State Officials Look to Future With Wind

State officials hope an offshore wind turbine demonstration will place Virginia in the forefront of wind power in the U-S and a job creator for the commonwealth. Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Energy announced the first three offshore wind turbine demonstration projects. Jose Zayas is the the department’s Director of the Wind and Water Technologies Office, and he says the potential for coastline wind energy is enormous ~The Virginia demonstration project will involve two wind turbines 26 miles off the coast big enough to power up to three thousand homes. But how would wind generation costs compare to coal or natural gas. Zayas says mid to long term, fairly competitively ~The offshore turbines should be in place by 2017. Scientists will monitor their ability to withstand strong storms, even hurricanes and the impact, if any, upon wildlife.