NoVa lawmakers urge SCC to find new options for transmission lines that would cut Ashburn community

Transmission lines between Loudoun and Prince William counties. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

As a Loudoun County neighborhood awaits the State Corporation Commission’s decision on which path a new high-powered transmission line to feed power-hungry data centers may take, lawmakers are weighing in. On Monday, three state legislators told regulators they want to protect the community from having the transmission lines being built there. 

Loudoun Valley Estates in Ashburn is within the proposed reliability loop of power that Dominion Energy has said is vital energizing Data Center Alley, just up the road. Two lines of the project have already been approved, with the Golden to Mars line being the final piece.

If approved, that line could cut through the backyards of multiple homes in Loudoun Valley Estates, with one homeowner concerned she will either lose her home or its value will tank if one of the proposed 165 foot poles is built in her yard.

State Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, Del. JJ Singh, and Del. Marty Martinez wrote to the SCC panel stating:

“It is unacceptable that the burden of meeting these large-scale power demands falls disproportionately on the shoulders of our residents. In particular, those along Loudoun County Parkway and neighboring communities are severely impacted. These hardworking families have made significant investments in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, and actively contribute to the rich tapestry that is Loudoun County.”

There are multiple lines proposed in the plan that the SCC would have to choose from. The county school board voted against two of the proposed paths unless Dominion would be willing to bury the lines underground. However, the utility said it had run a feasibility study that showed it would be difficult to bury the lines given the acreage, water supply and other resources needed to do so.

If the school board does not change its stance, the routes that cut through the backyards on top of the hill from Rock Ridge High School and follow Loudoun County Parkway would become more likely to be selected. The county doesn’t favor the lines running along the Parkway and how it would look.

The lawmakers asked for the SCC to consider if the project is truly needed, to conduct an independent analysis of burying the lines, to prioritize pathways that minimize public impact by finding new routes other than what is in the proposal, and to look into all the reliable data on health risks related to high-powered transmission lines.

“We must take their concerns seriously as they face numerous harms, both temporary and long-term, including health risks, diminished views, declining property values, noise pollution, restricted access and land use limitations, and environmental damage. They deserve better,” the lawmakers wrote.

Dominion has stated that the final piece of the loop is critical to meet the power demand for the data centers. If the final portion of the loop is not built it could damage energy infrastructure and cause other issues for the entire coverage area, a spokesperson for Dominion said in a previous interview. The company could also face violations from the regional grid provider, PJM Interconnection, if they don’t supply the power to the area by 2028.

There are two public hearings about the transmission lines scheduled September 18 and September 29 at Rock Ridge High School near Loudoun Valley Estates. The official SCC hearing, where both sides will present their arguments for the project, will be on Dec. 15.