Va. Senate committee rejects former EPA chief for Cabinet
The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 9-6 Tuesday against confirming former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment for state secretary of natural and historic resources. The vote does not eliminate Wheeler’s chances of confirmation. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in a statement, “Andrew Wh[...]
Q&A: Quebec official discusses Va. trade mission
Quebec’s delegate general in New York, Martine Hébert, visited Virginia this week on a trip to strengthen economic relations between her province and the commonwealth. Appointed in August by Quebec Premier François Legault and based out of New York, Hébert is responsible for promoting the province’s economic interests in the mid-Atlantic region. She previously served […]
Youngkin promises biz-friendly climate for Va.
Talent, taxes and regulations, broadband access and energy are the top concerns for Virginia businesses, according to survey results gathered for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Blueprint Virginia 2030, an action plan for strengthening Virginia’s economy. And those are also priorities for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, he said Friday in a speech during the Virginia Economic […]
Dominion offshore wind farm cost climbs to $9.8B
Dominion Energy Inc.’s offshore wind farm will cost about $2 billion more than expected, the Richmond-based Fortune 500 utility’s chair, president and CEO, Bob Blue, said during a third quarter earnings call Friday. Instead of the previously estimated $7.8 billion, the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project will cost approximately $9.8 billion, Blue [&hel[...]
Siemens Gamesa to build first U.S. offshore wind blade factory in Portsmouth
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A., a Spanish wind turbine company, will invest $200 million to build the first U.S. offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing facility in Portsmouth, creating 310 jobs, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday from the Port of Virginia’s Portsmouth Marine Terminal. Siemens Gamesa is a partner in Dominion Energy‘s 2.6-gigawatt, $7.8 billion [&helli[...]
Tigercomm to acquire Florida clean energy PR firm
Vienna-based Tigercomm, a clean energy-focused public relations firm, is acquiring Tampa, Florida-based Chase Media Services LLC, in a deal that is expected to be completed by Nov. 1. Mike Casey, the Tigercomm founder and president, said the acquisition will help Tigercomm meet growing demand from clean economy sectors. “This acquisition is a strong fit with […]
Clean slate
On April 17, 2020, with a flourish of the pen, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reshaped the future of energy production in the commonwealth. Signing the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) into law last year, Northam declared that Virginia would become a leader in fighting climate change, and, indeed, no other Southern state has passed legislation […]
Dominion vessel to assist in building Northeastern offshore wind farms
Dominion Energy Inc. has reached an agreement with two companies to charter its offshore wind turbine installation vessel to assist with construction of two offshore wind farms in the Northeastern U.S. The partnership with Ørsted and Eversource was announced Tuesday and comes six months after Dominion announced construction had begun on the $500 million vessel, […]
(Solar) powering the economy
A 700-acre solar farm on a former surface mine outside of Hurley will be more than it appears, according to Adam Edelen. “Buchanan County and the entire region of Southwestern Virginia intends to benefit from the digital economy rather than be a victim of it,” says Edelen, CEO of Edelen Renewables. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Edelen’s […]
Kitty Hawk offshore wind project to create 600 jobs in Hampton Roads area
Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of Connecticut-based Avangrid Inc., submitted construction and operations plans on Dec. 11 for the first phase of its Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project, a development it says will generate $2 billion in economic impact between 2021 and 2030 and create nearly 800 jobs in Virginia and North Carolina. Located 27 miles […]
Amazon announces investment in two more solar farms in Halifax County
Part of a global renewable energy purchase, Amazon.com Inc. announced Thursday it will invest in two more Halifax County solar farms, in addition to a deal announced in March that is expected to come online in 2021. The two new solar farms, which are expected to provide 70 megawatts and 51 megawatts of power by […]
Dominion, Smithfield complete first renewable gas project in Utah
Dominion Energy Inc. and Smithfield Foods Inc., both based in Virginia, completed their first renewable natural gas (RNG) project in southwestern Utah, Smithfield announced Wednesday. In 2018, the Richmond-headquartered utility and Smithfield-based food company partnered in the $500 million Align Renewable Natural Gas joint venture to convert methane from Smithfield’s contracted hog farms in[...]