Avangrid Renewables has submitted a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to the federal U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the first phase of its Kitty Hawk offshore wind project.
The COP also includes findings from an economic impact study (EIS), which anticipates that Kitty Hawk will generate $2 billion in economic impact between 2021 and 2030 and create nearly 800 jobs in Virginia and North Carolina.
The first phase of the project, expected to begin construction as soon as 2024, will have the capacity to generate approximately 800 MW of electricity. When all phases are complete, Kitty Hawk is expected to have a total generation capacity of up to 2.5 GW.
“We’re proud to be the first to submit a federal permit for a commercial scale offshore wind project in Virginia and the Carolinas,” said Bill White , Avangrid Renewables’ head of U.S. offshore wind.
“Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind will deliver clean energy to customers in the region and significant economic benefits and quality jobs for decades to come.”
Kitty Hawk will be built approximately 27 miles from the Outer Banks in the Kitty Hawk Wind Energy Area (WEA).
Avangrid secured the rights to develop the 122,405-acre lease area in May 2017. It is the first offshore wind lease area to be secured off North Carolina.