HomeMy WebLinkAbout003-26 (OpposingValleyNorthTransLineProject)RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OPPOSING
THE VALLEY NORTH ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LfNE PROJECT
WHEREAS, Valley Link, a joint venture of Dominion Virginia Power, FirstEnergy
Generation Corporation, and Transource Virginia, lhc., proposes to construct and operate a new
765 -kilovolt electrical transmission line known as the Valley North project; and
WHEREAS, all study areas and proposed routes for the Valley North project specify that
the new transmission line will traverse the entire breadth of Frederick County at one of three
locations, any and all of which will significantly impact the citizens of Frederick County as is more
fully set forth below; and
WHEREAS, the Valley North project will require the construction of steel lattice towers
with an average height of 150-175 feet and the acquisition of a continuous 200-foot right of way
along the transmission path; and
WHEREAS, the Vall ey North project will require that Valley Link acquire through the
exercise of eminent domain or other methods easements and other property interests impacting
hundreds or thousands of private property owners in Frederick County; and
WHEREAS, the Valley North project will negatively impact and irreparably harm farms,
active orchards, forests , and other agricultural resources; scenic landscapes; conservation
easements; property owners' and citizens' quiet enjoyment of their properties and public lands;
and potential economic opportunities in Frederick County; and
WHEREAS, construction of the Valley N orth Project along any and all of the current study
areas and proposed routes is inconsistent with Frederick County 's Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the study areas and proposed routes for the Valley N orth project directly
violate the intent of the Agricultural and Foresta} Districts Act by impacting the County 's adopted
districts in an adverse manner; and
WHEREAS, the Valley North project presents no apparent benefit to the citizens of
Frederick County who will shoulder a disproportionate share of all of the above-stated burdens of
the project; and
WHEREAS, Valley North is only one of several actual or potential major electrical
transmission line and infrastructure projects targeting Frederick County and the Shenandoah
Valley region as part of an overall effort to serve electrical users, including data centers , in the
Northern Virginia region; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors joins in these and other concerns raised by the
Honorable Virginia State Senator Timmy French and Delegates Bill Wiley and Delores Oates in
their statement of June 1 1, 2026, opposing the Valley North project; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility and mandate of the Frederick County Board of
Supervisors to act on behalf of all citizens of Frederick County to ensure the health, safety, and
welfare o f all of Frederick County;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Frederick County Board of Supervisors
as follows:
1. That the Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its strong opposition to the Valley
North 765-kilovolt electrical transmission project as planned and proposed by Valley
Link.
2. That the Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes and directs the County Administrator
to do all things necessary to oppose the Valley North project being sited along any and
all of the proposed study areas and routes located in Frederick County, including but
not limited to fonnally participating in any action before the Virginia State Corporation
Commission, any applicable federal agency, or in any court of competent jurisdiction
within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
3. That the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator are
authorized to coordinate with the governing bodies, staff, and legal counsel for the City
of Winchester and Clarke, Loudoun, and other counties or localities affected by the
proposed Valley North project to oppose or otherwise mitigate the negative effects of
the project.
4. That the County Administrator and County Attorney are authorized to retain
specialized legal and consulting services as necessary and within available or
subsequently authorized appropriations to assist in the County's formal opposition to
the Valley North project, including entry into any joint representation pact with other
affected localities as set forth above.
5. That the County Administrator shall transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Governor of Virginia, the Honorable Senator Timmy French, the Honorable Delegates
Bil] Wiley and Delores Oates, the clerks of the City of Winchester and Clarke and
Loudoun Counties, and to Valley Link Transmission Company, LLC and its affiliated
partners.
Adopted this 8th day of July 2026 by the following recorded vote:
John F. Jewell, Chainnan Aye Michael D. Guevremont Aye
Albert L. Orndorff Aye Robert T. Liero Aye
Jason C. Aikens Aye Gary R. Oates Aye
Robert W. Wells Aye
A COPY ATTEST
Michael Bollhoefer
Frederick County ~aministrator
No. 003-26