By Associated Press - Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Dominion Energy says the keel has been laid for an offshore wind turbine installation vessel that is part of its project to create what it says will be the largest offshore wind farm in the U.S.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Dominion made the announcement on Wednesday. The wind farm will be 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.

Dominion CEO Bob Blue said the wind farm is expected to provide 650,000 customers with zero-carbon electricity at its peak output.

Gov. Ralph Northam said the vessel “will make the offshore wind industry possible in Virginia.” He said that’s because it will be big enough and strong enough to transport and install the foundations of turbines at the offshore site.

Shipbuilding firm Keppel AmFELS is constructing the vessel at it its shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. Dominion will own and operate the ship, which will be based in the Hampton Roads region.

Northam said he hopes the ship will help make Hampton Roads the hub of a wind energy supply chain on the East Coast. Blue said the ship has the potential “to help attract related businesses to the area to make Hampton Roads a supply chain hub for offshore wind, creating jobs and revenue for the region.”

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