Dominion Energy has filed a construction and operations plan with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the 2640MW next phase of the Coastal Virginia offshore wind farm off the US east coast.
The plan includes information about the construction, operations and conceptual decommissioning for Dominion Energy’s proposed offshore wind farm to be installed within a 45,648-hectare lease areas located 43km off the coast of Virginia Beach.
Information about onshore and support facilities is included as well, Dominion said.
The company said the filing shows it has designed and sited the project in a manner that protects natural resources, the environment and human and wildlife health, as well as uses the best available and safest technology.
The wind farm does not unreasonably interfere with other uses of the Outer Continental Shelf, such as commercial and recreational fishing, commercial shipping lanes and military training manoeuvers, it added.
Data based on the results of the many surveys of the lease area – geophysical, geotechnical, biological, cultural, socioeconomic – are also included in the filing for BOEM’s review, which will take approximately two years to complete.
Earlier this year, Dominion completed the construction of the 12MW pilot phase, which is located adjacent to the commercial lease area.
The two turbines are operational while the project undergoes BOEM’s technical review before officially entering service.
Dominion said the commercial project is on track to commence construction in 2024, and is scheduled for completion in 2026.
An economic impact study performed by Glen Allen-based Mangum Economics and commissioned and published by the Hampton Roads Alliance estimated that the commercial project could create approximately 900 jobs and $143m in economic impact each year during construction and 1100 jobs and almost $210m in economic impact annually during operations.
During construction the commercial project is estimated to generate nearly $5m a year in local and state tax revenue, increasing to almost $11m once the project is commissioned and operational.
Dominion Energy vice president of offshore wind Joshua Bennett said: “This is an important step in the process toward bringing commercial-scale offshore wind to the Commonwealth and shows Dominion Energy is committed to delivering the clean, renewable and reliable energy our customers expect from us.
“We look forward to working with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the CVOW commercial project moves through the permitting process.”