Loudoun County Comprehensive Planning Transmission Corridor Land Grab
Loudoun County is in the process of creating a Comprehensive Plan Amendment on transmission corridors. The proposed amendments are from the Loudoun County Transportation and Land Use Committee and include adapting policies to encourage the "grouping of these tall structures within an existing and/or expanded transmission corridor right-of-way." Loudoun County has contracted with an engineering firm (Kimley-Horn) to map all the high voltage transmission lines in the county. This targets the property of every land owner along the existing HVAC transmission lines!!
Virginia is a Dillon Rule state which means a county has no authority except what the state has granted it. Loudoun County has no authority to site HVAC transmission lines or designate transmission corridors. Loudoun County also intends to add an overlay with the transmission lines on the county map. This will have serious implications for our property values and eventually the "By Right" use of our property !
This is a power grab and a land grab on the part of the Loudoun County BOS! It is essentially re-zoning our properties for energy infrastructure for the data centers and is setting us up for loosing our properties by successive Eminent Domain takings piece by piece!
Loudoun County BOS states "we don't have the authority to site the line the VA SCC does". The fact of the matter is they are doing this to influence / pre-empt the VA SCC to have their preferred route proposed in advance of the application submission / hearing.
As reported by Loudoun Now: "... the consultant recommended identifying and siting preferred transmission corridors to be considered by PJM Interconnection, the region’s power coordinator and the State Corporation Commission, which give final approval on power projects."
The Loudoun County BOS has already decided they will NOT be intervening in the MARL (500kV) transmission line on behalf of the property owners along the existing lines.
From Item #4 "Resolution Opposing the Proposed Western Loudoun Route for the New 500kV Electrical Transmission line: "FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts associated with adopting the Resolution. In the event there is no change to the proposed Western Loudoun Route, then Loudoun County may need to participate in proceedings to oppose approval of the Western Loudoun Route. The County will likely incur significant expenses retaining outside counsel and experts."
Loudoun County BOS did not oppose the 500kV transmission line they only opposed the route that may have impacted the Waterford view shed!
Amending the plan to add transmission corridors creates two classes of property owner's - those that will not have to worry about a transmission line on their property or in their view shed, whose properties will be PROTECTED by Loudoun County in intercession at the VA SCC using OUR tax payer funds AND those whose land will be chipped away in 200' increments to support the energy infrastructure needed to power the data centers! Its essentially re-zoning this area for industry without any due process.
Stay engaged!! Everyone in the vicinity of the existing powerlines will need to send comments to the Loudoun County Board Of Supervisors in opposition to the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, in order to have standing for a LAWSUIT. If the county persists in this we will need to take them to court or risk loosing our properties entirely!