Residents Wrangle Over Transmission Line Proposal for Rural Virginia
A major 765-kilovolt transmission line project, Valley Link, proposed by Dominion Energy and its partners to serve data centers in Northern Virginia, is facing intense opposition from residents and advocacy groups in rural Virginia counties like Goochland. Residents have filed a lawsuit challenging Goochland County's recently approved technology overlay district, citing inconsistencies in zoning. Concerns include disruption of rural character, environmental impacts, and grid reliability.
The Valley Link transmission project, a 765-kilovolt system proposed by Dominion Energy, Transource, and FirstEnergy, is encountering significant local opposition in rural Virginia, particularly in Goochland County. Residents, including Deborah Blackburn, express strong objections to the project, which they argue will disrupt the rural character of their communities and primarily benefit data centers in Northern Virginia.
One segment, known as Joshua Falls to Yeat, involves hundreds of transmission towers stretching over 100 miles to deliver electricity to the rapidly expanding data center market in Northern Virginia. While the Goochland Board of Supervisors approved a technology overlay district to manage data center development, local residents like Steve Levet are suing in Goochland County Circuit Court, alleging zoning inconsistencies within the district itself.
Advocacy groups such as the Louisa County Farm Bureau and the Piedmont Environmental Council are actively opposing the project due to concerns over farmland loss and environmental impacts. Preservation Virginia also added several counties to its list of most endangered historic places, citing potential harm from the project. Louisa County has allocated $250,000 for legal expenses to fight the project.
Dominion Energy spokesperson Craig Carper emphasizes the project's necessity for maintaining grid reliability and serving new customers, including manufacturers. He notes that the Virginia State Corporation Commission will ultimately determine the project's route and permit, with public engagement opportunities ongoing.