The Office of the Virginia Attorney General has told state regulators that Dominion Energy has overstated the economic benefits of a proposed offshore wind farm, and that he sees “significant risks” for customers from the costly project.
The State Corporation Commission is considering Richmond-based Dominion’s plans for the approximately $9.8 billion, 180 turbine wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach. The plan, which was proposed by at the time Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, would make this farm the largest offshore wind farm in the county.
A Dominion spokesperson claimed that offshore wind is good for energy security, the Virginia economy and the environment, and hopes that Virginia can become an Atlantic coast hub for the growing offshore wind industry. The AG office feels seems to feel differently about their reassurances, as written testimony from a Texas-based energy consultant Scott Norwood warns them of “significant risks” to customers.
Via WTKR, Norwood’s testimony said the wind project was not needed to serve the company’s capacity requirements through at least 2035 and that the capital costs of the project were two to three times the cost of solar resource. It also said Dominion’s forecasted economic benefits were based on an analysis that overstated the benefits. Because of the high fixed costs and “significant risks posed to customers,” the testimony said, the commission should require Dominion to file status reports on the performance and cost of the project through construction and at least its first year of commercial operations.
Hearings in the case are scheduled for May and public comment is open now, so there is still some time before this project can be approved, and hopefully something can be done about this disastrous project before it is too late.