Valley Link Open House Questions

Prepared the BRS Valley Link Action Committee (BRS VLAC)

Project Necessity & Justification

What specific load forecasts justify 765-kV over a lower-voltage solution?
Were distributed generation or demand-response alternatives modeled, and what were the results?
Is this capacity driven by Virginia ratepayer demand, or is it export capacity serving other regions?
Are you considering local power generation solutions that site it closer to demand centers?
What is the model you’re using to forecast future electrical demand?

How many significant revisions has this project undergone, and what drove the new routes?
How have those revisions affected projected costs, timelines, and the set of impacted properties?
Is the project being proposed today materially consistent with what was originally announced?

Is a 500-ft buffer from residences enough space?
Why weren’t existing rights-of-way prioritized over new greenfield corridors?
Was underground routing evaluated for the Lake Louisa segment specifically?
What would it cost to reroute away from the BRS viewshed, and who pays for that?
Why was a route proposed adjacent to one of Louisa County’s most densely populated communities?
How will the Trevilians Fire Station 6 helipad flight path be affected by the proposed lines?
Why are existing transmission easements and rights-of-way not being more fully utilized before acquiring new greenfield corridors?
I keep hearing there’s a <minimal> 200-ft right-of-way. Is there a maximum, and what determines the size of the right-of-way?

Which tower design is planned for the BRS segment, and will those towers require aviation lighting?
Has an independent property value impact study been commissioned for parcels near BRS?
How far apart are towers placed?
Will you publish the exact tower centerline coordinates so communities can run their own visual simulations?
Where can I go to physically see the types of towers/lines that will be used for the 765-kV Lines?

What type of footings will be used, and how deep?
BRS operates a 9-well community water system near the corridor — what is the assessed risk to groundwater, and what remedies exist if impact occurs?
How will construction crews access tower sites, and what is the traffic impact on local roads?
What kind of noise will construction generate?
How long does it take to build these towers?
The BRS dam was recently rehabilitated — what is the assessed impact of construction activity on dam integrity?
During construction, what methods will be used to set tower foundations in our area? If rock excavation or blasting is required, what assessment has been done on potential impacts to the local aquifer and private wells, and what mitigation measures are planned?

Is the easement permanent, and what rights does the company retain in perpetuity?
Does the right-of-way grant authority to add future infrastructure — fiber, gas, substations?
How is easement compensation calculated — fair market value or negotiated rate?
Are there binding commitments to restore disturbed land and roads after construction?

Where are the ELF/EMF (Extremely Low Frequency/Electromagnetic Fields) and noise studies, and were they independently peer-reviewed?
If ELF/EMF effects are unproven, why acquire new greenfield corridors instead of expanding capacity on existing infrastructure?

When does the Virginia SCC hold formal public comment hearings, and how can community organizations formally participate as intervenors?
Is a full Environmental Impact Statement required, or only an Environmental Assessment?
What is the projected timeline for the SCC CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) filing?