Dominion Energy monitoring nest in transmission line

Walter Hildebrand
·2 min read

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A possible eagles’ nest could’ve meant a snag in the construction of an electric transmission line for Virginia’s offshore wind project in Virginia Beach.

However, Dominion Energy said it has no plans to do anything with the nest, and it will not affect the work it is doing.

“We got a picture of bald eagles in this nest,” said Matt Overton, a biological consultant for Dominion Energy, “and we wanted to make sure that the bald eagles hadn’t taken over this nest as we’ve seen in Virginia.

And while normally that wouldn’t be a problem, the nest in question happens to be part of a transmission line that will deliver power generated by the offshore wind project.

“What we’re building back here is the electric transmission line that will deliver the power generated by our coastal Virginia offshore wind project to the grid, and ultimately, to our customers,” said Dominion Energy’s Jeremy Slayton.

The nest sits atop a power line that backs up to the Holland Pines neighborhood, and while residents did witness eagles there, they saw ospreys as well.

“We wanted to make sure that this osprey nest hasn’t become an eagles’ nest,” Overton said, “because it ups the ante for regulatory protection for the nest.”

Both birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act with regards to an active nest, and eagles have an extra layer of protection, which protects their nest — active or not.

But this is a big project for Dominion Energy.

“This electric transmission infrastructure is vital to the coastal Virginia offshore wind farm that we’re building 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach,” Slayton said. “This transmission line helps, or will help, deliver that power to our customers.”

The eagles seemed to have flown the coop, but 10 On Your Side saw a pair of ospreys making themselves at home Tuesday morning.

But the good news is, they’re safe.

“The important thing is, we have no plans to tear this structure down. We’re not going to touch this osprey nest,” Overton said. “We’re going to allow the pair to do its thing and raise its young, and they’ll be back next year.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.