Virginia Offshore Wind Project Resumes After Court Win

Virginia's largest clean energy project is back in business after a federal court stepped in to reverse a controversial halt.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project resumed construction this weekend following a preliminary injunction from a federal judge. Dominion Energy's $11.2 billion venture had been paused for three weeks after the Department of Interior cited unspecified national security concerns.

The first of 176 massive turbines arrived by ship on Saturday. Foundations for the turbines are already in place, and power will start flowing to Virginia homes as each turbine comes online.

Despite the delay, the project remains on schedule to deliver its first electricity by the end of March. When complete by the end of this year, CVOW will generate 2.6 gigawatts of clean energy.

That's enough to power 660,000 homes at a time when Virginia desperately needs more electricity. The commonwealth has faced growing energy demands, making this project critical for keeping the lights on without relying on fossil fuels.

The stop work order didn't specify what national security risks supposedly existed, and defense department reports remain classified. A federal judge found the concerns insufficient to halt a nearly complete project that had already met every legal and regulatory requirement.

Virginia's congressional delegation celebrated the ruling. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with Representatives Bobby Scott and Jennifer McClellan, called the pause "shortsighted" and politically motivated.

The Ripple Effect

This victory extends beyond Virginia's coastline. Multiple northeastern states have filed lawsuits against similar federal attempts to pause renewable energy projects, and Virginia's court win strengthens their cases.

The project has already survived previous funding threats. Last year, the federal government attempted to cut funding for port upgrades in Norfolk and Portsmouth that support offshore wind construction, but those improvements were already complete.

Virginia's new Attorney General Jay Jones pledged to protect the project and ensure it doesn't drive up energy costs for residents. His office is considering joining Dominion's lawsuit to prevent future interference.

The offshore wind industry employs thousands of workers along the East Coast, and projects like CVOW are proving that clean energy can be built on time and at scale.

As turbines begin spinning off Virginia's coast this spring, 660,000 homes will get power from the wind instead of coal or gas, marking a major step forward for American clean energy.