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. Abundan...
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