Proposals seek OK for wind farms off Beach coast

VIRGINIA BEACH

Two green-energy companies have asked the federal government to approve permits for wind farms off the coast of Virginia Beach, the first applications to develop offshore wind power in Virginia.

While the news was exciting to state and local officials, environmentalists and entrepreneurs, the early effort offers little indication of what, if anything, may actually be built in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly because permitting such projects is so new and because money and technical issues remain in question.

Apex Wind Energy Corp., based in Charlottesville, and Seawind Renewable Energy Corp., near Richmond, submitted unsolicited proposals in August and September to federal regulators to lease space 12 to 25 miles off Virginia Beach for wind farms.

Scientists already have deemed these waters a suitable place to erect wind turbines and create clean energy. At that distance, they could not be seen from shore.

Virginia is vying with other East Coast states to attract wind farms and, perhaps more important, the more lucrative businesses and industries that would accompany them. Local political and business leaders last month formed the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition to raise the region's profile as a possible wind-energy hub.

The Minerals Management Service, the federal agency overseeing offshore-wind permits, is looking at the two applications, but will eventually seek applications from other potential developers.

"The next step is, we have to go out and say, 'Is there any other interest in this area?' and if there is, it becomes a competitive situation," said Eileen Angelico, an agency spokesperson.

The agency is working to streamline its wind-farm lease application process, which in the past has taken as long as 10 years to complete. Permits would allow the companies to attract investors, said Eamon Perrel, development manager for Apex.

"We want to get started," he said. "An unsolicited proposal theoretically initiates the process."

Apex is looking for a permit to put up between 300 and 400 turbines.

"Right now, it doesn't mean a whole lot," said Sally McNeilan, a member of the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition and business development manager at Fugro Atlantic, a geotechnical engineering company. "They will still need to follow the rules and procedures we are trying to work out right now with MMS."

Any wind farms off Virginia's coast are still years away, if they are ever built. Environmental tests, wind studies and getting approval from the U.S. Department of the Defense and the Navy will take time.

"The project is in its early stages. We're waiting for feedback on our application," said Theo de Wolff of Seawind, which is looking to erect up to 240 turbines.

The applications closely resemble what a team of university scientists and experts recommended two years ago while studying possible wind farms off the Virginia coast - about 100 turbines, at least 12 miles from land, costing more than $250 million.

The study found that the area due east of Virginia Beach holds several key characteristics: favorable, consistent wind speeds; relatively shallow water for easier and cheaper construction; low prevalence of hurricanes; and close proximity to electric-power infrastructure in Virginia Beach.

"The technical part is doable," said Larry Atkinson, an oceanographer at Old Dominion University, who participated in the offshore study.

There are no offshore wind farms operating in the United States today, though work is proceeding to develop them in Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and now Virginia.

Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, has made offshore wind development a cornerstone of his push for creating jobs and expanding domestic production of energy, both alternative kinds and fossil fuels.

He met last week with other East Coast governors and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in Washington on how to speed up wind development without compromising the environment.

Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com

Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com