Thursday, September 28, 2023
By Outer Banks Voice on December 14, 2020
(Kitty Hawk Offshore)
Avangrid Renewables, a leading developer of onshore and offshore wind in the U.S., submitted a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Friday, Dec. 11 for the first phase of the company’s wholly owned Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project.
The COP also includes the findings from an economic impact study, conducted by the Public Strategy Group, which anticipates substantial economic and employment benefits to result from the construction of Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind’s multiple phases between 2021 and 2030.
“We’re proud to be the first to submit a federal permit for a commercial scale offshore wind project in Virginia and the Carolinas,” said Bill White, Avangrid Renewables’ head of U.S. offshore wind. “Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind will deliver clean energy to customers in the region and significant economic benefits and quality jobs for decades to come.”
The first phase of the project, anticipated to begin construction as soon as 2024, will have the capacity to generate approximately 800 megawatts (MW) of electricity. When all phases are complete, Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind is expected to have a total generation capacity of up to 2,500 MW, or enough to power 700,000 homes – approximately four times the number of households in Virginia Beach — with clean energy.
“The offshore wind industry presents tremendous opportunity to the Hampton Roads region,” said Doug Smith, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance. “I look forward to working with Avangrid Renewables as they develop the Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project and deliver substantial economic benefits to the Hampton Roads region.” The EIS found that the project will drive significant economic activity and employment opportunity in the region. Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind is expected to generate $2 billion in economic impact between 2021 and 2030 and is expected to create nearly 800 jobs in Virginia and North Carolina, with nearly 600 of those in the Hampton Roads region which includes southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
An executive summary and full EIS can be viewed here. To learn more about the project, please visit: www.kittyhawkoffshore.com.
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Kevin
From the literature, this appears to be a very Virginia-centric project in waters of immediate interest to coastal OBX from Corolla to Nag’s Head.
Did not see any reference to consultation with and advice by the impacted residents of the OBX. Has this occurred? What were the results? What are the anticipated economic impacts, including to tourism and property values, associated with constructing the wind farm?
Life long Local
The meetings for the project happened 10 years ago. its past horizon
Lou Briccant
What impact? All the whining and complaining has already moved it so far offshore you won’t even be able to see it from the shore. I bet it was nice when people could accomplish something 70+ years ago without having to deal with all the over zealous regulations and whiny every day people.
Big Frank
I had the same take…. very Virginia & Virginia beach focused project just off the coast of Kitty Hawk. No mention of involvement from our elected leaders. This sounds like a good project for the DARE COUNTY CONTROL GROUP to get looking into.
Dethrol
I’d be absolutely shocked if anyone from Corolla to Ocracoke will even know it exists, let alone be impacted negatively by it. At its closest point, it’s more than 26 miles offshore. 122,405 acres sounds really large and will raise eyebrows unless one considers the Atlantic Ocean covers more than 26 billion acres of area. Everyone talks about renewable energy. Some worship at its altar. Nothing is without impact. Alternative energy solutions will cost us something. Way more often than not, NIMBY kills perfectly sound energy innovation.
Bobby
Is anybody concerned about the pollution and bird killing this project will result in? I’ll bet you the Spanish Company doing this is NOT!
Lou Briccant
What exactly do you environmentalists want? You don’t want coal plants, you don’t want nuclear plants, you want solar that generates all those panels that cannot be recycled when they’re no good anymore and get stacked in a landfill, you apparently have an issue with wind bc a bird might fly into it… you argue about pollution when the above mentioned solar panels create massive amounts of non recyclable materials. You don’t care that the batteries for your electric cars cause more harm to the environment mining the materials needed to make them than any coal plant causes not to mention those batteries also are non recyclable and also go in a landfill when no good anymore.
What is your end goal? Back to cave people times? No electric? You just can’t win with these complainers.
Charles Buxton
In the opinion of the majority of the Outer Banks residents, this is a terrible plan that will ruin tourism. ruin the economy, ruin the environment and it will ruin fishing. This is the worst idea ever conceived for the Outer Banks. I hope some of our wise elders will step up to the plate to stop this insane action. Solar power is much safer energy source. Let’s not let these Virginia politics ruin north carolina. God please save the State.
Life long Local
Having a excellent memory the project received 90%+ public approval.
Al
Charles it’s your opinion NOT the Outer Bank’s opinion. Not sure how it will ruin tourism?? If you do your research, a person 6 feet tall can only see approx. 3.1 miles offshore, a shorter person even less distance. The solar farm will be so far offshore, no one will be able to see it, not only due to distance but due to the curvature of the earth. And if tourists choose not to visit here due to a solar farm that they have no idea is even present, well guess what??? Let them go somewhere else. Remember people said the new cell tower in Southern Shores would hurt tourism? Have you noticed there are more people here than ever? I drive that road daily and don’t even notice the cell tower. Fishing?? Not sure how many people are fishing 40 miles offshore in Corolla or Kitty Hawk. And besides, the structure will attract smaller baitfish which will in turn attract larger fish, hence improve the fishing. Just my opinion like everyone else. So don’t speak for everyone.
Johnny
Hey Al, the turbines are 396 ft to top of blade, you’ll see them. Your figure is correct but that’s to the horizon. The further from that horizon an object has to be taller and bigger to be seen. Ever been out west, you can see those things from 20 plus miles, that’s fact.
dingaling
Remove the government subsidies including financial incentives to public utilities to use “renewable” sources and see how much progress this project makes.
obxmikecom
If any one is interested, check out the website, “stop these things”. Evidently, there are some issues with what to do with the windmills once they reach the end of their service life. Germany is burying them. The carbon fiber and fiberglass components of the blades cannot be recycled. Take your own decisions after reading several articles. Oh yeah, there are pictures too.
BTW, solar panels cannot be recycled we’ll either. JMO.