Rep. Kiggans Statement on 90-Day Suspension of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Jen Kiggans released the following statement after the U. S. Department of Interior announced a 90-day suspension of work for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project:

“I have been working with the Department of the Interior and Governor Youngkin for months to safeguard Virginia’s Coastal Offshore Wind Project, and I am deeply disappointed by this news. This new directive will negatively affect Hampton Roads, thousands of workers, and the amount of energy that can be produced. It will also undermine military readiness.

Naval Air Station Oceana is the U.S. Navy’s East Coast master jet base and is in urgent need of a comprehensive power grid upgrade—a project connected to CVOW that has now been halted by Dominion Energy. I will continue to fight to ensure Virginia’s offshore wind project is completed, especially since ratepayers have already paid for it.

Halting CVOW at this stage is disastrous for our energy security, our local economy, and our national security as it relates to military readiness. I am anxiously awaiting answers from the administration regarding this directive.”

Background: Rep. Kiggans has been working with the Department of Interior for months to protect the 176-turbine Dominion Energy-owned and operated CVOW project, which is set to generate 2,600 megawatts to sustain 660,000 homes, schools, data centers, and military installations in Coastal Virginia.  

Rep. Kiggans has advocated for an “all-of-the-above” energy policy that bolsters domestic manufacturing by harnessing traditional forms of energy as well as innovative clean energy solutions.

Watch Rep. Kiggans speak before the House Ways and Means Committee on clean energy tax credits here. 

Read her joint statement in response to the Ways and Means Committee’s portion of reconciliation concerning clean energy tax credits here. 

Watch Rep. Kiggans on 13News Now discussing her support for CVOW here. 

Read Heather Reams’ column in The Virginian Pilot on Rep. Kiggans’ advocacy for clean energy here.

Read Kelsey Brugger’s Op-Ed in E&E News on Rep. Kiggans’ support for the CVOW here. 

Read about the Certainty for Our Energy Future Act, a bill to strengthen America’s energy independence and national security, here. 

Read Axios’ article, “Key Republican pushes back on IRA and offshore wind” here.