UPDATE 2:40 pm – See below for a statement by former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA02, which states, “The reckless decision to halt this project is just the latest example of the chaos created by the Trump Administration and Jen Kiggans that will raise prices and cost Coastal Virginia jobs and economic opportunities. ”
|
|
UPDATE 1:35 pm – See below for a statement from Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, plus Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA03)
WARNER, KAINE, SCOTT SLAM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S SUDDEN HALT OF VIRGINIA OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine along with U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (all D-VA) issued the following statement:
“Despite our senior roles on the Senate Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, the administration has failed to share any new information that supports this sudden and sweeping move to halt all offshore wind development, including a project off the coast of Virginia that is already almost complete and operational. That silence speaks volumes, especially given the president’s longstanding, well-documented opposition to offshore wind – and the promises he’s made to his donors to put his thumb on the scale against certain energy projects. This reckless, haphazard approach puts billions of dollars in private investment at risk, threatens thousands of good-paying American jobs coming to a veteran-heavy area, undermines energy security, and damages the credibility of the United States government. Virginia’s offshore wind project has undergone years of rigorous review and represents a critical step toward strengthening our energy independence, lowering energy costs for American families, growing our clean energy economy, and positioning the Commonwealth as a global leader in this industry. When a project that has met every requirement is suddenly stopped without explanation, it is fair to ask whether this decision is being driven by evidence, or by personal and political grievance.”
*******************
As Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell correctly states re: this story (Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast: “The Interior Department said the projects posed national security risks, without providing details. The decision imperils billions of dollars of investments.”):
“Govt cannot pull issued permits while turbines are being erected & rights have vested – Trump’s blatantly illegal political payback to VA for voting for @SpanbergerForVA should be called out by Youngkin/Miyares who must DO SOMETHING to protect the people they swore to defend”
So…is anyone holding their breath waiting for Trump bootlickers like Glenn Youngkin, Jason Miyares, etc. to actually stand up for Virginia against this illegal, unconstitutional, insane, damaging move by the Trump administration? Or more likely, time for the soft sound of crickets chirping?
By the way, for more information on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, see here:
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) is an offshore wind energy project located about 24 nautical miles (27 miles, 43 kilometers) off the coast of Virginia Beach in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, U.S.[1][2] CVOW is being developed by Dominion Energy and is the largest offshore wind project under development in the U.S., covering a lease area of 112,800 acres and expected to have a capacity of 2.6 gigawatts (GW).[3] It is expected to generate electricity equivalent to the electricity consumed by 660,000 homes.[3]]
Also note that this project was slated to be completed by late 2026 – next year – but now that’s thrown into serious doubt. Also note that we badly NEED this power, for a bunch of reasons, including the rapid growth in demand from data centers (and see here for a report which found that “Building enough infrastructure to meet growing data center demand will be difficult” – even WITH huge amounts of offshore wind power coming online!).
P.S. I’ll post other statements as I see them.
*********************************
From Dominion Energy:
Dominion Energy releases statement in response to U.S. Department of Interior action on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind
RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Dominion Energy released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Director’s Order for a 90-day suspension of work issued earlier today for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project:
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (CVOW) is essential for American national security and meeting Virginia’s dramatically growing energy needs, the fastest growth in America. This growth is driven by the need to provide reliable power to many of America’s most important war fighting installations, the world’s largest warship manufacturer, and the largest concentration of data centers on the planet as well as the leading edge of the AI revolution.
Stopping CVOW for any length of time will threaten grid reliability for some of the nation’s most important war fighting, AI, and civilian assets. It will also lead to energy inflation and threaten thousands of jobs.
CVOW is American-owned and benefits all of our Virginia customers. Our customers are paying for the project after a careful review of project costs and benefits by Virginia state regulators in 2022. These same state regulators, along with numerous federal agencies, oversee our cyber and physical security program, which is among the strongest in the energy industry.
The project has been more than ten years in the works, involved close coordination with the military, and is located 27 to 44 miles offshore, so far offshore it does not raise visual impact concerns. The project’s two pilot turbines have been operating for five years without causing any impacts to national security.
CVOW enjoys bipartisan support and is within months of generating a massive 2,600 megawatts to support the fastest growing part of America’s energy grid. This growth serves the largest concentration of critical infrastructure in the world.
Virginia’s All-American, All-Of-The-Above-Energy Plan requires a range of power generation assets, including natural gas, advanced nuclear, and renewables. Virginia needs every electron we can get as our demand for electricity doubles. These electrons will power the data centers that will win the AI race, support our war fighters, and build the nuclear warships needed to maintain our maritime supremacy. Virginia’s grid needs addition of electrons, not subtraction.
We stand ready to do what is necessary to get these vital electrons flowing as quickly as possible.
************
|
|
