Dominion proposes 230 kV line rebuilds near Charlottesville, Gordonsville

The Piedmont Environmental Council has alerted supporters about two proposed Dominion Energy 230 kV transmission line rebuild projects in central Virginia and is encouraging public comment and attendance at open houses.

• Project details and immediate action:

  • Dooms – Charlottesville: Dominion proposes a wreck-and-rebuild of ~22.3 miles of existing 230 kV line within the existing right-of-way; towers to be replaced with new galvanized/weathering steel structures standing at an estimated 113 feet tall on average. Dominion has filed with the State Corporation Commission (Case No. PUR-2025-00189); community open houses held fall 2025. Comments to the SCC are due March 25, 2026.
  • Charlottesville – Gordonsville: Dominion proposes to convert ~20 miles of single-circuit 230 kV line to a double-circuit 230 kV within the existing right-of-way; project is in early development with an SCC filing expected early 2026. PEC lists two open houses ahead of filing:
    • Gordonsville: Wednesday, Feb. 25 @ 6-8 p.m.; Gordon-Barbour Elementary School (500 W. Baker Street, Gordonsville)
    • Charlottesville: Tuesday, March 3 @ 5-7 p.m.; Courtyard Marriott Charlottesville University Medical Center (1201 W Main Street, Charlottesville)

• Background, impacts, and PEC advocacy:

  • PEC links the upgrades to skyrocketing load demand from data centers approved without sufficient energy supply and urges mitigation: work within existing rights-of-way, shortest towers possible, dark brown weathering steel in rural Albemarle County, avoidance of direct impacts to water resources, residences, schools, medical facilities, and mitigation where unavoidable.
  • Article notes impacts to cultural landscapes and conserved parcels, proximity to Monticello (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and other historic districts, cites regional tourism valued at nearly $1 billion annually, and references related legislation SB619 and SB339 and a referenced $1 billion transmission project.