Overhead Power Lines Project On Route 7 In Loudoun County Approved By SCC

ASHBURN, VA — Visible transmission lines will be constructed along Route 7 to address electric demand after a final decision by the State Corporation Commission last week.

Last Thursday, the SCC's final ruling supported Dominion Energy's plan for the Aspen-Golden project, which would involve 9.4 miles of overhead transmission lines between the Aspen and Golden substations. The modified 1AA route approved by the SCC runs from the future Aspen station in Leesburg to the future Golden station in Ashburn, with a significant portion running along Route 7.

Dominion Energy said it needs new infrastructure and upgrades to improve reliability to homes, commercial buildings, data centers and government services. With the Aspen-Golden approval, the SCC also approved the 1.9-mile Apollo-Twin Creeks project, which Dominion Energy said was needed to serve three data center customers.

The SCC's final report said that there's "sufficient evidence" the projects are needed, that they do not hurt public health and safety and that they support Loudoun County and Virginia's economic development.

The decision solidifying the overhead transmission lines project comes after Lansdowne Conservancy and Loudoun County advocated for undergrounding of the electric lines between the Aspen and Golden substations. The county said in a statement that underground lines would "preserve the quality of life, viewsheds, and character of the community for the residents, businesses, and visitors to area in which the global data center industry is located." The SCC received hundreds of public comments, largely in favor of undergrounding utilities.

However, Dominion Energy argued that a hybrid option to underground part of the route would bring the project cost over $1 billion and result in a later completion date, Loudoun Now reported. The SCC report said the project cost with the overhead lines would be an estimated $700.1 million.

The SCC agreed with Dominion Energy's position on the hybrid option, saying, "Given the concerns about the Updated Hybrid Proposal's route, constructability, and cost and given the lack of environmental analysis and environmental justice analysis, I do not find the Updated Hybrid Proposal meets the statutory criteria for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issuance, nor do I find that the total public interest is best served by the Updated Hybrid Proposal."

According to the senior hearing examiner's report from November, construction is expected to begin in June 2025, and Dominion Energy could have the project in service on June 1, 2028.