Statement: Offshore wind momentum picks up speed as Virginia Beach project gets federal review

Federal government making progress toward offshore wind goal

Environment America Research & Policy Center

WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced Thursday that it will begin an environmental review of a potential offshore wind project off the coast of Virginia Beach. The proposed project, CVOW-C, could generate up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of electricity and would make up more than half of Virginia’s goal of 5.2 GW of offshore energy capacity by 2034. Environment America’s state partner Environment Virginia has been a leading voice in the commonwealth for expansion of renewable energy use, including offshore wind.

This project is a part of the Biden administration’s commitment to developing 30 GW of offshore wind power by 2030, along with the previously announced Empire Wind and Vineyard Wind South projects. 

The public comment period for the proposal will be open through August 2, 2021. 

In response, Bronte Payne, an Environment America Research & Policy Center campaign director focused on renewable energy, released the following statement: 

“Right now, offshore wind proposals are popping up like toadstools after a rainstorm up and down the eastern seaboard. Offshore wind may have long been our great untapped electricity source but the tides are quickly turning. This announcement by BOEM comes right on the heels of a similar decision to begin environmental review on Vineyard Wind South and a unanimous vote by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to greenlight 2,658 MW of offshore wind, the largest offshore wind solicitation in U.S. history. 

As momentum for offshore wind picks up speed along our coasts, we look forward to more projects going through this review process — and then, winning the approval required for the United States to make a swift transition to renewable energy.”