Global Winds Day

Global Winds Day is a day devoted to celebrating wind energy, its power, and its potential for reshaping our energy systems and guiding us to a greener future. This is definitely a day to celebrate in Virginia. With our Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, we are leading the country towards a greener future. Following Rhode Island’s example, Virginia is the second state to build a wind farm in federal waters. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will make a positive impact on Virginia and the United States. 

Unlike fossil fuels, wind energy is a clean, renewable resource. Transitioning to clean energy is essential in combating climate change and meeting our 100% renewable energy goals set forth in the Virginia Clean Economy Act. . 

Wind power through the years

People have been using wind energy for thousands of years. Windmills were first used by the Greek, Persians, and other early civilizations to power grain mills and water pumps. The modern wind technology we use today are wind turbines. Wind turbines consist of three blades facing the wind at an angle that rotates them. Inside of the wind turbine are magnets in a coil of wire. When the wind rotates the blades, the magnets rotate as well- generating energy. Offshore wind farms consist of many wind turbines that work together to generate lots of energy. The energy is sent to shore and used to power homes and cars. Wind energy is a great alternative to fossil fuels and will play a great role in our future- especially here in Virginia. 

Wind to power Virginia

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, led by Dominion Energy Virginia, is working to construct 176 wind turbines near the coast of Virginia Beach. Construction began in May 2020 and will end in 2026. Virginia is opening a door towards clean and renewable energy. The wind farm will allow Virginia to avoid millions of tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions and moves us closer to our net zero emissions goal for 2050. 

As climate change is increasing, it is important that we transition quickly to renewable energy. Wind energy will play an important role in this transition.

The future of wind around the globe

Many countries such as China, Denmark, and Germany are turning towards wind power, and it is time we do the same. Wind is generated in every state, and it will become a great source of energy for the United States as a whole. The US is currently working on accelerating the offshore wind industry and there are plans to build offshore wind farms in Maryland, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. 

This Global Winds Day we can celebrate this amazing source of energy and Virginia’s progress in wind development. Wind energy has great potential for reshaping our energy systems and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It is exciting to see what the United States has done so far and will do in the future to harness the power of the winds and use it for good.

Environment Virginia intern, McKayla BrownPhoto by staff | TPIN

This contribution was written by our summer intern McKayla Brown. McKayla will be starting her sophomore year at Hawaii Pacific University in the fall where she will pursue her passion for our oceans, studying Marine Affairs.