School Board, Supervisors Ask SCC to Delay Transmission Line Ruling

The Loudoun County School Board and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors are planning a joint public meeting July 29 at 6 p.m. to gather community input on Dominion Energy’s proposed Golden to Mars transmission line project and potential routes through eastern Loudoun County.

According to the School Board, the meeting is intended to give residents an opportunity to share perspectives and information that could help inform future discussions about the project’s routing.

The planned meeting comes as the Virginia State Corporation Commission considers final approval of a route for the transmission line.

Earlier this month, the SCC issued an order stating that if the School Board does not consent by July 2 to Route 4—which would cross the shared campus of Rock Ridge High School and Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School—the commission would issue a final order approving Route 3A, which would run along Broad Run north of the school campus.

School officials said the July 2 deadline does not provide enough time for the School Board and Board of Supervisors to meet jointly and solicit public input before a decision is required. In response, the two boards filed a joint motion asking the SCC to delay its final decision until after the public meeting can be held.

While the SCC previously concluded that Route 4 best satisfies statutory requirements and serves the overall public interest, the School Board has expressed concerns about placing transmission infrastructure on active school property.

Board members said they believe residents and school families should have an opportunity to review the commission’s findings and provide feedback before any final routing decision is made.