FirstEnergy Page-Sperryville transmission rebuild prompts community transparency and impact concerns

Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) updates on FirstEnergy’s Page-Sperryville Transmission Line Rebuild Project and requests public support for proposed Rappahannock County ordinance requiring special exceptions for new or expanded substations.

• Project specifics and transparency concerns: FirstEnergy proposes a ~14-mile rebuild of the 138 kV Page–Sperryville line between Luray and Sperryville; initial public materials showed pole heights of 65–95 feet but a letter to Delegate Michael Webert stated some poles could be as tall as 115 feet. FirstEnergy says the upgrade is a wreck-and-rebuild to replace end-of-life equipment and intends to file with the Virginia SCC in Q1; visual simulations and an environmental impact study are being finalized and will be made public with the siting application.
• Local actions and procedures: PEC urges supporters to submit comments to the SCC once the filing is public and to send letters of support to the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission for a proposed ordinance that would require a special exception for new or expanded substations; the Planning Commission public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, and the Board will hear the ordinance no earlier than Monday, Mar. 2.