Virginia officials have recommended the state target 2GW of installed offshore wind by 2028.
The US state should build on the planned 16MW Coastal Virginia offshore wind project with large-scale commercial developments, according to the energy plan published today.
“To facilitate the development and execution of a strategy, the commonwealth should consider creating the office of offshore wind within the division of energy,” said the report.
It added: “In addition, Dominion Energy should submit a timeline for the various steps and approvals necessary to accomplish the full build-out of the offshore wind resource.”
Officials recommended that Virginia should work with Dominion, federal officials, ports, fisheries and other stakeholders to ensure all concerns are addressed “and that the resource can be deployed at the lowest possible cost”.
On the supply side, the report calls for the state to “include the offshore wind industry as a priority in future workforce development and economic development strategic plans”.
It said those efforts would send a signal to local and regional partners regarding the crosscutting value that the industry can bring.
“The clean energy sector has the power to create new business opportunities, expand customer access to renewable energy, and spark the high-demand jobs of the 21st century,” said Governor Ralph Northam.