Group should give concrete answers

Like previous letters from Environment Virginia, the most recent one (“Virginia is ripe for green reform,” The Daily Progress, Oct. 25) mentions the University of Massachusetts projection that the energy bill now before the Senate will create 28,000 or more new jobs in Virginia.
When? Immediately after the passage of the bill? During the next 10 years? I am sure these projections are difficult, if not impossible, to answer.
However, the letter makes further statements and brings up further questions that the organization can answer. For instance: “We can meet 25 percent of the state’s electricity demands through offshore wind power alone (according to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium.)”
The cost of one wind turbine is known. Wind turbines are very large and require a strong, deep foundation and a strong superstructure. An offshore turbine could be in 50 feet or more of water and built to survive strong wave action and an occasional hurricane. The cost could easily double.
How much electricity each turbine can produce is known. Twenty-five percent of the state’s electricity demands is known. How many turbines needed can be calculated. One hundred? One thousand? What is the maintenance cost? How long will they last? How many miles of expensive cable will be needed? What will the onshore distribution centers cost? How long will it take get into production? How will we finance this tremendous project before any revenue results?
Environment Virginia can provide the answers before the cap-and-trade bill comes up for a Senate vote. Will it?

Med Hammon
Albemarle County