Virginia DMME and Old Dominion Uni Sign Offshore Wind Deal

Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and Old Dominion University (ODU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the state’s offshore wind projects.

The agreement, signed between ODU President John R. Broderick and DMME Director John Warren, is based on providing research and support for Virginia’s offshore wind, with focus on the Coastal Virginia project.

MoU signing took place after a panel discussion about the sector which was led by Warren with representatives from Ørsted US, Avangrid Renewables, ODU, Dominion Energy, Port of Virginia and Tidewater Community College, among others

The event included talks about the opportunities for Hampton Roads to reinvent itself with offshore wind development by capitalizing on clean energy generation and job growth.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will feature two Siemens Gamesa 6MW turbines installed in a federal lease area in the Mid-Atlantic some 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.

It is expected to provide the operational, weather and environmental experience necessary for large-scale development in the adjacent 112,800-acre leased site.

The 12MW project is being jointly developed by Dominion Energy and Ørsted, who plan to have it operating in December 2020.