Dominion Energy’s federal lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s halt on offshore wind projects, claiming a daily $5 million loss and potential energy risks.
NORFOLK, Va. — A lawsuit between Dominion Energy and the Trump Administration is headed to federal court in Norfolk on Friday.
The Trump administration froze five big offshore wind projects on the East Coast days before Christmas, citing national security concerns. Among the projects targeted was Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project.
Federal officials say the pause is needed to reassess national security concerns, while President Trump has targeted offshore wind from his first days back in the White House, most recently calling wind farms “losers” that lose money, destroy the landscape, and kill birds.
Developers and states sued seeking to block the order. Large, ocean-based wind farms are the linchpin of plans to shift to renewable energy in East Coast states that have limited land for onshore wind turbines or solar arrays.
Two other lawsuits saw victories earlier this week for offshore wind developers, and now on Friday, it’s Dominion’s turn as they pursue a federal lawsuit to lift the pause. The power company said that stopping work on the nearly-completed project now would leave Virginia’s energy reliability at risk and could drive up costs for customers.
In court filings, Dominion said the pause is costing more than $5 million a day and could run up costs if timelines are continually pushed back.
If completed, the project is expected to generate power for about 660,000 homes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.