Avangrid Renewables has submitted a construction and operations plan (COP) to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for the first 800MW phase of the Kitty Hawk offshore wind farm off the US east coast.
The COP also includes the findings from an economic impact study (EIS), conducted by the Public Strategy Group.
Avangrid said the EIS anticipates “substantial economic and employment benefits” to result from the construction of the wind farm’s multiple phases between 2021 and 2030.
Kitty Hawk is expected to generate $2bn in economic impact between 2021 and 2030 and is expected to create nearly 800 jobs in Virginia and North Carolina.
Nearly 600 of those jobs would be in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
The first phase is expected to start construction as soon as 2024.
Kitty Hawk is slated to have a total generation capacity of up to 2.5GW when all the phase are built.
Avangrid Renewables head of US offshore wind Bill White said: “We’re proud to be the first to submit a federal permit for a commercial scale offshore wind project in Virginia and the Carolinas.
“Kitty Hawk offshore wind will deliver clean energy to customers in the region and significant economic benefits and quality jobs for decades to come.”
Hampton Roads Alliance president and chief executive Doug Smith said: “The offshore wind industry presents tremendous opportunity to the Hampton Roads region.
“I look forward to working with Avangrid Renewables as they develop the Kitty Hawk project and deliver substantial economic benefits to the Hampton Roads region.”