The US authorities have given the final two major federal approvals required for the start of construction work on Dominion Energy’s 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, the largest approved offshore wind project in the US so far.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provided its final approval of CVOW’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which authorizes construction offshore keeping the offshore wind farm on schedule to generate enough renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes once fully constructed in late 2026.
The other approval was given by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing for permitted impacts to U.S. waters, including the route of the electric transmission line connecting the offshore wind farm to the electric grid onshore.
More than 750 Virginia-based workers have been engaged on the CVOW project or with other businesses supporting CVOW. This work includes redevelopment activities at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, construction of the offshore wind Monitoring and Coordination Centre, maritime provisioning, ship upkeep, heavy lift and rigging, cyber security, food service, and hospitality.
CVOW will consist of 176 turbines and three offshore substations in a nearly 457-kilometer lease area off the coast of Virginia Beach.
Some onshore construction activities began in November 2023 following BOEM’s record of decision. Initial offshore construction activities related to the export cable and the monopile foundation installation are expected to begin in the second quarter of this year.
