A slew of motions were approved during Tuesday’s Orange County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, all in response to the Joshua Falls-Yeat Transmission Line Project.
The project, one of three proposed by joint venture Valley Link and approved by regional transmission organization PJM Interconnection, would build approximately 115 miles of 765kV transmission lines from Campbell County to Culpeper County. Preliminary routes cross up to nine localities, including Orange County. At 765kV, the transmission lines are the highest voltage, highest capacity transmission line type available in the country and would include structures between 135 and 160 feet tall requiring approximately 200 feet of right-of-way.
Valley Link hosted a local open house Monday with hundreds of residents attending.
“Based on that meeting, we have some actions we want to undertake to set up the board and planning commission moving forward,” board of supervisors chairman Bryan Nicol said.
First, is a locally organized meeting, held in a much larger space. The supervisors voted unanimously to move the regular meeting, scheduled for March 24 at 5 p.m., to the Orange County High School Auditorium. That meeting will largely focus on the transmission project and will be a joint meeting with the planning commission. Valley Link representatives have accepted an invitation to attend and make a formal presentation. Nicol said residents will be able to share their opinions during public comment.
“Thanks to all who participated [Monday],” District 4 Supervisor Crystal Coleman said. “I want to remind everyone that was Dominion’s meeting. What is being proposed is that we have a larger venue where our citizens can come in, sit down, listen to a presentation and participate.”
A motion was also unanimously approved to authorize Nicol and the county attorney to work together on the submission of a comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding PJM’s Feb. 27 proposal to expedite interconnection studies of new power generation that meet certain requirements. According to PJM, the idea is to provide an alternate path for advanced projects of significant size to get connected quickly to address the need for greater capacity. Under the fast track option, projects would take 10 months to be awarded a connection agreement, decreased from the current years-long process. The project would have to offer at least 250MW of “accredited unforced capacity” and be able to be in operation within three years. Up to 10 projects would be chosen for the fast track process per year over two years. Approval of the filing is requested by May 28, becoming effective July 31. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through March 20 and can be submitted online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx by searching for docket number ER26-1563-000.
“As a rural county, we’re already having problems keeping up with what their plans are,” District 1 Supervisor Jason Capelle said. “If [they] shorten the time, it’s just going to make those tales of transmission lines come at us even faster.”
The planning commission will soon begin its part in evaluating the transmission project, along with the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances. Under 15.2-2202 of the Code of Virginia, planning commissions can request information from a utility regarding a project of 150kV or more. The board of supervisors, via a unanimously approved motion, directed the planning commission to begin its review of the project and identify if it’s consistent or inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and identify specific comprehensive plan policies and land use policies specific to that determination, reporting its findings by the second board of supervisors meeting in May.
The commission was also directed to look at the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance to determine any areas that may need to be clarified or strengthened to better guide future major utility infrastructure. Those findings are to be reported to the supervisors by the second meeting in June. The planning commission made a motion requesting to get involved in the process at last week’s meeting.
The supervisors are preparing questions to submit to Valley Link to have answers in writing to share with residents.
“This is ensuring Orange County is leading the conversation instead of playing catchup,” Coleman said.
