Legislators in Virginia have passed a bill that could double the state’s target for offshore wind to 5200MW from 2600MW previously if signed into law by the governor Ralph Northam
Versions of the Virginia Clean Economy Act were passed in the state’s House and Senate earlier this week.
It calls for 5.2GW of offshore wind to be built by 1 January 2034 in two phases – 2.6GW by 2030 and a further 2.6GW by 2034.
The act would replace the state’s existing voluntary renewable energy portfolio system (RPS) program with a mandatory RPS.
Under the mandatory RPS, utilities and suppliers will be required to produce electricity from 100% renewable sources by 2050.
The act also includes a 2.4GW target for energy storage by 2035.
Virginia utility Dominion Energy is planning an over 2.6GW offshore wind farm off the state that is currently scheduled to be online in 2026.
A 12MW pilot project called Coastal Virginia is due online this year featuring two Siemens Gamesa 6MW turbines.