Governor Ralph Northam announced on October first the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is now the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy). The name change was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Northam in April 2021.

Learning how China, South Korea, Japan and European nations had developed their offshore wind programs, Old Dominion University’s Batten College of Engineering & Technology, Kristal Sunuwar reached an unexpected conclusion: “I was surprised that the USA wasn’t farther ahead” in offshore wind development, he says. He was also struck by how much more cumbersome the governmental approval process for offshore wind projects appeared to be in the U.S. versus other countries.

Dominion Energy Virginia, the NABTU and their state affiliate Virginia Building Trades reaffirmed their commitment to the participation of a unionized workforce in the construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project and also affirmed their commitment to utilizing local workers; the hiring, apprenticeship, and training of veterans; and the use of workers from historically economically disadvantaged communities.

By Jen A. Kiggans and Terry G. Kilgore: We support this clean energy and job growth investment because we recognize the immense environmental and economic gains it will bring to Virginia for years to come. It’s rare these days to find an issue that brings all Virginians together, regardless of party or geography, but offshore wind certainly does.

Touting one of North America’s largest ports, congestion-free shipping channels and the nation’s highest percentage of maritime workers, Hampton Roads is charting a course to become the East Coast supply chain hub for the offshore wind industry.

Check out the WINDSday newsletter celebrating the power of wind, clean energy and a green environment in Virginia Beach and all of Hampton Roads.

Join us for the first Workforce Wednesday, an extension of our Friday Forums! On October 13th at 9am we'll be discussing the economic impact and hiring objectives of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, analyzing the Job Role analysis from Xodus's offshore wind supply chain study, and discussing outreach and support from workforce organizations for businesses and workers with Dominion Energy Energy and Hampton Roads Workforce Council!