Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Business Law
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • Coronavirus 2020
    • Fantastic 50
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards
    • Vote Now for Women in Leadership
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read the issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Nominate execs for 2021

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Business Law
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • Coronavirus 2020
    • Fantastic 50
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards
    • Vote Now for Women in Leadership
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read the issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Nominate execs for 2021

Home News Va. offshore wind industry could create 5.2K jobs, study finds

Va. offshore wind industry could create 5.2K jobs, study finds

Dominion wind farm projected to create 1.1K+ jobs, generate $209M

Published September 29, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Dominion Energy plans to develop the nation's largest wind farm — an $8 billion, 220-turbine project — off the coast of Virginia Beach by 2026. Photo courtesy Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy plans to develop the nation's largest wind farm — an $8 billion, 220-turbine project — off the coast of Virginia Beach by 2026. Photo courtesy Dominion Energy

The offshore wind industry could create up to 5,200 jobs in Virginia (with a majority in Hampton Roads) and an estimated $740 million in total economic activity during the next several years, according to an economic impact analysis conducted by Henrico County-based Mangum Economics and released Tuesday by the Hampton Roads Alliance. 

Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. recently completed installation of the first two turbines in federal waters as part of its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. The next phase of the approximately $8 billion project is a large-scale, 2.6-gigawatt commercial operation, which will be enough to power approximately 660,000 homes. 

“Offshore wind energy is an established industry in Europe, but in its infancy here in the United States,” Mangum Economics founder and CEO Fletcher Mangum said in a statement. “Our estimates are informed by the experience of the offshore wind industry in the United Kingdom, currently the country with the most installed offshore wind capacity in the world. Our confidence in the robustness of our modeling is bolstered by the fact that our estimates closely parallel the recent findings of other researchers on comparable offshore wind projects.”

During the next six years, construction on Dominion’s proposed offshore wind farm expansion will create an estimated 900 jobs. And after manufacturing and construction are completed, it’s estimated that the continued operation of the project will create 1,100 direct and indirect jobs across the state. Jobs sectors would include engineering, wind technology, marine maintenance, logistics, construction, real estate, home improvement, hospitality and health care. The project is projected to generate more than $209 million in economic activity and nearly $6 million in local tax revenue for Hampton Roads. 

Dominion’s project is only part of the total development planned on the East Coast, with states from North Carolina to Massachusetts announcing plans to develop offshore wind along the coastline, which in turn has potential to spark development of East Coast manufacturing supply chain hubs, according to a statement from the Hampton Roads Alliance. 

“Hampton Roads is uniquely positioned to support the growing $100 billion East Coast offshore wind industry,” according to the alliance. “The region boasts unmatched port infrastructure, America’s largest and most skilled maritime workforce, no overhead bridge restrictions between key port facilities and the open ocean, and abundant waterfront land.”

A $529,788 grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development and GO Virginia will allow for the recruitment of offshore wind companies to establish operations in the region and identify Virginia companies for the supply chain.

“The offshore wind industry brings with it unparalleled potential to further diversify the economy of Hampton Roads,” Douglas L. Smith, Alliance president and CEO, said in a statement.  “The economic impact showcased in this report is the reason why the Alliance is committed to helping our region build a supply chain and prepare sites across the region to house companies that will participate in the manufacturing and operation of wind turbines. Our maritime workforce and unique geographic assets make us well positioned to secure this industry, but only if we come together as a region and commonwealth to present our compelling case to industry leaders.”

 

Subscribe to Virginia Business.

Get our daily e-newsletter.

Related Stories

offshore wind turbines in Europe

Dominion chooses turbine supplier for $7.8B offshore wind farm

Spanish engineering firm Siemens Gamesa will supply the 600-foot-tall turbines.

Dominion Energy has completed construction on two massive wind turbines 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach (Photo by Beth Cooper)

Dominion debuts first offshore wind farm in U.S. federal waters

Northam signs offshore wind legislation in Va. Beach ceremony

Virginia Business logo

Hitachi AAB Power Grids expanding in Bland County

$6.2M expansion will create 40 jobs

Trending

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.

UPDATED: Liberty University files $10M suit against Falwell

COVID-19 vaccination shot Photo credit Art Writ, Capital News Service

Va. woman's death connected to Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

Winchester’s WinLee Apartments has sold for $4.5 million.

Winchester apartments sell for $4.5M

The 5,040-square-foot building will serve as the future home of Canzell Realty.

Virginia Beach office property sells for $1M

Northlake II will include approximately 655,000 square feet of Class A industrial space.

$60M Hanover industrial development to begin construction in May

Sponsored Stories

Sentara Health thanks employees with bonuses and pay raises

Girls for a Change Empowers Black Youth for the Future Workforce

Hope is NOT a sustainability strategy

Supply Chains After a Year of Disruptions

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.

UPDATED: Liberty University files $10M suit against Falwell

COVID-19 vaccination shot Photo credit Art Writ, Capital News Service

Va. woman's death connected to Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

Winchester’s WinLee Apartments has sold for $4.5 million.

Winchester apartments sell for $4.5M

The 5,040-square-foot building will serve as the future home of Canzell Realty.

Virginia Beach office property sells for $1M

Northlake II will include approximately 655,000 square feet of Class A industrial space.

$60M Hanover industrial development to begin construction in May

Sponsored Stories

Sentara Health thanks employees with bonuses and pay raises

Girls for a Change Empowers Black Youth for the Future Workforce

Hope is NOT a sustainability strategy

Supply Chains After a Year of Disruptions

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2021 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk