Waterford Foundation

Position Statements by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance:

Statement on the 8/8/2024 Vote by PJM Board of Managers

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance is Encouraged by the PJM Board of Managers Vote on Updates on the Regional Transmission Expansion Plan

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance is pleased that on 7 August the PJM Board of Managers approved a change in scope for the 2022 RTEP W3 plan that avoids the construction of a new greenfield power transmission line through western Loudoun County by instead making use of existing rights-of-way. We thank all the organizations, communities, HOAs, farmers, businesses, churches, residents, visitors, and individuals from within Loudoun County and beyond whose massive support helped make this goal a reality. We are especially grateful for the critical unwavering support of our Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, County Attorney Leo Rogers, Virginia State Senator Russett Perry, and Virginia State Delegate Geary Higgins.

However, our collective effort is far from complete. The transmission line must still go through the region’s state regulators. In addition, with the continued unprecedented scale and pace of load growth by the data centers and the expected decommissioning of older power generation, PJM in July initiated a new expansion window seeking yet more transmission capacity in Virginia and the surrounding states. Those plans will begin to take shape as early as October. Virginia must also consider new power generation capacity, understanding that new plants in most cases will require new transmission or other forms of energy infrastructure. In the coming year, we will need to focus on new related legislative initiatives.

We will all need to stay engaged in these County, Commonwealth, and regional stakeholder discussions. Technology might be key to future prosperity in the region, but implementation of new infrastructure must include transparent planning and the best available methods and technologies to ensure preservation of our rural communities and businesses, our historical legacy and environment, and our way of life.

####

Statement on the 5/8/2024 NIETC Phase Two Announcement by the Department of Energy

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance Disapproves of the Department of Energy’s Decision to Include Loudoun’s Potential NextEra Route in NIETC Designation

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance (LTLA) finds the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to include rural Loudoun as a Potential NIETC Designation Geographic Area- an area part of the proposed NextEra transmission line- alarming and detrimental to residents of Loudoun County.

Today, the Department of Energy released Potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designations Geographic Areas moving forward to Phase Two. This includes Loudoun County, and the NextEra proposed line in Rural Loudoun. According to the Department of Energy, a “NIETC designation also allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue permits for the siting of transmission lines within the NIETC under circumstances where state siting authorities do not have authority to site the line, have not acted on an application for over one year, or have denied an application.” This would allow NextEra to build a greenfield power corridor within the wide swath in the geographic area of Rural Loudoun to support the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link project, even if the State Corporation Commission (SCC) denies construction.

While we understand the need for power in a growing area such as Loudoun and Northern Virginia, we do not believe that it should come at the expense of the community, local businesses, agriculture, conservation, and preservation. Denoting Loudoun a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor would meet the power needs of a few while endangering the future of an entire region. The Alliance continues to call upon NextEra to withdraw their plan, and build within existing right-of-ways. The current trajectory of NextEra’s proposal in Rural Loudoun, and its application for a NIETC designation, would put Loudoun County’s economy, environment, and historic legacy at grave risk.

Phase two public comment period has opened, and will close on June 24, 2024 at 5:00PM ET. We encourage the Loudoun Community to send comments to NIETC@hq.doe.gov. Accordingly, the LTLA will respond to DOE within this period with a clear and complete report of local impacts on Rural Loudoun for its further consideration.

For more information about the NIETC designation and how it would impact our community, please visit our website at loudountransmissionlinealliance.org.

####

Statement on the April 16, 2024 Board of Supervisors Resolution

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance Commends the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors’ No New Route in Western Loudoun Resolution

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance (LTLA) applauds the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors’ resolution opposing the Western Loudoun Route for the proposed 500kV electrical transmission lines proposed by NextEra Energy.

On April 16th, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 9-0 to approve a resolution encouraging NextEra to use an existing electrical transmission right-of-way instead.

LTLA is elated to have the support of the Board of Supervisors. “We applaud the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for leading the way, insiting that pristine and hsitoric greenspace and economic drivers of Rural Loudoun be preserved intact,” said Susan Manch, President of the Board of Directors for the Waterford Foundation, Inc.

Building a new transmission line through Western or Rural Loudoun would be severly detrimental to all residents and impact the past, present, and future of Loudoun County. While the LTLA understands the need for power in a growing county like Loudoun, it believes it should not come at the cost of agriculture, tourism, local businesses, the community, conservation, and preservation. “For NextEra, this is a commercial decision, but for Loudoun it’s existential,” said Jim Hanna, Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance member, quoting the Declaration on the NextEra MARL Project.

The LTLA continues to call upon NextEra Energy to reconsider its plan and build within the existing right of ways. The current trajectory in Rural Loudoun would put all of us, our environment, and our historic legacy at risk.

####

Pre-Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance Opposition Letters:

Opposition Letters (2023):

  • See Waterford Foundation President Susan Manch’s letter to PJM here.
  • Waterford Citizens’ Association letter citing alternative routes.
  • Read the opposition letter from the National Park Service here.
  • Opposition Letter from the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel.
  • Opposition Letter from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
  • Opposition Letter from the Loudoun HRDC

Other letters: