Eileen Woll, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, 757-277-8537, eileen.woll@sierraclub.org
Portsmouth, VA - Last night, the Portsmouth City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution that strongly supports offshore wind development off Virginia’s coast. The city now joins Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News and Hampton, all expressing support for establishing Hampton Roads as a hub for the frontier clean energy industry.
“I am excited about the offshore wind industry coming to Portsmouth. Having Portsmouth be the center of an industry that will provide good jobs, tax revenue, and clean energy is a win/win for all parties,” said Councilman Shannon Glover, who introduced the Resolution to the council and worked with city staff on its drafting.
The resolution highlights the significant benefits of offshore wind development, which creates long term family-sustaining jobs and reduces dangerous climate-warming emissions. It also points out the 2020 Virginia budget that allocates $40 million for economic development projects at the Port of Virginia’s Portsmouth Marine Terminal in support of the offshore wind industry.
“We must work to transform Hampton Roads - home to the largest African American communities in the country - in ways based on imperatives of equity, resilience and climate action, and leading our region using principles of sustainability”, said Garry Harris, a Portsmouth resident, Project Manager, ECO District Hampton Roads, and working group leader of the Virginia Green New Deal. “I am excited about offshore wind’s promise to create long term sustainable jobs, especially in my community in Portsmouth, ensuring economic prosperity for all.”
“We saved the best for last”, said Eileen Woll, Offshore Energy Program Director with the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. “It seems entirely appropriate that the city with the most to gain from job-creating offshore wind development finishes out the complete collection of Hampton Roads jurisdictions officially resolving their support and advancing the Commonwealth towards our clean energy future.”
“The Port of Virginia is poised to serve as a catalyst to drive the growth of the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth and support the successful implementation of offshore wind power generation along the entire East Coast,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Through strategic leverage of the port’s assets, we could jumpstart an almost entirely new industry. The result is job creation, economic investment, diversification of the Virginia economy and clean, renewable energy. This is the future and a unique opportunity for Virginia and Portsmouth to lead in this field.”
“The maritime industry in Hampton Roads continues to be an economic driver for the region. With the addition of offshore wind, the prospects for the growth of high paying jobs only grows brighter”, said Shawn Avery, President and CEO with the Hampton Roads Workforce Coalition. “We applaud Portsmouth's commitment to offshore wind. The Workforce Council looks forward to supporting the training and employment needs of this exciting industry for many years to come”.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.