RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy
Virginia, the NABTU and their state affiliate Virginia Building
Trades reaffirmed today their commitment to the participation of a
unionized workforce in the construction of the Coastal Virginia
Offshore Wind (CVOW) project and also affirmed their commitment to
utilizing local workers; the hiring, apprenticeship, and training
of veterans; and the use of workers from historically economically
disadvantaged communities.
Dominion Energy will work collaboratively with NABTU and its
affiliates on tripartite discussions with CVOW suppliers to promote
project labor agreements to maximize union labor performance of the
onshore electrical infrastructure work, turbine pre-assembly work,
and offshore work. For the offshore work in particular, the parties
will work together to identify the skills training, and schedule
necessary to accelerate an offshore wind U.S union construction
workforce.
"This agreement is another important step forward in making
Virginia the nation's leader in
clean energy and offshore wind," said Governor Ralph S. Northam. "It's good news to see more
well-paying clean energy jobs on the way. Once again, Virginia companies and labor groups together
are demonstrating that the Commonwealth is a great
place to work and do business."
"Clean energy jobs are a critical sector driving Virginia's economy, particularly in
Hampton Roads where CVOW is
anchored. Union workers' commitment to safety and excellence are
important values which make them a crucial component to the
offshore wind workforce," said Robert M.
Blue, Dominion Energy Chair, President and CEO. "We're proud
to work with NABTU to expand a skilled domestic workforce for
offshore wind development, give our customers access to more
renewable energy, develop a domestic supply chain for offshore wind
and continue to position Virginia
as the best state to do business in America."
"Today's partnership represents another pivotal moment in
generating viable career pathways for our members and all energy
sector workers to flourish in the clean energy economy," said
Sean McGarvey, President of NABTU.
"Our highly trained men and women professionals have the best craft
skills in the world and are the most qualified workforce to perform
the onshore and offshore work on this great Coastal Virginia wind
project. We commend Dominion Energy for their collaboration with us
on this endeavor to advance middle class workforce development,
increase high-skilled energy jobs and secure the offshore wind
industry for the future."
"The Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council is
pleased to be partnered with Dominion Energy on expanding our
energy portfolio as we continue to work toward a sustainable future
as good stewards of our state, nation, and planet," said
Jason Parker, President of the
VSBCTC. "This new industry will create careers and opportunities
for the working families of Virginia, and the Virginia Building Trades
takes great satisfaction to be using our training and expertise to
help develop our fellow Virginians into a modernized workforce for
a modernized energy industry."
CVOW is the largest offshore wind project in the United States and is currently under
development off the coast of Virginia
Beach. Once completed in 2026, it will consist of up to 180
turbines and generate up to 2.6 gigawatts -- enough energy to power
660,000 homes. A Mangum Economics analysis estimates CVOW
could create about 1,100 direct and indirect jobs in Hampton Roads, and generate $82 million in pay and benefits, $210 million in economic benefits annually and
approximately $11 million annually in
local and state tax revenue.
Dominion Energy and skilled craft labor have worked together for
many years on traditional energy projects and are extending this
long-standing partnership to renewable energy. The company has one
of the largest fleets of solar facilities among its utility holding
company peers and is helping Virginia become a leader in U.S. offshore wind
development.
About Dominion Energy
More than 7 million customers in
16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity
or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered
in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable,
reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero
carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and
gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit
DominionEnergy.com to learn more.
About NABTU
North
America's Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14
national and international unions in the building and construction
industry that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft
professionals in the United States
and Canada. Each year, our unions
and our signatory contractor partners invest over $1 billion in private-sector money to fund and
operate over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities
across North America that produce
the safest, most highly trained, and productive skilled craft
workers found anywhere in the world. NABTU is dedicated to creating
economic security and employment opportunities for its construction
workers by safeguarding wage and benefits standards, promoting
responsible private capital investments, investing in renown
apprenticeship and training, and creating pathways to the middle
class for women, communities of color and military veterans in the
construction industry. www.nabtu.org.
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SOURCE Dominion Energy