PWC Data Centers require multiple NEW transmission lines and substations

We thought it would be a good idea to resurrect one of our most recent cartoons to remind people why one-term Chair Ann Wheeler’s plan to industrialize western Prince William County is so dangerous.

The Coalition to Protect PWC has already shared with you that we, along with nearly a dozen other local organizations, are participating in monthly stakeholder meetings being led by Dominion Energy to discuss the need for more 230kV transmission lines (100+ ft tall towers) and substations throughout the western end of Prince William. In addition to the need for new transmission lines to serve data centers approved outside of the data center overlay district, total data center load demand has created grid instability.

Dominion Energy representatives continuously acknowledge throughout the meetings that unrestrained data center expansion is driving this explosive power demand.

If you want factual confirmation of the need for new transmission lines and new generation of power, go directly to the source – Dominion Energy. The price tag, for now, is reaching $140 Billion to support the needs of one – the data center industry.

2021 Dominion Energy Integrated Resource Plan

This Coalition is NOT endorsing any suggested route over another. By participating in these discussions, we are endeavoring to inject community concerns regarding the undue burdens data centers are placing on our communities, our region, and our state.

(See details below for a Dominion Energy Open House next Tuesday, Aug. 1, on one transmission line project. More article links below.)

Risks to our reliable energy power know no political ideology, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. What is clear from these meetings is that Dominion Energy is in a race, which it is clearly losing. Local decision-makers do not understand the levels of threats to our quality of life that they are creating by approving data center development — as if the promise of “endless gold” has no consequences.

Below are two Dominion Energy depictions to help people understand the general areas where the multiple new transmission lines will be required and are being planned to address these demands — coursing through communities, through small businesses, and through our remaining green spaces.

Even within the data center overlay district, there is not enough transmission infrastructure to support all of the data centers.

It has been made abundantly clear — We are headed toward a sustainability cliff, not just as it pertains to our natural and cultural resources, but with the grid itself.

We predict: The only way to avoid loss of power to our communities in the near future will be a successful variance (waiver) to push data centers to become their own power utilities — even IF we don’t approve any more data centers — until new transmission and generation become available.

Translation: Data Centers, focused in the Northern Virginia region, will use their diesel generators to power their facility needs during peak load time. Which we know also historically coincides with those hot days that result in health alert warnings.

This PJM alert came out for July 27, 2023 – click on the link to read an explanation of the issue:

Green Risks: PJM issues an Energy Emergency Alert level One

PJM issues a Energy Emergency Alert level One
from PJM Last night PJM our regional grid operator and the largest grid operator in the nation issued a Maximum Generation Emergency/Load …
greenrisks.blogspot.com

We want to ensure that the community understands the first new transmission line project which Dominion Energy is sharing with the public is focused on Hornbaker Road, within the data center overlay district. A substation and transmission line, driven by data center load demand, will run through communities and businesses. However, that line is only the first leg of additional transmission lines and substations which will be required in a larger targeted zone in the Nokesville area so as to avoid those dreaded N-1-1 violations. Violations which simply mean there is a risk to reliability – which could impact power delivery to all residents.

Learn More – Go and ask questions:

Dominion Energy Open House
Hornbaker 230kV Line and Substation

“We invite you to attend our upcoming open house event for the Hornbaker 230 kV Line and Hornbaker Switching Station Project, which will be held on Tuesday, August 1, from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Manassas Church of the Brethren’s gymnasium (10047 Nokesville Rd, Manassas, VA 20110).”