Planning Commission backs electrical infrastructure map, policies; sends CPAM 02/4005 to Board of Supervisors

The Loudoun County Planning Commission on Oct. 28 voted 8-0-1 to recommend approval of CPAM 02/4005, the Electrical Infrastructure Comprehensive Plan Amendment, forwarding the draft map and policy language to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

The amendment would add an electrical infrastructure map and a suite of policy changes to the county’s 2019 General Plan to guide where and how high-voltage transmission corridors are sited, encourage use of existing corridors and technologies that increase capacity, and identify locations where undergrounding, enhanced design, or mitigation measures should be prioritized. Staff told the commission the changes are intended to give the county clearer policy positions when it participates in reviews by state and regional regulators.

Pat Giulio, Department of Planning and Zoning, summarized the staff recommendation and introduction of the draft map and policies and said staff "supports a recommendation of approval." Paul Vernon, project manager with Kimley-Horn, summarized the consultant memorandum and told commissioners, "we're not here to talk tonight about individual transmission projects, but we are here to talk about how the proposed draft amendments to the general plan can help guide future decisions." The presentation noted Loudoun's rapid electric demand growth linked to data centers and reviewed…