Louisa County school board unanimously opposes Valley Link transmission line near district property

The Louisa County Public Schools board unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the proposed Valley Link transmission-line routing near district property, saying the project’s proximity to school land and potential future school sites presents conflicts and safety concerns.

Board members said they had attempted outreach and sought collaborative dialogue but concluded the board must take a formal position. “We are opposing construction of these transmission lines near any of our schools,” a board member said in introducing the resolution, noting the parcel adjacent to the middle school could be needed for a future facility.

Several board members expanded on the rationale. One member argued that the routing primarily benefits data centers in Northern Virginia and that Louisa County should not bear local impacts for regional infrastructure needs. Another emphasized student and staff safety and the need to protect district assets. A member asked the superintendent and chair to submit a letter with the resolution explaining the board’s opposition to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC/SEC) and other regulators.

The board voted to adopt the resolution without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript; the chair stated the motion passed unanimously. The resolution directs district leadership to continue outreach while formally opposing routing that places high-voltage transmission lines adjacent to school property.

Next steps: the board authorized the superintendent to submit a letter accompanying the resolution and to continue engagement with state regulators and project proponents.