Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced its approval of the first wind energy Research Activities Plan (RAP) for a facility to be located in US federal waters.
Last year, BOEM awarded a research lease to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Virginia. The approval clears the way for the installation and operation of two 6MW turbines and associated cabling to shore, pending final engineering review of the project. The RAP was developed by DMME’s operator, Virginia Electric and Power Company (doing business as Dominion Resources), and describes the proposed construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of the Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project (VOWTAP). DMME is required to submit for BOEM’s review two additional reports detailing design, fabrication, and installation engineering details prior to actual construction.