The potential construction of a 230kBV transmission power line and substation in Haymarket has caused controversy and concern for Prince William County residents.
The project, overseen by Dominion Power, will help generate enough power for an incoming data center, although County officials would not confirm if Amazon would operate the data center.
According Dominion Power, this infrastructure project is a necessity for the area’s ongoing growth.
“This new transmission infrastructure will address forecasted increases in energy demand that exceed the capabilities of our current distribution system beginning in 2017,” said Dominion Power on their website.
Depending on the route ultimately approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the project would add around 6 miles of power lines.
Several routes have been proposed, with most of the community’s concern stemming from potential routes that cut through private property in the Haymarket area.
Gainesville District Supervisor Pete Candland sent out a letter about his concerns with the routes being proposed by Dominion Power.
“…the Commission is required to determine that the line is needed and that the corridor or route the line is to follow will reasonably minimize adverse impacts on the scenic assets, historic districts and environment of the area concerned. Dominion Power has publicly proposed a number of route options that fail to take those considerations into effect, and there is only one routing plan that reasonably factors in those requirements that we believe the Commission should consider. We endorse the “Hybrid Route” that partially buries the power lines along I-66,” Candland stated in his letter.
Candland also called for another public hearing in a larger venue where more residents could express their concerns, referencing an earlier meeting at Battlefield High School, hosted by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) and Senator Richard Black (R-Leesburg).
The meeting was held at the beginning of January, and around 1,000 residents came to speak about the project.
A community group was formed, named the “Coalition to Protect Prince William County”, that has been actively working to stop the project, erecting signs speaking about the project on major roadways.
Dominion Power plans to speak to the public about their thoughts for the best route, and then submit their application for the project to the SCC after the first quarter of 2015, according to their website.
