CONTACT
Ben Weiner, Communications Coordinator, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
benjamin.weiner@sierraclub.org, (804) 241-9384
Sierra Club: Approval of offshore wind project “sets Virginia up to be a leader”
RICHMOND, Virginia – Today, the State Corporation Commission found the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project prudent, allowing Dominion Energy to move forward with development of a test project of two offshore wind turbines, totalling 12 megawatts of electricity generation, off the coast of Virginia.
The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter intervened in favor of the project and was represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center
In response, Kate Addleson, Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, released the following statement.
Today's decision by the State Corporation Commission sets Virginia up to be a leader in the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry. Offshore wind energy is an unparalleled opportunity for Virginia to build a clean renewable source of energy that will secure a safer future for all Virginian families, including those disproportionately vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise.
We applaud the State Corporation Commission for approving the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will provide critical lessons for the future development of Virginia's full offshore wind lease area, currently held by Dominion Energy. Full development of the lease area's capacity for 2,000 megawatts would provide enough energy to power over 500,000 Virginia homes with clean renewable energy.
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About the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter: The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is over 20,000 members strong. We are your friends and neighbors working to build healthy, livable communities, and to conserve and protect our climate and environment. The Virginia Chapter is part of the national Sierra Club, the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia