One woman's fight to stop "data center alley" in her backyard | NBC4 Washington
Vicky Hu is fighting Dominion Energy's plan to build a high-voltage transmission line, the "Golden to Mars project," through her Ashburn, Virginia property, which she believes is for data centers. She and her neighbors have devised a plan involving a land donation to the school board to block one proposed route. An upcoming school board meeting will determine the next steps in this ongoing opposition.
Vicky Hu, a resident of Loudoun Valley Estates in Ashburn, Virginia, is actively opposing Dominion Energy's proposal to construct a high-voltage transmission line, dubbed the "Golden to Mars project," through her property. The utility company claims the line is necessary to connect two substations and maintain service reliability, but Hu and her neighbors suspect its primary purpose is to serve the burgeoning "Data Center Alley" in the area.
Dominion Energy has presented state regulators with multiple potential routes for the transmission line. One option would traverse properties belonging to Rosalie Elementary School and Rock Ridge High School, requiring approval from the school board due to eminent domain limitations. Another route is planned directly through Hu's backyard.
In a strategic move to block the latter option, Vicky Hu offered to donate a portion of her land to the school system, a donation the school board has accepted. This action effectively disrupts the proposed transmission line's path through her property. Dominion Energy has now stated that the school board's approval would also be necessary for this altered route. News4's Drew Wilder is following the story and will report on an upcoming school board meeting where this issue is expected to be discussed.