Student and environmental leaders will gather in front of Dominion Virginia Power headquarters in Richmond on March 14 to deliver petitions signed by over 10,000 Virginians in support of the electric utility’s hastened development of Virginia’s offshore wind power.
Following the Interior Department’s recent announcement calling for development interest, the leaders will urge Dominion to ensure the start of a full build-out of Virginia wind energy areas within the next five years. The 112,799 acres off Virginia’s coast identified for lease sale by year’s end have the potential of generating over 2,400 megawatts of power, enough to power 500,000 homes and potentially attract a major manufacturing vendor to Virginia.
“These 10,000 petition signatures match the 10,000 potential jobs brought online with build-out of Virginia’s offshore wind industry,” said Beth Kemler with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “These jobs and this renewable energy only happen when and if Dominion starts charting an aggressive course towards Virginia’s clean energy future. Dominion either needs to commit to purchasing offshore wind power from turbines off our coast or be prepared to partner with an offshore wind developer if we are to capitalize on this renewable wind resource”
“Virginia must develop that potential 2,400 megawatts as soon as possible. We otherwise risk losing that major vendor and those thousands of jobs to states with more aggressive build-out plans if Dominion continues to lack a vision and a plan for supporting that full wind potential within the next five years,” said Eileen Levandoski with the Sierra Club.
“The Interior Department has outlined a course by which Virginia could see construction of wind farms occurring within the next five years,” said Glen Besa with the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club. “Yet Dominion while it talks a good game has no plans for offshore wind in its 15-year planning horizon. That needs to change now.”
Join Us!
WHEN: Wed., March 14, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Public Sidewalk in front of Dominion HQ, 701 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA
Copies of the petitions delivered to Dominion will also be delivered to the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in response to its public comment call due March 19. Click here to tell BOEM “Virginians Want Offshore Wind ASAP!”.
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