Dominion Energy wins federal approval for a 176-turbine offshore wind farm 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.
Dominion Energy is developing a $9.8 billion, 180-turbine wind farm off the coast of Virginia Beach, with construction slated to take place from 2024 to 2026. Photo by Robyn Sidersky
BY ROBYN SIDERSKY, Virginia Business
Richmond-based Dominion Energy has earned the final two federal approvals needed to move forward with the construction and operation of its $9.8 billion, 176-turbine offshore wind farm 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management granted final approval of the construction plan for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued its permit to allow for permitted impacts to U.S. waters.
Construction on the turbines and three offshore substations in a nearly 113,000-acre area is expected to begin in May.
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Once fully constructed in late 2026, the Fortune 500 electric utility’s wind turbines will produce 2.6 gigawatts of energy, which would power about 660,000 homes.
“Virginia is leading the way for offshore wind as we near the start of offshore construction for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind,” Bob Blue, Dominion Energy’s chair, president and CEO, said in a statement. “These regulatory approvals keep CVOW on time and on budget as we focus on our mission of providing customers with reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy.”
The project will be the nation’s largest offshore wind farm and aligns with a state mandate that Dominion Energy go carbon-free by 2045.
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