The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued its final air quality permit to Dominion Energy Inc's 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, the federal agency announced on Friday.
The final Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air quality permit was granted following a 30-day public comment period. The permit takes into account requirements set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regarding air pollutants from construction activities and the future operation of the wind farm, including emissions from vessels used during building works.
EPA's review of the permit was coordinated with other federal agencies, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which approved the offshore project's Construction and Operations Plan (COP) in January.
The 176-turbine CVOW complex will be constructed in a lease area off the coast of Virginia Beach spanning nearly 113,000 acres. Once operational in late 2026, the offshore wind farm is expected to generate enough power to supply 660,000 homes.
Despite the EPA's approval, the CVOW project has faced opposition from a coalition of public interest groups. They have raised concerns about the project's potential impact on endangered whale species, leading to legal proceedings challenging the project's construction, which is slated to begin on May 1.
