SUPPORTING UNDERGOUNDING OF THE ASPEN – GOLDEN TRANSMISSION LINE
The Issue
PETITION TO:
COMMISSIONERS OF THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION & DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER
SUPPORTING UNDERGOUNDING OF THE ASPEN – GOLDEN TRANSMISSION LINE
We, the residents of Loudoun County and northern Virginia, believe Dominion’s proposal to run above ground high-voltage power lines and 150-200 foot towers along the entire proposed Aspen to Golden route is poorly conceived, and inadequately planned. The proposed transmission towers will have a devastating impact on many of our community’s longstanding Scenic Assets and Historic Resources as well as the property values and ambiance of existing sensitively planned and developed communities along the Route 7 corridor and other areas of the proposed Aspen to Golden route.
We understand Dominion must provide service to data centers and the public, however, the means by which they deliver power requires a twenty-first century innovative construction approach and willingness to consider options that help minimize the impact of high voltage transmission lines on communities. Loudoun County is the Data Center capital of the world, and the region is experiencing explosive energy demands in order to keep apace of the rapidly expanding power requirements.
Dominion must be required to underground some portions of their 500kV transmission lines. Without this alternative, communities will suffer significant and unacceptable degradation. Now is the time and this is the place to employ undergrounding. The community and the County have submitted a feasible engineering plan that meets the energy demand within Dominion’s timetable to underground a stretch of the Aspen to Golden route.
Specifically, along Route 7, undergrounding will save scenic assets, historic resources and sensitive areas including the Loudoun Freedom Center, the Lansdowne Scenic Easement, the Belmont Viewshed Easement, Seldens Landing Elementary, Inova Loudoun Hospital and its helipad, Janelia Farm, Community Church and Virginia Academy school. Other areas along the proposed route should also be considered.
It is not sufficient for Dominion to meet the region and Loudoun’s expanding 21st Century power demands with technology that imposes a 1950’s industrial footprint on the green space within our established, longstanding planned communities. Alternative ways of servicing the region and Loudoun’s expansive power requirements need to include the alternative of burying high voltage transmission lines in appropriate locations.
We know irreparable harm will be done if the current total above-ground proposal is allowed to proceed unchanged, and we call upon Dominion to seriously consider and implement undergrounding solutions. In addition, we therefore petition the State Corporation Commission consider and require feasible portions of the route to be undergrounded.
The Issue
PETITION TO:
COMMISSIONERS OF THE VIRGINIA STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION & DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER
SUPPORTING UNDERGOUNDING OF THE ASPEN – GOLDEN TRANSMISSION LINE
We, the residents of Loudoun County and northern Virginia, believe Dominion’s proposal to run above ground high-voltage power lines and 150-200 foot towers along the entire proposed Aspen to Golden route is poorly conceived, and inadequately planned. The proposed transmission towers will have a devastating impact on many of our community’s longstanding Scenic Assets and Historic Resources as well as the property values and ambiance of existing sensitively planned and developed communities along the Route 7 corridor and other areas of the proposed Aspen to Golden route.
We understand Dominion must provide service to data centers and the public, however, the means by which they deliver power requires a twenty-first century innovative construction approach and willingness to consider options that help minimize the impact of high voltage transmission lines on communities. Loudoun County is the Data Center capital of the world, and the region is experiencing explosive energy demands in order to keep apace of the rapidly expanding power requirements.
Dominion must be required to underground some portions of their 500kV transmission lines. Without this alternative, communities will suffer significant and unacceptable degradation. Now is the time and this is the place to employ undergrounding. The community and the County have submitted a feasible engineering plan that meets the energy demand within Dominion’s timetable to underground a stretch of the Aspen to Golden route.
Specifically, along Route 7, undergrounding will save scenic assets, historic resources and sensitive areas including the Loudoun Freedom Center, the Lansdowne Scenic Easement, the Belmont Viewshed Easement, Seldens Landing Elementary, Inova Loudoun Hospital and its helipad, Janelia Farm, Community Church and Virginia Academy school. Other areas along the proposed route should also be considered.
It is not sufficient for Dominion to meet the region and Loudoun’s expanding 21st Century power demands with technology that imposes a 1950’s industrial footprint on the green space within our established, longstanding planned communities. Alternative ways of servicing the region and Loudoun’s expansive power requirements need to include the alternative of burying high voltage transmission lines in appropriate locations.
We know irreparable harm will be done if the current total above-ground proposal is allowed to proceed unchanged, and we call upon Dominion to seriously consider and implement undergrounding solutions. In addition, we therefore petition the State Corporation Commission consider and require feasible portions of the route to be undergrounded.
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Petition created on May 13, 2024