Grid Stress: Dominion Says Utility ‘Minutes Away’ from Putting Every Ashburn Data Center on Generators During July Heat Wave

Dominion Energy officials informed the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that during an early July heatwave, the regional power grid was extremely close to requiring all Ashburn data centers to operate solely on their backup diesel generators. PJM Interconnection, the regional power coordinator, recorded its highest ever peak load demand and enacted demand response programs where large users, primarily data centers, temporarily disconnected from the grid.

To address ongoing grid fragility and meet increasing power demands, Dominion Energy is proposing a new Golden substation in eastern Loudoun. However, this project has faced significant delays due to community concerns about its visual impact and planned route through public school property, as well as frustrations from the Board of Supervisors regarding collaboration with Dominion.

While two other Dominion substations were recently approved by the Board following improvements from a joint workgroup, supervisors expressed dissatisfaction with the Golden substation's design. Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) urged Dominion to pursue more aesthetically integrated designs seen elsewhere. Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) argued against further delays, stating the current design was likely the best achievable and that further postponement risked grid reliability. Despite Turner's objection, the Board voted 7-1 to delay a final decision on the Golden substation until September 1, requesting Dominion to present an improved design.

Dominion representatives cautioned that any further delays could jeopardize grid stability, potentially leading to more frequent reliance on backup generators by data centers and the suspension of air quality restrictions for these units, as occurred during the July heatwave when generators operated beyond environmental permit limitations.