Open house for Virginia Offshore Wind project set for Aug. 14

Curious about the offshore wind industry?

The Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project team is hosting an informational open house on its offshore, 12-megawatt wind demonstration project.

During the Aug 14,  event, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.  at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach, speakers will be on hand to discuss environmental studies, turbine and foundation design and the project’s schedule.

Dominion Virginia Power and its team was one of seven projects selected by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2012 to receive $4 million each in federal matching funds to undertake initial engineering, design, and permitting for a demonstration facility.

DOE will select up to three of the projects to move forward.

Dominion's primary location for the demonstration project is in federal waters about 24 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, although the ultimate site will depend on detailed investigations. That area on the Virginia Beach coast has been selected as the site of the nation’s second offshore wind energy lease sale. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold an auction for the lease on Sept. 4.