Apex’s unsolicited lease area of interest

Offshore wind energy development requires a combination of strong and consistent wind, shallow water depths for cost effective foundations, and access to transmission.  Virginia is one of the few states with all of these characteristics, and Apex has been evaluating areas off the coast of the Commonwealth for the past two years for its Hampton Roads Offshore Wind project.

In March 2012, Apex responded to a Call for Information and Nominations issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).  Our response identified an area of interest covering approximately 168 square miles located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia in water depths ranging from 20 to 40 meters.  The area is large enough to accommodate a 2,000+ MW offshore program, which would be constructed in phases over several years.  BOEM is likely to hold an auction for the lease blocks in the first quarter of 2013.

Delivering Energy and Jobs

The Hampton Roads Offshore Wind project will be significant not only in its scale of energy production but also for its beneficial impact on Virginia’s economy.

Development of wind energy off the shore of Virginia will likely serve as a catalyst for future offshore projects. Together, these projects have the potential to launch a new industry, comprised of offshore wind component and vessel manufacturing, as well as R&D.

Hampton Roads and its neighboring ports in North Carolina are ideally situated for supplying offshore wind energy projects in the region and beyond, thanks to a local highly skilled workforce, available land for port staging construction, and access to a robust onshore transportation network.

Interested in Learning More About Offshore Wind Energy for Virginia?

We welcome your input and ideas and the opportunity to share information with you as well. Please contact us with your thoughts.

Other Offshore Projects:

Outer Banks Ocean Energy – North Carolina
Maryland Offshore Wind – Maryland