A wind turbine Dominion Energy’s two turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project. Photo: Dominion Energy
Spain-based wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa will open the United States’ first offshore wind turbine blade facility at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Virginia.
Viriginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the agreement during a launching ceremony on Monday.
The $200 million facility will support Dominion Energy’s 2.6 gigawatt (GW) Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project and create approximately 260 jobs once fully operational. The project envisions developing more than 80 acres at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Portsmouth, Virginia, which will be used to perform finishing of patented Siemens Gamesa Offshore IntegralBlades.
“We at Siemens Gamesa have shown the offshore wind industry the way for over 30 years. Establishing the industry’s first dedicated offshore wind turbine blade facility in the United States proves again that we are leading the offshore revolution,” said Marc Becker, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit. “The U.S. offshore market is a critical part of our overall global strategy, with our presence in Virginia playing a crucial and central role. Our multimillion US-dollar investment has been energized by the strong collaboration with Dominion Energy and support of Virginia’s legislature and authorities.”
The announcement comes two months after Governor Northam announced that Dominion Energy had agreed to lease 72 acres of the deep-water Portsmouth Marine Terminal as a staging and pre-assembly area for the foundations and turbines.
Once fully constructed in 2026, the project will generate enough clean, sustainable energy to power up to 660,000 homes at peak and avoid as much as 5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to Dominion.
“Virginians want renewable energy, our employers want it, and Virginia is delivering it,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “The Commonwealth is joining these leading companies to create the most important clean-energy partnership in the United States. This is good news for energy customers, the union workers who will bring this project to life, and our business partners. Make no mistake: Virginia is building a new industry in renewable energy, with more new jobs to follow, and that’s good news for our country.”
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project preferred supplier agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy remains subject to certain conditions including Dominion Energy’s final investment decision, governmental permitting, and other approvals.
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