Frequently Asked Questions

We submitted our filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission in November 2021. An approval from the SCC could take 9 to 12 months. After negotiating easements along a final route, we expect construction to begin in late 2023 and last through 2026.

Undersea cables are proposed to come ashore at State Military Reservation (SMR) in Virginia Beach. To get the energy onto the broader electric grid to serve homes and businesses, we will be constructing a new transmission line project that will interconnect to Dominion Energy’s existing Fentress Substation in Chesapeake.

Yes. Dominion Energy is requesting State Corporation Commission approval to build approximately 17 miles of new transmission lines and other onshore infrastructure needed to deliver the clean, renewable energy generated offshore to homes and businesses across Virginia. A proposed transmission interconnection route, along with alternatives, was presented for the Commission to consider.

We identified the route options after a thorough study and meaningful engagement with Virginia Beach and Chesapeake officials, Virginia and federal agencies and land managers, and the local communities, including historically underrepresented communities and Native American tribes. The proposed route would be the shortest of the potential routes and would impact private property the least. Ninety-two percent of the route is located within the former Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt roadway corridor, owned primarily by the City of Virginia Beach, or collocated with existing Dominion Energy transmission line corridors. Ultimately the Virginia State Corporation Commission will determine the route for the project.

Dominion Energy conducted a study over the last year that included the Hampton Roads region and extensive engagement with the community. With this study, we focused on understanding the community’s needs and the locations of neighborhoods, public use and gathering spots, schools, churches, parks and important natural resources such as wetlands, historical and archaeological sites. We also evaluated existing rights-of-way and opportunities to co-locate with other infrastructure, such as existing transmission lines, roads, and railways.

To better understand the community’s needs, Dominion Energy held 10 virtual and in-person public meetings and conducted more than 1,100 individual, small group meetings, topic-specific workshops and roundtables. The company also deployed an online interactive tool called GeoVoice, which provided the community the opportunity to review the route options and share feedback.

Over the course of 2022, the Virginia State Corporation Commission will carefully evaluate the Proposed Route and the route alternatives, as well as public comments. The Commission will determine the final transmission line route to support the CVOW project.

Fentress was chosen as the location for the interconnection because this substation can handle the large amount of electric load that will come onshore from the offshore wind generation.

We investigated a 100 percent underground route option; however, due to significant environmental impacts on the area, cost and construction complexities, this option was not determined to be feasible.

We looked for every opportunity to co-locate with existing rights-of-way and other available space to minimize impacts to communities and sensitive resources.

Of the route options, the proposed route is the shortest, limiting the need for new right-of-way and also minimizing, to the greatest extent possible, impacts on the environment, historical and cultural resources.

And with 92 percent of the route located within the undeveloped and former Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt roadway study corridor or co-locating with existing Dominion Energy transmission line corridors, the proposed route also limits direct impacts to private property and the community.

Over the course of 2022, the Virginia State Corporation Commission will carefully evaluate the proposed route and the route alternatives and eventually determine the final transmission route for the CVOW project.

For this project we will need a total of a 140-foot wide right-of-way to maintain electrical and safety clearances. However, when we overlap with existing transmission infrastructure, the rights-of-way will not need to be expanded by the full 140 feet. In these locations, expansions will vary.

In most instances, the new structures will be single circuit, steel monopoles. They will be on average 130 feet tall. In some, limited instances, we will utilize double circuit, steel monopoles averaging 130 feet in height.

Our proposed route, Route 1, begins overhead at the switching station on Naval Air Station Oceana property. It crosses Dam Neck Road before it connects with an existing transmission right-of-way near the Castleton neighborhood and continues west. The route overlaps the existing transmission right-of-way, taking advantage of the former Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt roadway project corridor for about a mile and a half, before crossing Princess Anne Road, then Salem Road, continuing past Indian River Farms into Chesapeake. Then Route 1 crosses the Intracoastal Waterway and connects into Fentress Substation.

• This route is the shortest, limiting the need for new right-of-way and minimizing impacts on the environment and historical and cultural resources.
• 92 percent of this route is located within the undeveloped and former Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt roadway study corridor or co-located with existing Dominion Energy transmission line corridors.
• The proposed route also limits direct impacts to private property and the community.