Louisa planners advance draft transmission‑siting guidance and add item for May public hearing

County staff presented a draft comprehensive-plan addendum and policy intended to guide siting of large electric transmission projects (referred to as ValleyLink), emphasizing avoidance of routing through established residential areas, minimizing fragmentation of large agricultural parcels, protecting scenic and natural resources, and prioritizing use of existing corridors.

Staff said the draft had been reviewed by county counsel and outside counsel and recommended moving quickly to public hearing. The draft includes a preference to evaluate alternatives, justify new corridors rather than reusing existing ones, and consider undergrounding where technically and economically feasible. "We request them evaluate alternatives and justify why new corridors are proposed instead of using existing corridors," staff said.

Commissioners asked whether the policy should cover other utilities (gas), whether the county could impose size or kV limits on proposed lines, and how state law affects local authority. Staff said the county could express preferences (including a preferred kV cap such as 500 kV) but that the Virginia State Corporation Commission has authority over transmission lines; the draft therefore focuses on associated facilities (substations, switching stations) and sets standards for routing, access coordination with VDOT, visual and environmental protections.

The commission voted to advertise the transmission guidance for public hearing at the May meeting and agreed to co-advertise to allow the Board of Supervisors to consider the item promptly. Staff will bring revised language addressing commissioner questions (including whether to lower the applicability threshold from 115 kV to 69 kV and whether to broaden 'pole' language to 'structure').