On April 3, 2012, the Virginia State Corporation Commission filed its Procedural Order for the Waxpool Project, which includes public hearings scheduled for June 4, 2012, in Leesburg, and August 15, 2012, in Richmond, Virginia. On December 16, 2011, Dominion filed an application with the State Corporation Commission for authorization to build the Waxpool 230kV Line and Substation Project.
Recent increases in electrical demand, coupled with new economic development in the Ashburn area has resulted in a need to build a new substation and associated transmission facilities in Loudoun County.
A new 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, approximately 12 miles long, can be constructed using primarily existing right-of-way to serve developing business and to increase power reliability in the area. Approximately 2 miles of the line would require some new right-of-way or widening of existing right-of-way. Routes being considered for the project can be viewed through the map links below.
Six route alternatives for the new transmission line segment requiring new right-of-way were initially developed within a specific "study area." After receiving public input, Dominion submitted one of these routes ("Route D") as the Proposed Waxpool Loop Route, and two of the routes ("Route B" and "Route F") as alternates in an application with the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Ultimately, the SCC will make the final determination of the route location.
The proposed project will support a new data center by 2013 and improve reliability for the greater community.
Dominion proposes to optimize its existing right-of-way through the Ashburn area by adding a new line on existing poles for most of the proposed project. Approximately 10 miles of new 230kV transmission line can be built on the vacant side of the existing poles within Dominion’s right-of-way. By adding a second 230kV line between the Brambleton and BECO substations (see Route Maps above), Dominion can then “tap into” the existing line to extend a new, loop line segment (approximately 1.5 miles) to serve the proposed Waxpool Substation. A “loop” or double circuit line provides redundant service.
This new loop line segment will require new right-of-way which will begin near Loudoun County Parkway and extend west, through the high-tech corridor, to the new substation location on Red Rum Drive. Some additional right-of-way will also be needed adjacent to existing right-of-way east of Loudoun County Parkway and north of the W&OD Trail.
Outreach included letters to neighboring property owners, newspaper ads, and a public open house held in October 2011.
This transmission line and substation will:
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is responsible for determining the need, route and environmental impact of transmission lines at 138 kV and above in Virginia.
Dominion filed an application with the SCC on December 16, 2011. On April 3, 2012, the Virginia State Corporation Commission filed its Procedural Order for the Waxpool Project, which includes public hearings scheduled for June 4, 2012, in Leesburg, and August 15, 2012, in Richmond, Virginia. Documents related to the Waxpool Project, Case No. PUE-2011-00129, are made available to the public on the SCC Docket Search section of the SCC web site, in the "Search Cases" section. In addition, interested parties may also comment directly to the SCC by sending an email to sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov, and referencing Case No. PUE-2011-00129.
Contact us if you have questions or concerns about the proposed Waxpool 230kV Line and Substation project. Let us know if you would like to receive project updates via email.
Yes. Prior to building transmission lines requiring new right-of-way, Dominion acquires perpetual rights from the owners of properties along the approved route to construct, operate and maintain electric lines across private land. An easement is obtained by Dominion from the property owner in the form of Dominion’s standard right-of-way agreement and the document is recorded in the land records of the County or City where the property is located.
By extending a new line from our existing 230kV network in the area, Dominion can better serve the County’s expanding commercial facilities and improve power quality and reliability for the surrounding community. These improvements will support continued growth and economic development in Ashburn’s high-tech corridor by adding needed capacity. For area residents and businesses, improved reliability means fewer outages and shorter durations when outages do occur.
Overhead lines have proven to be the best choice for providing safe, reliable and economical energy to our customers. Underground transmission lines are not as desirable from an operational point of view. The duration of outages for underground transmission lines is significantly greater compared to overhead lines due to the complexities of locating failures and facilitating repairs. Additionally, labor and material costs for the installation of a 230 kV underground transmission line would be 6 to 10 times more expensive than an overhead option.
Dominion operates a high-voltage network of approximately 6,100 miles of transmission lines. Of this total, only about 1% (67 miles) is comprised of underground cables. At 230 kilovolts, such as the proposed line, there are approximately 2,600 miles of overhead lines and 44 miles of underground cables in our service area. These underground installations are primarily for large water crossings, dense metro areas, or other areas that are not suitable for overhead lines.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission maintains copies of all documents related to the case. Citizens are encouraged to participate in the process and provide input. Dates for upcoming public hearings can be found under "Project Timeline" above. Updates about the status of the application can also be found on the SCC website at www.scc.virginia.gov.
Yes. The company, at its expense, will repair any private roads damaged by Dominion or its contractors during construction of the line or during future maintenance. In addition, we will reimburse property owners for crop damage and repair or replace fences or gates if they are damaged.
As part of the SCC application, Dominion completes an evaluation of potential environmental, cultural, and historical impacts of the Waxpool Project. Dominion works with many local and state agencies to complete these evaluations and mitigate any impacts.
The company also submits annual Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Control Specifications and an anticipated list of transmission line projects for the construction and maintenance of transmission lines to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for review and approval. For program year 2013, this project will be included in the annual submittal for approval prior to construction. Our contractors receive copies of the E&S specifications and any additional permit conditions prior to construction and are directed to meet any requirements. The right-of-way will be rehabilitated when construction is complete.
Our enterprise-wide environmental report describes our commitment to responsible stewardship of natural resources and provides a wealth of information on environmental management and performance. We also invite you to read our Corporate Environmental Policy and our Greenhouse Gas report.
Dominion is sensitive to public concern about possible health effects from exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF). We continually monitor EMF research and speak to our customers and employees regularly to share the latest information available.
The Virginia Department of Health, in its final report, "Monitoring of Ongoing Research of the Health Effects on High Voltage Transmission Lines," said:
"Based on the review and analysis of the exhaustive literature review and other research projects completed under the EMF-RAPID program, the Virginia Department of Health is of the opinion that there is no conclusive and convincing evidence that exposure to extremely low frequency EMF emanated from nearby high voltage transmission lines is causally associated with an increased incidence of cancer or other detrimental health effects in humans. Even if it is assumed that there is an increased risk of cancer as implied in some epidemiologic studies, the empirical relative risk appears to be fairly small in magnitude and the observed association appears to be tenuous. The studies published in the literature lack clear demonstration of a cause and effect relationship as well as a definitive dose-response gradient."
Additional information:
Dominion welcomes comments and suggestions from property owners and the general public. Contact us for more information and please let us know if you would like Dominion to send you project updates or invitations to future opportunities for public participation.
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