Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has enacted House Bill 67 (HB67) to evaluate workforce training needs for the offshore wind sector, aligning development efforts with industry demands.
The bill, approved by the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate in March, mandates the Virginia Department of Energy to assess training and educational resources necessary for supporting the offshore wind industry.
HB67 requires the Department to collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate current capabilities and identify gaps in training infrastructure. This initiative ensures Virginia can meet labor requirements for offshore wind development.
The Governor signed the bill on April 29, along with House Bill 772, which offers greater flexibility for using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds.
“This legislation provides local workforce boards with more flexibility to allocate resources effectively, helping Virginia build a skilled workforce to support our leading offshore wind industry. I appreciate the leadership of the bill’s patrons who made this possible,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger.
“I am grateful for the collaboration ensuring Virginians benefit from job opportunities in this vital offshore wind project,” stated Delegate Michael Feggans, who sponsored the offshore wind workforce bill. “This signals to the nation that Virginia is committed to our renewable energy goals.”
Virginia hosts one offshore wind project, the 12 MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot. It is progressing toward having the largest offshore wind farm in the U.S. The 2.6 GW commercial CVOW project, developed by Dominion Energy off Virginia Beach, recently started producing power and is set for completion in 2026.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz