Dominion Power expects to seek state approval in mid 2016 for its investment in a 12MW offshore wind demonstration scheme off Virginia.
The US utility is trying to cut the project cost and is preparing requests for proposals for construction.
“We plan to receive and evaluate the bids with the goal of submitting a cost recovery rider application to the Virginia State Corporation Commission no later than 31 July 2016,” Dominion spokesperson Dan Genest told reNEWS.
The project stalled after construction costs escalated to $400m, nearly double Dominion’s initial estimate of $230m.
The US Energy Department has approved an extension to 31 May 2016 for the project to receive the next installment of a $47m grant, said Genest. It has pocketed $6.7m so far and must meet specified milestones to receive the next payment of $13.3m.
Over the next six months, the DoE will evaluate the status and progress being made by Dominion and four other federally funded projects.
“In May 2016, the Energy Department will reevaluate the full portfolio,” said a DOE spokesperson.
Dominion, which leads a consortium of private companies and government agencies developing the pilot project, plans to install two Alstom-GE Haliade 150 6MW turbines on Keystone twisted jacket foundations 27 miles off Virginia Beach.
The utility’s 2015 integrated resource plan projects an in-service date of 2019.
Image: (Alstom)
