On December 8, MMS held its first task force meeting with Virginia officials to discuss renewable energy development on the OCS.  The meeting is part of an MMS inter-governmental task force that includes local, state, tribal, and federal stakeholders.  The task force will work to facilitate the commercial leasing process for OCS renewable energy evelopment offshore Virginia.  At the meeting, members discussed options for starting Virginia's offshore leasing program, as well as specific actions and timelines to support Virginia's goal of developing offshore renewable energy.  "The MMS Virginia Task Force will provide a forum for efficient review of proposed renewable energy projects on the OCS to move toward the goal of expanding our nation’s energy resource portfolio in an environmentally sound manner, while being responsive to the needs of affected States, localities, and tribes," said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum.  MMS has already held similar meetings with Massachusetts and Rhode Island.