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Commonwealth's Counties

VACo Opposes Bills to Exempt Electrical Substations from Local Approval

Appalachian Power seeks to exempt “any station, substation, transition station, and switchyard facilities” associated with certain high voltage transmission lines from local planning and zoning review. Currently only the overhead transmission lines – when approved by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) – “shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements” of local comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances.

This additional exemption from local approval would only apply to 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines. Appalachian Power utilizes 138 kV and 765 kV lines, while Dominion Virginia Power uses 115 kV, 230 kV and 500 kV lines.

HB 1766 (Habeeb) cleared the House of Delegates earlier this week on a vote of 67 to 30. SB 1110 (Stanley) will be voted on in Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on Monday, January 30.

Please contact your Senator to oppose this measure and let them know you support maintaining local authority to review and approve electrical substations for compliance with land use plans and ordinances.

VACo Members – Share your thoughts on FlagPoll.

VACo Contact: Joe Lerch, AICP

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