Why is this project needed?
The need for the Poland Rd 230kV Transmission Line and Substation project is due to the increased energy demand from new economic development, particularly in the commercial/high tech sector. The anticipated electrical load increases from this new development will quickly outgrow the reliable infrastructure that is in place today. In order to meet our obligation to serve our customers, Dominion Energy plans to build new electric transmission infrastructure that will provide a new source of power in the heart of the growth area. The immediate necessity of this project is from a “block load” addition -- in other words, a large amount of power demand that happens all at once -- to the electrical system in the Dulles area.
Providing a reliable stream of power to every corner of the County is not only required, it makes good business sense and is expected. We plan to invest resources in Loudoun to meet the needs of today and help the County maintain its competitive advantage well into the future.
Can conservation and better efficiency avoid the need for new infrastructure?
Conservation measures, greater efficiency and demand-side management can reduce demand growth rates, but Dominion Energy does not expect these measures to be sufficient to eliminate the need altogether and is obligated to be prepared to satisfy the load requirements as they occur.
How are the routes chosen?
Routing a linear facility such as a transmission line involves balancing many considerations. Dominion Energy and its consulting partner, Burns and McDonnell, conduct a rigorous routing process and will establish several criteria to facilitate a comparison among potential routes if identified. The evaluation will include a quantitative analysis based on these routing criteria as well as other factors determined from site visits and discussions with property owners and other key stakeholders.
The company relies on input from the community to determine an appropriate solution that will meet the need, while reasonably minimizing impacts to the community being served.
Why are you only looking at routes from the west? Are there other options to serve this area?
Our routing study begins once we determine the best electrical solution for the project. In this case, we reviewed two other existing transmission corridors, one from the north near Evergreen Mills Road and one from the east near Route 28. In order to adhere to federal and company standards, coming from the west was the option that allowed us to meet the electrical need in the timeframe required, while minimizing downstream affects on other parts of the transmission system.
It is also important to understand that Dominion Energy, through a request from NOVEC, has another transmission project in the Dulles area near Evergreen Mills Road and Rt. 606.
How does Dominion Energy acquire new right of way?
Prior to building transmission lines requiring new right of way, Dominion Energy looks to purchase perpetual rights from the owners of properties along the approved route to construct, operate and maintain electric lines across private land. An easement is obtained by Dominion Energy from the property owner in the form of Dominion Energy’s standard right of way agreement and the document is recorded in the land records of the County or City where the property is located.
I'm a NOVEC member. How does a Dominion Energy transmission project benefit me?
Due to the interconnected nature of the electric transmission grid, all NOVEC customers rely on Dominion Energy's transmission infrastructure to deliver reliable power.
Can Dominion Energy build a portion or the entire line underground?
When preparing the application to be filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), Dominion Energy typically considers many alternatives including underground.
Overhead (OH) transmission lines have proven to be the best choice for providing safe, reliable and economical energy to our customers. Underground transmission lines are not as desirable from an operational point of view. The duration of outages for underground transmission lines is significantly greater compared to overhead lines due to the complexities of locating failures and facilitating repairs. Additionally, labor and material costs for the installation of a 230 kV underground transmission line would be significantly more expensive than an overhead option.
Under recently enacted Virginia SB 645, localities can request the SCC to approve an agreement with the utility to have a new transmission line constructed underground when there is a feasible overhead alternative but must create special tax districts to impose and collect local tax revenue to cover the incremental costs of the underground construction.
In the end, the SCC will make the final decision as to what Dominion Energy is required to build.
Will Dominion Energy repair damage due to construction?
Yes. The company, at its expense, will repair any private roads damaged by Dominion Energy or its contractors during construction of the line or during future maintenance. In addition, we will reimburse property owners for crop damage and repair or replace fences or gates if they are damaged.
What will be the environmental impact of construction of the line?
As part of the SCC application, Dominion Energy will complete an evaluation of potential environmental, cultural, and historical impacts of the Poland Rd 230kV Transmission Line and Substation Project. Dominion Energy works with many local and state agencies to complete these evaluations and mitigate any impacts. The company also submits annual Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Control Specifications and an anticipated list of transmission line projects for the construction and maintenance of transmission lines to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for review and approval. This project will be included in the annual submittal for approval prior to construction. Our contractors receive copies of the E&S specifications and any additional permit conditions prior to construction and are directed to meet all requirements. The right of way will be rehabilitated when construction is complete.
Read our Corporate Environment Policy and associated reports.
How will tree clearing be handled for the construction of this new line?
Property owners will be notified before construction clearing begins.
Prior to building a new power line, the right of way must be cleared to allow construction activities and eventual transmission line operation that is safe and reliable. Existing low-growing vegetation may be left in place if it does not interfere with construction activities. Additionally, trees located outside of the right of way which are tall enough to potentially impact the transmission line may also be removed. These trees are commonly referred as danger trees; view a diagram of typical danger tree clearances.
Trees are cut to be no more than 3 inches above ground level. In the right of way, debris that is adjacent to homes will be disposed of by chipping or removal. In other more rural areas, debris may be mulched or chipped as practicable. Clearing will be accomplished by hand in wetland areas and within 100 feet of streams. Care will be taken not to leave debris in streams or wetland areas. Matting will be used for heavy equipment in these areas. Erosion control devices will be used on an ongoing basis during all clearing activities.
Should I be concerned about Electric and Magnetic Fields?
Dominion Energy is sensitive to public concern about possible health effects from exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF). Dominion Energy includes data on the levels of both electric and magnetic fields produced by proposed facilities in all applications submitted with the SCC. We continually monitor EMF research and speak to our customers and employees regularly to share the latest information available.
The Virginia SCC, which regulates the construction and operation of electric transmission lines of 138kV and above, considers EMF in every application. Hearing Examiner’s remarks from recent proceedings are below.
- March 23, 2009 Beaumeade-NIVO (Case Number PUE-2008-00063) Report of Michael D. Thomas, Hearing Examiner concludes that "… electric transmission line electromagnetic fields do not represent a human health hazard.”
- May 4, 2010 Hayes-Yorktown (Case Number PUE-2009-00049) Report of Deborah V. Ellenberg, Chief Hearing Examiner, states, "I find that EMF has not been identified as a carcinogen for human beings despite extensive study over many years, and there is, therefore, no basis on which to prohibit the Company from authorizing appropriate uses of its right of way."
- August 23, 2011 Hollymead (Case Number PUE-2011-00015) Report of Michael D. Thomas, Hearing Examiner, states, "The proposed facilities do not represent a hazard to human health, which finding is consistent with the Virginia Department of Health’s report entitled Monitoring of Ongoing Research on the Health Effects of High Voltage Transmission Lines (Final Report) dated October 31, 2000."
- May 1, 2015 Brambleton-Mosby (Case Number PUE-2014-00086) Report of Howard P. Anderson, Hearing Examiner, states, "Expert panels formed by national and international scientific agencies have evaluated the scientific research related to health and power-frequency EMF and provided conclusions that form the basis of guidance to governments and industries. It is the general scientific consensus of the health agencies reviewing this research that at levels associated with the operation of the proposed transmission line, or other common sources of EMF in the environment, the research does not support the conclusion that EMF causes any long-term, adverse health effects."
The Virginia Department of Health in its final report evaluating EMF research concluded:
"Based on the review and analysis of the exhaustive literature review and other research projects completed under the EMF-RAPID program, the Virginia Department of Health is of the opinion that there is no conclusive and convincing evidence that exposure to extremely low frequency EMF emanated from nearby high voltage transmission lines is causally associated with an increased incidence of cancer or other detrimental health effects in humans. Even if it is assumed that there is an increased risk of cancer as implied in some epidemiologic studies, the empirical relative risk appears to be fairly small in magnitude and the observed association appears to be tenuous. The studies published in the literature lack clear demonstration of a cause and effect relationship as well as a definitive dose-response gradient."
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