Dominion Energy has received two key determinations from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the design, fabrication and installation of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project
Dominion Energy vice president of generation construction Mark Mitchell said, “This is a significant milestone as we move forward on building the first fully permitted offshore wind project in federal waters. This process will provide key learnings we can apply to our commercial-scale offshore wind project.”
Dominion submitted its facility design report (FDR) and fabrication and installation report (FIR) in partnership with Ørsted, the developer contracted for CVOW, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, the company manufacturing the two 6-MW turbines, which will be installed 43 km off the Virginia Beach coast in mid-2020.
BOEM reviewed and responded to the two filings with a no objection determination, a significant milestone for the project.
Ørsted chief executive US offshore wind Thomas Brostrøm said, “The FDR/FIR no objection determination is the latest milestone in a list of firsts for the CVOW project.
“As the only fully permitted project in the US federal waters, CVOW continues to provide all involved parties valuable experience that will drive regulatory efficiencies and increased certainty that will reduce costs for future projects in the country.”
The FDR details the design of all the major components of the offshore wind project, while the FIR describes the fabrication and installation plans of the equipment. The decision from BOEM is a necessary approval to move forward with offshore construction, which is on track for mid-2020.
L E Myers Company began onshore construction in June 2019 to facilitate interconnection of the turbines at a substation near Camp Pendleton.
CVOW was first announced two years ago and received approval last November from the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The construction process is on a strict timetable, to minimise environmental impacts.
Dominion Energy recently announced the largest offshore wind project in the US. With approval from the State Corporation Commission, it would generate more than 2.6 GW of energy by 2026.
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