ride down the Lynnhaven river and witness the greatest polluters of the Bay and Rivers. As you travel down, you will see hundreds of homes sloped so all the drainage will go into the rivers. Most of them even have drainage pipes leading right into the Water. These are Offenders of our water ways. They own the land, but the waterways are ours! They are as guilty as Smithfield foods for dumping thousand of chemicals and waste into the bay and tributaries. These people should be fined each and every month! A extremely heavy tax rate should immediately go out to each house hold.
They should be held responsible. And they should be held responsible right now.
Let these fines, and taxes pay for the cleanup. Not the average citizen! It is time people are held accountable for their actions.
JWB
BTW pilot staff...
How long do you plan on punishing me by making my comments subject to approval? It has been many moons now and I would appreciate either removing that formality or telling me how long I can expect to have my freely thought and expressed opinions to suffer a review.
Thank you
ElectricPaul
May 16, 2009.
Every little bit helps
Come on people! You don't have to be a "tree hugging hippie" to care about our planet. Every little thing each of us does to help the environment makes a difference. Anything that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and finite resources is a good thing. Why is it always a "global warming scam"?? Records prove that the temps on this planet are slowly rising! We all need to do our part no matter how small. If your power bill is $500 a month I think you need to really look at how you are wasting energy and contributing to the problem. I'm not ready to give up my computer, tv, etc., however I do what I can to use less, recycle, and turn off the power to things not being used. Can't we all just get along?????
Build it in DC
Build the wind farm in DC. Then you could power the entire planet with the amount of hot air coming out of the Federal Government !
not for the general population
I've done a lot of research on these things in the past. They work out very well for many people. Most people who have them actually get paid by the electric company for pumping power back into the system. The problem is that, at least in our area, only the rich can have them. They are very expensive to have installed, and you have to own at least a few acres to be allowed to have one at your home. They don't install them on homes that are close together.
Maybe some of you haven't noticed...
but the more "green"/efficient we become the more Dominion wants for their electricity. They are not in the business to lose revenue while everyone goes "green". Kaine signed off last year to allow Dominion to raise our rates during a very real energy crisis. The people who want to put these stupid wind mills off the coast are the same people who don't want oil/natural gas rigs 50 miles off the coast. The same people who wanted the boondogle "light rail" to downtown Norfolk. The same people who wanted to spend $3 million for a study for light rail to the Beach after it was defeated by ballot. Our state and federal govt's should be more concerned about OPEC and Hugo Chavez manipulating the world oil market which ruined our economy NOT Bush. What have Pelosi and Reid done about it? NOTHING!
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are used very successfully in Germany, where you see them often as you travel. They are very pleasant to look at and are often situated on farmland. Land is more precious in Europe and the combined land use benefits everyone. I am all for wind, wave and solar power. Each has its place. Lets get going on it!
Poor education in economics
It is amazing that so many people seem to believe that an enormously inefficient boondoggle can be forced on a utility company we have no alternative other than to buy from, and it won't cost us anything.
Every inefficiency we mandate for Dominion, every incentive we offer to encourage irrational choices, every regulation we impose for some nebulous threat to polar bears, will be reflected in our electric bills. It won't be plainly visible, and the gullible will blame it on "greedy corporations" but it will be there and it will lower our standard of living.
And now Will Sessoms is an
And now Will Sessoms is an expert on mass transit as well as energy policy and he is only a Mayor. He spent millions on a choo choo train that a feasibility study has not been completed on.
Maybe
If you previously spent $200/month on power, but save 50% with the modifications to the house, it would take at least 10 yrs to break even. Just enough time to do it all again.
The windows and doors will probably last at least 30 years and the HVAC 20. I'm not sure about the insulation. I guess it settles over time.
Virginia Beach a Good Location?
Placing 250 million dollars worth of towers and turbines in the ocean 12 miles off shore in an area that is frequently in the path of major hurricanes sounds a tad risky to me. And if this is such a slam-dunk wonderful, long-term cheap and easy 'green' solution to energy problems, then why has it not been done before in the US and why are there are only a handful of offshore wind farms in the entire world? Please excuse my skepticism, but when I hear the term 'green solution' being thrown around, I start following the other ‘green solution' – namely money.