Thank you for this Primer that all citizens need to be educated about. It could be in your neighborhood next. Learn about the traps now so we can fight them in the future.
They are trying this in WV too, using the "ValleyLink Transmission Line" and our property is so rural that there's not very many people who can even come together to go against it!
I’ve heard of the Valley Link Transmission Line! One of my parent’s friends is staring down the same problem as well. It’s horrible what Dominion is willing to destroy so they can pinch pennies.
The best thing I can suggest is to reach out to people and organizations like the Piedmont Environmental Council - we were able to start making ground once we had more people who knew about us and we had experts who knew more about the issue then we initially did. For the people who you know, reach out to them and talk with each other, and have everyone who can email lawmakers, journalists, and anyone who can spread awareness.
The more noise you make, the more people will notice!
Loudoun County is one of the richest, if not The richest, county in the country. Are leaders really going to make an eye sore, cut down old forests, use an unimaginable amount of water and energy for more data centers? Enough is enough!
The greatest things that make Loudoun County beautiful are going to be traded for another data center? What happens when the country doesn't have enough clean water? It's about essential living priorities, property values and property rights, not more data centers.
Is a data center and power lines what comes with the strongly opposed Amazon HQ2? It's wasn't just about more car traffic. It came with an unseen need for unimaginably more data traffic.
What would huge power lines, giant towers and clear cuts do to the property value of all the very expensive home in view of the eye sore? All those homes are very, VERY expensive. For those who don't know the area, Loudoun County always is in the top 3 richest countries in the country.
Imagine how much home value would be lost? Would people still pay a million plus to look at those ugly towers, lines and clear cuts? Hundreds of millions! Many expensive homes would be worth next to nothing.
Before COVID, I worked in Purcellville (pronounced Purcyville). I know several beautiful vineyards and historic farms in the area. North and Northwest of Ashburn to Maryland and WV is one of the most beautiful and wonderful places to live in America. It's gorgeous! The places and people are beautiful and wonderful. And now they want to tear it down and decrease the tax base? That plan stinks!
The County leaders and Governor need to step up and say, "Virginia is for lovers, not ugly, power hungry data centers." This issue should have wide bi-partisan opposition. "Don't mourn! Organize!"
There is a woman screaming out all over social media, who is extremely intelligent and has created a P – 30 update for the computer systems that would eliminate all water necessity from data centers. Instead of doing the update, nuclear reactors are going up everywhere to power the data centers. I wonder why?
This is happening all over the world. Every government is competing to win the AI infrastructure race.
It should also high light just how meaningless "property ownership" rules sre. If it is designated as "national emergency", "goverment priority" then the rule books change. Similar to when transportation infrastructure gets designated. You dont "own" anything in the way that it is implied. You purchase the right to become caretaker of that property, until such time as it is required.😐 The Tecommunications crew have used the same playnook by Big Ag and before them, Big Oil, ad nauseum.
Thank you for covering this. Power lines are an eyesore, and and the taking of land through eminent domain is a naked power grab, but the real issue here is the health effects of the magnetic fields. Industry has been buying off scientists and paying to manufacture uncertainty, but the evidence is quite strong that they can cause childhood leukemia, at the very least.
I wasn’t able to cover it in this essay - the arguments around data centers and power lines have so many layers to them it was hard to try and fit them all into just one essay - but the health risks are definitely there. There’s already research showing a connection from Europe.
It’s a topic that definitely needs more study before we get even more industrial infrastructure forced into residential neighborhoods!
Madison, I’m a data center land developer based in Northern Virginia (also served on the Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission years ago). Infrastructure always brings challenges, and the tradeoffs are not borne equally. Situations like this are to be avoided as much as possible and mitigated for the benefit of those impacted when they cannot.
I know the school board plans to announce a decision July 17, before the July 20 date the SCC’s decision goes firm. My expectation is Route 3A goes forward. Dominion is not going to bury lines this size due to costs (could be 10-30x v. overhead), timelines (well past 2028 delivery obligations), and novelty (I know of only one underground 500 kV line operating in America). The school board is likely to continue rejecting Route 4 as an overhead alternative due to student exposure. Routes 1, 2, and 5 run past way more homes.
My first preference in site selection is always to locate next to transmission lines to avoid extensions or secure ROW commitments with landowner consent in advance. Whenever my projects are going to impact a homeowner, I get ahead of it by offering to acquire their house well above market. Challenge in your situation is there is no singular data center the line is serving. Mars-Golden is for the whole region.
If 3A moves forward, you should approach the County about mitigation funding for you and your affected neighbors. Loudoun County is effectively a macro developer who should offset the impact of their own policies. After all, they made the land use decisions creating the need, and it is their school board who is forcing the route your way. The County gets substantial tax revenue from data centers every year. They should offset the impact on you just like every proffer the County asks of developers on their projects. The County might push back on this, but I think it’s the right thing to do.
These are big lines. If 100’ away, they are very close to your houses. California mandates 350’ setbacks from 500 kV lines when locating schools. Virginia HB 1491 would prioritize 150’ setbacks. I’d use those figures to make your case. Hopefully this information proves helpful to you, your family, and neighbors.
How about you getting as a senator or a congressman because we got some complete garbage in there right now. Help help help our country help our citizens.
BIGGER BADDER FIGHT CAUSE THIS ISN'T ONE ENTITY. IT'S A GROUP OF OLIGARCHS ONE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. HE'S THE ONE THAT CHEATED AND PUT TRUMP IN OFFICE. WE DID NOT VOTE FOR TRUMP.
Thank you for your amazing work and commitment. Get invited to congress.
Thank you for this Primer that all citizens need to be educated about. It could be in your neighborhood next. Learn about the traps now so we can fight them in the future.
They are trying this in WV too, using the "ValleyLink Transmission Line" and our property is so rural that there's not very many people who can even come together to go against it!
I’ve heard of the Valley Link Transmission Line! One of my parent’s friends is staring down the same problem as well. It’s horrible what Dominion is willing to destroy so they can pinch pennies.
The best thing I can suggest is to reach out to people and organizations like the Piedmont Environmental Council - we were able to start making ground once we had more people who knew about us and we had experts who knew more about the issue then we initially did. For the people who you know, reach out to them and talk with each other, and have everyone who can email lawmakers, journalists, and anyone who can spread awareness.
The more noise you make, the more people will notice!
Madison, Well said. You are a excellent writer
Thank you! I hope to keep up the good work.
Loudoun County is one of the richest, if not The richest, county in the country. Are leaders really going to make an eye sore, cut down old forests, use an unimaginable amount of water and energy for more data centers? Enough is enough!
The greatest things that make Loudoun County beautiful are going to be traded for another data center? What happens when the country doesn't have enough clean water? It's about essential living priorities, property values and property rights, not more data centers.
Is a data center and power lines what comes with the strongly opposed Amazon HQ2? It's wasn't just about more car traffic. It came with an unseen need for unimaginably more data traffic.
What would huge power lines, giant towers and clear cuts do to the property value of all the very expensive home in view of the eye sore? All those homes are very, VERY expensive. For those who don't know the area, Loudoun County always is in the top 3 richest countries in the country.
Imagine how much home value would be lost? Would people still pay a million plus to look at those ugly towers, lines and clear cuts? Hundreds of millions! Many expensive homes would be worth next to nothing.
Before COVID, I worked in Purcellville (pronounced Purcyville). I know several beautiful vineyards and historic farms in the area. North and Northwest of Ashburn to Maryland and WV is one of the most beautiful and wonderful places to live in America. It's gorgeous! The places and people are beautiful and wonderful. And now they want to tear it down and decrease the tax base? That plan stinks!
The County leaders and Governor need to step up and say, "Virginia is for lovers, not ugly, power hungry data centers." This issue should have wide bi-partisan opposition. "Don't mourn! Organize!"
There is a woman screaming out all over social media, who is extremely intelligent and has created a P – 30 update for the computer systems that would eliminate all water necessity from data centers. Instead of doing the update, nuclear reactors are going up everywhere to power the data centers. I wonder why?
Electro magnetic interference from those lines can be litigated prior to exposure.
Don't use an environmental law firm.
All within range have a case.
Can you tell us more about this?
This is happening all over the world. Every government is competing to win the AI infrastructure race.
It should also high light just how meaningless "property ownership" rules sre. If it is designated as "national emergency", "goverment priority" then the rule books change. Similar to when transportation infrastructure gets designated. You dont "own" anything in the way that it is implied. You purchase the right to become caretaker of that property, until such time as it is required.😐 The Tecommunications crew have used the same playnook by Big Ag and before them, Big Oil, ad nauseum.
Thank you for covering this. Power lines are an eyesore, and and the taking of land through eminent domain is a naked power grab, but the real issue here is the health effects of the magnetic fields. Industry has been buying off scientists and paying to manufacture uncertainty, but the evidence is quite strong that they can cause childhood leukemia, at the very least.
https://peteranthonycowan.substack.com/p/erin-brockovich-power-lines-and-the
What about the health risks to people living that close to high power transmission lines?
I wasn’t able to cover it in this essay - the arguments around data centers and power lines have so many layers to them it was hard to try and fit them all into just one essay - but the health risks are definitely there. There’s already research showing a connection from Europe.
It’s a topic that definitely needs more study before we get even more industrial infrastructure forced into residential neighborhoods!
Clayton Tucker for texas :
Madison, I’m a data center land developer based in Northern Virginia (also served on the Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission years ago). Infrastructure always brings challenges, and the tradeoffs are not borne equally. Situations like this are to be avoided as much as possible and mitigated for the benefit of those impacted when they cannot.
I know the school board plans to announce a decision July 17, before the July 20 date the SCC’s decision goes firm. My expectation is Route 3A goes forward. Dominion is not going to bury lines this size due to costs (could be 10-30x v. overhead), timelines (well past 2028 delivery obligations), and novelty (I know of only one underground 500 kV line operating in America). The school board is likely to continue rejecting Route 4 as an overhead alternative due to student exposure. Routes 1, 2, and 5 run past way more homes.
My first preference in site selection is always to locate next to transmission lines to avoid extensions or secure ROW commitments with landowner consent in advance. Whenever my projects are going to impact a homeowner, I get ahead of it by offering to acquire their house well above market. Challenge in your situation is there is no singular data center the line is serving. Mars-Golden is for the whole region.
If 3A moves forward, you should approach the County about mitigation funding for you and your affected neighbors. Loudoun County is effectively a macro developer who should offset the impact of their own policies. After all, they made the land use decisions creating the need, and it is their school board who is forcing the route your way. The County gets substantial tax revenue from data centers every year. They should offset the impact on you just like every proffer the County asks of developers on their projects. The County might push back on this, but I think it’s the right thing to do.
These are big lines. If 100’ away, they are very close to your houses. California mandates 350’ setbacks from 500 kV lines when locating schools. Virginia HB 1491 would prioritize 150’ setbacks. I’d use those figures to make your case. Hopefully this information proves helpful to you, your family, and neighbors.
They can recirculate their iwn well water, and of course we'll need to make sure they're not dumping, even though they will
Hey 👋🏽 Erin 👋🏽
How about you getting as a senator or a congressman because we got some complete garbage in there right now. Help help help our country help our citizens.
BIGGER BADDER FIGHT CAUSE THIS ISN'T ONE ENTITY. IT'S A GROUP OF OLIGARCHS ONE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. HE'S THE ONE THAT CHEATED AND PUT TRUMP IN OFFICE. WE DID NOT VOTE FOR TRUMP.