Norfolk’s Economic Development Authority will ask the Trump (R) Administration to Reconsider its Decision to Cancel a Grant meant to improve Fairwinds Landing. The Body made the Decision during their Monthly Meeting Wednesday, Five days after the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (R) announced the $39 million in Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Funding would be Withdrawn, due to the Sites association with the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Project.
The Funding, First Awarded to the Authority in 2023 under the Biden (D) Administration, was to “assist in transforming the marine terminal at Fairwinds Landing into offshore wind logistics facility,” according to the Original Press Release. Trump made Clear on the Campaign Trail he’d be taking aim at Wind Energy. Until now, CVOW is One of the Only Project’s theAadministration hasn’t gone after.
“There was a lot of head nodding up and down until 11:45 on Friday, when I saw [the grant withdrawal notice] pop into my inbox,” Robert Sharak, Bureau Manager for Norfolk’s Economic Development Department, said. “Frankly I thought it was the formal approval of the scope of work.” Instead, Sharak said He found Language even more “matter of fact” than that used in Duffy’s Remarks on Friday. “Wasteful, wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” Duffy said in a Statement. “Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg bent over backwards to use transportation dollars for their Green New Scam agenda while ignoring the dire needs of our shipbuilding industry.”
However, Sharak was Quick to Point-Out, the Revised Scope of what Grant was going to do at Fairwinds Landing, was Focusing on more than Offshore Wind related Transportation. Fairwinds Landing is the name given to the land formally known as the Lambert’s Point Docks. Local Developer and Business Owner Jerry Miller, Signed a 30-year Lease with Norfolk Southern for use of the 111-acre Property in 2022 with the Goal of Transforming the Old Dreakbulk Marine Terminal into a “world class marine logistics center.”
Construction is already nearing Completion on Dominion Energy’s Offshore Wind Monitoring and Coordination Center at the Site. Eventually, it’ll be the Land-based Nerve Center for the $10.9 billion CVOW Project which involves 176 Wind Turbines being placed 27-Nautical Miles off the Coast of Virginia Beach. When the Grant was First announced, there was also hope that LS GreenLink, a South Korean-based Offshore Wind Cable Manufacturer, would also be coming to the Site. The Company ultimately wanted to Buy Property, and decided to Locate further South on the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake.
The Revised Scope of the $39 million Port Infrastructure Development Program for Fairwinds Landing removes Parts of the Project Specifically related to Offshore Wind . The Docks had Fallen into a state of Disrepair, when Fairwinds Landing acquired Control of the Property. Sharak said the Quayside needs Repaired no matter what Business is being done. The Grant would help Offset the estimated $78.5 million worth of work. “The part that was specifically for offshore wind was really only 5% of funds,” Sharak said. “That was removed (at the request of the Maritime Administration)”. Sharak saidHhe is “cautiously optimistic” that the Grant Withdrawal was a “Miscommunication.”
Jeffrey Brooke, Chair of the EDA, received Unanimous Support to Draft a Response to the Grant Withdrawal, with a Request for Reconsideration. “There are all kinds of potentials there,” Brooke said. “Norfolk is, obviously very maritime focused and, that area could still be the centerpiece to the redevelopment up the Lamberts Point area.” Mike Hopkins, Managing Director for Fairwinds Landing, said they will also be Appealing.
“We will be requesting the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to reconsider its withdrawal of the Fairwinds project from the Port Infrastructure Development Program,” Hopkins said. “Our revised project, which we recently submitted to MARAD in response to their request, will help restore America’s maritime dominance and focuses on rebuilding America’s shipbuilding and maritime industrial base in line with MARAD’s current priorities. We look forward to working with MARAD to utilize the PIDP funds at Fairwinds to address critical port upgrades that support the Nation’s maritime goals.”
Both Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Virginia Beach-based Rep. Jen Kiggans (R) are Offshore Wind Supporters. According to a Release from Candidate for Governor Abigail Spanberger (D), the Trump Administration also attempted to Cancel $20 million in Federal Grant Funding for Upgrades to the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, but that Project was already Completed.
Wednesday Afternoon, Warner, Kaine, and Scott, Released a Statement following the Federal Withdrawal. “The withdrawal of federal funding for the Fairwinds Landing facility is further evidence of this Administration’s across-the-board, reckless approach to governing. If the Administration took the time to learn about the project, it would realize that it is about investing in maritime supply chains and port infrastructure to support not only clean energy but also shipbuilding and ship repair. Stopping this project makes no sense, hurts our economy, and is completely counterproductive to the Administration’s so-called efforts to ‘restore America’s maritime dominance.’ We will be working with our colleagues in Congress, state officials, and partners in the region to urge the Trump Administration to reverse its decision.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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