The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Tom Fry issued the following statement on Feb. “The National Ocean Industries Association applauds yesterday’s vote in the Virginia State Senate supporting energy development off the State’s Coast. The vote, backed by Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA), demonstrates a strong bipartisan commitment by the Commonwealth to allow OCS exploration off its coast and actively work with Congress and the Administration to move forward with OCS Lease Sale 220. “Over the past five years, political leaders in Virginia’s State House, the Governor’s mansion and among the delegation in Congress have repeatedly expressed a desire to see the offshore energy resources of their state opened to development.