Local dog boarding service fears transmission line impact

Sarah Strentz, owner of The Cottages, a luxury dog boarding and rehoming facility in Louisa, Virginia, is vocally opposing the Joshua Falls-Yeat Electric Transmission Line Project, also known as the Valley Link Project. The proposed 115-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line, a joint venture by Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission, and Transource, is intended to address Virginia's increasing energy demands and is slated to traverse nine counties, including 20 miles of Louisa County. Strentz discovered at a March 12 open house that one of the proposed orange route corridors would run approximately 700 feet from her property. She expressed devastation and anger, stating that a for-profit company should not be able to take land for profit. Her primary concern stems from documented research indicating that high-voltage lines can cause behavioral changes, discomfort, and navigation disruption in dogs and other mammals and birds due to interference with their internal GPS systems. Strentz emphasized that the natural environment and woods are crucial to her business model, providing a low-stress option for dogs and attracting clients seeking a country setting. She plans to file with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), the body responsible for the final decision on the project, later this fall. The ongoing project and the associated concerns have already caused unease among some of her customers.