Community meeting scheduled for March 10
A multibillion-dollar transmission line project known as Valley Link could reshape parts of Fluvanna County in the years ahead, and its developers are launching a series of community meetings across Central Virginia in March.
In total, the project would construct more than 400 miles of 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines across West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, in part to carry electricity from the Ohio River Valley to energy-hungry data centers in Northern Virginia.
Valley Link is a joint venture of Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy, and Transource Energy and is part of a broader grid modernization effort overseen by PJM Interconnection, a Pennsylvania-based regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid and wholesale power market across 13 states and the District of Columbia.
PJM has also identified Tenaska’s proposed Expedition Generation plant as a project that could help meet the region’s growing electricity demand.
Power superhighway
Most transmission lines in the United States operate at 230 kilovolts (kV) to 500 kV and are capable of moving large amounts of electricity over long distances.
By comparison, a 765 kV transmission line can carry roughly six times the electricity of a 345 kV line, while losing less energy in transit and requiring fewer parallel lines to deliver the same capacity – creating what some call a “power superhighway.”
Energy experts say the United States has lagged behind other nations in developing ultra-high-voltage transmission infrastructure. For example, in the 2020s, China completed more than 8,200 miles of ultra-high-voltage lines, compared with about 375 miles added in the United States during the same period.
The lag has been attributed to a range of factors, including high costs and lengthy permitting processes. Transmission projects can take five years or more to move from planning to construction, in part because they must navigate complex state and federal regulatory reviews.
Path uncertain
Valley Link is divided into three project segments in Virginia. Fluvanna County falls within the 115-mile Joshua Falls–to–Yeat segment, which would run from Campbell County to Culpeper County.
On its website, the company describes the segment as “one of the most important energy projects in Virginia’s history,” forming a “critical backbone” of the state’s electric grid.
However, the exact path the line would take across Fluvanna County remains unclear. A map on the company’s website shows two primary route options, along with two or more “route corridor variations.”
How much the project affects residents may ultimately depend on how much land Valley Link needs to make its plans a reality.
Even if the new line generally follows existing transmission corridors, 765 kV lines typically require slightly wider rights-of-way than lower-voltage lines. If portions of the route extend beyond those existing corridors, the company would need to acquire additional property.
Large transmission projects in Virginia must receive approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission before construction can begin.
If a certificate of public convenience and necessity is granted, utilities are generally authorized to use eminent domain to acquire easements when negotiations with landowners fail. Until such approval is issued, developers must rely on voluntary agreements with property owners.
An email seeking comment from project leadership about potential impacts and timelines was not returned before press time.
Residents will have three opportunities in March to learn more about the project. Valley Link has scheduled two virtual meetings on March 5 and March 16, both from noon to 1 p.m. Company representatives will also host an in-person presentation on March 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fluvanna Community Center in Fork Union.
For more information about the project or to register for a virtual session, visit vltransmission.com/joshua-falls-to-yeat/
