A proposed extra high voltage electrical transmission line could significantly harm Clarke County's rural and historic character, say county officials, who are encouraging residents to attend an upcoming public meeting to learn about plans for the line and voice their opinions.
Valley Link Transmission Company LLC is proposing the 260-mile, 765-kilovolt (kV) line, called the Valley North Project. The line is to run from Putnam County, West Virginia — near Charleston and Huntington in the western part of that state — northeast to Frederick County, Maryland.
Both Clarke County and Frederick County, Virginia, are included in the project's study area. The exact route of the line hasn't been determined, although some preliminary routes have been presented.
Valley Link is a joint venture among Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission LLC and Transource Energy LLC.
This project is one of multiple proposals that regional electric grid operator PJM Interconnection is considering to expand the grid and strengthen its reliability.
Nevertheless, the line "has the potential to do a lot of damage to the county with no benefit to the county," said David Weiss, chairman of the Clarke County Board of Supervisors.
For example, numerous 150-foot-tall pylons would be constructed along the line's route to hold electrical cables, according to a position statement issued by the board.
County officials are independently evaluating the preliminary routes to determine their impact on matters such as agricultural land, properties in conservation easements, county-owned facilities such as schools and parks, scenic highways and cultural, historic and natural resources. The latter includes streams, wetlands and the county's largely karst topography.
Karst refers to the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks, such as limestone, which can result in the formation of underground features such as sinkholes and caves.
Ultimately, the State Corporation Commission will decide where the line runs through Virginia. County officials won't have any control over it.
There's not a lot to say about the line right now because "we don't know exactly where it's going to be," County Administrator Chris Boies told the supervisors Tuesday afternoon.
Yet "a project of this magnitude would forever change the scenic landscape of the county," Boies told The Winchester Star.
"Through careful comprehensive planning, zoning and a proactive conservation easement program, the county has carefully protected its natural resources," he said.
Roughly 45% of the county's territory is within either of nine designated rural historic districts, Boies mentioned.
"We aren’t sure what percentage of the county will be impacted until the (exact) route is selected," he said. Yet with 45% being within historic districts, "it seems likely at least some will be impacted."
Residents need to get involved now, he said, to help ensure the line doesn't undo what the county already has done to protect its character.
The upcoming public meeting — an "open house" — will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. July 7 inside the Ruritan Building at the Clarke County Fairgrounds just west of Berryville.
Boies said he understands it will be set up "like a science fair" at a school. Participants will stop by different tables to learn about various aspects of the project and their effects on properties, he said.
"It's critical that folks come out" to the meeting, said Weiss, the Buckmarsh District supervisor.
"The project organizers have noted they are looking for public input," added White Post District Supervisor Terri Catlett, the board's vice chair. "I hope everyone potentially impacted by this proposed project attends the open house to learn more about the impact to their property and our community."
For Frederick County residents, a similar open house is scheduled for 4 to 7:30 p.m. June 29 at James Wood High School on Apple Pie Ridge Road north of Winchester.
More information about the proposed transmission line is on the project's website, vltransmission.com/valley-north/.
— Contact Mickey Powell at mpowell@winchesterstar.com
