Report: Virginia could play key role in East Coast offshore wind supply chain

Published December 28, 2018 by Jessica Sabbath

A new report creates a roadmap for how Virginia could play a role in developing a supply chain to serve offshore wind projects along the East Coast.

The recommendations include establishing a regional supply chain collaborative with neighboring states, creating a Virginia Office for Offshore Wind, soliciting anchor tenant suppliers and expanding workforce development opportunities.

“Virginia has a clear opportunity to act as a leader in driving the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “Growing the supply chain sector at this early stage will prepare Virginia to competitively deliver the development of our own offshore wind resources in the coming years.”
 
The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) entered into a contract with BVG Associates LLC (BVGA) to develop the report. The report details the pipeline of offshore wind projects along the East Coast and provides insight into the areas the industry’s priorities, including a reliable, broad-based supplier network coupled with regionally optimized logistics.

The report highlights Virginia as advantageous because of its port infrastructure, location, maritime capacity and workforce.

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly. About 2 GW of power are in place in the Northeast with an additional 3 GW expected in 2019, according to BVGA’s report.

“Supplying the materials, equipment and skilled workforce required to build out currently designated U.S. East Coast wind lease areas is the biggest challenge facing offshore wind developers,” the report states. “Virginia seeks to provide the industry what it needs most through a wide network of supply chain options and the best of what each state in the collaborative has to offer.”

The report says that Virginia’s objective is to capture anchor tenant businesses in the industry’s supply chain, such as foundations and offshore substations.

The report and more information on Virginia’s offshore wind development and supply chain opportunities may be found atwww.vaoffshorewind.org/supply-chain.

Related: https://staging.virginiabusiness.com/article/dominion-energy-seeks-approval-to-build-offshore-wind-research-project