Data centers' energy demand drives grid construction in Central Virginia

Virginia's electricity demand is rising rapidly, largely due to data centers in Northern Virginia, prompting utilities to propose major grid expansion projects across Central Virginia. Environmental economist William Shobe of the University of Virginia notes this demand growth is at rates not seen since the 1960s. One significant project is the Valley Link Joshua Falls to Yeat, a 115-mile high-voltage transmission line spanning Campbell and Culpeper counties. It's a joint venture by Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission, and Transource (a partnership of American Electric Power and Evergy), approved by regional grid operator PJM. Rob Richardson, Dominion's electric transmission communications consultant, stated the state expects energy needs to double in 15 years. However, Michael Barber, a senior energy infrastructure policy analyst with the Piedmont Environmental Council, criticizes the project's scale, noting it will convert over 2,600 acres of land. Another contentious project is Tenaska's proposed Expedition Generating Station, a second natural gas power plant in Fluvanna County near Scottsville. The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors approved this 1,500-megawatt plant in a 4-to-1 vote, overriding the Planning Commission's finding that it was inconsistent with the county's long-term vision. This approval followed months of public debate and petitions signed by over a thousand residents raising concerns about air pollution, noise, and long-term health impacts. The project still requires additional state regulatory approvals from the Virginia State Corporation Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality. Fluvanna County resident Ashleigh Crocker voiced strong concerns about the plant's potential health effects on her family, citing studies linking power plant emissions to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Conversely, Tony O’Brien, chair of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, supported the project, citing grid reliability and significant tax revenue as key factors, drawing parallels to the 2021 Texas power crisis. Experts and officials acknowledge the difficult trade-offs between growing energy demands driven by data centers and the local impacts on rural communities.