Homeowner may lose 1/3 of her property to high-voltage power line for data center | NBC4 Washington
Dominion Energy has received approval from a state commission to build a high-voltage power line through Ashburn, Virginia, to power data centers. The project uses eminent domain to take a portion of a homeowner's property and passes near two schools, sparking significant opposition. The Loudoun County School Board is considering legal recourse as the project still needs its approval for parts of the route.
An Ashburn, Virginia homeowner, Vicki Hugh, is facing the loss of a significant portion of her property to Dominion Energy for a high-voltage transmission line project. The State Corporation Commission (SEC), a state agency regulating utilities, approved Dominion Energy's plan to build the line, which includes a 185-foot tall power pole on Hugh's land and a 100-150 foot path that would cut down about 400 trees. The line is part of the "Golden to Mars project," designed to connect substations with high-voltage lines to power the burgeoning data centers in Loudoun County's "Data Center Alley."
The approved Route 3A would also run near Rosalie Elementary School and Rockridge High School, prompting an emergency meeting of the Loudoun County School Board. April Chandler, chair of the Loudoun County School Board, expressed concerns about the line's proximity to schools and its impact on the community. While the SEC approved Route 3A, Dominion Energy still requires school board approval for any high-voltage transmission line on school property. The board is considering legal recourse to challenge the decision.
Residents are expressing anger, feeling that their rights have been sacrificed to accommodate data centers, which have brought billions of dollars to Loudoun County but are straining Virginia's energy grid. Dominion Energy has already warned customers of upcoming bill increases, adding to the community's frustration over potentially losing land and facing higher utility costs.