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Dear Supporter,
I am writing today to update you on what we know about the planned transmission line upgrade in Rappahannock County as well as to ask for your support on proposed updates to the county code of ordinances, which would require a special exception for new or expanded substations.
Transmission Line Upgrade Plans Leave More Questions Than Answers
FirstEnergy has proposed to “wreck and rebuild” the roughly 14-mile-long, 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between Luray and Sperryville, called the Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Rebuild Project. In principle, we are not opposed to a rebuild of this line which, along with its associated equipment, poles, transformers, etc., is at the end of its service life and should be replaced to keep the lights on in both Page and Rappahannock counties. This is important for the health, safety and viability of local businesses and for that reason, we don’t think this rebuild should be prevented.
However, we are very concerned about FirstEnergy’s lack of transparency around the possible impacts of upgrading the line. Without accurate and detailed information about the project, neither the public nor the county government can ask informed questions, provide constructive feedback, or trust that FirstEnergy is doing what’s best for the community.
While FirstEnergy held multiple “open house” sessions, the information presented was largely nonspecific and lacked many of the planning details commonly provided by utilities during these meetings, such as renderings of what the new poles would look like from key views, etc.
Several FirstEnergy staff we spoke with, while professional, did not have answers to what we considered basic questions about this specific project. As a result, many locals – including PEC staff – went away with more questions than answers.
We’ve reached out to FirstEnergy via email with those questions and just last week, finally received some answers.
1. What is it going to look like?
We were very concerned when the only visuals FirstEnergy provided at the Sperryville meeting of the new poles did not show any simulations of how the new poles will impact important local viewsheds – a common practice with these types of projects. Instead, the company only provided this graphic, with the caveat that these designs were preliminary and subject to change.
Our concerns grew when, in a letter to Delegate Michael Webert, FirstEnergy increased the potential height of the poles. At the meeting in Sperryville on Wednesday, Jan. 7 and on the FirstEnergy website, the range of heights for new poles was 65-95 feet; however, in its letter to the delegate, FirstEnergy stated that some poles could be as tall as 115 feet. That’s a significantly taller pole than what has been shown to the public.
Then, this past week, after much prompting, FirstEnergy provided us with some visual simulations of the new line.
View all of the simulated images here. →
These simulations, though clearly intended to downplay the impacts, do raise serious concerns about the visual impacts of the taller towers and lines on the Sperryville Historic District, River District, Sperryville Trail, and the Sperryville Schoolhouse, where the Rappahannock Farmer’s market is held.
As we just received this information late last week, we are still working on a response to it. We will keep you apprised of any further updates we receive.
2. Will the taller poles give FirstEnergy the ability to run more transmission lines and more power through Sperryville to serve needs outside the community?
This has been a crucial question for this rebuild project. Virginia is in the midst of an energy crisis due to uncontrolled data center growth. Utilities are planning for an unprecedented number of new transmission lines and substations to meet this demand, many of which will impact farms, neighborhoods and public lands in the Commonwealth. Any projects that increase the capacity of existing infrastructure could open the door for additional expansion to route more power to data centers.
We queried FirstEnergy specifically if the new poles would support additional growth beyond what was currently needed by the community, here’s what they told us:
“It will not be possible to add additional transmission lines. The proposed structures are designed only for a single-circuit transmission line, like the existing structures. Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative may request to attach lower-voltage distribution lines beneath the transmission line.”
We know the upgrade will increase the capacity of the lines and substations involved – but we understand from speaking with FirstEnergy staff this is mostly due to the new equipment having 40 years of improved technology over the existing equipment.
This has at least partially addressed our concerns that this upgrade could prompt the revival of a former proposal from many years ago (which was withdrawn in the preliminary planning stages) to build a new transmission line between the Sperryville substation in Rappahannock and the Pratts substation in Madison. However, old projects always have the potential to return, especially now that Orange and Culpeper have approved large data center projects that will significantly increase local electrical demands.
3. What are the environmental impacts?
Unfortunately, we still don’t know.
Even though this project is a wreck and rebuild, not a new transmission line project on undeveloped land, this will be a major construction project with the potential for significant environmental impacts, especially on ecologically sensitive areas. As a result, FirstEnergy will be required to conduct an environmental impact study outlining what will be at risk and how potential damage will be minimized or mitigated. We have asked that FirstEnergy show us this study, but have been told that it is “currently being finalized and will be made available to the public when the siting application is filed with the Virginia SCC.”
Given that this project will directly impact Shenandoah National Park, one of the most significant public natural resources in the United States, ensuring that the environmental impacts are properly avoided or mitigated is crucial.
What Can You Do?
Comment on the SCC Case When It is Filed
The Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Rebuild Project will require SCC approval before it can move forward. FirstEnergy has indicated that it intends to file with the SCC in the first quarter of this year. PEC will be eagerly awaiting the filing of this application and we will let you know when it is public and will share the link to submit comments.
FirstEnergy is also accepting comments on the project via email at [email protected]. However, emailed comments are not a matter of public record, like comments to the SCC will be.
In the meantime, I ask that you support the proposed changes to the Rappahannock code of ordinance concerning substations that I outline below.
Opportunity to Weigh In: Support Substation Regulation
The Rappahannock Board of Supervisors and county planning staff are working to update the county code of ordinances to require a special exception for new or expanded substations. This is important because while local governments have very limited authority over transmission lines, they can require use permits for substations.
This change would give the county more control over the location of new proposed substations, as well as the expansion of existing ones, through ensuring more public input during the review process.
While this is a positive development, this ordinance will NOT impact the upgrade to the Sperryville transmission line referenced above, because the Sperryville substation’s footprint will not be increased. However, it should apply to any expansion of the Sperryville substation and other substations in Rappahannock County.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing about these proposed changes on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The ordinance changes will be heard by the Board no earlier than Monday, Mar. 2.
The Board and Planning Commission have been broadly supportive of these changes during the drafting process. It’s worth noting that substations are necessary to power Rappahannock’s farms and villages, so banning substations is not a solution, but having more local control over substations can better protect the community.
How to Weigh In: If you want to get involved, I encourage you to send letters of support to the Board and Planning Commission (the links will take you to lists of their email addresses) ahead of the hearing. Your letters of support (which can be short and you can use the same letter for both) can help expedite these changes so that Rappahannock can be ready for any substation challenges that may arise in the future.
Support Data Center Regulation
Things are moving fast in the General Assembly, which is currently underway in Richmond. There are many impactful data center bills in play, and we need your help supporting them, including SB619, the “keystone” legislation that would finally bring state-level oversight to the data center industry. We can’t afford to let this session slip by without action. Please join us in demanding a comprehensive solution to the data center crisis. Take a moment to write to your legislators in support of the remaining data center reform bills.
Thanks for staying engaged on these important issues in our community. If you know of anyone who would be interested in this information, please forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for our updates!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Sarah Parmelee
Land Use Field Representative
Culpeper County
[email protected]
(540) 347-2334 ext. 7045
