March 19, 2024 — A coalition of conservative groups is suing to halt Dominion Energy from constructing its planned wind farm off Virginia Beach, arguing federal officials have failed to adequately consider its potential impacts to endangered whales.
The groups, which include the Heartland Institute and Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, filed suit in federal court Monday against agencies including the National Marine Fisheries Service and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
The plaintiffs say the government “illegally approved Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project by ignoring glaring and obvious procedural errors that subjects the endangered North Atlantic right whale to further grave harm.”
In a statement to WHRO Monday, Dominion spokesperson Jeremy Slayton said the issues raised in the lawsuit “have no merit.”
BOEM “has done an extraordinarily thorough environmental review of the project and carefully considered potential impacts to marine wildlife and the environment,” Slayton wrote. “The overwhelming consensus of federal agencies and scientific organizations is that offshore wind does not adversely impact marine life.”
The utility says it also has several measures in place meant to protect whales, including monitoring for marine mammals when installing piles and halting piling activities during right whales’ migration season.
In May, Dominion plans to start building its wind farm about 27 miles off the Oceanfront. It will consist of 176 turbines that the company says could power more than 600,000 homes.