County Encourages Public Participation in Sept. 5 Hearing on Proposed Power Lines along Route 7

Loudoun County officials encourage residents and businesses who wish to offer comment on Dominion Energy's proposed transmission lines along Route 7 in Loudoun County to attend the State Corporation Commission (SCC) public hearing, Thursday, September 5, 2024, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., at Belmont Ridge Middle School, 19045 Upper Belmont Place in Leesburg

The SCC is considering a request by Dominion Energy to build the Aspen-Golden (Case #PUR-2024-00032) and Apollo-Twin Creeks electric transmission facilities (Case # PUR-2024-00044). The projects include a new 9.4-mile double circuit overhead transmission line (500 and 230 kilovolt) between the proposed Aspen and Golden substations and other associated infrastructure. The current application locates the proposed above-ground power lines from the area around Goose Creek and Belmont Ridge Road, along the south side of Route 7, and parallel to Loudoun County Parkway. Dominion has stated the projects are necessary to maintain electricity reliability for the region.

During the April 4, 2024, the Board of Supervisors voted in favor of filing a "notice of participation" in Dominion Energy's application to the SCC, which allows Loudoun County to join the case and to provide input on the proposed power projects. Loudoun County continues to work with property owners, the Virginia Department of Transportation and Dominion Energy to develop the proposed route. The county is proposing that the SCC implement a pilot program to distribute the cost of undergrounding the transmission lines. The county maintains that placing the transmission lines underground will preserve the quality of life, viewsheds, and character of the community for the residents, businesses, and visitors to area in which the global data center industry is located.

More information about the project and the proposed transmission line route is available on the Dominion Energy website.

Opportunities for Public Comment

The SCC has also scheduled a public comment session by telephone August 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Members of the public who wish to speak at the August 6 session must pre-register with the SCC by 5:00 p.m. today, July 31, 2024. The hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting.

The SCC asks that any member of the public who wishes to provide comment at the September 5 hearing in Leesburg arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting and register with the commission's bailiff. Each speaker will be allotted five minutes for their comments.

Members of the public also may submit written comments online at any time through September 10, 2024. Written comments can be submitted through the through the SCC's online comment forms for the Aspen-Golden project and the Apollo-Twin Creeks project.

Written comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2024-00032 or PUR-2024-00044.

Details about the opportunities for public comment on the proposed power lines are included in this July 26, 2024, SCC news release.

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