Dominion: Proposed costs coming down for 2 offshore turbines

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Dominion Virginia Power says it's working to bring down the cost of two proposed research wind turbines 25 miles offshore, an important step in developing a wind farm on 113,000 acres in Atlantic waters.

The power company told a teleconference Thursday that a key challenge is keeping down the costs of huge ocean-going vessels needed to deliver and install the towering turbines. All are located in Europe and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars daily to operate.

The turbines would assess harsh open-ocean conditions. But plans to have them in place by next year were dashed when bids came in at nearly double Dominion's estimate.

Dominion executives say the company has been able to bring down the estimated cost to a range of $300 million to $380 million.