NorfolkGroup, International Terminals CoStar Richmond
Norfolk Harbor
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
Offshore Wind
ADP, Norfolk Virginia International Gateway, Portsmouth
With a location at the center of the East Coast, one of the highest concentrations of skilled maritime talent on the East Coast, world-class port infrastructure, and a competitive cost of doing business, Virginia is positioned to be a leader in the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. Recent projects related to this emerging industry have been announced in Virginia by companies such as Rose Holm, Atlantic Wind Transfer, and Coastal Precast Systems.
Why Virginia? 1 Commitment to Renewable Energy
3 Growing Offshore Wind Industry Ecosystem
5 Strategic Mid-Atlantic Location
7 Central Access to All Wind Farms on the East Coast
9 World-Class Port and Transportation Infrastructure
13 America’s Top State for Talent
15 Attractive, Stable, and Predictable Operating Environment
17 Robust Portfolio of Industrial Sites
19 Exceptional Quality of Life
Commitment to Renewable Energy 2022
Offshore Wind Power (MW by 2030) Leader in the U.S. Virginia recently released its 2022 Virginia Energy Plan, which focuses on energy reliability, affordability, innovation, competition, and environmental stewardship. It includes support for adding offshore wind generation as well as strategic investments in emerging technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture, storage, and utilization, and small nuclear reactors. The Virginia Offshore Wind Supplier Development Grant (VOWSD) encourages existing Virginia companies to enter the offshore wind supply chain. The program targets existing manufacturers or manufacturing-adjacent companies who have operated in Virginia for at least one year and have under 250 full-time employees.
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Off the coast of Virginia, Dominion Energy is developing the East Coast’s only utility-owned offshore wind farm, with a capacity of 2,600 megawatts — enough energy to power 660,000 homes. The two-turbine, 12-megawatt pilot phase began supplying electricity to customers in 2020. Construction of the 180-turbine wind farm should be completed in 2026.
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
Growing Offshore Wind Industry Ecosystem Virginia’s vibrant industrial ecosystem provides an ideal home for the burgeoning offshore wind industry as it rapidly expands power generation capacity off the East Coast. Manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in Virginia benefit from the presence of military installations, federal research assets, and a robust maritime industry with major port, naval, and shipbuilding operations. Industry leaders in Virginia include developers like Dominion Energy, Ørsted Energy, and Avangrid Renewables, as well as suppliers and service providers like Fugro, Phoenix International, Volvo Penta, and Sea Jacks. These companies and several others make up the membership of the Virginia Offshore Wind Landing, a cooperative office space in Norfolk where companies can work, connect, and access resources.
Avangrid Renewables, a leading provider of clean, renewable power in the U.S., announced in 2020 the opening of a new Virginia field office to support the development of its Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project. Located 27 miles off the shore of Corolla, N.C., the 122,405-acre project will generate 2,600 megawatts of power, making it the secondlargest single project on the East Coast. Landing cables for the project will come ashore at a substation in Virginia Beach’s Sandbridge community. Roughly 600 jobs will be generated by the project within the Hampton Roads combined statistical area, which includes part of northeastern North Carolina.
Ørsted, a Danish company and global leader in offshore wind development, announced in 2020 the securing of 40 acres at the site of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal as a long-term option to service East Coast offshore wind projects. Ørsted’s lease could run through 2026 and be worth nearly $13 million in lease payments and include more than $20 million in improvements.
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The Virginia Offshore Wind Landing is a collaborative office space where companies interested in establishing a presence in Hampton Roads can become part of the region’s maritime network and growing offshore wind industry. Located in downtown Norfolk, it offers companies a way to establish a physical presence in the region and tap into an unmatched network of peers and potential business partners. The purpose of the Landing is to develop a cluster of offshore wind companies and foster the growth of Hampton Roads and Virginia as an innovation and supply chain hub of the offshore wind industry. Founding members of the Landing are global leaders of offshore wind energy and supply chain development, including Atlantic Wind Transfers, Avangrid Renewables, AZCO, Burns & McDonnell, Crowley, Dominion Energy, Nexans, and Seaway 7.
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
We believe the offshore wind industry in the U.S. has potential to help thousands of high-paying jobs, support a growing economy, and help us to create efficient, sustainable energy for years to come. The Landing provides an ideal and centralized network to support offshore wind development in Hampton Roads, which is critical to supporting the overall infrastructure and supply chain needs along the Eastern Seaboard. TONY APPLETON Offshore Wind Director, Burns & McDonnell
Portsmouth Marine Terminal
Strategic Mid-Atlantic Location Virginia’s central location on the East Coast offers strategic advantages for the offshore wind industry. Located in the Eastern Time Zone, halfway between Boston and Atlanta, Virginia is an excellent entry point for global offshore wind companies to gain access to major U.S. markets on the Northeast corridor, throughout the Southeast, and across the Midwest.
2nd
densest roadway and railway networks in the Southeast
36-hour Source: VEDP; Esri Business Analyst
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vessel cruise time to all Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) wind areas north and south on the East Coast
Rose Holm Furthers Wind Energy Efforts from First U.S. Location in Virginia Rose Holm is a privately owned Danish metal company that specializes in high-quality fastening products with a focus on supplying the global wind energy sector. Established in 1953, the company is one of Northern Europe’s leading manufacturers, producing threaded bolts for the food and beverage, wind power, and heat exchange industries. Combining decades of knowledge, logistics, and ongoing investments in the latest advanced manufacturing technology, Rose Holm’s two Danish production plants manufacture fastening equipment used in the offshore wind industry. Rose Holm established its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Henrico County in 2020 to be in proximity to a major customer and further its wind energy efforts. The new Rose Holm plant produces bolts used in heat exchange industries and will manufacture two components for the wind energy industry: a bolt for the anchor cage of wind turbine foundations, and a stud to hold the blades of wind turbines. Rose Holm intends to become a key component supplier in offshore wind energy generation.
Virginia International Gateway, Portsmouth
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World-Class Port and Transportation Infrastru Virginia is home to the third-largest port on the East Coast, with several advantages that distinguish it from other U.S. Atlantic ports. The Port of Virginia, which is only 2.5 hours from open sea, features unrestricted access to the Atlantic Ocean, navigational flexibility, and deep, wide channels that are free of overhead obstructions, allowing safe, easy passage of the biggest ships afloat as well as large and upright cargo. The port’s infrastructure assets include deepwater terminals in Norfolk Harbor, an inland barge terminal in Richmond, and an intermodal container transfer facility in Front Royal. There is direct interstate highway access from all terminals. Upon completion of its channel deepening and widening project underway, the port will have the deepest harbor and channels of any U.S. East Coast port — enough to accommodate two-way traffic of ultra-large container vessels. Inland, a modern network of roads, railways, and airports links to supply chains and distribution networks that allow easy access to global markets and efficient operational logistics.
Virginia International Gateway, Portsmouth
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Port Infrastructure The Virginia coastline is geographically rich, with many waterfront industrial properties for development or redevelopment. Virginia’s maritime history is centered on Hampton Roads, where the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean converge. This region is home to the shipbuilding and repair docks of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), BAE Systems, General Dynamics — NASSCO, Colonna’s Shipyard, MHI Ship Repair and Services, and Lyon Shipyard. Over 50 privately owned port facilities in the Hampton Roads region provide specialized services, handling a diverse array of dry and liquid bulk and breakbulk cargo, including cement, asphalt, coal, chemicals, wood, grain, sand, stone, minerals and ore, and oil and petroleum products.
Newport News Marine Terminal (NNMT)
Future Craney Island Marine Terminal (CIMT)
Virginia International Gateway (VIG)
Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT) Wind Energy Hub of the Future
Port of Virginia Terminal Locations
One of the Most Advanced Ports in the U.S.
2.5 hours Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)
from open sea, with no overhead obstructions to impede the shipping of large, upright infrastructure and components
50+
private terminals operate across the Hampton Roads region
55-foot
channel and harbor deepening project will make Virginia home to the U.S. East Coast’s deepest harbor by 2024, capable of handling the biggest container ships afloat
$1.4 billion
modernization and expansion project on track to create the deepest, widest, and safest commercial shipping channels and harbor on the East Coast
Source: The Port of Virginia
America’s Top State for Talent Ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for Education by CNBC, Virginia is home to a maritime workforce of nearly 37,000 and a strong manufacturing base employing nearly 242,000. The offshore wind industry draws talent from thousands of service members who exit the military in Virginia every year, and the state’s growing demographics and excellent school systems ensure a steady flow of new talent. Virginia’s K-12 schools are ranked No. 1 in the South and No. 5 in the U.S. (WalletHub, 2023), and its higher education system is ranked No. 2 in the U.S. (SmartAsset, 2022). The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program — VEDP’s world-class customized talent acquisition and training solution — is available to new and expanding companies to ensure they can quickly attract and onboard high-quality employees. The program is offered at no cost to qualified companies as an incentive for job creation. As an alternative, Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP) grants are available for companies that prefer to manage their own recruitment and training.
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New College Institute, Martinsville
Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance The Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance is Virginia’s first training partnership dedicated to offering a full suite of wind energy-related training with Virginia locations in Hampton Roads and Martinsville. The Alliance was created by the New College Institute, Centura College, and the Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy, and supports offshore and onshore wind projects in Virginia and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, with the New College Institute serving as the host institution. Course offerings include a wide variety of wind energy-related disciplines and programs that range from preparing students for a particular certification to a year-long wind turbine technician program. The courses are certified by the Global Wind Organisation and the National Center for Construction, Education, and Research.
The formation of the Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance is a critical step to developing a talented offshore wind workforce here in Virginia. JOSH BENNETT Vice President Offshore Wind, Dominion Energy
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Dominion Energy, Richmond
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
TMEIC Corporation Americas, Roanoke County
Attractive, Stable, and Predictable Operating Environment Ranked as a Top State for Business by CNBC, Virginia is frequently recognized for its favorable regulatory climate and consistently rated one of the best-run states in the country. Virginia’s state and local taxes are lower than the nationwide average, and the costs of leasing, construction, and utilities are competitive with other offshore wind hubs along the East Coast. Virginia has had a stable 6% corporate income tax rate, one of the lowest in the nation, since 1972.
Sound economic policy and prudent financial management has earned Virginia an AAA credit rating since 1938 — longer than any other state.
Virginia offers an exemption from retail sales and use tax for equipment and materials purchased by manufacturers.
Industrial users paid an average rate of 6.24 cents per kilowatt-hour in the winter of 2022, well below the national average of 7.28 cents per kilowatt-hour.
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Robust Portfolio of Industrial Sites Virginia offers a rich portfolio of sites, including many waterfront industrial properties that are well-suited for the offshore wind industry. Beyond the coastal regions, Virginia has hundreds of fully characterized sites of 25 acres or larger, dozens of certified sites, and a growing inventory of spec buildings and virtual buildings. Companies looking for ready-built options have ample choices among the thousands of existing buildings with space for lease, representing over 20 million square feet of industrial space, including more than 440 industrial buildings with 10,000 or more square feet available. Construction is underway on an additional 14.6 million square feet of industrial space.
Size and certification status of sites across Virginia
40+
sites are certified as project-ready under the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program
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12
of Virginia’s certified parks have graded pad sites available for construction
12-18 mos. for project-ready sites to have utilities on-site and all infrastructure in place
Strategic Waterfront Sites Virginia offers access to premier waterfront sites for the offshore wind industry. Major OEMs or suppliers requiring waterside access can find a home in Virginia’s harbors. Numerous sites offer existing quayside infrastructure with large acreage, deep channels, and unobstructed access to open sea.
Premier Deepwater Terminals Fairwinds Landing
Sampson Creek Road
Fairwinds Landing is a 123-acre breakbulk marine terminal in Norfolk. The terminal accommodates large vessels requiring over 35-foot drafts and has on-dock rail access and no overhead obstructions to open seas.
The Sampson Creek Road site in Chesapeake is a 70-acre site with a 45-acre stabilized work area and a 1,000’ modern bulkhead with 23’ depth, and access to a 40’-45’ channel. The site has excellent access to open seas.
Fairwinds Landing, Norfolk
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Exceptional Quality of Life
With a competitive cost of living, a mild four-season climate, and a diverse range of natural and cultural attractions, Virginia offers an exceptional quality of life. Vibrant urban centers and picturesque small towns are alive with arts, culture, history, and stunning landscapes. Outdoor enthusiasts are within easy driving distance to the scenic shorelines of Virginia’s beaches and rivers as well as hiking trails and mountain vistas. For these reasons and many others, Forbes ranked Virginia No. 1 in the U.S. for Quality of Life.
Tinker Cliffs, Botetourt County
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The Omni Homestead Resort, Bath County
Virginia Creeper Trail, Washington County
Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford County
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond
Sandbridge, Virginia Beach
Arlington County
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Downtown Norfolk’s Waterside district on the Elizabeth River boasts convenient access to the city’s downtown, a marketplace with shops and restaurants, the Nauticus naval museum, and Harbor Park, home of the Norfolk Tides baseball team.
Expertise • Collaboration • Innovation • Solutions The Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s team of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals is committed to Virginia’s economic success, and connects industry-leading businesses to the resources they need to make relocations and expansions successful. From site selection, customized research, cost analysis, and coordination with public and private partners, to discretionary incentives and workforce solutions, VEDP’s services are tailored to companies’ unique requirements. To learn more about VEDP’s expertise and resources, visit VEDP.org.
© August 2023