A new transmission project would push power to Northern Virginia, while also altering the state’s landscape.
In 2024, modeling by PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization managing the electrical grid and ensuring reliability across 13 states, analyzed 2029 and 2032 summer, winter and light load conditions utilizing growth rate trends. These reflect impacts from electrical vehicle charging and data center growth and are used to plan for future electrical needs. The analysis identified more than 8,000 flowgate violations, or instances when the power flowing through a specifically monitored transmission facility or group of facilities exceeds established operating limits. This threatens the reliability of the system. Nearly 7,000 of those violations were then made part of a proposal process in which electrical entities can submit proposals to address the issues. Between July 15 and Sept. 17, 2024, 16 entities submitted 95 proposals. Those proposals then went through an evaluation process before ultimately being approved by the PJM Board of Managers in February 2025.
Among the approved projects was the Valley Link transmission project. The project is a joint effort by Dominion Energy, Transource and First Energy. The companies have collectively formed a joint venture–Valley Link Transmission Company, LLC. The overall project includes three separate projects–building approximately 260 miles of 765 kV transmission line and two substations between Putnam County, WV and Frederick County, MD; building approximately 115 miles of 765 kV transmission line and a substation between Campbell County and Culpeper County, both in Virginia; and building a new substation in Caroline County.
The second of the three projects, named the Joshua Falls-Yeat project, will likely have the most local impact. Preliminary routes cross up to nine localities, including Orange County. The project is said to strengthen grid stability and support the state’s continued economic and technological leadership in what officials have said is the state’s fastest growth in electricity demand since post-World War II.
“This project is essential for Virginia’s economy, the reliability of our grid and the everyday lives of our customers,” Valley Link Transmission Board of Managers and Dominion Energy’s Senior Vice President of Electric Transmission Joe Woomer said. “As our economy and population grow, Virginians are using more power than ever before. This project will strengthen the electric grid and provide a reliable backbone to serve the growing needs of homes, schools, hospitals and businesses across Virginia.”
The specific route for the line is still being developed with several options being evaluated. The route will be finalized later this year based on community input, surveys and the study of environmental, cultural and historical resources. According to an online map, two corridors are being evaluated with several variations. Both corridors enter Orange County near Thornhill and travel northeast across 522 up near Tatum and Mine Run crossing 621 and 20, before crossing 611 near Burr Hill and crossing Rt. 3 ending in the proposed Yeat substation in Culpeper County.
Several structures are also currently being considered for the project, with higher voltage lines needing higher elevations. According to Valley Link, typical structures are approximately between 135 and 160 feet tall.
Residents are encouraged to get involved in the process. A variety of public meetings will be held next month in the affected counties. The Orange County meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Lafayette Station, 26322 Constitution Highway, Rhoadesville, VA 22542. For those who can’t make it in person, virtual meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams Thursday, March 5, 12-1 p.m. and Monday, March 16, 12-1 p.m. Links to those meetings and more information about the project can be found online at vltransmission.com/joshua-falls-to-yeat.
Once the route is finalized, the project will be submitted to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for approval. If approved, the project will likely be completed by 2029.
In addition to the joint Valley Link project, other projects were approved by PJM to be developed individually by each of the three companies in their service areas. Dominion maintains a list of its power line projects online at https://www.dominionenergy.com/about/delivering-energy/electric-projects/power-line-projects.
