Gov. Ralph Northam, D-Va., has announced that the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) is seeking qualified contractors to help deploy strategies that will strengthen the state’s position in attracting the offshore wind supply chain and service industry to the commonwealth.
According to the governor, the request for proposals (RFP) focuses on expertise in port infrastructure requirements, build-out of the various offshore wind supply chain sectors, and long-term maritime service needs.
The governor says Virginia’s port assets are well-positioned to serve as a supply chain and service hub for offshore wind. In addition, no other major East Coast port shares Virginia’s capability of unlimited air clearance, Northam claims. The Hampton Roads region also enjoys open shipping channels and navigational flexibility that make maritime congestion a low-level concern.
“Hampton Roads’ unmatched port infrastructure and high-quality maritime workforce make the region an ideal location for offshore wind energy development,” says Northam. “Virginia should be the prime location for the offshore wind industry, from the supply chain to the full build-out of our offshore wind assets off the coast.”
“This is the start of a 50-year industry that will stretch up and down the East Coast. From a logistics standpoint, locating the offshore wind supply chain in Virginia just makes sense,” says Brian Ball, secretary of commerce and trade.
“We look forward to collaborating on business partnership, business climate and workforce development strategies aimed at fulfilling the offshore wind industry’s needs,” adds John Warren, director of the DMME.
Proposals must be submitted by 9 p.m. EST on June 22. More information can be found here.
