Siemens Gamesa has held a launch ceremony in Virginia for what will be the first offshore wind turbine blade facility in the US.
Siemens Gamesa will develop more than 32 hectares at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal upon execution of a firm order for the 2.6GW Coastal Virginia offshore wind commercial project with Dominion Energy.
The $200m facility would perform finishing of patented Siemens Gamesa Offshore IntegralBlades.
Approximately 260 jobs at the facility are expected to be created when fully operational.
Siemens Gamesa also intends to create around 50 service jobs to provide operations and maintenance services for Coastal Virginia.
The company has also entered a land lease agreement with the Virginia Port Authority, supported by Virginia state incentives for site improvements.
Siemens Gamesa chief executive Marc Becker said: “We at Siemens Gamesa have shown the offshore wind industry the way for over 30 years.
“Establishing the industry’s first dedicated offshore wind turbine blade facility in the United States proves again that we are leading the offshore revolution.
“The US offshore market is a critical part of our overall global strategy, with our presence in Virginia playing a crucial and central role.
“Our multimillion US-dollar investment has been energised by the strong collaboration with Dominion Energy and support of Virginia’s legislature and authorities.”
Siemens Gamesa will look to potentially expand the facility if awarded future projects in the region, creating additional jobs in the future.
Siemens Gamesa head of offshore North America Steve Dayney said: “As Congress considers taking historic action on climate, this facility evidences that offshore wind can create significant new manufacturing activity and quality jobs to American communities.
“We are hopeful this commitment will lead to further action by federal and state policy makers to establish policies to provide long term certainty and help sustain the competitiveness of this facility in the global marketplace for decades to come.”
Dominion Energy chair, president and chief executive Robert Blue said: “Virginia is leading the way in offshore wind and using blades from this new facility in Hampton Roads on our Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is a major win for the region.
“It is great to see well-paying, clean energy jobs are on the horizon as an offshore wind supply chain develops here in Virginia.”
Virginia Port Authority CEO and executive director Stephen Edwards said: “The Port of Virginia is proud to be able to help with the development of an entirely new industry that will spur job growth, drive our economy and create the US East Coast’s offshore-wind logistics hub right here in Portsmouth.
“The industry is going to be closely watching Virginia, and this port, and we welcome the interest.
“We have a very unique opportunity to set ourselves apart by being at the forefront of this movement to create clean, renewable energy along the East Coast.
“We welcome Siemens Gamesa and are looking forward to a long and productive relationship.”
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said: “Offshore wind energy will create jobs and economic prosperity across the country, and with President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda, we’re showing that the United States is open for business on clean energy.
“Virginia is helping lead the way to strengthen the nation’s domestic supply chains of renewable energy and keep energy prices affordable for American households as we strive for a cleaner future.”
Business Network for Offshore Wind president and chief executive Liz Burdock said: “Bringing the first offshore wind blade factory to the United States is another historic moment for our industry’s development and critical to our ongoing efforts to localize a robust supply chain.
“With the global demand for offshore wind growing exponentially, we must accelerate development of a local supply chain to ensure the US can achieve its renewable energy goals and create well-paying American jobs in the process.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome sign of growing investor confidence in the US market and highlights the Commonwealth of Virginia’s emergence as a hub for offshore wind activity.“Congratulations to Governor Ralph Northam and our federal leadership in helping make this day a reality and moving the US market forward.”