Loudoun parents, students urge supervisors and school board to reject above‑ground 500 kV transmission lines near schools

Dozens of parents, students and residents told the Loudoun County Joint Committee on March 24 that Dominion Energy27s proposed Golden to Mars electric transmission project should not run above ground on school property near Rock Ridge High School and Rosalie Carter Elementary.

Speakers repeatedly asked the School Board and the Board of Supervisors to reject the above‑ground alignments identified as the blue (Route 4) and green (Route 3) options for any segment that would cross school campuses. "Please reject all above ground routes on school property," resident Donnell Hughes said, adding that "our children27s health and safety should always come first." Third‑grader Gabriel Hughes told the committee: "Please, can you grown ups think carefully and find a safer way to build these lines without putting our safety at risk?"

The speakers framed their objections around electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, perceived long‑term health risks and impacts on school safety and property values. Several speakers referenced studies and specific proximity figures raised in public comment, including claims that about 2,400 students and roughly 300 staff at the two schools would be routinely within close distance of the proposed lines. "If cell towers are banned near schools, why should power lines be any different?" a caller asked.

Why it matters: the State Corporation Commission (SCC) regulates transmission siting in Virginia and can, in certain cases, approve siting across property using eminent domain; local boards can register preferences and provide local input but do not have final authority over the route. Co‑Chair Glass told the joint committee that the Board of Supervisors has already "voted to endorse Route 4, or the blue route, as our preferred alignment for the project, with Route 3, or the green route, as our secondary preferred alignment," and asked the School Board to adopt the same preference to provide Dominion more certainty ahead of its SCC filing.

Speakers and evidence: public commenters at the meeting included parents and students who named the affected campuses and described walkways, playing fields and other places where children congregate. Several speakers said an existing 230 kV line and a cell tower already exist near the campuses and argued that adding a 500 kV double‑circuit transmission line would increase risks. A sixth‑grader, Chetan Doma, urged officials to consider undergrounding or routing lines through less populated areas.

Officials27 statements and limits of authority: Co‑Chair Glass and county staff emphasized the distinction between local preferences and state regulatory authority. "Please know that the Board of Supervisors and School Board can truly only state our respective preferences at this point in the process," the chair said, adding that residents should also contact the SCC and their state legislators. The co‑chair and county staff also highlighted that alternative off‑campus routes would affect substantially more homes: the blue route was described as placing 64 homes within 500 feet, while other alternates (orange/red) were described as affecting roughly 1,000 homes within 500 feet.

Outcome and next steps: the meeting recorded extensive public comment and a co‑chair27s report summarizing the Board of Supervisors27 preference. No binding route decision by the joint committee or the school board was recorded at the March 24 meeting; the SCC retains final approval authority for the transmission route and related eminent domain determinations. County and school staff encouraged residents to submit comments to the SCC and contact state legislators.

Ending: The public comment period was limited to the first 20 signups, each given one minute; committee members said they would continue to receive written input and staff would keep both boards informed as Dominion proceeds toward filing with the SCC.