Hundreds Pack Fluvanna Meeting to Question Proposed 765-kV Transmission Line

More than 500 residents of Fluvanna County, Virginia, packed a community meeting on March 10 to discuss a proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line with representatives from Valley Link. Many attendees left the meeting dissatisfied, stating that the company had not adequately addressed their concerns regarding property impacts, routing decisions, and the overall rationale for the project. Valley Link, a joint venture involving Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission, Transource (owned by American Electric Power and Evergy), stated that the Joshua Falls-to-Yeat line is intended to strengthen the regional electric grid and accommodate rapidly increasing electricity demand across Virginia and the broader mid-Atlantic region. This demand is attributed to population growth, electrification, and especially the expansion of energy-intensive industries like data centers. The proposed 115-mile line would pass through Fluvanna County, running from Campbell County to Culpeper County. Residents raised numerous issues, including the lack of identified direct local benefits for Fluvanna County, potential visual and noise impacts on homes and family land, and concerns about property values. Health and environmental questions were also prominent, with worries about electromagnetic fields (EMF) and the potential effects on people, livestock, crops, wildlife, and local ecosystems. Some attendees also criticized the event's format, citing long lines and capacity limits that hindered direct interaction with company officials. Valley Link confirmed that while preliminary, the general paths of the two main route corridors and several variations are unlikely to change significantly, as they were developed through earlier planning studies. The company plans a second round of open houses in June to gather further feedback from residents, landowners, and local governments.