Data center power lines in Ashburn move forward
Virginia regulators approved Dominion Energy's plan to run 185-foot power lines through an Ashburn neighborhood to support Loudoun County's data center boom, despite requests from Loudoun County and the school board to pause the project for an alternative route. Regulators denied the pause, stating further delays risk reliable electric service, leaving the Virginia Supreme Court as the only remaining avenue to stop the power lines.
Virginia state regulators recently cleared the way for the installation of nearly 200-foot power lines through an Ashburn neighborhood, a move intended to power the rapidly expanding data center industry in Loudoun County. This decision was made by the State Corporation Commission, which approved Dominion Energy's plan to run massive transmission lines directly through Loudoun Valley Estates, impacting at least one family's backyard.
Following the approval, Loudoun County, in conjunction with its school board, requested that regulators pause the project to allow for negotiations on an alternative route. Surprisingly, Dominion Energy, the company whose plan had already been approved, agreed to this pause. However, hours later, the regulators rejected the request for a delay, stating in a two-page letter that any further postponement would jeopardize reliable electric service.
The regulators' decision essentially dismissed the last chance for local entities to independently alter the power line route. Now, the only remaining body that can intervene and stop these power lines from being constructed is the Virginia Supreme Court. The local news channel, WUSA9, has indicated it will continue to follow the story for updates.