Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Gets Federal Approval

On Oct. 31, 2023, the Department of the Interior announced the approval of the construction and operation of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW-C) project offshore Virginia. Located approximately 23.5 nautical miles east of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, to be built by Dominion Energy, is the fifth commercial-scale offshore wind project approved by the Biden administration.

The ROD represents the final step in the National Environmental Policy Act review process for the CVOW-C Construction and Operations Plan (COP). The lessee must still receive BOEM’s final COP approval as required by its Renewable Energy Regulation, and other required Federal and state authorizations. The COP approval represents the last major action by BOEM, and is scheduled for January 29, 2024. As part of BOEM and BSEE’s regulations, the lessee cannot begin any construction on their lease (easement included) until after review of the Facility Design Report and Fabrication and Installation Report (FDR/FIR).

On September 4, 2013, BOEM held a competitive lease sale offshore Virginia. Dominion Energy was identified as the winner of Lease Area (OCS-A 0483). The lease area is 112,799 acres, located 23.5 nautical miles offshore Virginia in federal waters. Please see the Planning Area page for more information.  

Dominion Energy is in the COP phase within BOEM’s authorization process. This project is covered under FAST-41 and permitting progress can be found on the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FIPSC) dashboard.