Vol. 42
Nov 2023
Warner, Kaine, & Scott Applaud Approval of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project and Over $39 Million in Federal Funding to Support Project
U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott applauded the Administration’s announcement of its approval of the CVOW commercial project off the coast of the Hampton Roads region. In addition to the approval of the project, the Department of Transportation announced $39,265,000 in federal funding for the City of Norfolk Economic Development Authority, which is working to convert an existing marine terminal and berth to an offshore wind logistics facility that will support the CVOW project and other projects.
Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project Achieves Another Major and On-time Milestone
Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project received a favorable Record of Decision from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The project is on-time and on budget with onshore construction commencing later this year.
Arrival of Hulking Steel Structures at Port of Virginia Marks Progress in Virginia Offshore Wind Project
Eight 1,500-ton tube-like steel structures loomed at the Port of Virginia on an uncharacteristically warm October morning. Federal and state legislators, joined by local business and elected leaders, were dwarfed by the structures — called monopiles — as they celebrated the steel that marks a new chapter in the nation’s first offshore wind project in federal waters. The monopiles, built in Germany, will serve as the foundations for eight wind turbine towers.
LCOE for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project Expected to Be Lower; Dominion in Talks with Potential Project Partner
Dominion Energy has submitted a filing with Virginia’s State Corporation Commission with an updated levelised cost of energy calculation for the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The updated LCOE is USD 77/MWh, decreasing from the previous range of USD 80–90/MWh.
Dominion Seeks Investor Interest in Backing Offshore Wind Project
Though the challenge of financing offshore wind projects led a Danish firm to pull the plug on a New Jersey project, Dominion Energy is seeing interest from outside investors in backing its $9.8 billion offshore wind farm. “We are in the advanced stages of a process to identify a non-controlling equity financing partner in the project,” said Robert Blue, chairman, CEO and president.
Op-Ed: What Virginia is Getting Right About Offshore Wind Development
Pessimistic headlines about a major United States offshore wind developer cancelling a project raised pointed questions about the future of the industry. This overlooks another important development that happened the same day – one that provides lessons in how to build a thriving wind industry, with a Southern state leading the way. The same day that New Jersey developers pulled the plug, federal officials approved the country’s largest offshore wind project in Virginia – which is on budget and schedule.  What has Virginia gotten right that other states haven’t?
Opinion: Developing Offshore Wind in Virginia Takes Time. That’s a Good Thing.
If it feels like Virginia’s flagship offshore wind project development has been a long process, you’re right. The conservation community has been celebrating CVOW milestones since the Virginia Clean Economy Act passed in 2020. We’ll continue to celebrate these milestones until 2026, when offshore wind energy will begin fueling more than 660,000 homes with renewable energy.
Siemens Gamesa Cancels $200 Million Portsmouth Wind Blade Factory
Amid failing turbine components and financial challenges, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy said it has “discontinued” its plans to build the nation’s first offshore wind-turbine blade manufacturing facility at the Port of Virginia’s Portsmouth Marine Terminal. “Siemens Gamesa will continue to meet our obligations for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.” a spokesperson for the Spanish-German wind turbine company said in a statement.
Dominion Confirms First U.S. Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Will Be Completed Later than Planned
The first US-built and Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, Charybdis, will be completed in late 2024 or early 2025, Dominion Energy said in its financial report for the third quarter of 2023, confirming the information that surfaced after the company’s second quarter report in August.
WINDSday Newsletter
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Virginia Offshore Wind Supplier Development Grant
The Virginia Offshore Wind Supplier Development Grant (VOWSD) encourages existing Virginia companies to enter the offshore wind supply chain. The program targets existing manufacturers or manufacturing-adjacent companies who have operated in Virginia for at least one year and have under 250 full-time employees.
Visit VEDP's website to learn more about the grant, including eligibility and requirements.