Map of alternative routes for the Haymarket-Gainesville transmission lines as per the Dominion Power website.Dominion Power is offering several alternative routes for its high voltage (230KV) Haymarket-Gainesville transmission lines with the possibility of more alternative routes to follow.
New plans, updated to the Dominion website on Nov. 24, include a partially buried line along I-66 as well as two alternatives that circumvent the Town of Haymarket.
According to Dominion Power, the new Haymarket-Gainesville transmission power lines are required to meet growing needs in the area including a possible client in need of more electricity.
Chuck Penn, spokesperson for Dominion Power, spoke to Bristow/Haymarket Beat about the new alternatives, saying “Dominion is still reviewing each of the route alternatives that were put on display at our open house, and featured in other public forums. We are continuing to look for additional route alternatives.”
Penn also wanted to remind readers that Dominion Power is not the final arbiter as to which route will be chosen. Rather, they are tasked with presenting their preferred plan and several alternate plans to the State Commission Corp. That state entity then makes the final decision.
Existing Plans
Dominion’s preliminary alternative route for the Haymarket-Gainesville Transmission Line, “Railroad Alternative,” is 6 miles long and runs east to west along the railroad track through the Town of Haymarket and directly east of the town. However, the community received the route unfavorably since it is planned to run closely behind homes in the HOA communities of Somerset Crossing and Greenhill Crossing. Community members worry about the negative affects on the view shed and on home values in addition to other concerns.
Those communities banded together and rallied against the power lines, using the phrase "fight the power lines," and eliciting support from local politicians, including supervisors, state senators and delegates.
Since releasing the first plan, Dominion Power presented a second alternative route, “Northern Alternative.” That route also received a poor reception among residents for running behind the residential HOA communities of Piedmont Club and Heritage Hunt.
Newly Proposed Plans
However, residents will be happy to see one new plan on the alternative routes map, the “I-66 Hybrid Alternative.” This plan, called a hybrid because it is partially buried and partially above ground, is only 5.8 miles long and runs along I-66 in between the other two aforementioned plans. This plan is further from residential neighborhoods, and since it is partially buried, offers a less obstructive view shed.
While burying transmission lines can be substantially more expensive than building above ground lines, Penn said that State Commission Corp. wanted to see a buried plan included with the other above head alternatives.
“The underground route will be considered just like the other overhead routes,” Penn said.
However, Dominion is also presenting other overhead plans along routes that circumvent the Town of Haymarket.
"Western Alternative" would run 10.5 miles south of Haymarket, following Beverly Mills Road at one point, and then continuing to slope southbound. Rather than meeting up with existing transmission lines at Gainesville, it would connect at the Wheeler substation.
The "New Road Alternative" is 12.2 miles long and runs parallel to Route 15, thus circumventing the Town of Haymarket. Along its path it bumps out to the east, avoiding Silver Lake and the community around Waverly Farm Drive. It runs between Evergreen Country Club and Bull Run Golf Club and meets with the New Road substation just over the Loudoun County line. This line also appears to avoid impacting neighborhoods.
Penn said it is too early in the process to know more details about the proposed routes such as what homes they will approach. He explained it is an ongoing process and Dominion Power may still add more alternative routes.
He added that Dominion always seeks to find routes that have “the least amount of impact on residents, businesses and the environment.”
If it will affect homeowners, Penn said Dominion will also contact those residents about the proposal.
“We will notify all appropriate homeowners by letter once we have a more complete understanding of the viability of each route alternative,” Penn said.
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