A US District Court has set a hearing for 16 January to determine whether Dominion Energy will be granted a temporary injunction against a 22 December order by the US Department of Interior pausing work at the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
US District Court Judge Jamar Walker will assess whether the federal stop-work order should be suspended while the case proceeds. Dominion Energy was unsuccessful in its initial effort to resume work after the order was issued. That request, filed as a motion for a temporary restraining order, was denied by the court.
Following submissions from the federal government, which cited national security risks identified in classified reports, the court converted Dominion Energy’s request into a motion for a preliminary injunction and cancelled a previously scheduled hearing on the restraining order. The company sought reconsideration of that decision, but the court denied the request.
In a memorandum opinion, the court stated that it could not fully evaluate the basis for the stop-work order without reviewing the classified information underpinning it. The administration is expected to provide this material to the court by 9 January. The court noted that by allowing time for this review and moving to a preliminary injunction process, it has left open the possibility for Dominion Energy to obtain interim relief.
A decision on whether work at the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project may resume is expected after the 16 January hearing.
