NASA, Virginia Launch Power Partnership for Energy Security

NASA’s Langley Research Center has partnered with the Virginia Department of Energy to bolster long-term energy security across the state. Announced during a Friday ceremony in Hampton, Virginia, the collaboration was established through a new Space Act Agreement. Under the agreement, NASA will supply specialized solar, meteorological, and weather risk datasets to assist state officials with resiliency studies and resource analysis.

The information integrates into Virginia Energy’s modeling tools via a digital pipeline connecting to Langley’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources, or POWER, web platform. These validated datasets originate from NASA’s Earth Science to Action program, drawing on research from Langley, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Ames Research Center.

The partnership aims to help state planners evaluate how extreme weather impacts electricity demand and system stress. By using customized energy metrics, such as cooling degree days that track temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Fahrenheit, officials can better assess vulnerabilities and forecast power production. NASA POWER team members will collaborate directly with state researchers to streamline data exchanges, format adjustments, and future data needs.