Saving Seafood

VIRGINIA: Dominion Energy monitoring nest in transmission line

March 20, 2024 — A possible eagles’ nest could’ve meant a snag in the construction of an electric transmission line for Virginia’s offshore wind project in Virginia Beach.

However, Dominion Energy said it has no plans to do anything with the nest, and it will not affect the work it is doing.

“We got a picture of bald eagles in this nest,” said Matt Overton, a biological consultant for Dominion Energy, “and we wanted to make sure that the bald eagles hadn’t taken over this nest as we’ve seen in Virginia.

And while normally that wouldn’t be a problem, the nest in question happens to be part of a transmission line that will deliver power generated by the offshore wind project.

Read the full article at WAVY

MARYLAND: Maryland debates “local” wind farm, way offshore

March 20, 2024 — Maryland wants to expand its use of renewable energy by encouraging local projects like wind turbines.

But one company’s plan to build windmills in waters off the coast is running into trouble this session in the General Assembly, where lawmakers worry about giving their economic support to a project that isn’t exactly local.

The proposed project would be built off the coast of Virginia Beach — close by, but technically outside Maryland waters.

Read the full article at The Star Democrat

Federal lawsuit seeks to halt construction of Virginia Beach offshore wind farm

March 19, 2024 — A coalition of conservative groups is suing to halt Dominion Energy from constructing its planned wind farm off Virginia Beach, arguing federal officials have failed to adequately consider its potential impacts to endangered whales.

The groups, which include the Heartland Institute and Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, filed suit in federal court Monday against agencies including the National Marine Fisheries Service and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

The plaintiffs say the government “illegally approved Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project by ignoring glaring and obvious procedural errors that subjects the endangered North Atlantic right whale to further grave harm.”

In a statement to WHRO Monday, Dominion spokesperson Jeremy Slayton said the issues raised in the lawsuit “have no merit.”

BOEM “has done an extraordinarily thorough environmental review of the project and carefully considered potential impacts to marine wildlife and the environment,” Slayton wrote. “The overwhelming consensus of federal agencies and scientific organizations is that offshore wind does not adversely impact marine life.”

The utility says it also has several measures in place meant to protect whales, including monitoring for marine mammals when installing piles and halting piling activities during right whales’ migration season.

In May, Dominion plans to start building its wind farm about 27 miles off the Oceanfront. It will consist of 176 turbines that the company says could power more than 600,000 homes.

Read the full article at WHRO

Biden administration sued over Virginia offshore wind farm approval

March 19, 2024 — A conservative think tank on Monday sued the Biden administration in an effort to reverse approval of what would be the largest offshore wind farm of its kind.

The Heartland Institute filed the suit with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, a nonprofit that advocates for an economically libertarian approach to environmental action and has denied the existence of human-caused climate change. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to reverse the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) approval of Dominion Energy’s 176-turbine wind project offshore Virginia.

Read the full article at The Hill

VIRGINIA: The Virginia General Assembly has passed HB 928, a bill designed to protect commercial fishermen and their boats from harassment at sea.

March 18, 2024 — The Virginia General Assembly has passed HB 928, a bill designed to protect commercial fishermen and their boats from harassment at sea.

The measure passed 38-1 by the state Senate and 99-0 in the lower House, and was signed on by legislative leaders in early March. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expected to sign it into law, with a deadline for his action by April 8.

The bill, sponsored by Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent of the state’s 67th District on Virginia’s Northern Neck, increases penalties for harassing watermen to a Class I misdemeanor which is confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.

The Class 1 misdemeanor is for any person who knowingly and intentionally interferes with or impedes the operation of commercial fishing activity of a commercial fishing vessel within the territorial waters of the Commonwealth.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

VIRGINIA: Dominion Energy to pay nearly $1M over turbine views in Virginia Beach

March 9, 2024 — Virginia utility Dominion Energy will pay nearly $1 million to offset the impacts to coastal views from its 176-turbine offshore wind farm in Virginia Beach.

The company will pay the city $290,000 for visual impacts. Virginia Beach’s City Council voted earlier this week to use the money for historical preservation projects. Separately, the Richmond, Virginia, power company will pay $650,000 to the first Cape Henry Lighthouse on the Virginia coast, also for visual impacts. The Dominion payments were first reported by The Virginian-Pilot.

Dominion is also contributing $550,000 to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in North Carolina.

Read the full article at E&E News

VIRGINIA: Dominion says new offshore wind deal won’t impact ratepayers

February 26, 2024 — Dominion Energy Virginia says the deal it announced Thursday to sell half of its interest in its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project to investment firm Stonepeak is not expected to have any impact on ratepayers.

Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby said the deal will have no “impacts to the cost, customer bill impact, construction or operation of CVOW and no change to the consumer protections approved by” Virginia’s State Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities in the commonwealth.

The deal must be approved by the SCC, which is expected to make a decision on it by the end of 2024.

Under the agreement, Dominion will retain control of the project, a 2.6 gigawatt wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach that will cost an estimated $9.8 billion.

The deal follows the conclusion of a top-down business review Dominion began last year to improve its financial standing and is seen as a move to reduce the utility’s debt levels.

“If we have a healthy balance sheet, we’re going to provide the best customer experience. We’re going to be able to invest to meet the state’s goals,” said Dominion Chair, President and CEO Bob Blue. “That is a very compelling reason for regulators to approve this transaction, and I’m highly confident that they’ll see the benefits and approve it.”

Read the full article at Virginia Mercury

Dominion Energy Sells Half Virginia Offshore Wind Farm for $3B to Stonepeak

February 24, 2024 — Dominion Energy has agreed to sell half of its planned Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project in a move the company reports is designed to reduce its risk profile as the giant wind farm moves into construction. The company will sell a 50 percent noncontrolling interest in a newly formed partnership to Stonepeak, one of the leading U.S. private equity firms that is focused on infrastructure.

Under the terms of the agreement, which requires regulatory approval, the companies would be partners in a newly created public utility that would be a subsidiary of Dominion Energy. The company reports it expects to receive approximately $3 billion representing half the construction costs of the wind farm. Dominion Energy will retain full operational control for the construction and operation of the wind firm with the two companies sharing in the costs.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm has completed its permitting and is approved to begin construction which is projected to cost approximately $10 billion. Dominion previously reported that the first components of the wind farm were already being staged in Virginia with the major contracts awarded for the project which they report remains on schedule and budget. There are provisions in the agreement for cost overruns above $11.3 billion.

Read the full article at The Maritime Executive

VIRGINIA: Northumberland makes support for Reedville menhaden operations official

February 21, 2024 — Northumberland has made an official show of support for Omega Protein and their fishing partner, Ocean Harvesters, in a resolution that states the companies “have proven to be extremely environmentally conscious.”

The move comes in response to an ongoing push for action by opponents of the Reedville-based menhaden operations.

There’s one thing we need to jump on fast, Supervisor James Long said last month at a tri-body meeting including the Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Commission. He noted that  Northumberland Supervisors received word that forces in Northampton County were trying to hurt the Reedville fishing industry and shut it down.

Long said it was very important for the County to get in contact with the leadership at Omega Protein and see what the County could do. “Because if that is closed or hurt, we are talking about a lot of men in Lancaster and Northumberland losing jobs,” he said.

Seemingly emphasizing that this matter should be met with action, Long noted that when there were issues stirring around the Reedville operations about 10 years ago, he went to Colonial Beach to speak with some people.

Read the full article at News On The Neck

VIRGINIA: Virginia lawmakers delay decision on Dominion Energy’s offshore wind monopoly

February 15, 2024 — Renewable energy advocates have vowed to double down next year on legislation designed to enable competition with Dominion Energy on offshore wind projects serving Virginia.

A legislative committee unanimously tabled a proposal to let private developers compete with the utility on offshore wind procurement. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee’s late January decision to push Senate Bill 578 onto the 2025 agenda followed intense lobbying from Dominion Energy to protect its monopoly.

Evan Vaughan, executive director of the Maryland-based Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition Action (MAREC), was among the disappointed.

“We … will continue to advocate for competition as the best way for Virginia consumers to achieve a strong and cost-effective offshore wind industry,” Vaughan said in an interview.

Read the full article at Energy News Network