Dominion Energy has received two key approvals from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the design, fabrication and installation of the 12MW Coastal Virginia offshore wind project.
BOEM has reviewed and responded to the two filings with a ‘no objection’ determination, making it the only fully permitted offshore wind project in US federal waters.
The decision from the agency is a necessary in order for the wind farm to move forward with offshore construction, which is on track for the summer of 2020, said Dominion.
The state utility submitted its facility design report (FDR) and fabrication and installation report (FIR) in partnership with Orsted, which will construct the project, and Siemens Gamesa, which is supplying two 6MW turbines for Coastal Virginia to be installed 43 km off the Virginian coast.
Dominion Energy generation construction vice president Mark Mitchell said: “This is a significant milestone as we move forward on building the first-ever fully permitted offshore wind project in federal waters.
“This process will provide key learnings we can apply to our commercial-scale offshore wind project.”
“The FDR/FIR no objection determination is the latest milestone in a list of firsts for the burgeoning offshore wind industry in the US to come through the Coastal Virginia offshore wind project,” said Thomas Brostrom, Orsted US offshore wind chief executive.
He added the project “continues to provide all involved parties valuable experience that will drive regulatory efficiencies and increased certainty that will reduce costs for future projects in the US.”
The FDR details the design of all the major components of Coastal Virginia, while the FIR describes the fabrication and installation plans for the equipment.
LE Myers Company began onshore construction in June to facilitate interconnection of the two turbines at a Dominion Energy substation near Camp Pendleton.
The construction process is on a strict timetable, in order to “minimise environmental impacts to the sea bottom and aquatic life”, according to Dominion.
Observers will be present during the offshore construction activities to look for protected species in the area. If those species are located within an exclusion zone, work will be stopped.
The company recently announced the largest offshore wind project in the US, with approval from the State Corporation Commission, which will generate more than 2600MW by 2026.