08/09/2020
WHEREAS, the first offshore wind project in U.S. federal waters, Dominion Energy & Ørsted’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind demonstration project, was constructed this year, 27-miles off the coast of Virginia Beach; and
WHEREAS, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project serves as the first and only research lease in the country, positioning the Commonwealth to be a leader in offshore wind education and research; and
WHEREAS, Ørsted, the leading offshore wind developer in the world, entered into partnership with the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, which anticipates approximately $13 million in port activity and could result in more than $20 million in infrastructure upgrades; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s progress on offshore wind has brought industry giant, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, to actively consider Hampton Roads for a $200M blade facility that would create approximately 750 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Clean Economy Act puts 5,200-megawatts of offshore wind in the public interest and requires the employment of local workers, particularly those from historically marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, Virginia has committed to pursue $40 million in port infrastructure upgrades, priming Virginia’s ports to be a premiere location for offshore wind manufacturing and development; and
WHEREAS, the maritime workforce in the Commonwealth is acutely prepared and possess the necessary skills to transition to offshore wind jobs; and
WHEREAS, Apex Clean Energy’s Rocky Forge wind project’s 680 ft turbines currently in development will lead the Southeast in technology; and
WHEREAS, American Fortune 500 companies, cities, universities and utilities purchased a record amount of wind energy last year; and
WHEREAS, the Rocky Forge wind project would provide landowners with a stable source of revenue and an additional $20-$25 million in state and county taxes over the lifetime of the project;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize August 9-15, 2020, as AMERICAN WIND WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.