Louisa County allocates $250,000 for ValleyLink legal work and joins regional FERC filing

The Louisa County Board of Supervisors on May 4 unanimously approved a $250,000 supplement from the general fund to the county attorney’s contingent legal-fees budget to cover potential expenses tied to the ValleyLink Transmission Project. The board’s action authorizes budgeting the money; it does not obligate the county to spend it.

Chair said the county also filed jointly with Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland and Orange counties at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (docket ER261563-001) to press for narrow changes before PJM proceeds with an expedited interconnection track. “We are asking for to make 3 narrow fixes before approving the program,” the chair said, describing requests that host localities be recognized where state law gives them a role, that developers be required to notify host localities and give them 30 days to comment, and that PJM publish an annual summary showing where new generation and transmission proposals are being sited.

Supervisor discussion emphasized that allocating funds is not the same as spending them. One supervisor asked whether budgeting the $250,000 required the county to spend it; the chair answered that it simply places the money in the budget and bills would have to come in for it to be used. The resolution specifies the source as the county general fund balance.

The board’s appropriation followed a reading of the resolution and brief remarks from supervisors that the county will continue both local and regional engagement on the project. The motion passed by voice vote with unanimous support.

Next steps: the county’s attorneys and outside counsel will monitor potential bills and coordinate with other counties participating in the legal strategy. The board signaled readiness to continue regional coordination on the ValleyLink matter.