As used in this chapter, unless the context requires another meaning: “Authority” means the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority created pursuant to this chapter. “Developer” means any private developer of offshore wind energy projects. “Offshore wind energy project” means a wind-powered electric energy facility, including tower, turbine, and associated equipment, located off the coast of […]
The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority is created as a body corporate and a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and as such shall have, and is vested with, all of the politic and corporate powers as are set forth in this chapter. The Authority is established for the purposes of facilitating, coordinating, and supporting the […]
A. The Authority shall be composed of nine nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. In addition, one ex officio member without voting privileges shall be selected by the Governor after consideration of the persons nominated by the Secretary of the […]
A. The Authority shall, through moneys derived from sources other than state funds, to the extent such moneys are available, operate in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to upgrade wind resource and other metocean assessment equipment at Chesapeake Light Tower and other structures. B. The Authority may establish public-private partnerships with a […]
The Authority may establish public-private partnerships with entities pursuant to the Public-Private Educational Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (§ 56-575.1 et seq.) for the upgrade of port facilities and other logistical equipment and sites to accommodate the manufacturing and assembly of offshore wind energy project components and vessels that will support the construction and […]
A. The Authority, on behalf of the Commonwealth, may apply to the U.S. Department of Energy for federal loan guarantees authorized or made available pursuant to Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. § 16511 et seq., the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-5, or other similar federal […]
A. The incumbent, investor-owned utility for the onshore service territory adjacent to any offshore wind generation project shall, at the request of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, initiate a transmission study. Such utility shall initiate the transmission study no more than 30 days following the request of the Department of Mines, Minerals and […]
In addition to such other powers and duties established under this chapter, the Authority shall have the power and duty to: 1. Adopt, use, and alter at will an official seal; 2. Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs; 3. Maintain an office at such place or places within the Commonwealth as […]
A. The Director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy shall serve as Director of the Authority and shall administer the affairs and business of the Authority in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and subject to the policies, control, and direction of the Authority. The Director shall maintain, and be custodian of, […]
On or before October 15 of each year, the Authority shall submit an annual summary of its activities and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Labor and Commerce, and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. Such […]
A. The Authority shall hold in confidence the personal and financial information supplied to it, or maintained by it, concerning the siting and development of offshore wind energy projects. B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Authority, in its discretion, from releasing any information that has been transformed into a statistical or aggregate form […]
A. The exercise of the powers granted by this chapter shall be in all respects for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth and for the promotion of their welfare, convenience, and prosperity. B. The Authority shall be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this […]
