Some of the nations most hard-line climate change deniers are branding themselves guardians of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale as they ramp up efforts to fight offshore wind development along the East Coast.

The Heartland Institute and the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow, better known as CFACT, have teamed up with the American Coalition for Ocean Protection , a green-sounding anti-wind power group, to explore a lawsuit protecting the right whale from Dominion Energys efforts to place an offshore wind project directly in their habitat.

When complete, Dominions planned $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project will consist of 176 turbines and produce enough electricity to power more than 600,000 homes. It will be located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.