Loudoun homeowners fight Dominion Power line plan
Loudoun County homeowners and the school board are opposing Dominion Energy's plan for high-voltage transmission lines through neighborhoods and school property, arguing for buried lines instead of overhead. A school board member plans to propose a policy banning transmission lines on school grounds, linking the demand for power to the growing data center industry in the county.
The Loudoun County School Board held a special meeting to address homeowner concerns regarding Dominion Energy's proposed high-voltage transmission lines. Residents, including Vicki Hu, and school board members are opposing the plan, which would see massive power corridors and towers, some taller than the Statue of Liberty, run through residential backyards and the property of Rock Ridge High School and Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School.
Under Virginia law, Dominion Energy requires the school board's approval for transmission lines on school grounds, which the school board has indicated they do not want. This stance puts them at odds with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, who support Dominion's approved overhead route, citing it as less impactful to homeowners overall. Homeowners are advocating for the lines to be buried to avoid property impacts and visual blight, but Dominion Energy has objected to this due to increased cost and feasibility challenges, with state regulators siding with the energy company for the overhead route.
Loudoun County School Board member Amy Riccardi plans to introduce a new policy to prohibit transmission lines on school property. Both Riccardi and residents assert that the burgeoning data center industry in Loudoun County is a significant driver behind the increased demand for electricity and the necessity for this additional power infrastructure. Data center tax revenue currently constitutes 45% of Loudoun County's budget, funding numerous county services.
In related news, Virginia lawmakers recently approved a new energy consumption tax on data centers, projected to generate approximately $600 million annually, although existing tax breaks for data centers were retained to attract new businesses. Dominion Energy is also pursuing other power line projects in the region, including the Valley Link and Valley North initiatives, aimed at meeting Northern Virginia's growing energy needs.