Virginia Wind Farm Wins Court Fight, Resumes Construction

Thousands of workers can return to their jobs building America's largest offshore wind farm after a federal judge ruled Friday that construction can resume off Virginia Beach.

U.S. District Court Judge Jamar Walker rejected a government stop-work order that had frozen Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project since late December. The company was losing $5 million daily during the shutdown.

The Trump administration had halted five East Coast wind projects, citing national security risks from radar interference caused by turbine blades and reflective towers. But Judge Walker said the order failed to explain how Virginia's project specifically threatened security.

The ruling matters beyond one project. Federal judges in New York and New England made similar decisions this week, allowing offshore wind construction to restart along the entire East Coast after the government couldn't back up its security claims with specifics.

Virginia's wind farm went through years of military review before construction started. The project sits 27 to 44 miles offshore, near several military bases. Dominion held extensive meetings with defense officials and signed multiple security agreements to address concerns.

The company even paid $250,000 to upgrade radar systems for the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Military officials met with Dominion just four days before issuing the surprise stop-work order.

The Ripple Effect

The $11 billion project already has $9 billion invested and was months away from delivering its first electricity to homes and businesses. Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection told the court that Mid-Atlantic states desperately need this power.

Data centers are driving massive electricity demand across Virginia and neighboring states. PJM warned that new power plants take years to build and connect. The wind farm represents critical new generation the region has been counting on.

Virginia's senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Representative Bobby Scott, and North America's Building Trades Unions all filed court briefs supporting the project. They highlighted the economic impact on workers and communities along the coast.

Construction will finish later this year, creating clean energy for 660,000 homes. The project proves that thorough planning and collaboration with military partners can address legitimate security needs while building America's renewable energy future.