Dominion proposes 230 kV double-circuit expansion through Southwest Mountains

Dominion Energy has applied to rebuild and expand the Charlottesville-Gordonsville 230 kV transmission line into a double-circuit, driven by recent data center requests.

• Project details: Dominion Energy submitted an application on April 23, 2026 (SCC Case No. PUR-2026-00050) to wreck, rebuild and expand 15.8 miles of an existing single-circuit 230 kV line between Charlottesville and Gordonsville into a double-circuit 230 kV line; PEC reports the proposal is driven by 26 data center requests in Louisa and Culpeper counties and would install steel towers ~2–3x the height of existing wood structures.
• Background and next steps: PEC is advocating for consideration of alternatives and mitigation including undergrounding portions of the line, use of lowest feasible towers with dull brown weathering steel, minimizing construction disturbance, and submitting comments or requesting a public hearing to the SCC by July 8, 2026 (instructions and sample comment/hearing request letters provided).