The Green Energy Capital of the East Coast
By Kelsey Thomas
If you’ve been to Virginia Beach before, you may remember us introducing you to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Farm owned by Dominion Energy. Estimated to provide energy for up to 660,000 homes and create at least 1,100 jobs, this project brings the region closer to achieving our net-zero emission goals. The massive wind turbines are located about 23 miles off the coast and some local charters even offer tours to visit them up close.
The Program
These bad boys are impressively taller than the Washington Monument, towering at 600 feet above the water line and extending an addition 201 feet underwater and below the ocean floor. The pilot program is expected to host 180 turbines by 2026 that stand at 800 feet above the water line and will produce 14 MW of electricity each, according to Dominion Energy’s eastern region policy director, Bonita Harris.
Only the second offshore wind project in the nation, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project is the largest and the first wind farm in federal waters and the only one to be owned and operated by a United States utility company (Dominion Energy). They are committed to delivering clean and renewable energy and avoiding carbon dioxide emissions.
The Perks
With all 180 expected turbines, 8.8 million MW of wind power per year will be generated to the grid, all with zero carbon emissions.
That means greener and cleaner air.
The location of the turbines in the ocean also brings benefits to local marine life. The structures home to the development of marine life, which in turns brings even more fish to the area. This helps to boost the recreational fishing communities that are already so vital to Virginia Beach. The windmills also promote connectivity between different marine habitats but attracting mobile species that often move from one area to another. This is a major positive, as these species often rely on migrating to different habitats
throughout their life.
With new projects comes new jobs and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Program has brought forth incredible career opportunities locally, as about 150 full-time Dominion Energy employees will be needed to operate the wind turbines. It is also expected that there will be an annual average of 900 additional jobs for the construction and 1,100 new jobs for the operation, according to the Magnum Economics Study commissioned by the Hampton Roads Alliance.
Locals and tourists alike can marvel over the sight of the giant towers when they venture out on the open waters by boat or on a tour to see the incredible phenomenon. With the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Farm living in the Atlantic, it’s safe to say that the wind is blowing our way and Virginia Beach is destined to become the green energy capital of the East Coast.
Learn more at CoastalVAWind.com.
Learn more at DominionEnergy.com.
