Virginia Currently Gets Less than 1% of its Power from Wind
The Future of Wind in Virginia
As the state experiences an unprecedented boom in AI and data center infrastructure, maintaining our position as the best state for business requires addressing the subsequent unprecedented power demand.
Wind energy, with its potential for sustainable and clean power generation, could play an important role in meeting these needs. However, global supply chain issues and reliance on foreign imports pose significant risks to our energy security. Recognizing this, Virginia is committed to developing strategic partnerships and investing in domestic solar manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign sources.
As part of Governor Youngkin's all-American, all-of-the-above energy plan, wind energy is integrated alongside other energy sources like nuclear and natural gas to ensure a reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy future for Virginia. This approach not only addresses energy demands and helps us to remain responsible environmental stewards, but it also strengthens our energy independence and security.
Offshore wind in virginia
Most of state's wind energy potential lies offshore, where state boasts significant wind resources along its Atlantic coast. Virginia's first offshore wind farm, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, is owned and operated by Dominion Energy and is located 27 miles off the shores of Virginia Beach. The project is slated for completion in 2026 and will consist of 176 turbines, support 1,000 jobs, and provide emission-free power for up to 660,000 homes.
Workforce
The Mid-Atlantic Wind Alliance is the Commonwealth's first training alliance dedicated to offering a full suite of wind related training including courses certified by the Global Wind Organisation with training locations in Hampton Roads and Martinsville.
According to Chmura Analytics, wind turbine service technician is Virginia's top employment growth career for the next few years . Additionally, O*Net (US Departent of Labor) marks Wind Turbine Service Technicians as a "bright outlook" occupation.
Partners
Benefits:
Clean Renewable Energy
Wind power is a clean, renewable energy source that generates electricity without any direct greenhouse gas emissions or other air pollutants.
Job Growth
Wind farm development, construction, and ongoing operations provide employment opportunities across various sectors, from manufacturing and engineering to operations and maintenance.
Environmental Stewardship
Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, wind power also helps to conserve water resources and minimize other environmental impacts associated with traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation.
Balanced Energy Portfolio
Combining wind with other renewable and traditional energy sources contributes to the diversification of Virginia's energy grid, ensuring our power remains reliable, stable, resilient, and secure.
Energy Security and Independence
By tapping into abundant wind resources, Virginia can reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels which are often subject to market volatility caused by global economic and political turmoil.
Wind Energy Challenges
Intermittent Power Generation
Because our communities need power 24 hours a day and wind turbines only produce electricity when the wind is blowing, wind cannot meet all of our electricity needs on its own.
Investing in an All-of-the-Above Solution
Virginia is pursuing an all-of-the-above energy future, combining renewables with nuclear and other energy sources to ensure reliability for the energy grid. Virginia is exploring and investing in battery storage projects as well as smart grid upgrades to better integrate variable wind energy output.
Transmission Infrastructure
Complex and costly transmission lines are needed in order to bring the energy produced by wind farms located many miles off Virginia's coast back to the mainland.
Streamlining the Process
Virginia is working closely with utility companies, regional transmission organizations, and federal agencies to identify strategic transmission corridors and streamline the permitting and construction processes. Innovative financing models and public-private partnerships are also being explored to facilitate the necessary grid infrastructure investments.
Public Acceptance and Local Impacts
While wind energy generally enjoys broad public support, common concerns include:
- Visual Impact: Large-scale wind farms, especially offshore, can significantly alter landscapes and seascapes.
- Environmental Concerns: Wind turbines pose risks to birds and bats, with studies estimating annual bird fatalities in the U.S. between 140,000 and 679,000 (MIT). Offshore projects may also impact marine ecosystems, particularly during construction (NOAA).
- Noise Pollution: Wind turbines can produce low-frequency noise that may affect nearby residents, potentially causing annoyance and sleep disturbance.
- Construction and Infrastructure: The scale of wind project construction can disrupt local communities and habitats.
- Economic Impacts: Offshore wind farms may restrict access to traditional fishing grounds, affecting local industries (Oceanography Society).
Putting Communities First
Virginia is engaging with local communities, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders to address concerns and ensure the responsible and sustainable development of wind projects. The state is also investing in research and monitoring to better understand and mitigate any potential environmental impacts.
Financial Viability
From high startup costs and market volatility, to shifting public policies and competition from other energy sources, Wind energy projects face a variety of factors that can challenge the project's economic feasibility.
Recent examples of real-world setbacks include the cancellation of large offshore wind projects in New Jersey and New England due to financial constraints, such as supply chain issues, rising interest rates, and policy inadequacies.
Managing Costs
Virginia's wind industry is focusing on securing early financing, policy support, skilled workforce development, and innovative technologies to overcome these challenges and ensure the sustainable growth of wind energy in Virginia.
Wind Energy 101
From turbine technology to advanced floating wind farms, a wide range of scientific fields contribute to making wind power a reality. For those interested in taking a deep dive into wind energy, we recommend exploring the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Basis resources. Below is the DOE's introduction to Wind Energy basics to help you get started.
From turbines technology to advance floating wind farms, a wide range of scientific fields contribute to making wind power a reality. For those interested in taking a deep dive into wind energy, we recommend exploring the U.S. Department of Energy's . Below is the DOE's introduction to Wind Energy basics to help you get started.
"Once called windmills, the technology used to harness the power of wind has advanced significantly over the past ten years, with the United States increasing its wind power capacity 30% year over year. Wind turbines, as they are now called, collect and convert the kinetic energy that wind produces into electricity to help power the grid.
Wind energy is actually a byproduct of the sun. The sun's uneven heating of the atmosphere, the earth's irregular surfaces (mountains and valleys), and the planet's revolution around the sun all combine to create wind. Since wind is in plentiful supply, it's a sustainable resource for as long as the sun's rays heat the planet.
In addition, because wind power is a growing industry, it's adding jobs to communities around the country. Currently, there are utility-scale wind plants in 41 states that have created more than 100,000 jobs for Americans.
Learn more about the wind industry here, from how a wind turbine works, to the new and exciting research in the field of wind energy."
Additional Wind Energy Resources
Wind Energy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy provides the latest research, data, and educational materials on wind energy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory covers a wide range of wind energy topics, including technology, grid integration, and market analysis.
American Wind Energy Association offers industry reports, fact sheets, and other resources on the wind power sector.
Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance represents the interests of wind and solar energy companies operating in Virginia.
Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority The mission of the Authority is to facilitate, coordinate and support development of the offshore wind energy industry, offshore wind energy projects and supply chain vendors.
