Dominion Energy Virginia, together with project partner OSW Project, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a stop-work order that halted construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The complaint was submitted on 23 December 2025 to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and targets an order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on 22 December 2025.
In its filing, Dominion argues that the order lacks a rational basis and is inconsistent with BOEM’s own regulations, lease terms and prior approvals. The company claims the decision is arbitrary and procedurally flawed, violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and exceeds constitutional limits on executive action.
Dominion is seeking a temporary restraining order and an injunction to prevent enforcement of the stop-work order and allow construction to continue. According to the complaint, the order requires all major offshore wind projects under construction in the USA to pause while federal agencies review alleged national security risks, without providing project-specific findings for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.
The lawsuit states that the project is already well advanced and that the halt has led to substantial costs, with further delays expected to increase the economic impact. Dominion argues that the order causes serious and irreparable harm to the company and its customers and is not justified under applicable law.
