As New Transmission Line Project Hearings Approach, County Urges Participation

ASHBURN, VA — The first public hearings on proposed new power lines in Loudoun County are coming up in September.

The State Corporation Commission considers proposals like new power lines. Dominion Energy is proposing the Golden to Mars transmission lines with a combination of 500-kilovolt and 230-kilovolt lines.

Two public hearings are scheduled in Loudoun County — Thursday, Sept. 18 and Monday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Both are at Rock Ridge High School, 43460 Loudoun Reserve Drive, Ashburn, VA.

Loudoun County filed a notice of participation to provide input and testimony on the proposed power line project during the review process. The county encouraged residents wanting to provide input to join the public hearing process. Members of the public testifying at the hearings must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the hearing and register with the SCC’s bailiff. The testimony will be limited to five minutes per person.

Following those hearings, the SCC's public witness hearing will be available by phone starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15. Pre-registration is required by 5 p.m. on Dec. 9. The hearing will be available through webcast. To pre-register, complete a public witness form for case number PUR-2025-00056 on the SCC’s website or call the SCC at 804-371-9141 during business hours from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. with your name and phone number.

Written comments will be accepted through Dec. 9 on the SCC’s website or by mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must reference case number PUR-2025-00056.

The project is one of three Dominion Energy has pursued to meet demand from the data center load. Ashburn is nicknamed "Data Center Alley" for having the world's largest concentration of data centers, and more are in the pipeline.

The other two power line projects addressing demand are Wishing Star to Mars, Aspen to Golden. The Wishing Star to Golden project in southern Loudoun County to just west of Dulles International Airport is under construction and could finish in December. Aspen to Golden, an approximately nine-mile project from southeast of Leesburg to just west of Route 28 via about four miles of Route 7, was approved by the SCC earlier in 2025. Loudoun County government and Lansdowne Conservancy, which had advocated for underground power lines for some of the route, are appealing the ruling.

There are several route options proposed for the project, but the final route decision is up to the SCC. The latest Route 3A option, an updated version of Route 3, drew ire from Loudoun Valley Estates residents who say the route now extends closer to homes on their cul-de-sac. Power lines would run within the property lines of one home under the 3A proposed route.

SEE ALSO:

'Setting Precedents': Ashburn Neighbors Fight New Power Line Route Proposal

Power Line Ruling Appealed By Loudoun County, Another Project To Get Hearings

Before Dominion Energy submitted its proposal to the SCC in late March, Loudoun County's Board of Supervisors had endorsed Route 4 as their preferred option, with Route 3 as its second choice. Route 3 has been Dominion Energy's preferred option since it filed in late March. However, a Loudoun County School Board vote to not allow the route to be on school property led Dominion Energy to file 3A route as a new proposed option on May 16. Route 4 is another option that would have an impact on school property. On Aug. 12, the Loudoun County School Board voted to be a participant in the SCC review process of Golden to Mars.

Loudoun County government says residents can learn about all proposed power line projects within the county at www.loudoun.gov/TransmissionLines.