Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Substation Expansion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prince George County planning commission forwards Dominion Energy substation expansion to supervisors with screening condition
Summary
The Planning Commission on Jan. 30, 2026 voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve Dominion Energy’s special exception to expand a substation on Arwood Road, subject to added opaque screening and safety conditions after staff said the project would modernize equipment and a public commenter raised health concerns about electromagnetic fields.
Prince George County’s Planning Commission voted Jan. 30, 2026 to forward a special-exception request from Dominion Energy to the Board of Supervisors with recommended conditions, including opaque screening around an expanded electrical substation on Arwood Road.
Planning staff told the commission the application (Special Exception SC25-0005 / SE25005) covers about 0.97 acres and proposes replacing the chain-link fence, expanding the substation east and south, adding a control enclosure and a transformer and installing steel support structures. "Staff's recommendation is approval subject to the recommended conditions," planning staff said, noting conditions addressing visual impact, emergency vehicle access and a Knox box for emergency responders.
Why it matters: the site sits in split RA and R-1 zoning and is shown in the county comprehensive plan for agriculture. Nearby residents will see and hear the updated equipment, and the project raises questions about public safety procedures and site screening. The commission’s vote is advisory; the Board of Supervisors will hold the next public hearing and a final decision.
Planning staff summarized anticipated off-site impacts as visibility from Arwood Road and potential noise from equipment and said that if the recommended conditions are imposed the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan and surrounding zoning. Staff also noted an applicant-proposed alternative to the staff-recommended Knox box condition that would require Dominion personnel to assure equipment is de-energized for safety reasons before emergency crews operate on energized equipment.
Caroline Jabril, a licensed civil engineer with HDR, introduced the project on behalf of the property owner and consultant team. "Reliability," Jabril said when asked about the project’s purpose, explaining the work would add capacity and a control enclosure to support switching and monitoring. Krista McDonald, the permitting specialist on the project, said the team "would definitely consider the opaque screening on all 4 sides" if the commission thinks it is important and that the project is a modernization of existing equipment.
A member of the public who spoke during both the general public comment period and the SE25005 hearing urged the commission to pause the project and requested additional information. Justin Goodman (providing an address) raised historical pollution concerns, cited epidemiological studies he said link high-voltage transmission to increased childhood leukemia risk and said he would submit documents for the commission’s review. "Please do not make a decision tonight," the commenter said, urging the commission to delay action until materials could be reviewed.
Commissioners asked whether the project would increase line voltage and the applicant said there was no change in line voltage or an "increase in output;" the permitting specialist described the work as replacing older equipment with newer, more efficient components. In response to a technical question from a commissioner, the applicant said the substation ties to a transmission line of about 115 kV and steps down to a distribution voltage around 34.5 kV.
After questions and public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of SE25005 to the Board of Supervisors with the additional condition that opaque screening be provided on all sides; the motion was seconded and the roll-call vote approved forwarding the application with that recommendation.
What’s next: the Board of Supervisors will hold its own public hearing before making a decision. The commission’s recommendation is advisory; any final conditions or modifications will be set by the Board.
Funding and authorities: the staff report cited county zoning ordinance provisions (noted in the record as "section 91 0 3 15 and 90-2026"). The staff presentation also confirmed the public hearing was advertised in accordance with applicable state code.
