DOMINION VIRIGINIA POWER 230 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT
The growth in electrical demand west of Leesburg is adding load to Dominion Virginia Power's existing electrical facilities. While the existing system is adequate to handle the current loads, our reliability planning projections show that, under certain conditions, if we lose one or more of our existing circuits beginning in 2007 and thereafter, the remaining circuits will overload. This situation may result in a loss of power to customers for an extended period of time. To avoid such problems Dominion must construct additional transmission capacity to serve the increased load and thereby maintain the future reliability of the transmission system.
To meet this reliability need Dominion is proposing to add a new 11 mile 230 kV transmission line principally on an existing 100' wide right of way commonly referred to as the W&OD Trail. The Company bought this property from the W&OD Railroad in 1968, and sold the property to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority in 1978, but retained easement rights to construct transmission and distribution lines to meet future needs. Adding this new electrical facility in the area will address the existing reliability concern in the area and provide long term reliable electric service.
In preparation to filing an application with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), Dominion is meeting this summer with the localities, the public and interested stakeholders to identify key areas of concern. To the extent feasible, the Company will seek to identify alternatives for further consideration and evaluation as to historic, environmental and social impacts. The Company plans to file an application this fall with the SCC for approval to build the project. The SCC is expected to then hold a public hearing in the locality for input from the community and an evidentiary hearing in Richmond to receive testimony from interested parties. After these hearings the SCC will approve, deny or modify the proposed transmission line project.