1

Offshore Siting Process / Guidelines –
Macro View

Offshore Siting Example – VA

Offshore Development Example – VA
•
•
Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement
Project (VOWTAP)
Commercial
2
Macro View

State Waters
•
Within 3-nautical miles of the coast
 Nautical mile = 6,076 feet
 Statute mile = 5,280 feet
•
•

State agency lead
Site selection at State or Local level
Federal Waters
•
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lead
agency




National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) coordination
Site identification/selection
Public process
Competitive auction
4





Development should be located in areas that are compatible with the
wind resources.
Early planning & consultation with all appropriate local/state/and federal
stakeholders is strongly encouraged.
BOEM or Lead State agency should initiate intergovernmental
consultation to ensure issues and concerns are identified and adequately
addressed.
Leverage existing studies and resources to support site / turbine
selection.
Consider visual/viewshed impacts, water/benthic impacts, avian impacts,
marine mammal impacts, construction considerations as well as other
issues identified by local stakeholders very early in the process to ensure
project development and reduce overall risk.
5

Preliminary Siting and Pre‐Construction Planning

Environmental Considerations

Fishery

Avian

Benthic

Marine Mammals

Geophysical & Geotechnical Considerations

Visual (Scenic), Historic and Cultural Resources

Transportation, Navigation, and Vessel Considerations
6

Federal Agencies
•

State Agencies (VA)
•







DEQ, DMME, DHR, VMRC, DGIF
Local Agencies (VA)
•

BOEM, EPA, DOD, DOE, FAA, USCG, NOAA, USFWS
City of Virginia Beach
Tribes/First Nations
Municipal Interests
Ratepayers (VA)
Environmental and Conservation Organizations
Wind Industry
Academia
Trade Associations and Nonprofit Organizations
7
Virginia Example
Mid-Atlantic
9
RI/MA
NJ
DE
MD
VA
10
Virginia:
VOWTAP & Commercial
VOWTAP
Commercial WEA
12

DOE selected 7 projects for
initial engineering and
environmental surveys
• $4 million per project

In 2014, DOE will select 3
projects for final design and
construction
• $47 million per project
• Project operations date by
2017

VOWTAP Objectives:
• Install innovative offshore wind
systems in U.S. waters
• Expedite deployment with a
credible potential for
lowering the cost of energy
13


Two 6 MW Haliade 150
Alstom turbines on
innovative foundations
Located in federal waters,
adjacent to the
Commercial WEA
• 23.5 nautical miles from the
coast of Virginia Beach, no
visual impacts expected
• Will inform commercial
development

Focus on innovation and
cost of energy reductions
• Comprehensive testing and
data collection plan
14
Preliminary turbine
locations selected
15
• Landstown substation onshore
interconnection point.
Landstown
16
 BOEM auction September 4,
2013.
- Dominion won competitive
auction
- DOJ performed antitrust
review
~23.5 nautical miles
112,800
acres
 Area auctioned as a single block
~13 nautical miles
 Area supports up to 2,000 MW
 Lease term of 38 years (5 year
development & 33 year
operations)
17
Activity
Schedule
Received Lease
September 30, 2013
Paid bid balance
October 11, 2013
Provided financial assurance and Dominion signed lease
to BOEM
Submit first lease payment (6-months of rent)
Submit Site Assessment Plan (SAP)
Submit Semi-Annual Progress Reports during the 5-year
lease assessment term
Submit Construction & Operations Plan (COP) - Survey
Complete
October 15, 2013
(within 10-business days of lease receipt)
November 14, 2013
(within 45-calender days of lease receipt)
April 2014
(within 6-months of lease issuance)
May 1, 2014
(First report due within 6 months of lease effective date)
November 1, 2014
(within 12-months of lease effective date)
18
19
Contact Information:
robert.p.hare@dom.com
20