Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Developers of the Cape Wind project off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts told federal officials they are interested in a wind development area 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va.

An Energy Management Inc. spokesman confirmed the company told the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement it may enter bidding to develop the 133-square-mile area. Sea Breeze Power Corp., Dominion Virginia Power and seven other energy companies have also expressed interest.

“When you finally put forth a proposal for a wind energy area and you receive this level of interest, then that does confirm that we’re offering an area that has commercial interest,” said Maureen Bornholdt, the bureau’s program manager for renewable programs. “That’s a good thing.”

Wind industry development in the outer continental shelf would generate 10,000 Virginia jobs, studies have estimated (AP/Fuel Fix, Feb. 14)