Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, D-Va., has announced intentions to develop offshore wind resources. Following a multiyear study by the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, a number of offshore wind developers have contacted the commonwealth to share their plans to lease federal waters off Virginia to develop wind power.
Kaine has submitted a letter to Elizabeth Birnbaum, director of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service, formally requesting the formation of a federal-state-local task force to guide and facilitate the leasing process.
‘Wind power holds the potential to create new jobs and provide cheaper and cleaner energy to our citizens, without having an adverse effect on the environment,’ says Kaine. ‘I am looking forward to working with federal, state and local officials to begin the process of making Virginia a regional leader in clean energy.’
SOURCE: Office of the Governor Timothy M. Kaine
