After Delays, Supervisors Approve 2 Substations
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved two electrical substations after previous delays, with one designed to power a Sterling data center and another deemed critical for regional grid stability. The approvals came amidst public debate over data center expansion and power infrastructure, prompting supervisors to push for improved design standards for future projects. The board also plans to develop new regulations for substation design.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has approved two electrical substations following significant delays and public debate, according to LoudounNow.com. One of the substations, named Barrister, is slated to distribute power to a data center in Sterling that was previously approved by-right in 2018 and expanded in 2020. The other, Aspen, is considered vital for the stability of the regional power grid across the Mid-Atlantic.
Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) emphasized the critical importance of the Aspen substation for grid reliability, dismissing concerns about visual impact as secondary to preventing widespread power outages. County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) also highlighted the health and safety implications of reliable electricity, particularly for residents with medical needs. The Barrister substation, located near Shellhorn Road and Loudoun County Parkway, faced similar scrutiny regarding design and community impact, with Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) expressing frustration that utilities do not offer their best designs upfront.
Both substations were approved with an 8-1 vote, though Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) opposed the Aspen project due to visual impacts, and Chair Randall opposed the Barrister project. The board's push for improved aesthetic designs and mitigations resulted in positive changes, which supervisors expect for all future substations. They also plan to use information from a consultant study to develop new regulations for design standards, potentially encouraging gas-insulated substations that are smaller and quieter. Supervisors also urged utilities like Dominion Energy to improve previously approved substations to reduce community friction.