We’ll touch on VDOT’s proposed I-66 bridge expansion at historic and iconic Thoroughfare Gap, the transition point into the rural Piedmont, at the beloved Chapman-Beverley Mill. Then, very impactful to all of us, we’ll talk about various power infrastructure and data center projects across the county.
Transmission
The Piedmont Environmental Council has some experience dealing with Dominion and transmission line proposals through our region. In 2006 and 2008, utilities proposed two unnecessary high-voltage transmission lines that would connect to the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired generation in the United States. Learn more about the TrAIL line (approved and built) and the PATH line (turned down). More recently, a series of projects has been proposed, each with its own set of details and impacts.
Op-Ed: Protect Virginians from paying billions for data center infrastructure
Billions of dollars of new power generation and transmission infrastructure is needed to meet data center demand. As of now, all of Virginia’s ratepayers are on the hook to pay for this through their electric bills.
Loudoun County Fall Updates
Read on for Loudoun updates on data center, agrivoltaics, transportation, rural zoning, and water issues, as well as opportunities to weigh in on important issues impacting your community!
Culpeper Quarterly Update – Culpeper puts guardrails on data centers
I wanted to fill you in on some recent happenings in Culpeper: 1) a big win for Culpeper County as the Board of Supervisors finally starts putting guard rails on data centers; 2) an update on the Town Unified Draft Ordinance; and 3) some information about planned transmission line and substation expansion to serve Culpeper data centers and how you can provide input.
Upcoming SCC Hearings: Golden to Mars Transmission Line
Two critical opportunities are coming up to advocate for undergrounding of the proposed “Golden to Mars” electric transmission line, an unprecedented high voltage line cutting through a dense suburban community in eastern Loudoun to provide power to data centers in the County.
Golden to Mars Project Timeline
Dominion Energy plans to build 8.4 miles of new transmission infrastructure in the Ashburn and Dulles area to carry 500 kV and 230 kV powerlines to Data Center Alley.
The proposed Golden to Mars transmission line (red) is part of a three-segment loop proposed by Dominion to move more power to data centers.
Known as the Golden to Mars line, it is the last segment of a three-part loop to serve Data Center Alley, which connects with the Aspen to Golden line (under litigation) and the Wishing Star to Mars line. It also includes two offshoot 230 kV loops (Lockridge and Sojourner).
SCC Talking Points: Golden to Mars Tranmission Line
In order to have the most impact, it is important to tailor your comments to the SCC’s priorities and objectives, as their decision-making is guided by strict standards. PEC has put together the following talking points to help you craft your comment.
The SCC Must Protect Ratepayers From Big Tech’s Skyrocketing Energy Bill
Weigh in! The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is hearing the 2025 biennial review of Dominion Energy’s rates, terms, and conditions for generation and transmission infrastructure. This rate case is the first opportunity to address the electricity rate structure for the largest concentration of data centers in the world.
Planning Commission Recommends Denial of Gigaland Data Center Project in Remington, but It Could Still Get Approved
On Wednesday, June 18, the Fauquier County Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend that the seven-building, 2.2-million-square-foot data center campus known as “Gigaland” be denied. Although the recommendation to deny is a positive result, the Board of Supervisors can still approve this project at the regular Board meeting on September 11.
Proposed Gigaland Data Center Development Looms Over Remington
A proposal for a massive data center campus known as “Gigaland,” if approved, would have major implications for Remington and Fauquier County and pave the way for more transmission lines and data center approvals. We are urging residents of Fauquier to oppose the project at the upcoming public hearing at the Fauquier County Planning Commission on Wednesday, June 18.