Near the end of April, U.S. Representative Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02) met with business leaders from Hampton Roads in a roundtable discussion hosted by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. Companies in attendance included Dominion Energy and Virginia Natural Gas.
Rep. Kiggans has been a supporter of clean energy for a long time. in a social media post after the roundtable, she emphasized the economic benefits of energy projects: “I’m proud to champion Glenn Youngkin’s all-of-the-above energy strategy that strengthens Virginia’s economy and national security. Clean energy like offshore wind is bringing over $445 million in private investment, creating hundreds of jobs, and powering our homes while modernizing critical infrastructures at Naval Air Station Oceana through a public/private partnership. I have remained protective of these projects for that reason and will continue to engage with leadership in Washington on how to protect these critical investments while also growing our economy and workforce in Hampton Roads.”
During the discussion, Rep. Kiggans also explained the importance of a domestic clean energy supply in reducing reliance on foreign sources: “For me, energy security is national security. Our defense industry doesn’t have the energy sufficient to get the job done and supply the warfighter with the needs and the technology that’s out there. We need to do better.”
Photo Courtesy Congresswoman Jen Kiggans
Rep. Kiggans also highlighted the importance of the Naval Air Station Oceana’s utility easements to Dominion Energy, which enable the company to transmit energy generated by the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. The $9.8 billion project, approximately twice the size of the City of Norfolk with 176 turbines, is located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. According to Dominion Energy, one rotation of a turbine blade generates enough power for one day’s worth of electricity for a Virginian residence. The energy will be sent through undersea cables to the naval air station, and then through overhead transmission lines into the state’s electric grid, supplying enough power for 660,000 Virginia residences.
Most recently, the first offshore substation for the project was installed, the first of its kind to be sent to a port on the East Coast.
When the Virginian-Pilot asked if she was worried about a lack of federal support for wind energy, Rep. Kiggans responded, “I am closely monitoring all new proposals and will continue advocating for responsible investments that strengthen our domestic energy independence and support skilled jobs and economic growth in Virginia’s 2nd District.”
Photo Courtesy Dominion Energy
At the event, Rep. Kiggans noted the importance of the financial argument for clean technologies. She discussed the House Conservative Climate Caucus, of which she is a member, “We’ve banded together, and we’re using our voices, and we are making sure that our leadership knows that these issues are important. We know best how to speak that love language, right, to the people who are leading the country.” The caucus aims to educate and hold briefings for House Republicans about climate policies and connect them with industry leaders.
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, for example, could support approximately 900 direct and indirect jobs annually during construction, resulting in nearly $57 million in annual pay and benefits, and approximately 1,100 direct and indirect operations positions annually afterwards, resulting in nearly $82 million in annual pay and benefits. On an annual basis, Dominion Energy also estimates the project will generate:
- More than $143 million in economic output during construction and nearly $210 million in economic output during operations
- $3 million in Virginia state tax revenues during construction and $5 million in Virginia state tax revenues during operations
- Nearly $2 million in local government revenue during construction and nearly $6 million in local governments revenue during operations
Rep. Kiggans’ support for energy tax credits was particularly evident in the recent discussion. In March, she joined twenty other House Republicans in penning a letter to U.S. Representative Jason Smith (MO-8), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, advocating for the credits and highlighting “the importance of prioritizing energy affordability for American families and keeping on our current path to energy dominance.” During the roundtable, Rep. Kiggans noted, “It’s really important that we use our voice even more loudly now. There are those of us in districts like this one that really care about these renewable energy issues, clean energy, just the business side of it.”
