Underground Lines Sought By Supervisors For Prince William Co. Power Line Project

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — In a meeting extending into the early hours of Wednesday, Prince William County supervisors expressed a preference for underground power lines for a project in an area with major data center development.

After a closed meeting, the Board of County Supervisors voted to endorse underground lines for Dominion Energy's Nokesville to Bristow power line project. The board will send a letter to Dominion Energy and the State Corporation Commission to call for underground lines, noting concerns of residents on the proposed power line routes.

Dominion Energy's Nokesville to Bristow project calls for a new 230 kilovolt transmission line connecting the existing Nokesville Substation to the future Bristow Switching Station. The electricity utility cites the need to keep electricity service reliable while the Innovation Park area expands. Innovation Park is one of Prince William County's major data center development locations.

Three overhead power line routes have been proposed, and the State Corporation Commission makes the final decision in selecting a route. The proposed new power lines would be about 6.5 miles long.

According to a community meeting presentation by Dominion Energy in November, the company did a study on underground lines for the Nokesville to Bristoe project. Dominion Energy says its study found space, natural gas pipeline and environmental concerns associated with installing underground power lines for the Nokesville to Bristow project.

There has been a similar fight in Loudoun County for several power line projects designed to meet demands from data center development.

The presentation noted an application to the State Corporation Commission is expected in early 2026 for Nokesville to Bristow. Dominion Energy anticipates State Corporation Commission approval of a route by early 2027, allowing for construction to begin in late 2027 and be completed in September 2029.