Planning commissioners discuss undergrounding power lines and community concerns about data centers

Commissioners and planning staff discussed whether the town should require new or replacement power distribution lines to be placed underground, and how that policy could affect proposed data centers and neighborhood concerns.

During the discussion commissioners raised several points: town-owned streets such as Main Street and Davis Street already have many underground lines, one commissioner said, and an attendee estimated that roughly 65% of the town’s power lines are underground because of decisions by previous town leaders. Staff and commissioners noted the town does not have authority over high-voltage transmission lines and that requiring transmission lines to be placed underground would exceed local jurisdiction.

Commissioners and staff distinguished transmission lines from distribution and service lines, noting the town can adopt local rules for distribution and service lines but not for transmission infrastructure owned and regulated at higher levels. Planning staff said the locality can adopt rules that are “more specific to local circumstances” but is limited to authorities delegated by the state.

Participants debated costs and trade-offs. Some commissioners said burying existing overhead lines can be cost prohibitive; others said the public often opposes visible overhead lines near residential areas and data center sites. One commissioner suggested undergrounding may reduce some community objections to data centers that center on visual impact and the presence of new above-ground lines near railroad tracks.

No ordinance or formal motion to adopt an undergrounding requirement was proposed at the meeting. Commissioners agreed the idea was worth investigating further and suggested staff follow up with the town’s light and power department to assess technical feasibility, jurisdictional limits, and cost implications. Commissioners also discussed continuing the topic at an upcoming work session.

Several commissioners expressed concern about enforcement and the town’s willingness to be “more stringent” than state standards, noting enforcement capacity and potential pushback from applicants and utilities. The conversation closed with agreement to place the item on a future work session agenda for additional review and possible site visits to new subdivisions.