Loudoun Treasurer calls for grid resilience and community protection

Loudoun County Treasurer Henry C. Eickelberg appeared before the Virginia State Corporation Commission at Rock Ridge High School on Monday, Sept. 29, and filed written comments urging the commission to ensure that Dominion Energy’s proposed Golden to Mars transmission line project strengthens both the regional power grid and Loudoun’s communities.

The two goals go hand in hand, said Eickelberg. “Enhancing the stability of the power grid does not lie in opposition to addressing community concerns. Addressing community concerns is wholly consistent with ensuring a resilient and stable power grid for everyone,” Eickelberg told the SCC hearing examiner.

Eickelberg highlighted the importance of exploring underground or hybrid options in residential areas to protect community character, reduce disputes, and keep projects on track. “By clearly considering underground options, the commission can both reinforce long-term grid stability and preserve the confidence of the communities whose homes and livelihoods depend upon reliable electricity,” he said.

He concluded by calling on the SCC to carry out its legal responsibility under Virginia law to weigh environmental, scenic, and public-health factors while also safeguarding the grid that powers Loudoun’s economy and neighborhoods.