Virginia's $11B Offshore Wind Project Resumes Construction

The cranes are moving again at Portsmouth Marine Terminal, and Virginia's clean energy future just got back on schedule.

Construction has resumed on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project after a federal judge lifted a stop-work order that halted the $11 billion initiative in December. The ruling came after Dominion Energy sued the Trump administration, arguing the pause was costing millions daily and threatening years of planning.

Senator Tim Kaine visited the terminal Wednesday to see crews assembling the first complete wind turbine destined for installation 27 to 44 miles off Virginia Beach's coast. When finished, 176 turbines will generate 2.6 gigawatts of renewable electricity, enough to power roughly 660,000 homes.

The project hit a snag when the Department of the Interior cited unspecified national security concerns, including potential radar interference from the massive turbines. Details remained classified, leaving Dominion and state officials in the dark about specific risks.

A Norfolk federal judge sided with the energy company last week, granting an injunction that allowed work to restart while the legal challenge continues. Similar rulings have allowed multiple East Coast offshore wind projects to move forward despite federal opposition.

The Ripple Effect

The restart means more than clean energy for Virginia. Hampton Roads is home to some of the nation's most critical military installations, and Kaine emphasized how the project strengthens regional security through energy redundancy.

"Our bases in this area need reliable energy, and they need reliable and even cheap and redundant energy," Kaine said. The additional power on the grid will support shipbuilding operations and defense facilities across the heavily militarized region.

The economic benefits extend beyond military needs. Kaine is pushing President Trump and Governor Abigail Spanberger to increase workforce training funding, preparing workers for emerging jobs in offshore wind and maritime industries.

Dominion customers have been paying for the project through monthly bills for years under state approval. Kaine acknowledged ratepayer concerns but expressed hope that once the turbines prove their value, officials might find ways to reduce costs for customers.

The restart at Portsmouth signals that Virginia's offshore wind ambitions are weathering political headwinds. What happens next in court will shape not just this project, but the future of clean energy development along the entire East Coast.