Powering Virginia, Protecting America
Letter to the editor Posted September 14, 2025 ( The Virginian Pilot and Daily Press)
Offshore wind off the Virginia Beach coast means reliable power for families, new jobs for our communities, and more substantial support for our military bases.
Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent support for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project is more than welcome—it is necessary. This project will power more than 600,000 homes, strengthen our military bases, and position Virginia as a leader in securing America’s energy future.
For too long, debates over energy have been framed as either/or. Either fossil fuels or renewables. Either traditional energy or innovation. The truth is, we need it all. As Congresswoman Jen Kiggans has rightly argued, an “all-of-the-above” approach is not just good policy—it’s common sense.
Energy security is one of the great national security challenges of our time. Our adversaries are pouring billions into alternative energy to modernize their grids and reduce vulnerabilities. If we ignore clean energy, we fall behind. Offshore wind is not a luxury—it is a strategic necessity.
For Virginia, the benefits are undeniable. This project creates jobs, expands local supply chains, and generates private investment in our communities. It strengthens the infrastructure that keeps our military ready and our lights on. And it ensures the Commonwealth is not just a consumer of energy, but a driver of innovation.
That is why it is so encouraging to see Speaker Johnson and Congresswoman Kiggans urging the Trump Administration to prioritize this project. Their leadership shows that clean energy is not a partisan cause—it is an American imperative. Offshore wind is about security, prosperity, and keeping Virginia—and America—strong.
Thomas N. Turner
Executive Director, Conservatives for Clean Energy Virginia