CVOW

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Commercial Project Profile

Location

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project is located in U.S. Federal waters, approximately 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. The project area covers about 112,799 acres (45,658 hectares) within the Official Protraction Diagram NJ18-11 Currituck Sound.

Project Overview

CVOW is the mid-Atlantic's first offshore wind farm and one of the largest offshore wind projects in the United States. The commercial project will consist of 176 offshore wind turbines, each capable of generating significant renewable energy. Here are the key details:

• Total Capacity: The project will have a total capacity of 2.6 gigawatts (GW).
• Energy Production: Once fully operational, the wind farm will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes, producing approximately 9.5 million megawatt-hours per year.
• Carbon Emissions Reduction: The project is expected to avoid as much as 5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to planting more than 80 million trees.

Construction and Timeline

• Pilot Project: The pilot phase, which began in 2020, involved the installation of two 6 MW turbines, marking the first installation of wind turbines in U.S. Federal waters.
• Commercial Project Construction:
  • Onshore construction for transmission infrastructure began in late 2023.
  • Offshore construction commenced in early 2024.
  • The planned commencement of the installation of the commercial project is set for 2024-2026.

Environmental Monitoring and Impact

• RODEO Program: The CVOW project is part of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s Realtime Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) study, which aims to characterize potential stressors during the construction and operation of offshore wind facilities.
• Acoustic and Wildlife Monitoring: Extensive monitoring, including underwater acoustic monitoring, bird and bat acoustics, and thermographic monitoring, has been conducted to assess the impact on marine and avian species. Normandeau Associates Inc. has been involved in post-construction monitoring using advanced systems like ATOM TM.
• Species Protection: Special precautions are being taken to safeguard sensitive marine species, such as the North Atlantic right whale.

Permitting and Regulatory Approvals

• Licensing and Approvals: Key milestones include the submission of various applications and approvals, such as the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted to BOEM in 2020, and approvals from the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) in 2022. The environmental review and permitting processes were completed by April 9, 2024.
• Involved Agencies: The project involves multiple federal and state agencies, including the Department of the Interior (BOEM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Economic Impact

• Job Creation: The project is expected to support over 1,100 jobs during its operation and maintenance phase. More than 800 Virginia-based workers are currently engaged in the project or supporting businesses.
• Economic Benefits: The project is anticipated to generate significant economic benefits, including $57 million in pay and benefits, $143 million in economic output, and $5 million in state and local tax revenue over a seven-year period.
• Fuel Savings: Customers are expected to save approximately $3 billion in fuel costs during the project's first decade of operations.

Project Management and Risk Mitigation

• Supplier Agreements: Dominion Energy has secured early agreements with offshore wind suppliers, using fixed-price contracts to mitigate risks. The company has also hedged currency and commodity costs and has contingency plans in place.
• Regulatory Framework: Virginia's regulatory structure and the Clean Economy Act have provided the necessary confidence and stability for the project, enabling firm contracts with suppliers and a clear project timeline.

Infrastructure

• Offshore Substations and Cables: The commercial project will include three offshore substations and nine buried offshore export cables extending to an onshore cable landing area.
• Transmission Infrastructure: Onshore construction for transmission infrastructure is part of the project to ensure the efficient delivery of the generated renewable energy to the grid.

The CVOW commercial project is a significant step towards achieving Dominion Energy's goal of net-zero carbon and methane emissions by 2050, while providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to its customers.