VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Dominion Virginia Power’s plan to develop a wind farm off Virginia’s coast has brought a 110-foot ship to waters off Virginia Beach.

The U.S.-flagged long-lift vessel will be working offshore from Camp Pendleton this month to obtain core samples of the ocean bottom for the design of an underground electric distribution line.

Dominion said Thursday the Inez Eymard will conduct the borings from 300 to 3,300 feet from shore.

The power company has received two Department of Energy grants totaling $51 million for a wind turbine demonstration project. It’s intended to help the company design turbines suitable for open Atlantic conditions.

Dominion holds the lease on 112,800 acres in the Atlantic about 27 miles off the coast for the development of wind power.

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