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VIRGINIA OFFSHORE WIND: HERE, NOW, DONE RIGHT
Offshore wind is happening here in Virginia, and it is happening now. In June 2020, Virginia became the first state in the nation to stand offshore wind turbines in federal waters. With its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, Virginia is also in line to be home to the nation’s largest offshore wind project - bringing 2,600 megawatts of clean energy to over 650,000 homes by 2026.
Virginia must now ensure that offshore wind is done right, meaning it is brought online in a way that is fair, equitable and beneficial for all Virginians.
Offshore wind = Thousands of good jobs + affordable clean energy for Virginia
Researchers estimate that a full build-out of the offshore wind industry can create as many as 14,000 jobs in Virginia(1). These are high-paying, local, career-length jobs that can employ a broad swath of Virginians - high school and college grads, job changers, returning citizens, veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce and residents of historically disadvantaged communities.
In addition to tremendous job opportunities, offshore wind turbines made and constructed with American parts and labor also deliver significant cost savings. Globally, costs have plunged 32% in the past year, and industry experts anticipate even further price drops as the U.S. builds its own manufacturing and supply chain instead of importing European parts(2).
More than 1 in 10 Virginia residents live below the federal poverty threshold. With offshore wind, Virginia can help confront income inequality by creating more and higher paying jobs for its residents. It's a win-win for Virginians.
Why Offshore Wind Matters:
Virginia needs offshore wind to reach our 100% clean energy goals
- And it’s there for the taking! The wind resource off the Atlantic coast is large enough to supply the entire electric demand of the U.S. There are currently over 26,000 MW of OSW projects in the planning and development stages along the Atlantic, enough to power over 15 million homes. This is America’s new energy frontier, and Virginia can and must be part of it.
- Unlike fossil fuel projects and infrastructure, OSW does not come at the expense of people’s health and the environment. Wind energy boasts a national record of avoiding 189 million tons of CO2 emissions since 2001(3). Offshore wind energy in Virginia will improve public health and wellness, and confront the climate crisis head-on.
Offshore wind creates thousands of career-length, family-supporting jobs for Virginians
- Researchers estimate that a full build-out of the offshore wind industry can create over 14,000 jobs in Virginia. These are high-paying, local, long-term jobs that can employ a broad range of Virginians including people in low-income communities, high school and college grads, returning citizens, and veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce.
- More than 1 in 10 Virginia residents live below the federal poverty threshold (4). With OSW, Virginia can help confront income inequality by creating more and higher paying jobs and wealth for residents with limited economic opportunity.
- Coupling Virginia’s robust network of community colleges, trade schools, world-class universities, and labor apprenticeship programs, with investments in the state’s workforce development, can quickly avail a ready workforce to support Virginia’s establishment as a major hub for the offshore wind industry.
- In addition to tremendous job opportunities, offshore wind turbines made and constructed with American parts and labor also brings significant cost savings. Globally, costs have plunged 32% in the past year, and industry experts anticipate even further price drops as the U.S. builds its own manufacturing and supply chain instead of importing European parts.
(2) BloombergNEF (BNEF) report, Jan. 2018
(3) Wind’s Environmental Record: American Wind Energy Association
(4) Virginia Department of Health data on the Social Determinants of Health: Poverty
Contact |
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Eileen WollOffshore Energy Program Director Email: eileen.woll[at]sierraclub.org |