About Stop MARL Virginia / Stop Valley Link Virginia

These lines will have serious and long lasting adverse effects to property values, the by right uses of private property, the quality of life and the enjoyment of the local environment, local economy, agriculture, communities, and preservation and conservation efforts in rural north western Loudoun County, Virginia, wherever it is sited on private property.  

Transmission lines must to be sited along a highway or put underground along existing utility or highway easements with the cost difference between overhead and underground (HVDC) paid by the data centers.  We oppose any transmission solution that uses eminent domain to take the private property of rural Virginia residents to meet the demands of private for profit data centers.  

There are better ways than transmission to deal with the increased energy load caused by the data centers - multiple overhead 500kv AND 765kV transmission lines crossing private property is not an acceptable solution!!

FirstEnergy has TWO massive infrastructure projects through the same areas in Virginia and West Virginia. A  500kV and a  765kV  transmission line and additional TWO pass through substations Woodside and Welton Springs, to boost the voltage due to HVAC line losses.

First Energy MUST re-evaluate BOTH of these projects and provide ONE underground HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) solution.    

Read more about the HVDC Alternative and the 2009 Study for the PATH 765kV transmission line that proved it is feasible for our area.

Energy companies must use a transmission solution that can be installed without eminent  domain taking of private property: 

• Build in-state base load generation  (Natural Gas , Nuclear)
• Bury the inter-state lines along existing utility and/or highway easements using underground HVDC
• Site transmission lines along highway easements that minimises the use of eminent domain 
• Re-conductor existing transmission lines  
• Install Advanced Converters, 
• Upgraded  cables
• Grid-Enhancing Technology (GETS) 
• Require Data Centers to participate in Demand /Response and energy efficiency programs   
• Build micro-grids in the area with the data centers