Virginia will be home to the nation’s first facility to test and certify large-scale offshore and land-based wind turbines that have the potential to create thousands of jobs for the state in the future.
The project, called Poseidon Atlantic, will be set up in Northampton County and is the work of private companies — U.S.-based Real NewEnergy and Dutch companies Furgo and Ecofys — with support from the state, the Virginia Port Authority and the Netherlands’ government. It’s expected to create 25 new jobs in the next two years, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Thursday.
“If this industry takes root and matures, we could create thousands of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, logistics, operations and maintenance activities,” Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said.
Even as he urges Congress to open Virginia to offshore drilling and nuclear energy, McDonnell has moved forward on initiatives to bring renewable energy to the state.
“The building of this wind energy test facility in Northampton County will further Virginia’s growing leadership role in the global wind energy industry, while creating good paying jobs for our citizens at the same time,” McDonnell said.
