I've been critical of Glenn Nye's votes against health care reform and cap and trade, but I strongly agree with Nye on this issue. Thanks to Rep. Nye for taking the lead on jumpstarting offshore wind power for Virginia.
Virginia is blessed with many natural resources - but one of the most important has yet to be tapped - offshore wind energy.
Last Friday, I joined Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, and leaders from across our community to announce the formation of a new coalition aimed at making Virginia a world leader in offshore wind development.
According to recent estimates, a fully-developed offshore wind industry in Hampton Roads could create 10,000 jobs and be worth $80 billion to the region.
As part of this team effort, I have been working to cut through the red tape at the federal level to clear the way for offshore wind investment. In September, I sent a letter to President Obama and the Secretaries of Defense, Transportation, Energy and Homeland Security, asking them to clarify the rules and restrictions for offshore development.
Our national security must always come first, and we must absolutely ensure that any wind farms do not interfere with Naval operations or coastal radar coverage - and I will continue working to find a way to satisfy the training and operational requirements of the Navy while allowing for the development of offshore wind energy.
Energy independence is itself an issue of national security. Our dependence on foreign oil forces us to send billions of hard-earned dollars overseas to unstable foreign regimes instead of investing that money here at home.
Investing in wind energy will create jobs, strengthen our security, and most importantly, help to counter the threat of climate change. This is a goal that we must pursue, and working together, I believe we can make Virginia and Hampton Roads the national leaders in this new and growing sector.
To share your thoughts about alternative and renewable energy, or to find out more, please contact me at 757-326-6201, click here to send me an email, or stop by my next Congress at Your Corner meeting.
It is a privilege to serve you in Congress.
Sincerely,
Glenn Nye
Member of Congress
Wind power is an enormous potential resource,
far greater than any serious potential for oil development off Virginia's coast. Which raise the question, of course, why is Bob McDonnell pushing for the latter and not the former? Is he ignorant, ideological, in the oil industry's pocket, or all of the above? I vote for the latter option.
