RICHMOND — Dominion Energy is moving on a plan to build the largest offshore wind development in the country.
The $7.8 billion project would include about 220 wind turbines in leased federal waters 27 miles off Virginia Beach and generate enough power for 650,000 homes.
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Dominion Energy announced Thursday that it had filed an application with PJM, the regional transmission organization that coordinates the electrical grid in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, to interconnect the proposed turbines to the transmission grid. If approved, it would be the country’s largest offshore wind project.
Surveying could begin in 2020 and the project’s first phase could be in operation by 2024. Subsequent phases would come online in 2025 and 2026, totaling more than 2,600 megawatts of energy during peak wind.
“Offshore wind is an excellent renewable energy source and this filing with PJM shows how serious we are about bringing commercial-scale offshore wind to Virginia, giving our customers what they have asked for – more renewable energy,” Mark D. Mitchell, vice president of generation construction, said in a statement. “Governor Ralph Northam has made it clear Virginia is committed to leading the way in offshore wind. We are rising to this challenge with this 2,600-megawatt commercial offshore wind development.”
Dominion Energy began construction in June on the 12-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which is the first fully permitted wind project in U.S. federal waters.
The company said it is pursuing a clean energy plan anchored by a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 through investment in solar and wind energy along with nuclear and natural gas. The company also has planned investments in battery storage and pumped hydroelectric storage.
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