RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - In a step toward the development of offshore wind turbines, the federal government has announced approval of a wind energy research facility to be located in federal waters off Virginia.
The announcement Thursday by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management clears the way for the installation and operation of two 6-megawatt turbines. The power generated by those turbines is enough to provide electricity for 3,000 homes.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe called the approval an important step to make Virginia the first state to install offshore wind turbines in federal waters.
Last fall, Dominion Resources said an initial bid for the two-turbine project came in at nearly double the energy company's estimated $230 million expectation.
It announced it would seek another round of bidding.