ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS ENERGY AFFORDABILITY

RESPONSBILE OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT

ACCESSIBLE & AFFORDABLE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES

DEPLOYING LARGE-SCALE SOLAR WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES

GETTING STORAGE ON THE GRID

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Offshore wind is no longer a far-off clean energy proposal for Virginia; it is delivering power at the exact moment coastal communities need clean, more reliably priced power. The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2015–2025 were the 11 warmest years on record, that 2025 was roughly 1.43°C above the pre-industrial average, and that ocean heat and global sea level remained at or near record levels.¹ Increasingly extreme weather, driven by increased carbon pollution, has been identified as one of climate change’s most harmful impacts on human health and well-being.^2,3 Virginia has not been spared from these trends; the Virginia Climate Assessment identifies rising temperatures, rising tides, and rising rainfall as major hazards, with the lower Chesapeake Bay among the most impacted areas on the U.S. East Coast.^4,5 Offshore wind helps meet this moment by producing large-scale electricity without fossil fuel combustion, reducing carbon pollution while supplying a dependable resource to Virginia’s energy mix.⁶

The fully operational Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project (CVOW) will generate 2.6 gigawatts of power from 176 turbines – enough renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes.⁷ Its benefits are not limited to reduced emissions. Studies suggest that CVOW could support 900 Virginia jobs and $143 million in annual economic output during construction, and 1,100 Hampton Roads jobs and nearly $210 million in annual output during operation.⁸ Dominion has also projected approximately $5 billion in savings for customers from avoided costs of gas over CVOW’s first 10 years of operation.⁹ 

Virginia remains the national leader for utility-scale offshore wind development. Dominion Energy’s two-turbine CVOW pilot project began operating in 2020, and its commercial-scale CVOW project is under construction off Virginia Beach. In March 2026, CVOW began delivering its first power to the grid, constituting a major milestone for the largest offshore wind project in the United States.¹⁰ Dominion currently predicts the project will be fully online by mid-2027.¹¹ Dominion also plans to build another 3,400 MW of OSW energy during the 2030s.^12,13 All of this energy is also more affordable; CVOW’s levelized cost of energy is projected to be lower than most fossil fuel resources.¹⁴

The Virginia Clean Economy Act directs Dominion Energy to seek approval for up to 5,200 MW of offshore wind capacity by 2035 as part of Virginia’s clean energy transition. In 2026, Virginia enacted offshore wind workforce legislation directing Virginia Energy to identify and develop training resources for offshore wind careers, including manufacturing trades, maritime workers, providers of offshore wind products and services, and other skilled trades.¹⁵ The law gives veterans, local workers, and workers from historically economically disadvantaged communities priority to training resources, and calls for consultation with higher education, vocational-technical institutions, apprenticeship programs, and historically Black colleges and universities. Complementary workforce legislation gives local workforce boards additional flexibility to use federal workforce funds where workforce training needs are greatest.¹⁶

Public support remains strong. A March 2026 poll found that 79% of Virginia voters favor offshore wind construction off the state’s coast.¹⁷ Yale’s 2025 Climate Opinion Maps also found that, in every state and congressional district, more people support renewable energy on public land than drilling or mining for fossil fuels.¹⁸

Virginia can build on this progress by focusing on implementation, public education, and long-term supply-chain certainty. First, the Commonwealth has an opportunity to ensure the new offshore wind workforce program moves quickly from statutory authority to usable training pathways. Continued funding, agency coordination, and clear implementation timelines would help Virginia Energy, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, HBCUs, workforce boards, veterans programs, and employers align curriculum with real project needs, including safety certifications, maritime operations, port logistics, turbine installation, operations and maintenance, and advanced manufacturing. All of this will help position Hampton Roads as an offshore wind supply chain hub, which could support thousands more manufacturing jobs over the next two decades.^19,20,21

Second, Virginia can use its existing science and policy institutions to communicate more clearly about offshore wind’s benefits and safeguards. A state-level resolution recognizing the environmental, reliability, workforce, and economic importance of responsibly developed offshore wind could help reinforce a fact-based public record as CVOW moves toward full operation. Such a resolution could highlight that offshore wind reduces carbon pollution, supports energy security, and can be developed with wildlife protections, such as seasonal construction windows, protected species observers, vessel speed restrictions, and noise-reduction measures.^{22,23,24,25,26,27}

Finally, Virginia should continue to ensure that offshore wind projects are developed responsibly. As evidenced by CVOW, offshore wind can be done in a way that protects wildlife and minimizes impacts from onshore and offshore development.²⁸ State agencies can continue to ensure the responsible development of future offshore wind infrastructure by using least-conflict siting and the best available science to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts on ocean and onshore wildlife and habitats, cultural resources, and communities.^29,30,31,32

¹ State of the global climate 2025. (2026). World Meteorological Organization. https://wmo.int/publication-series/state-of-global-climate/state-of-global-climate-2025

² Thomas-Walters, L., Goldberg, M., Scheuch, E., Lee, S., Thaker, J., Lyde, A., Rosenthal, S., & Leiserowitz, A. (2026). Communicating the impact of climate change on extreme weather in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Global Environmental Psychology, (4), Article e15931. https://doi.org/10.5964/gep.15931

³ Peifer, K., & Freedman, A. (2024). Most of Virginia’s major power outages are due to extreme weather. Axios; Axios Richmond.  https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/10/extreme-weather-leads-to-more-outages-virginia

⁴ Ruess, P. J., Kinter, J., Ferreira, C. M., Ortiz, L. E., Ellis, A. W., Ermagun, A., Ezer, T., Fox, A., Klinger, B., Maggioni, V., Peterson, T., Allen, M., Burls, N. J., Cash, B., Clower, T. L., Costadone, L., Dollan, I. J., González-Dueñas, C., Henneman, R. F., et al. (2025). The First Virginia Climate Assessment. https://mars.gmu.edu/items/c9f8e03a-6377-4014-82e8-e0120e68d6e7

⁵ Coastal Resilience Master Planning. (n.d.). Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/crmp/

⁶ Muller, S. (2024). New England’s offshore wind resource is a winter powerhouse. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://blog.ucs.org/susan-muller/new-englands-offshore-wind-resource-is-a-winter-powerhouse/

⁷ Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. (n.d.). Dominion Energy. https://coastalvawind.com/

⁸ Potential Impact of the Development of the Offshore Wind Energy Industry on Hampton Roads and Virginia. (2020, September 28). Hampton Roads Alliance, & Magnum Economics. https://hamptonroadsalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Offshore-Wind-Economic-Impact-Report-092820-1.pdf

⁹ Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. (n.d.). Dominion Energy. https://coastalvawind.com/ 

¹⁰ DiGangi, D. (2026). Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind begins delivering power. Utility Dive. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/coastal-virginia-offshore-wind-begins-delivering-power/815874/

¹¹ Martucci, B. (2026). Dominion upbeat on offshore wind as cost estimate eases, sales rise. Utility Dive. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/dominion-upbeat-on-offshore-wind-as-cost-estimate-eases-sales-rise/819218/

¹² Virginia Electric and Power Company’s 2025 update to the 2024 integrated resource plan before the Virginia State Corporation Commission and North Carolina Utilities Commission (Case No. PUR-2025-00184; Docket No. E-100, Sub 214)(2025, October 15). Virginia Electric and Power Company. https://www.dominionenergy.com/-/media/content/about/our-company/irp/pdfs/2025-integrated-resource-plan-update.pdf

¹³ The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). (n.d.). Virginia Energy. https://energy.virginia.gov/renewable-energy/documents/VCEASummary.pdf

¹⁴ Lazard, LCOE: Levelized Cost of Energy. (25, June). Lazard. https://www.lazard.com/media/5tlbhyla/lazards-lcoeplus-june-2025-_vf.pdf

¹⁵ Offshore wind industry; workforce development, established, report, sunset. H.B. 67, Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Va. 2026). https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB67/text/CHAP0361

¹⁶ In Hampton Roads, Governor Spanberger signs bills to strengthen Virginia’s offshore wind workforce. (2026, April 29). Governor of Virginia. https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2026/april-releases/name-1116959-en.html

¹⁷ Virginia: Offshore wind public opinion brief. (2026, March). Turn Forward https://turnforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/VA.pdf

¹⁸ Marlon, J., Goddard, E., Jefferson, M., Rosenthal, S., Carman, J., Richards, E., & Leiserowitz, A. (2026, May 5). Updated Yale Climate Opinion Maps for 2025. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.

¹⁹ DeMichele, N. (2026). New research shows U.S. offshore wind could drive $42 billion expansion in domestic steel sector, supporting 186,600 American jobs. Oceantic Network. https://oceantic.org/press-releases/new-research-domestic-steel-expansion-and-jobs/

²⁰ Mangum Economics. (2020, January 17). Opportunities for developing the offshore wind industry in Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads Alliance. https://hamptonroadsalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Opportunities-for-Developing-the-Industry-Offshore-Wind.pdf

²¹ The Virginia advantage: The benefits of growing Virginia’s offshore wind supply chain. (2018). BVG Associates. https://www.energy.virginia.gov/offshore-wind/documents/BVGA-20802-Report-r2-final-20191127%20(1).pdf

²² Offshore wind energy: Assessing impacts to marine life. (n.d.). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/offshore-wind-energy/assessing-impacts-to-marine-life

²³ Sustainable energy in America 2026 factbook: Tracking market & policy trends(2026). Business Council for Sustainable Energy. https://bcse.org/market-trends/

²⁴ The Environmental and Economic Benefit Connection Between Offshore Oil & Gas and Offshore Wind Energy. (2025, April 7). Conservative Energy Network. https://conservativeenergynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/4-7-25-The-Environmental-Connection-Between-OG-and-OSW.pdf

²⁵ Dominion Energy. (2024, May 3). Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind: Double Big Bubble Curtain Plan. https://coastalvawind.com/resources/docs/cvowc-cmmp-dbbcplan-redactedfinal-508-opr1.pdf

²⁶ Shiraishi, K., Sugiyama, T., Müller, A., & Kammen, D. M. (2025). Exploring offshore wind’s potential to enhance energy security in nations with limited land and fuel resources. Environmental Research Letters. Advance online publication. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388429581_Exploring_offshore_wind’s_potential_to_enhance_energy_security_in_nations_with_limited_land_and_fuel_resources

²⁷ Stover, O., Bhatt, N., Spearman, N., Ontiveros, J., Norris, S., & Ying, J. (2026). The impact of offshore wind in meeting coastal and inland load growth in PJM. Charles River Associates. https://www.crai.com/insights-events/publications/the-impact-of-offshore-wind-in-meeting-coastal-and-inland-load-growth-in-pjm/

²⁸ Laura, A.-M. (2025). We can work together to halt misinformation. Ocean Conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2025/01/16/work-together-halt-misinformation/

²⁹ Protecting the ocean and supporting communities through responsible offshore wind. (2024). Ocean Conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Offshore-Wind-Report-final.pdf

³⁰ Birds and Offshore Wind Report. (2025, January). Audubon Society. https://www.audubon.org/our-work/climate/clean-energy/birds-and-offshore-wind-report

³¹ Integrated Science Plan for Offshore Wind, Wildlife, and Habitat in U.S. Atlantic Waters. (2024). Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative. https://rwsc.org/science-plan

³² Principles for a just transition in offshore wind energy. (2022, November). UPROSE, Rogue Climate, Taproot Earth, & Climate Justice Alliance. http://rogueclimate.org/offshore-wind/