LS GreenLink USA broke ground last week on a $680 million underwater cable manufacturing facility in Chesapeake, Virginia.
LS GreenLink USA, a subsidiary of South Korea’s LS Cable & System, broke ground last week on a $680 million underwater cable manufacturing facility in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Construction of the 750,000-square-foot plant is on a 96-acre site along the Southern Branch Elizabeth River. A 660-foot planned tower will become Virginia’s tallest structure. The Chesapeake City Council approved the tower to accommodate the cable production process.
Officials said the first phase should finish by Q3 2027, and the facility will be fully running by Q1 2028. Later phases will let LS GreenLink grow production and update technology as global needs change.
A rendering of the LS Greenlink cable manufacturing facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. Image: LS GreenLink USA, Inc.
The plant will produce high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables critical for connecting offshore wind farms to power grids, supporting domestic and international renewable energy projects.
LS GreenLink said it has already secured contracts for its first 18 months of production, with many initial orders destined for European offshore wind projects.
Once operational, the factory is expected to create over 330 full-time jobs and serve as the largest subsea cable manufacturing facility in the United States.
The project is supported by a $13.2 million grant from Virginia’s Opportunity Fund, state economic development incentives, and $99 million in federal tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.
In a related matter, Dominion Energy, based in Richmond, Virginia, said the cost of its large Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project could increase by up to $500 million if Trump’s tariffs stay in place through the planned late-2026 build.
According to Dominion Energy CEO Bob Blue during the first-quarter earnings call last week, the project has already faced $4 million in tariff costs.
While concerns over copper tariffs loom, LS Greenlink officials say they are prepared to adjust pricing and manage risks as needed.
Another challenge the sector faces is the White House executive order instructing agencies to pause all wind farm permits while a federal review is conducted.
Because of the order, multiple state attorneys general have sued the Trump Administration, trying to prevent the delay or blocking of wind energy projects.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, Senator Tim Kaine, and local officials joined LS Cable & System executives for the groundbreaking ceremony. They celebrated the project as a symbol of Virginia’s growing leadership in renewable energy and manufacturing.
“Whether it’s LS GreenLink here in Chesapeake or the complete electrification of the cranes at the Port of Virginia, renewable energy projects are moving Virginia into a leadership position,” Kaine said.
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