On Monday, several Virginia Conservation Network partner organizations submitted comments on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (CVOW). 

For background, the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is a massive source of clean, renewable energy that will take us leaps and bounds forward in the fight against climate change. Offshore wind energy will replace 2.7 gigawatts of fossil fuel energy – meaning less carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, reduced need for fossil fuel development like pipelines, and less fossil fuels leaking into our drinking water. Offshore wind is a great opportunity for Virginia’s transition to clean, renewable energy.

Although we are excited to see this project built, VCN and its partners are not without reservations about the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The sheer size of the project, as with any build out of large infrastructure, presents the possibility of unintended environmental consequences. VCN submitted comments outlining our concern for the disturbance of wetlands and water ecosystems, the potential increases in air pollution, and the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion targets in Dominion’s buildout plan (which is required by law in Va. Code § 56-585.1:11 D). See all of our comments in our letter to the SCC linked below.

In addition, our Partners at the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter entered into a settlement agreement with Dominion Energy for their Economic Development Plan for the project. The settlement will improve diversity, equity, and inclusive hiring practices for jobs related to the offshore wind project.

Ultimately, the Virginia Conservation Network called on the State Corporation Commission to ensure the responsible development of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project that is consistent with continuously improving best practices. Development must set a precedent for cost-effective renewable energy projects, establish a commitment to consumer protection, and advance an equitable and inclusive workforce and economic opportunities as quickly as responsible development allows.

Thank you to the VCN Partners who helped develop comments regarding the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project: