Title
Resolution of the Hampton City Council in support of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) Resolution Supporting Offshore Wind Development off the Coast of Virginia
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
This is a resolution in support of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) resolution supporting offshore wind development off the coast of Virginia for City Council to review and approve.
Discussion:
None
Impact:
None
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve
Body
Whereas, recent reports by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy have identified the potential for significant economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Hampton Roads region from the emerging offshore wind industry; and
Whereas, the U. S. East Coast opportunity for offshore wind extends from South Carolina to New England and has a twenty-year buildout potential of 20,000 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity (2,000 - 3,000 wind turbines) with the potential to generate over 14,000 jobs in the construction, maintenance, manufacturing and other service related industries; and
Whereas, Dominion Energy contracted in 2017 with a global wind leader, Orsted Energy of Denmark, to build Coastal Virginia Offshore (CVOW), a two turbine, 12 MW demonstration project located 23.5 nautical miles offshore from the Virginia Beach coastline. The CVOW project is targeted for completion in 2020 and will lay the groundwork for potential large-scale commercial development up to 2,000 MW; and
Whereas, studies of the market opportunities for attracting the offshore wind industry to the U. S. East Coast have identified several unique competitive advantages for Virginia and the Hampton Roads region, including:
1. Pro-Business Climate
2. America's Largest Shipbuilding Industry
3. Unmatched Port Infrastructure
4. Congestion-Free Harbor Navigation
5. Zero Air Draft for Ocean-Going Vessels
6. High-Quality Workforce
7. Abundant Waterfront Land and Infrastructure
8. Strategic Geographic Location
Whereas, offshore wind development offers several opportunities for a better energy future and improved quality of life for Virginia residents, including:
1. Reduced Reliance on Out-of-State Electricity by 30%
2. Elimination of 3 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide Pollution per Year
3. Powering More than 500,000 Homes with Renewable Energy
4. Improving Energy Resiliency and Security
Whereas, planning and development of offshore wind projects undergoes a federally mandated environmental review and permitting process which includes input from all affected stakeholders from the local, state and federal levels including environmental agencies, commercial fishing interests and the Department of Defense; and
Whereas, reports by HRPDC, Reinvent Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance and GO Virginia Region 5 have identified the need to diversify the Hampton Roads economy and create higher-paying jobs by working collaboratively as a region and focusing limited resources on target business sectors; and
Whereas, several organizations have adopted resolutions or provided letters of support for the development of offshore wind off the Virginia coast, including the HRPDC, City of Norfolk, the City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Reinvent Hampton Roads and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Hampton City Council hereby:
1. Agrees to support the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy as well as other state, regional and federal agencies to proactively pursue regional economic development efforts related to the offshore wind supply chain.
2. Agrees to support state and regional workforce development agencies in their efforts to develop new and strengthen existing workforce development programs to further advance the offshore wind supply chain.
3. Agrees to support state and regional partners to develop a Virginia offshore wind branding campaign.
4. Agrees to work with federal, state and regional partners and the Hampton Roads Delegation to identify economic development incentives and infrastructure funding programs to promote development of the offshore wind supply chain.