Meeting launches offshore wind panel

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A new authority promoting the development of wind farms off Virginia's coast met for the first time, reviewing a raft of reports on the emerging energy source.

The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority met in suburban Richmond on Tuesday. The authority's eight members represent power companies, people involved in the financing of wind energy and others connected with industries and interests linked to offshore winds.

One report reviewed by authority members included an offshore wind study by Dominion Virginia Power . The study concluded that Dominion's transmission system in the Virginia Beach area can handle a potential interconnection from a large-scale offshore wind facility.