The Virginian-Pilot
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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has taken his first formal step in developing offshore wind power, requesting the formation of a task force to guide the leasing of federal waters off the Virginia coast.
The formation of the task force is the first step in developing wind energy in the Hampton Roads area, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
In June, a task force reported to Virginia Beach that an offshore wind farm in the city could create about 1,100 jobs and reduce the state’s dependence on nonrenewable energy with minimal environmental impact.
Virginia is one of 10 states with a shallow-water resource base that could meet state energy demand.
Economic projections can give only estimates on potential costs of the project, but the wind farm could cost upward of $1.5 billion, Neil Rondorf of the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium said in June.
“But you’re not going to be paying fuel costs down the road, just maintenance and operating costs,” he said.
In December 2008, Kaine launched Renew Virginia, a yearlong series of actions to promote renewable energy, creating green jobs and encouraging preservation of the environment.
“With the great resources in the Hampton Roads region, Virginia has the added potential to be the manufacturing and economic center for this burgeoning green industry,” Kaine said in the news release.
Kaine said he has sent a letter to the U. S. Department of the Interior requesting the creation of the wind task force.
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Risks and Benefits
There is so much passion around this issue and not enough facts. If you look at the upper end of the estimates for Mid-Atlantic oil and gas reserves, and compare that to global demand (and it is a global market), it is easy to see why the published economic studies on this issue are clear that drilling here will reduce prices at the pump by a penny or two, if at all.
Right now an oil well near Western Australia that blew out has been leaking for over a month -- they are still trying to stop it. The oil has covered 58,000 square miles. How big is that? 58,000 square miles would cover the Mid-Atlantic area from VA Beach to Ocean City MD, clear out to Norfolk canyon and the other canyons along the continental shelf edge.
Its imperative that we start developing wind and other clean energy sources now--for high paying jobs, the health of the planet, and for National security.
Drilling? LOL!
There is not a shred of objective evidence/data to support the ridiculous claim that drilling off the coast of Virginia is more efficient. None! The negative environmental impact is a real threat though. And perhaps most neglected (well, other than environmental effects, both local and global from the wasteful production of a fossil-fuel source that produces CO2 when burned) by foaming-at-the-mouth drilling supporters is the absolute fact that even if oil is found (a huge "if"), there is no guarantee at all that any of it will end up in Virginia or the US. Because oil companies have always and will always take the oil to where the market gives the highest price. The same point is valid for ANWR. But of course that fact is conveniently neglected by those who support the oil companies. It sure speaks volumes that those who shriek "Drill Baby Drill" are the same that say "Go Bob Go". Neither will result in any benefit for the Commonwealth.
$$$$
With state budget cuts who is gonna pay for the study? Yeah, I've not read the story.
I am curious about this subject
I saw many windmills in the early 1990s near Sacremento in California while driving down the highways. They were hundreds of yards off the highways and on beautiful hills. They were running like crazy, and a few people complained about the noise at night. I never found out how they provided energy to neighborhoods, but it was fun seeing them in action. Please, can somebody start a constructive discussion of this type of energy and why we should embrace it?
Kudos To Kaine
Right thing to do. Right time to do it.
Let's be a leader in this field and move forward with the wind farm asap.
Wrong thing to do. Wrong
Wrong thing to do. Wrong time to do it. Drilling is much more cost effective and efficient.
Hey Timmy. Why don't you go
Hey Timmy. Why don't you go ahead and leave the state now and quit wasting our money. You and your socialist, environmental wackos, have held up offshore drilling long enough. Drill baby Drill. Go Bob Go...