This text was taken from an email alert sent out on April 2, 2026. Sign up for email alerts →
Dear Supporter,
When you last heard from me in January, a lot was going on in Orange County — agricultural zoning changes, data centers, and PFAS-contamination. For the last six weeks, since we sent out that alert, the focus has been on Valley Link, the massive transmission line that threatens tremendous impacts to watersheds, wildlife corridors, and historic resources, not to mention communities, farms and quality of life. So below is an update on what’s happened, how PEC is engaged, and some additional news and events happening in Orange County this spring.
Valley Link’s 765kV Transmission Line Updates
Opposition to Valley Link’s proposed 115-mile transmission line, referred to as the Joshua Falls-Yeat transmission line, has been swift across the nine affected counties. If constructed, the project would clear thousands of acres, directly impact hundreds of property owners and irreparably change an entire region – all to deliver power to Dominion Energy’s growing queue of data centers. And thanks to the regulatory environment in Virginia, the ratepayer, not the industry or utility, would be forced to foot a substantial portion of the $1 billion bill.
In Orange County, residents, the school board, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors have all voiced unanimous opposition to the project, joining Louisa, Fluvanna, and Spotsylvania counties as of this writing.
Timeline of Events
- February 13: Regional electric grid operator PJM selected the Joshua Falls-Yeat transmission line as part of its Regional Transmission Expansion Plan
- February 23: PEC sent out an action alert calling on residents across our region to attend the Valley Link community meetings
- March 9: Valley Link’s Community Meeting in Orange County where an estimated 500 people turned out, including PEC to hand out informational flyers
- March 11: Orange County Board of Supervisors sent Valley Link these questions, and called on them to present their answers at a public meeting
- March 17: Orange County School Board filed comments in opposition to the Joshua Falls-Yeat project
- March 20: Orange County Board of Supervisors filed comments in opposition to the Joshua Falls-Yeat project
- March 24: Joint meeting of the Orange County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors questioned Valley Link representatives
- Over 70 community members spoke, an estimated 1,000 people attended either in person or watched the meeting online and PEC gave these remarks to 29 News
Next steps: Valley Link Transmission Company, a partnership of Dominion Energy, Transource, and FirstEnergy, has completed its first round of community meetings. Now it is compiling feedback, including impacts and route recommendations, and is expected to make changes ahead of a second round of community meetings in June. Soon after, Valley Link will file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to proceed.
The process will include opportunity for public comments, so you can expect to hear from PEC in advance of this and the community meetings. Make sure your friends and family get our alerts at pecva.org/signup.
Wilderness Crossing Updates from American Battlefield Trust
The Wilderness Crossing lawsuit continues. Last week, American Battlefield Trust and other partners who challenged the controversial rezoning nearly three years ago announced that they are awaiting word on whether the case will remain in the Orange County Circuit Court or advance directly to the Virginia Court of Appeals, as requested by the defendants, Orange County and Wilderness Crossing’s developers. The Circuit Court is expected to rule on the motion in the coming weeks.
The recent ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals against the Prince William County Digital Gateway, in favor of the citizen-backed lawsuits attempting to block the largest data center project in the world, is another example of the growing grassroots power of Virginians pushing back against uncontrolled data center development. PEC provided direct testimony to Prince William County, as well as an amicus brief in this case to highlight our concerns. This is a huge win for local communities, national parks and the environment!
Town of Orange Makes Some Positive Data Center Actions, More Needs to be Done
Thanks to all of you who spoke to the Town Council, data centers are no longer a by-right use within the town! Future data center applicants will need a Special Use Permit, which will allow for elected officials and community members to ask tough questions before a project goes ahead.
Unfortunately, however, the council didn’t go far enough; hyperscale data centers are still allowed in the town. PEC will continue to advocate that data centers larger than 40,000 square feet (about the size of the Food Lion) do not belong in the Town of Orange, as towns are places that are meant to be pedestrian-oriented, human-scaled places for people to live, work, and play — the opposite of what a hyperscale data center offers.
Ongoing: PEC has urged the Town Council to adopt a definition of data centers that would prevent construction of an onsite gas power plant without adequate review and its own Special Use Permit. Please contact the Town Council and urge them likewise. Why? As developers seek to avoid the years-long wait to connect their data centers to the electric grid, they are now routinely attempting to bring their own power, which can have hazardous air quality and environmental impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and beyond, as we found out after a PEC-commissioned study of a Vantage data center in Loudoun County.
The council is also considering a data center policy document to guide future development. We have urged the Town Council to include both a commitment that council members won’t enter into confidentiality agreements with data center developers and that confidentiality agreements will not be used to hide information that is critical for evaluating impacts such as water usage, emissions and energy usage.
These items will be considered on:
- Monday, April 6: Town Council work session on data center policy document
- Monday, April 20: Town Council Public Hearing on the definition of data center
April 10: Conservation Speed Dating Workshop
Join us in Somerset, Va Friday, April 10 @ 4-7 p.m. for a hands-on workshop that will give Orange County landowners and producers one-on-one time with local technical service providers and conservation practitioners to discuss their interests, options, and next steps specific to their property.
All participants will receive a large scale printed map of their property and have the opportunity to explore various conservation practices and financial assistance measures with service providers: PEC (covering three topic areas), Rappahannock River Roundtable, Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District, Virginia Department of Forestry, Friends of the Rappahannock, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and Virginia Forage & Grassland Council.
Space is limited so RSVP at tinyurl.com/OrangeCSDWRegister today →
Additional Upcoming Events
Solar for the Ag Community: An Agrivoltaics Workshop
Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Aldie, Va
Gain energy independence, protect your farm from rising utility bills, and diversify your revenue streams all while keeping land in production with agrivoltaics. This free, hands-on workshop specially for farmers, ag producers and landowners will include lunch and a tour of PEC’s agrivoltaics project, which is producing food and generating enough energy to power the farm. RSVP today →
Save the Date: PEC’s Annual Gathering
Sunday, May 30, TBD, Catlett, Va
Every year, PEC and the community gather in one of our nine counties to celebrate all we’ve accomplished together and learn more about our work going forward. More details to come.
Feel free to email or call me at the information below. I’m personally available if you have any questions or comments.
And if you know anyone who would like to receive these email updates about Orange County, please forward this email to them and let them know they can sign up for updates here. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more.
Thank you,
Don McCown
Senior Land Use Field Representative, Orange and Madison counties
[email protected]
(434) 977-2033 x7047
P.S. This work and our success in it rests in your consistent action on important issues like these. It also couldn’t happen without financial support. Become a PEC Member today →