Now that the General Assembly has endorsed development of an ocean windmill farm, Hampton Roads officials want to cut red tape in Washington.

Eighteen mayors and county commission chairmen have signed a letter to the local congressional delegation asking them to help resolve two snags that could hinder the offshore project.

Hampton Roads officials hope to power millions of homes with wind and make their region the East Coast hub for manufacturing the 400-foot high steel windmills and caissons. They envision a wind farm of 250 towers standing between 12 and 15 miles offshore. They say the industry could create 20,000 jobs and pump $15 billion a year into the economy.

The Navy is worried the towers would hamper offshore training exercises; the Air Force fears the giant structures would create shadows that interfere with radar. 

Radar concerns are also threatening plans to redevelop Virginia’s Beach’s resort strip. The Navy, which flies jets out of nearby Oceana Air Station, has said it could live with 180-foot high buildings at the oceanfront. The Federal Aviation Administration, however, insists anything above the current 110-foot limit would obstruct air surveillance.

“While alternative energy development is a top priority for the (Obama) administration,” the local leaders wrote, “the Hampton Roads area and localities face obstacles in balancing these energy interests with our nation’s homeland security causes.”

“The federal government must have a process in place to evaluate the impact of offshore energy development on military training and operations, homeland defense requirements, and air traffic safety needs,” they added. “It does not currently exist. The region is eager to undertake work in partnership with a private developer to harness the wind energy off its coast; however, without clear guidance from the administration on the balance that will be required between energy development and national security, the region cannot proceed.”

Local leaders also complained about a 7.5-year federal permitting process before construction of the windmill farm could begin. “If this is not compressed, all the forward movement and development that is currently underway in the offshore wind industry will grind to a halt,” they wrote. “Turbine manufacturers have already made it clear that if steps are not taken to reduce the permitting timeframe, they will not even think about moving forward on offshore wind in the United States.”

The General Assembly on Monday unanimously passed legislation that would establish the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. The 11-member panel, appointed by the governor, would coordinate public-private efforts to establish the industry and apply for federal grants, permits and loan guarantees.  It’s first goal would be to raise $3 million to build meteorological towers in the ocean to collect wind data that would give investors confidence in the offshore plan.

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