Over the last few months, we have been reminded of the risks of being overly dependent on energy imported from abroad. Americans broadly agree that our country is stronger when it produces more of its own energy, relies less on foreign sources, and protects households and businesses from global energy price volatility. True energy independence requires a diverse array of domestic resources, including wind energy.
Virginia is a leader in helping to provide relief from this dependence through its efforts to develop offshore wind off our coast. Offshore wind matters not just to Hampton Roads but to all parts of Virginia.
One of wind energy’s biggest advantages is also its simplest: the wind blows for free. Once wind farms are built, the “fuel” is domestic, abundant, and free — providing long-term price stability in an energy system that is traditionally subjected to market volatility from extreme weather and global events.
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project represents one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Virginia’s history. While the turbines themselves are located off the coast, the economic impacts extend far beyond Hampton Roads. Manufacturing suppliers, engineering firms, transportation companies, construction contractors and professional service providers throughout Virginia are participating in the project’s supply chain. (Disclosure: Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind is owned by Dominion Energy. Dominion is one of our donors but donors have no say in news decisions; see our policy.)
The CVOW project will soon be living proof that wind can transform energy independence in the commonwealth. Once complete, it will produce enough energy to power 660,000 homes. By harnessing the region’s strong and consistent offshore wind resource, that energy will diversify Virginia’s energy mix and bolster energy security, leading to improved grid reliability during extreme weather and price stability for customers.
Natural gas prices spike sharply during prolonged cold weather events. If CVOW had been online during Winter Storm Elliott in 2022, Virginians could have relied on domestic wind energy instead of costly natural gas imports and saved roughly $10 million in one day. More recently, during Winter Storm Fern, Vineyard Wind and South Fork Wind had 75% and 52% capacity factors, respectively, performing better or on par with New York’s most efficient gas plants. Storms like Elliott and Fern regularly bring high winds and increased electricity demand, the perfect scenario for offshore wind energy to play a key role in a diverse and balanced grid.
In late December 2025, Virginia’s energy independence was threatened when the U.S. Department of the Interior cited national security concerns as justification to pause leases for five offshore wind projects already under construction, including the CVOW project. While the courts have consistently ruled that these claims are unsubstantiated, given that projects undergo over a decade of federal permitting, these pauses impacted thousands of jobs, cost companies millions of dollars and ultimately sent a dangerous message for future domestic energy investment.
For Virginia, uncertainty eased earlier this year when a federal court granted a preliminary injunction allowing construction on the CVOW project to continue while the claim is reviewed. Now over 70% complete and delivering its first electrons to the grid, CVOW is one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in the United States.
Energy independence goes beyond generating wind power. Projects like CVOW drive long-term private investment in American port infrastructure and workforce development, strengthening capabilities that extend well beyond the energy sector. Upgrades to ports, manufacturing facilities and workforce training mean these facilities can also support military operations if called upon. In Virginia, CVOW invested approximately $250 million into the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, a supporting facility for military logistics and rapid deployment, which is now the largest offshore wind port in the U.S.
Wind energy is not a stand-alone solution. But it is an important part of a diverse energy system necessary to reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuel sources that come with price and supply uncertainty. Because no single resource can meet demand at all times, a balanced portfolio helps manage risk, improve reliability and maintain flexibility. Wind is an integral component of the U.S. grid and has proven and will continue to be a key resource during vulnerable times.
The electricity generated offshore will serve customers across the commonwealth. The jobs created will support Virginia families in every region. The economic activity generated will strengthen businesses throughout the state. And the energy produced will help power Virginia’s future.
In an increasingly uncertain world, domestic energy production remains one of the most reliable foundations for long-term economic and national security. Virginia’s growing wind industry offers an important reminder that energy independence does not have to be divisive or ideological.
Through projects like the CVOW, we can make Virginia and the United States stronger.
Karly Brownfield is a senior program manager with the Southeast Wind Coalition for Virginia and the Carolinas.
