Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of Governor Bob McDonnell
Governor
McDonnell Announces Virginia on Track to Install America’s First Offshore Wind
Energy Turbine
~ Virginia
Marine Resources Commission Unanimously Approves Eastern Shore Prototype~
Approval Today
Advances Governor’s Goal to make Virginia “The Energy Capital of the East
Coast”
RICHMOND
– Governor
McDonnell announced today that the Virginia Marine Resources Commission has
voted unanimously to approve proposed construction of a 479-foot-tall,
five-megawatt wind turbine generator prototype in the lower Chesapeake Bay,
three miles off the Eastern Shore town of Cape Charles. The construction of the
prototype turbine is scheduled to be completed in late 2013, which would be
before other offshore wind energy projects are slated to be built in other
parts of the country. The expected design life of the prototype turbine is
expected to be 20 years or more. The submarine cable system is expected to last
more than 100 years.This prototype is a significant step forward in Governor
Bob McDonnell’s goal to pursue an “all of the above” energy approach including
wind, coal, nuclear, oil, and renewable energy projects making Virginia the
energy capital of the East Coast. The project now requires approval from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and review by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The proposal was submitted by Gamesa
Energy USA, which is partnering with Huntingon Ingalls Newport News
Shipbuilding, to develop and test new offshore wind technologies that will
reduce the cost of wind power.
“This is an important next step in
developing all of Virginia’s domestic energy resources to help power our nation’s
economy and puts Virginia at the forefront of clean energy technology
development,’’ said Governor McDonnell. “This step forward holds
tremendous potential for jobs and for economic development here in the future.
Virginia’s unique and efficient permitting process adopted for small energy
projects like this one was a critical factor in Gamesa’s choice of Virginia as
the location for this U.S. wind energy operation, and today we see the fruit of
these proactive policies.”
The purpose of the project is to advance
the demonstration of Gamesa Energy USA, LLC’s new offshore WTG technology, the
G11X, specifically designed for deployment in offshore wind environments
worldwide.
The information collected by the
construction and operation of this prototype will help to perfect this new
technology for worldwide commercial market deployment by 2015, through testing
and validation to ensure optimal performance characteristics and reliability
are met.
Although the project is just one single
wind turbine generator and is not principally intended as major energy supply
source, an added benefit of the prototype will be the production of up to five
megawatts of clean, renewable wind power to the local Virginia transmission
grid for public use.
The Marine Resources Commission
enthusiastically approved the project, which includes the installation of a
steel monopile foundation and tower with a maximum blade tip height of 479 feet
above mean sea level, stone riprap scour protection around the foundation base,
and the installation of 15,219 linear feet of submerged power cable buried a
minimum of six feet below the seabed. The cable will connect the wind turbine
to the Cape Charles electrical grid through the Bay Coastal Railroad property in
Cape Charles Harbor. The wind turbine will be located at N 37º14’37.4”, W
76º03’47.3” in approximately 53 feet of water.
It is anticipated that once constructed,
the project will have significant positive economic and environmental impacts
to Virginia and the local economy. Clean, renewable wind energy will be
injected into the transmission grid, which will likely offset some fossil fuel
generation and result in improved local air quality.
VMRC’s public interest review of the
project concluded that it will not impact commercial or recreational marine
activities. Rather, the project may enhance recreational fishing on the Eastern
Shore because the structure likely will attract fish looking for shade and
shelter. The fish, in turn, will attract anglers.
The agency received no objections from
the public.
The project will help advance Virginia’s
goal of being on the cutting edge of renewable technology development. It will
also promote supply chain and construction job training and experience for
skilled labor, as well as catalyzing new marine construction technology
capabilities for the Port of Hampton Roads.
“This wind turbine prototype will bring
jobs, jobs and more jobs, and it positions Virginia to be a leader in clean
energy technology,” said Doug Domenech, Virginia’s Secretary of Natural
Resources.
VMRC’s approval of the proposal came
with several stipulations, which Gamesa agreed to, including:
·
Post
a bond or letter of credit of at least $2.1 million to pay for removing the
structure if it is decommissioned
·
Payment
of a one-time royalty of $52,667 for use of the state-owned water bottom
·
A
comprehensive scientific study of the turbine’s underwater acoustical potential
impact on marine life under a variety of wind and weather conditions
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science
suggested the study, but does not anticipate the noise emanating from a wind
turbine will have any significant negative environmental impacts on a section
of the bay that routinely is subject to extensive small boat usage as well as
numerous transient ship freighters. But because this project is a prototype,
the Commission felt it was beneficial to have detailed scientific marine
acoustical impact information in the event the technology is deployed
elsewhere.
“This is an exciting project,” said VMRC
Acting Commissioner Jack Travelstead. “This will bring jobs, energy, important
new scientific information, and enhanced fishing opportunities for recreational
anglers.”
Gamesa is a world leader in the design,
manufacture, installation and maintenance of wind turbines, with more than
20,000 MW installed in 30 countries on four continents. The Eastern Shore
prototype will be constructed as part of a joint partnership with Huntingon
Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding.
