Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

Long-anticipated Dominion wind project off Virginia Beach will move forward

Richmond Times Dispatch: PORTSMOUTH — A little more than a year ago, Dominion Energy faced a torrent of criticism for letting lapse a $40 million federal grant for an offshore wind power pilot project. Critics contended it meant the utility was never serious about pursuing wind as a generation source.

Among those upset over the lost money: Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

“There was a lot of displeasure when we lost that federal grant. I worked very hard to get that $40 million federal grant, so I called the secretary of energy myself, but the decision had already been made. I was very unhappy about it,” said McAuliffe, a Democrat, in an interview. “But the good news is we’re past that. ... We’ve rekindled it.”

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