A major offshore wind project is moving forward in the Atlantic, just north of the Carolina coast. U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is opening its formal review process for the proposed 200-turbine project 27 miles off Virginia Beach.
This will be one of the first uses of the Biden Administration’s new review process for such projects, including a 30-day public comment period and the preparation of an environmental impact statement. Unlike its predecessor, this administration supports wind energy development.
“The demand for offshore wind energy has never been greater,” Haaland said. “Recent technological advances, falling costs, and tremendous economic potential make offshore wind a promising avenue for diversifying our national energy portfolio.”
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration also supports the project, which is expected to create 1,500 jobs and ultimately generate enough electricity to power 650,000 homes. “Virginia is all in on offshore wind,” Northam said. “We are developing the infrastructure, workforce, supply chain, and manufacturing capabilities needed to capture the many benefits of this emerging industry.”
Gov. Roy Cooper is also pressing for wind development off our state’s coast, aiming to make North Carolina the next major entrant in harnessing this natural resource’s capacity to help power a clean energy future.
