WASHINGTON — Today, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Congresswoman Elaine Luria, sent a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) urging them to expedite regulatory processes for offshore wind development in Coastal Virginia. 

“Virginia’s diverse maritime industry, workforce, port assets, deep, wide channels, and no overhead obstructions have positioned the Commonwealth to become a hub for manufacturing and ongoing operations and maintenance activities for projects along the Atlantic Coast,” said the lawmakers in the letter. “We are proud that the first two wind turbines permitted and constructed in federal waters are off our Commonwealth’s coast, producing clean energy for Virginians. Unfortunately, we have heard from local stakeholders and constituents that the adjacent Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is at risk of delays due to the backlog at BOEM.” 

In December 2020, Dominion Energy filed a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the 2,640-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project. In the letter, the lawmakers expressed concerns that bottlenecks in the permitting process may slow progress and prevent offshore wind investments. Currently, offshore wind developers have submitted thirteen COPs to BOEM but have yet to receive a clear timeline for action. This backlog could stifle the development of an offshore wind industry supply chain. 

The full text of the letter is available here and below. 

Dear Director Lefton, 

We write concerning the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the 2,640-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project, filed by Dominion Energy on December 18, 2020. As representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia, we value the critical role offshore wind will play as part of the renewable energy portfolio of the United States, as well as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s role in supporting this emerging technology. As you begin your tenure as Director, we want to draw your attention to the backlog of offshore wind project COPs and urge you to take all necessary measures to address this backlog. We ask the Bureau to thoughtfully advance the CVOW permitting process. 

The offshore wind energy industry in the United States is projected to become a $50 billion business over the next 30 years. Virginia’s diverse maritime industry, workforce, port assets, deep, wide channels, and no overhead obstructions have positioned the Commonwealth to become a hub for manufacturing and ongoing operations and maintenance activities for projects along the Atlantic Coast. We are proud that the first two wind turbines permitted and constructed in federal waters are off our Commonwealth’s coast, producing clean energy for Virginians. Unfortunately, we have heard from local stakeholders and constituents that the adjacent CVOW project is at risk of delays due to the backlog at BOEM. 

Offshore wind is poised for substantial growth at a time when we must seize opportunities to help our region and nation recover from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are concerned that bottlenecks in the permitting process slow progress and prevent critical investments in the US offshore wind industry. We understand that developers have submitted thirteen COPs to BOEM but have not received a clear timeline for action. This backlog could delay the development of an offshore wind industry supply chain. 

We must explore any actions the federal government can take to expedite our regulatory processes for offshore wind development. We understand that staffing shortages hinder BOEM’s ability to quickly review necessary documentation and we are committed to assisting BOEM in this matter. Please provide any additional information that will help us fully understand the challenges BOEM faces and how you plan to expedite the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you and your staff to maximize the potential of offshore wind development off Virginia’s coast and across the Atlantic Coast.

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