On 3/20/2024, the Sierra Club York River Group met via zoom to talk about offshore wind energy and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) effort. Josh Kaplowitz, Senior Counsel at Locke Lord LLP, described the offshore wind process, gave perspective on where the U.S. stands relative to other countries, and talked about some of the hurdles this new industry faces.  Eileen Woll, Offshore Energy Program Director for the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, provided details about the status of CVOW, and pushed the Sierra Club participants to get the word out about its benefits.  Contrary to what you might hear from right-wing fossil fuel pushers, offshore wind has almost no downsides and many positive benefits, including clean energy and additional jobs.  Whales are NOT harmed by offshore wind. The CVOW project is slated to begin construction in 2024.  It will provide between 2,500 and 3,000 megawatts of clean, reliable offshore wind energy, scheduled to be in service by 2028.