Dominion Virginia Power Proposed Transmission Line Project

Dominion Virginia Power has approached the City of Alexandria regarding Dominion's proposal to construct a new 230-kilovolt underground transmission line between Alexandria and Arlington in the vicinity of Richmond Highway and Potomac Yard.
Page updated on November 6, 2023 at 7:56 PM
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Overview

In September 2018, Dominion Energy announced that, due to changes in regional electrical forecasts, it no longer anticipates a need to build a new line along the Potomac Avenue route or rebuild lines under Route 1 in the near future.

Project Status

In March 2019, Dominion informed the City it would proceed with its intended (as of September 2018) course of action to forego its long-planned 230kV underground transmission line project under Potomac Avenue. The utility will instead rebuild transmission facilities in Prince William County to satisfy the identified reliability concerns. Dominion also still intends to remove the temporary North Potomac Yard transfer station and underground the existing overhead transmission lines and support towers under Four Mile Run.

Public Engagement

MAY 2018

On May 12, City Council passed a resolution supporting the Underground Transmission Line Working Group (UTLWG) recommendation on Dominion Energy's 230kV line proposals and memorandums of agreement related to Dominion's proposed purchase of certain real property rights related to the transmission line.

Materials from the May 12 City Council hearing

APRIL 2018

Dominion Open House

Dominion is hosting an Informational Open House meeting on Wednesday, April 18, at the George Washington Middle School (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting format will be open house, and there will not be a formal presentation. Informational exhibits will be on display and project team members will be available for questions.

If you can’t attend the Open House on April 18, Dominion is also hosting an Open House on Thursday, April 19, at the Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Rd.) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
 

MARCH 2018

Underground Transmission Line Working Group Meeting

March 22, 2018 at City Hall (301 King Street), City Council Workroom, 7 p.m.

Dominion Energy will be presenting a revised alignment (which incorporates comments from the City of Alexandria and the Working Group) along Potomac Avenue and answer questions. 

FEBRUARY 2018

Underground Transmission Line Working Group Meeting

February 21, 2018 at City Hall (301 King Street), Room 1101, 7 p.m.

Dominion Energy will be presenting a revised alignment (which incorporates comments from the City of Alexandria and the Working Group) along Potomac Avenue and answer questions. 

January 2018

Underground Transmission Line Working Group Meeting

January 11, 2018 at City Hall (301 King Street), Room 1101, 7 p.m. 
 

Dominion will be providing an update of the project to date, explain the recent changes in scope and propose a potential path forward for consideration by the Working Group.

DECEMBER 2017

 

 

OCTOBER 2017

Underground Transmission Line Working Group Meeting - Postponed per Dominion
October 19 at the Station at Potomac Yard (650 Maskell Street)

Dominion and the City will be providing an update on the project to include: presentation of the final alignment, discussion of impacts, overview of the proposed schedule and the next steps.

The UTLWG meeting will be held during the first hour, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.     

Afterward, Dominion Energy will hold an informational open house for the public from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Informational exhibits will be on display and project team members will be available for questions.

 

JUNE 2017

Residents and businesses may have recently noticed activity in the CSX Rail Corridor.  Dominion is drilling test holes for soil borings.  The work began last weekend (June 10) and will continue for up to six weekends.  The work hours are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends only.

Dominion continues to develop the SCC submission package and has advised the City that they are planning to file with the SCC in the fourth quarter of 2017. The memorandum below summarizes the most recent developments in the project. 

AUGUST 2016

The City, through its Underground Transmission Line Working Group, will continue to coordinate closely with Dominion Virginia Power to assess the options being presented to the State Corporation Commission and develop a list of possible public benefit compensation measures

JULY 2016

Dominion continues to work on the SCC submission package and has advised us that they are planning to file with the SCC in the fourth quarter of 2016.  They have sent a letter to the City summarizing the need for the project and provided a summary of the power flow modeling results:

MAY 2016

On Tuesday, May 10, 2016, City Council met to consider the recommendations regarding the Underground Transmission Line & Substation Working Group. City Council upheld the decision to oppose any above ground transmission lines connection Dominion Virginia Power's Alexandria substations.

Project History

The Underground Transmission Line and Substation Working Group (UTLWG) was formed in 2014 to examine the effects of a proposal by Dominion Energy to construct a new 230kV line underground from the existing Glebe Substation in Arlington County to Pepco’s existing Potomac River Substation in the City of Alexandria.  The UTLWG met five times in 2014 and finalized a Working Group Recommendations Memo which was shared with City Council in January 2015. 

Dominion postponed the project prior to finalizing an alternative and filing with the State Corporation Commission (SCC).  In early 2016, Dominion notified City staff of their commitment to resume the project and file with the SCC.  In March 2016, City staff along with Dominion held an information meeting to update the public on the status of the project and the City Council re-established the UTLWG members.  In June 2016, the City received information from Dominion reaffirming the need for this project and its intent to file with the SCC by the fourth quarter of 2017. With the cost issues that have arisen, that submission date is no longer viable.

After coordinating possible routes with staff and the UTLWG for nearly two years, Dominion’s ‘new line solution’ (also known as the Glebe-Potomac River solution) proposed a new, approximately two-mile 230kV underground transmission line from Dominion’s existing Glebe Substation in Arlington to Pepco’s existing Potomac River Substation in Alexandria.  Additional substantial infrastructure improvements would be required at both substations and, as part of the project.  In June 2017, Dominion estimated the total cost of this option at $300 million and has indicated this option was its preferred alternative.  Dominion also plans to seek approval to underground lines currently sitting in or adjacent to Four Mile Run, as well as eliminate the terminal station in North Potomac Yard. 

Dominion also considered a ‘Rebuild Solution’ that would require the company to re-conductor, rebuild, and upgrade the capacity of sections of existing overhead and underground lines in Fairfax County and in the City (from Carlyle South terminal station to the North Potomac Yard terminal station), including the existing underground line in Route 1. Additional infrastructure improvements will also be required at multiple Dominion substations outside the City of Alexandria. In June 2017, Dominion estimated the cost of this option at $282 million. Dominion consistently stated that its system may require future maintenance along the ‘Rebuild’ corridor anyway and would not rule out additional future impacts should this option be selected. It should also be noted that Dominion may proceed with the ‘Rebuild Solution’ without approval from the City. The ‘Rebuild Solution’ does not include any compensation for the City as Dominion would be using existing right of way rights in park ped/bike path areas, across City and ACPS property and in Route 1. Dominion has also indicated that, should this option be considered, elimination of its terminal station in North Potomac Yard and undergrounding lines currently adjacent to Four Mile Run would still be pursued with the SCC.

Underground Transmission Line and Substation Working Group

The 11-member body was approved by City Council on June 21, 2014; and members were appointed by the City Manager, September 3, 2014. The Working Group will provide:

  1. Quality of life, economic, electric reliability, and environmental and transportation impacts associated with the proposed project and will make recommendations to staff, the City Manager, and City Council;
  2. Will be composed of a wide range of representatives from civic organizations in the communities possibly affected by the project, and representatives from several boards, commissions, and the business community

MEMBERS

  • Jason Nestlerode, Chair 
    Del Ray Citizens Association
  • Elizabeth Chimento
    North Old Town Independent Citizens' Civic Association
  • Nathalie Simon
    Arlandria Civic Association
  • Ben Sylla
    Lynhaven Civic Association
  • Rick Cooper
    Northeast Civic Association
  • Elias Papasavvas         
    Potomac Yard Area
  • Kyle Winslow        
    Environmental Policy Commission
  • Catherine Glocker Poulin
    Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Activities Commission
  • Nancy J. Appleby
    Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
  • Judy Noritake
    Four Mile Run Joint Task Force 

MEETING MATERIALS

Correspondence

Background and News Releases

Background Information

News Releases

Contact

For additional information about the City's actions related to this issue, please contact:

Lisa Jaatinen, P.E.
Acting Division Chief
Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES), Infrastructure & ROW Division
703.746.4053

William Skrabak
Deputy Director
Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES), Infrastructure & Environmental Quality (I&EQ)
703.746.4065

For information on the Glebe-Potomac River project, contact Dominion Virginia Power.