$1 billion high-voltage power line project to span several Central Virginia counties

LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Plans are underway for a roughly $1 billion project that looks to strengthen the electricity infrastructure in several parts of Central Virginia, stretching more than 100 miles from Culpeper County to Campbell County.

The 115-mile, 765kV Joshua Falls to Yeat Transmission Line Project is under development by Valley Link, a joint venture by Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission and Transource Energy. The extra-high-voltage project is in response to Virginia's increasing power demand, which is expected to double in the next 20 years, according to a release.

Valley Link said the 765kV transmission line has enough energy to power about two million homes and the capacity of six standard 345kV lines. This, in turn, reduces the need for multiple power lines.

The power line structures could be between 135 feet and 160 feet tall, per Valley Link.

Representative Lane Carr with the project told Louisa's board of supervisors on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that the project might take up to 20 miles through the county, noting that neither of the two main routes was final at that point.

"We've evaluated over 12,000 miles since we started looking at this study area and looking for potential conceptual routes," Carr told the board.

Another project representative, Roya Smith, noted that the team started with 19 counties and has since narrowed down to nine. Under preliminary plans, the project could span up to nine counties in Central Virginia, including Culpeper, Orange, Appomattox, Campbell, Buckingham, Spotsylvania, Fluvanna, Louisa and Goochland.

Valley Link will hold several community open houses next month for landowners and residents to provide feedback on the project and its two potential routes. The dates and locations are as follows:

• Culpeper: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, at Brandy Station Fire Department, 20057 Fleetwood Heights Road
• Orange: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9, at Lafayette Station, 26322 Constitution Highway
• Spotsylvania: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 9, at Ni River Middle School, 11632 Catharpin Road
• Appomattox: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Appomattox Community Center, 220 Community Lane
• Fluvanna: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Fluvanna Community Center, 5725 James Madison Highway
• Louisa: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at Betty J. Queen Center, 522 Industrial Drive
• Campbell: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23, at Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, 300 Lucado Place
• Goochland: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23, at Central High Cultural and Education Complex, 2748 Dogtown Road
• Buckingham: two sessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at Buckingham County Community Center, 16268 North James Madison Highway

Following the public feedback period, the project will make its way to the Virginia State Corporation Commission for review and approval in the third quarter of 2026 after a final route has been selected.