Coalition and Dominion Reach Legal Agreement to Partially Bury Powerline
Executive director says: “This agreement fulfills our mission: bury the line along I-66.”
Haymarket, Virginia (March 22, 2018) – Finally, after years of hard work and unwavering resolve, the Coalition and its allies have achieved our most critical and original goal. Following weeks of behind the scenes negotiation, the Coalition has reached a legally binding stipulating agreement with Dominion Energy which guarantees that Dominion will bury 3.1 miles of the 5.3 mile-long “Hybrid” powerline route. The ‘Stipulated Settlement Regarding the Haymarket Project’ was filed with the State Corporation Commission today. Somerset Crossing HOA is also a signatory.
“The Coalition and our allies have had one mission: Stop Dominion Power Towers,” Coalition executive director Elena Schlossberg said. “The legislation enacted by the 2018 General Assembly, SB966, established an undergrounding pilot program that would require Dominion to apply, in order to qualify the Haymarket project for undergrounding. Pursuant to the Stipulation, Dominion is now obligated to file a written request to participate in the pilot program once the SCC has issued its order finding need. We look forward to the SCC Hearing Examiner’s recommendation consistent with the Stipulation, and the Commission’s order supporting the Stipulation.”
Schlossberg continued, “The Coalition was ready to argue before the SCC that the need for this project had not been proven, and that Dominion’s client, Amazon, should pay for private benefits. However, in return for guaranteeing Dominion’s opt-in to the undergrounding pilot program, Dominion mandated that the Coalition forfeit any argument regarding need and waive submission of any further testimony. We concluded that this Stipulation was the best way to fulfill our mission, protect our community, and stop the power towers near homes. After years of dedicated and tireless efforts, the Coalition has achieved the community’s long-desired goal.”
The formal conclusion of this case should occur shortly after July 1, 2018, the effective date of the undergrounding legislation.
“In this binding stipulating agreement, we made significant commitments to Dominion, and we will hold true to our word,” Schlossberg stated. “The Coalition, our allies, our community, and our elected officials fully expect Dominion to hold true to its substantial commitments as well.”
“This community should feel enormous pride in what our unity and unwavering resolve have achieved,” Schlossberg added. “Our County supervisors heard us: by repeatedly and unanimously adding their opposition to the overhead transmission line, and by reaffirming their support for historical preservation and the Rural Crescent. This resounding opposition reached the General Assembly, who with a yeoman’s effort, ensured that a viable legislative solution emerged from the 2018 session. Strong leadership from elected officials, particularly Delegate Tim Hugo, made this possible.”
In the Stipulation, the Coalition also secured multiple commitments from Dominion to mitigate adverse impacts on residents and businesses during construction, which could begin as early as this year. Review all the details in the entire public agreement between Dominion, the Coalition, and Somerset here.
Schlossberg concluded, “Let me reiterate, this public and binding agreement constitutes the only way the Coalition could be certain to fulfill its mission. While we were ready to continue the fight, we feel that the best way to honor the years of effort by community organizations, elected officials, and ordinary citizens is to secure the outcome we all want: stopping the power towers near homes and guaranteeing the partially-buried hybrid route.”
“To defend our homes, natural habitat, and historical assets, we made our many voices converge into one message, and our many interests into one mission: I-66 and partially buried – the only acceptable solution.”