In August 2006 an Act of the Virginia General Assembly passed the landmark "Virginia Energy Plan" which establishes a foundation for the research and development of future renewable energy resources.
The Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC) was established in Chapter 6 of the Virginia Energy Plan. The VCERC was created to "serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource for the Commonwealth on coastal energy issues" with an initial focus on offshore winds, waves, and marine biomass.
The Consortium is charged with the following responsibilities:
- consult with the General Assembly, federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry and other potential users of coastal energy research;
- establish and administer agreements with other universities of the Commonwealth to carry out research projects relating to the feasibility of recovering fuel gases from methane hydrates and increasing the Commonwealth's reliance on other forms of coastal energy;
- disseminate new information and research results;
- apply for grants made available pursuant to federal legislation, including but not limited to research and development calls from the federal government and from other sources; and
- facilitate the application and transfer of new coastal energy technologies.
Further, the Consortium is governed by a board which consists of fourteen members - with representatives from each of the eight partner universities and six government and industry partners. The Consortium is located at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.
Link to the webpage of: Virginia Offshore Renewable Energy
