Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority
The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority (VOWDA) was created by 2010 legislation — Title 67, Chapter 12, Code of Virginia. The mission of the Authority is to facilitate, coordinate and support development of the offshore wind energy industry, offshore wind energy projects and supply chain vendors by:
Collecting metocean and environmental data;
Identifying regulatory and administrative barriers;
Working with local, state, and federal government agencies to upgrade port and logistic facilities and sites;
Ensuring development is compatible with other ocean uses and avian/marine wildlife; and
Recommending ways to encourage and expedite offshore wind industry development.
Upcoming Meetings
Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority
Next Meeting: TBA
Meeting Information, Click HERE.
Members
Thank You to VOWDA's Outgoing Board Members
From Left to Right: Virginia Energy Director John Warren with retiring VOWDA board members: Joan Bonderoff and Art Moye
Governor Ralph Northam’s comments on Joan Bondareff
Outgoing VOWDA Chair and Principal — Blank Rome, LLC
On behalf of a grateful Commonwealth, I express my admiration and sincere appreciation to Ms. Joan M. Bondareff for her selfless service, achievements and contributions to the development of Virginia’s offshore wind energy resource.
With offshore wind, we have a unique opportunity to address the climate crisis while creating new jobs and driving economic growth. Thanks to the voluntary public service contributions of visionaries like Ms. Bondareff, our Commonwealth has turned what was just a dream a decade ago into a steel-in-the-water reality today.
Joan Bondareff was appointed to the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority when it was created in 2010. She served steadfastly for more than a decade, first as vice chair and later as chair, a position that she held from November 10, 2016 until she completed her final appointed term, the last allowed, in December 2021.
She had an almost perfect (45 of 46 meetings) attendance record, despite having among the longest drives of any Authority member. Only once did Ms Bondareff come up slightly short, when a storm September 29, 2016 was so severe that the Amtrak train she took from Northern Virginia to Richmond, in order to avoid driving in dangerous conditions, was delayed by flooding for several hours, only arriving in Ashland two hours into an Authority meeting that had nearly finished its business and which had a quorum without her traveling the final few miles from the train station to the state Capitol.
Ms. Bondareff is a nationally respected expert in maritime law whose practice and reputation made her a coveted speaker and earned her seats at public platforms where she unflinchingly promoted Virginia's policy support, and contributed her own, to make the Commonwealth a leader in the development of offshore wind resources.
Governor Ralph Northam’s comments on Arthur Moye, Jr.
Outgoing VOWDA Member and Executive Vice-President — Virginia Maritime Association
On behalf of a grateful Commonwealth, I express my admiration and sincere appreciation to Mr. Arthur W. Moye, Jr. for his selfless service, achievements and contributions to the development of Virginia’s offshore wind energy resource.
With offshore wind, we have a unique opportunity to address the climate crisis while creating new jobs and driving economic growth. Thanks to the voluntary public service contributions of visionaries like Mr. Moye, our Commonwealth has turned what was just a dream a decade ago into a steel-in-the-water reality today.
Art Moye was appointed to the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority when it was created in 2010. He has served steadfastly through three terms and was the first chair, serving in that role from 2010 to 2012.
Moye retired in 2018 as Executive Vice President of the Virginia Maritime Association. He has served as an Officer and Director for VMA and the Hampton Roads Shipping Association during his 30 years in the maritime industry employed with one of the Port’s stevedoring companies.
Phillip S. Green, Vice Chair
President — Green Powered Technology
B. Hayes Framme
Government Relations and Communication Manager Southeast — Ørsted
Chris Gullickson
Director of Economic Development for the Port of Virginia
James McArthur, Jr.
Vice Admiral — U.S. Navy (Retired)
Laura McKay
Manager — Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Mark Mitchell
Vice President of Generation Construction — Dominion Energy
New Board Members Announced
Will Fediw of Virginia Beach, Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs, Virginia Maritime Association
Ashley K. McLeod of Virginia Beach, Lead Offshore Wind Public Affairs, Avangrid Renewables
Eileen Woll of Norfolk, Offshore Energy Program Director, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter