Pressure Builds to Reconsider Rt. 606 for Golden-to-Mars Project

New request builds on Congressman Subramanyam’s proposal after NOAA discussions suggest previously unavailable route may be feasible.

By Valerie Cury

The effort to reroute Dominion Energy’s controversial Golden-to-Mars transmission line away from neighborhoods and school property continues to gain momentum as two Loudoun-area state lawmakers have formally asked the Virginia State Corporation Commission to reconsider a Route 606 alternative first proposed by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10).

In a July 23 letter to the Commission, Del. JJ Singh (D-26) and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan (D-32) requested that regulators revisit their June 29 Final Order approving Dominion Energy’s transmission project in light of what they describe as significant new information regarding the potential use of federal property along Route 606, also known as Old Ox Road.

Their request follows Subramanyam’s July 21 announcement that discussions with federal officials indicate a route long believed to be unavailable may now warrant serious consideration.

Building on Subramanyam’s Proposal

The lawmakers specifically credited Subramanyam’s efforts in bringing the Route 606 alternative forward.

“We write to request that the Virginia State Corporation Commission reconsider its Final Order in Case No. PUR-2025-00056, Dominion Energy’s Golden-to-Mars transmission line, in light of new information regarding statements from Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10),” Singh and Srinivasan wrote.

The lawmakers said they were asking the Commission to reconsider its Final Order in light of Subramanyam’s recent statements regarding discussions with federal agencies about the potential use of federal property along the Route 606 corridor.

“Route 606 (Old Ox Road) has not been fully vetted. His recent discussions with federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), indicate a strong willingness to engage regarding the use of federal property for transmission infrastructure.”

Subramanyam announced July 21 that after meeting personally with NOAA Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs, he believes the agency is willing to explore allowing Dominion to utilize portions of federal property, creating a route that could avoid both established residential neighborhoods and Loudoun County Public Schools property.

Route 606 had not previously advanced as a practical alternative because the project would require access across NOAA property, which had long been considered unavailable for the transmission line. Subramanyam said his recent discussions with the agency suggest there is now a strong willingness to explore that possibility.

A Significant Shift From Earlier County Recommendations

The renewed interest in Route 606 marks a notable change from the position Loudoun County adopted before the SCC hearings began.

In January 2025, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 8-0-1, with Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) absent, to identify Route 4 as the county’s preferred alignment and Route 3 as its secondary preference for the Golden-to-Mars transmission project.

The motion, introduced by Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) and seconded by Supervisor Michael Turner (D-Ashburn), also directed county staff to continue working with Dominion Energy, Loudoun County Public Schools, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and affected property owners to further develop those routes. The Board also urged Dominion to underground transmission lines wherever feasible within 500 feet of homes or public schools and directed staff to ask the School Board to support either Route 3 or Route 4.

During the discussion, supervisors emphasized that the Board of Supervisors could recommend preferred routes but could not require the School Board to grant Dominion access across school property.

Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) noted that while the county could advocate for Routes 3 and 4, “we cannot compel Loudoun County Public Schools to provide that right-of-way to Dominion. That is a decision for the School Board.”

Route 606 was not part of the Board’s adopted recommendation.

Subramanyam’s discussions with NOAA have introduced information that was not available when either the Board of Supervisors or the State Corporation Commission evaluated the project.

Lawmakers Seek Targeted Review

Rather than asking the Commission to reopen the entire case, Singh and Srinivasan urged regulators to use whatever procedural authority remains available to evaluate the Route 606 alignment.

“We request that the Commission use whatever mechanism it has to evaluate the Route 606 alignment.”

They added:

“A brief, targeted review would benefit the community immensely and ensure every alternative has been thoroughly considered.”

Legal Hurdles Remain

The lawmakers’ request comes only days after the SCC issued an order declining to suspend its June 29 Final Order while petitions for reconsideration remain pending.

In its July 20 ruling, the Commission stated that the evidentiary record closed on Jan. 15, 2026, and declined requests to reopen it to consider additional evidence submitted afterward.

The Commission concluded that further delay would “unreasonably jeopardize the provision of reliable electric service within the Commonwealth.”

That order left Dominion’s approval fully in effect while the Commission continues considering pending petitions for reconsideration.

Whether the Commission has any procedural avenue to evaluate Route 606 despite its earlier decision remains uncertain.

Dominion Urges Court to Deny Stay

Dominion Energy has now asked the Supreme Court of Virginia to deny the Loudoun County School Board’s request to suspend the SCC’s approval while the appeal proceeds, arguing that further delay could threaten electric reliability throughout Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth.

In a July 31 filing, Dominion said the School Board is unlikely to succeed on appeal and argued that postponing construction of the Golden-to-Mars project would increase the risk of electrical system overloads and potential service interruptions. The company cited the SCC’s findings that the transmission line is urgently needed to address growing electrical demand and prevent reliability problems.

Dominion also criticized the School Board’s June acquisition of approximately 12.74 acres along the approved Route 3A corridor, characterizing the transaction as a last-minute effort to obstruct the project. The filing repeatedly referenced comments by SCC commissioners expressing concern that the land acquisition appeared to be an attempt to delay the project.

The company stated, however, that it will not begin construction, tree clearing or other work on the newly acquired School Board property unless and until it obtains the necessary property rights or legal authority.

Appeals Continue

Meanwhile, legal challenges to the project continue.

On July 28, the Loudoun County School Board, Loudoun County, Vicky H. Hu, trustee of the Vicky H. Hu Living Trust, and resident Theresa Ghiorzi each filed notices of appeal with the Supreme Court of Virginia seeking review of the SCC’s June 29 Final Order approving the Golden-to-Mars transmission project.

Dominion filed its response to the School Board’s request for a stay on July 31. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether the SCC’s order will remain in effect while the appeal proceeds.

The notices of appeal preserve each party’s right to seek appellate review but do not automatically stay the Commission’s order.

Whether the SCC ultimately agrees to consider the Route 606 proposal remains unclear. However, the request from Singh and Srinivasan adds growing political support to an alternative that only recently emerged after Subramanyam’s discussions with federal officials suggested that a route previously believed to be unavailable may now deserve a closer look.