Largest offshore wind farm in the US gains federal approval

On Tuesday, October 31, the 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project (CVOW) gained a Record of Decision by the Bureau of Ocean Energy (BOEM), bringing it one step closer to final approval.

In addition to this, the project also earned approval for its construction and operation plan from the Department of the Interior.

This means that the wind farm’s onshore construction can officially start, with the first eight monopiles having already arrived at Virginia’s Portsmouth Marine Terminal.

Furthermore, the farm is going to consist of 176 wind turbines, which are going to stand 836 feet high, and be located approximately 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.

The monopiles themselves are roughly 272 feet tall and 31 feet in diameter, while final approval for the project and greenlight for offshore construction is expected to come from BOEM on January 29, 2024.

As for the project’s budget, it is scheduled to cost $9.8 billion, while it is expected to break ground in May 2024 and be delivered in late 2026.

However, it is possible that the first turbines will go into service in late 2025.