In Orange and Louisa, residents and public officials voice concerns over proposed Valley Link transmission line

Tensions are rising in central Virginia over the proposed $1 billion Joshua Falls-Yeat transmission line project by Valley Link, a joint venture of Dominion Energy, Transource Energy, and FirstEnergy Transmission. The 115-mile, 765-kilovolt line, planned to traverse largely agricultural and forested land from Campbell County to Culpeper County, is intended to address Virginia's increasing energy demands, with a Dominion representative estimating over half its electricity would power data centers. Residents in affected counties, including Orange and Louisa, have voiced significant concerns at public open houses, citing potential negative impacts on homes, farmlands, and property rights. Farmers like Renard Turner from Louisa County and Michael Carter Jr. of Carter Farms expressed worries about herbicide use and disproportionate impacts on Black and low-income communities, respectively, recalling past eminent domain projects. Orange County Board of Supervisors representative Crystal Coleman also raised alarms about economic effects and residents' limited say. While local governments are formalizing their opposition, their power is constrained, as the State Corporation Commission (SCC) will make the final approval decision. Craig Carper, a spokesperson for Dominion Energy and Valley Link, emphasized the importance of public input in finalizing the route and affirmed a commitment to making it "the best project." However, many community members, including Paul McDonald, who leads the "Block Valley Link" grassroots effort, feel their voices are not being heard and believe the project will proceed regardless. Helene Purcell, a Louisa County farm owner, has also circulated a petition against the project, citing environmental concerns and threats to historic resources like Trevilian Station Battlefield. The project is slated for SCC approval application in September, with an estimated completion by 2029. SCC Communications Director Greg Weatherford confirmed that the approval process is lengthy and considers environmental and community impacts. While a Dominion representative acknowledged the line could facilitate future data center development, they maintained it's not designed for any single project or company.