The envisioned farm, which private energy interests would construct, would not interfere with tourism, fishing or military training — the Navy even could become a partner, the study said.
Talk about bad timing, said Neil Rondorf, a vice president of Science Applications International Corp., a local consulting firm working on the offshore-wind study. We’re ready to go from theory to practice, and this happens.
The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium pursued the study. The consortium had received $3 million in state funds in the past two budget. This year, the budget contains no money for its continued efforts. About $1.6 million given in 2008 is expected to run out in June 2009.
Absolutely I’m worried, said state Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach. Just look at what they’ve done with the little we’ve given them.
Wagner still is working on several alternative funding options.
Wagner also hopes to win federal green-power grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wagner expects to meet with Virginia’s congressional delegation, including US senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, so they might seek aid for the project.
