Meadow Brook-Loudoun transmission line updates are provided
below. You also can receive information periodically
by e-mail as it becomes available.
Dominion Virginia Power began presenting testimony on Feb. 25, 2008, at a Virginia State Corporation Commission hearing showing that the proposed Meadow Brook-to-Loudoun transmission line is essential to keeping the lights on in Northern Virginia. Read
the news release.
An updated report from a Virginia State Corporation Commission
staff consultant that says a need "persists" for a new transmission line in
Northern Virginia supports Dominion Virginia Power's application, John D.
Smatlak, vice president-Transmission, said. Read
the news release.
Supporters of Dominion's proposed Northern Virginia electric
transmission line told the Virginia State Corporation Commission that the
project is essential to the economic health and security of the fast-growing
region. Read the news release.
Consultants hired by the Virginia State Corporation Commission
staff agree that a critical need exists for electric reliability improvements
by 2011 in Northern Virginia and recommends the proposed route for a transmission
line that would meet that need with least impact to the environment, cultural
and historic resources. Read the news
release.
Several small business owners told a Virginia State Corporation
Commission hearing examiner that Northern Virginia needs a new 500,000-volt
transmission line proposed by Dominion Virginia Power to improve reliability
and meet their business growth needs. Read
the news release.
Dominion began running a new full-page
print ad on July 23, 2007 to explain the need for the transmission line.
Dominion Virginia Power has added a video
interview with KEMA executive consultant Jeff Palermo to its Web site
to explain the need for a new transmission power line in Northern Virginia
and respond to questions about the study. The KEMA study
evaluated 10 alternatives and confirms that serious reliability problems will
result in Northern Virginia if nothing is done. These problems require new
transmission facilities by 2011, which the Dominion alternatives meet.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) announced
June 4 that it will conduct hearings this summer to gather public comments
on the Meadow Brook -- Loudoun 500kV transmission line project. For more information,
read the SCC news release or read highlights of the SCC
procedural order.
Koonce Testimony -- Dominion Energy CEO
Paul Koonce testified on April 25, 2007 on the need for the 500,000-volt power
line in Northern Virginia before a U.S. House of Representatives' subcommittee.
Read his testimony.
Dominion Virginia Power has determined that only about
125 feet of additional right of way will have to be added
to the existing transmission line corridor in most areas of Rappahannock,
Culpeper and Fauquier counties. The proposed route for the new line is either
atop or adjacent to an existing right of way.
The company will not need to acquire any new rights
of way in either Prince William or Loudoun counties. A very short section
of the existing right of way in Warren County may have to be widened very
slightly.
In some areas, the company does not plan to expand the easement and instead
will propose replacing existing lattice-style transmission towers with
single-pole towers.
View this information on maps. They display
the preferred route and color-coded locations where rights of way either
need to be expanded or where new towers will replace existing structures.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported March 21 that five
of the top 60 fastest-growing counties are in or next to Northern Virginia.
Loudoun County continues being one of the fastest-growing
counties in the country, placing fourth in growth from April 1, 2000, to July
1, 2006. Loudoun has added 99,218 residents during that period for a 58.5
percent growth rate. Other fast-growing Virginia counties are Spotsylvania
(37), Culpeper (52), Stafford (53) and Prince William (75). Read
more.
Dominion Virginia Power announced on Feb. 13, 2007,
that it has chosen a preferred route for a needed 500,000-volt
transmission line in Northern Virginia. The entire route is along an existing
power line corridor connecting substations in eastern Frederick, southern
Fauquier, western Prince William and eastern Loudoun counties. Read
the news release.
Peak demand for electricity is expected to grow faster
in the Dominion transmission system than in any other region of the PJM Interconnection
over the next 10 years. View
the news release issued by PJM on Jan. 16, 2007 about its annual 10-year
forecast in peak electricity demand. (Read
more in our news media advisory.)
Dominion has posted a presentation about the need and alternatives
for this transmission project. View as PDF
or in Powerpoint.
