The Country’s Largest New Renewable Energy Project Is Coming To Virginia Beach
Share This
-
Maddison Pace
Hampton Roads is in line to become the national leader in offshore wind energy thanks to new developments at the Port of Virginia and in the waters off Virginia Beach.
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is a wind farm coming to our area that will feature as many as 180 wind turbines located over the horizon some 27 miles off the coast.
The $8 billion venture is part of Virginia’s commitment to a green future, set forth in the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act that, among other things, sets a goal of 100% carbon-free energy production in the state by 2045.
Dominion Energy is partnering with Siemens Gamesa on the facility, and already two pilot turbines are up and running providing 12 megawatts of energy. When completed the wind farm will deliver over 2,600 megawatts of electricity to the region, enough to power over 600,000 homes.
This location at the Port of Virginia is second to none. It has deep water access, no overhead restrictions, a strong, experienced maritime workforce and sufficient space for these large wind infrastructure components. It is perfectly situated to serve the Virginia offshore wind project and grow the domestic supply chain needed to complete other offshore wind projects in the United States.
Siemens Gamesa also recently announced that it has leased over 80 acres of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in the Port of Virginia to establish a $200 million manufacturing plant for offshore wind turbine blades. The new plant will be the first of its kind in the country, and will supply facilities throughout North America.
In August, Richmond hosted the nation’s premier offshore wind conference, the Business Network for Offshore Wind 2021 International Partnering Forum. Over 600 companies from around the world gathered in the state capitol to discuss development of offshore wind farms and the latest advances, and to form partnerships for future projects.
The CVOW project is expected to be completed in 2026 and will bring over 1,000 union jobs to the region. The new turbine blade manufacturing plant in Portsmouth is expected to create 310 new jobs.
Share This Story
Email This Story
Maddison Pace
More Stories
Virginia Beach Named One of the Best Cities to Drive in
Choosing the perfect place to retire is a major decision, and in 2024…
Most Read
Most Read
More Stories
Virginia Beach Is One Of The Best Cities To Live In
With its population of over 450,000 residents, Virginia Beach is...
Town Center Block 11 Completed On Schedule
Another tall tower goes up, offering retail, luxury apartments, and...
Donate to TheVBJ!
More
2 Of The 5 Best Botanical Gardens For Holiday Lights Are Here In/Near Hampton Roads
The boardwalk and The Wisconsin are just two of the great places to see the lights this holiday season.
How To Choose A Hotel At The Virginia Beach Oceanfront
How to sort through the many options and find the best choice for you.
Norfolk International Airport Sets Record With Over 4 Million Travelers
Nearly half a million of those in July alone.
