Huge crowd for town hall meeting Jan. 12 on proposed power lines in Haymarket area

On Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. approximately 1,000 residents attended a town hall meeting that was held at Battlefield High School regarding Dominion Virginia Power’s proposed Haymarket substation and 230kv project.

Before the meeting, Elena Schlossberg, of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, Jeff Glenn with Serve Our Willing Warriors, Fletcher Henderson, general manager of the Winery at La Grange, and other representatives from local community organizations held a press conference to express their opposition to proposed routes offered by Dominion that would build lines through the “Rural Crescent.”

They stood in front of signs that read “Bury the Lines” and “Stop Dominion Power” as they told of their fight against power lines to deliver electricity to a “500,000 square foot database” that has been asserted by many to be owned and run by Amazon.

Glenn noted the building of the SOWW retreat and the views offered to Willing Warriors who are recuperating and spending time with their families-a true retreat for them that would be significantly impacted in one of the route options.

Several noted the historical significance of the area, wildlife and quality of lives that will be impacted with many routes studied for the project.

Schlossberg asserted that the only option that makes sense is one that includes underground lines along Interstate 66. Another speaker called any other option a “foolish idea.”

When asked how opponents know it is Amazon, Schlossberg noted that the company has placed employment ads including Haymarket as the location and the name has been found on other paperwork.

After the press conference, community members filled Battlefield High School’s auditorium to overflow at a town hall meeting hosted by Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall and Virginia Senator Richard Black, with Corey Stewart, chairman of Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland.

Marshall shared with those in attendance a letter signed by himself and Black to Jeff Bezos, president of Amazon.com Inc., that respectfully stated the issues residents have regarding the data center, not its presence itself, but the impact that it has on the residents and businesses in the area and encourages him to “exercise good will by seeking a home” for the data center at another location that will not require power lines through these residential areas. Instead, the legislators suggest locating the data center at Innovation Park which they says has the infrastructure to support the needs of the center.

Marshall also alerted the crowd to a new bill he will introduce, HB 1708, which will provide guidelines for data centers that are planned and built in the future and provides that the company shareholders will bear the burden for building any necessary infrastructure needed.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) will make the final decision of the route the power lines will take. Marshall said that he will demand the SCC hold hearings in Haymarket to hear the citizens.

Stewart referred to the project as “corporate vandalism” and says that though Dominion can take residents’ land, it cannot take county land. The board chairman stated that as of Jan. 9, he had signed into law the acceptance of a deed of easement from the Somerset Crossing community which prohibits lines going through the neighborhood, Greenhill Crossing and the Town of Haymarket, to which he received rousing applause.

Candland noted that Western Prince William County has become a “dumping ground” of sorts, and this time they have “picked a fight with the wrong people.”

Many residents came to the microphone to express their concerns and ask questions. Concerns included health and the risk of cancer. Some speakers questioned the county’s incentives to businesses, to which Stewart responded that all businesses and residents pay the same (tax) rate.

Some questions were raised concerning the zoning and why the board of supervisors cannot just change the zoning.

Stewart answered that zoning changes may have occurred years ago and cannot be overturned by the current board. He added that county officials have encouraged data centers to locate near Innovation Park.

One gentleman, noted the need for power, the expense of putting lines underground and reduced “scary stories” to just that “scary stories.” His comments were met with “boos,” “sit down,” and “shut up.”

Hope Chang, a resident of Rose Hills Estates, who greeted attendees and ensured everyone was wearing a coalition sticker, says that the lines would go right through her backyard. She said though she does not want the lines in her yard; she does not want them through her neighbors’ yards either.  Karen Sheehan, a neighbor of Chang’s, says that they weren’t invited to the information open houses offered by Dominion. The two concurred that they did not find out about the new route until Dec. 13.

The positive, as Chang is often known for looking for in the midst of the negative, she says she has met so many great neighbors through their efforts to come together to ensure that their homes and property are not impacted.

Another neighbor, Todd Theros, says that the key is that his family purchased property in the Rural Crescent. He said they bought there–knowing that they would forego development in trade for the tranquility. It was supposed to be “set aside” and protected.

Lisa Jarvandi, a resident of Crescent Hills Estates, says that one of the routes would “bisect” her 10-acre property where she has lived four years and is raising four children ages 4 to 17. She has 10 horses and says that she would literally walk under the 230 kilovolt lines several times a day while caring for her horses.

Chuck Penn, media/community relations manager for Dominion Virginia Power, attended the meeting and says they were “pleased with the turnout.” Dominion had a stenographer at the meeting to ensure the recording of residents’ concerns.
He adds that Dominion Power wants to ensure they hear the concerns of the community as they have their lives invested in their properties and homes.

Currently, Dominion is completing a thorough route analysis before filing its findings with the State Corporation Commission in the spring.

Penn says that there are approximately four routes “on the table” that will be included in the SCC application. He reminds everyone that the SCC is final arbiter of the route. He also adds that the SCC does its own vetting of routes and could very well decide on a route that is not included in Dominion’s application. When questioned, he said that the SCC could come up with its own route.

According to Penn, Dominion has tried to be transparent with the project– placing ads in local papers and meeting with organizations such as the Haymarket Town Council, planning commission, Greenhill and Somerset Crossing HOAs, and have answered many emails and phone calls, although some people in the community feel that Dominion has been less that forthright. He says that they may have placed route maps on the dom.com website before notification was given to property owners. He says once viable routes are identified, the company notify owners immediately.

He added that the original proposed route along the railroad tracks would have cost $62.5 million; the hybrid underground route will cost around $140 million.

Penn adds that Dominion Power has a responsibility to provide power to its customers. Residents claiming the electric utility has not been forthright are perhaps concerned that Dominion has not discussed the client.

Penn says that they do not give information out on any customers. It can be equated to residents and customers of Dominion asking for information about other residents. Dominion aims to keep all customer information confidential and is very protective of every customer’s information.

Dominion Virginia Power is regulated under SCC and Federal regulatory agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

Penn adds that they have an obligation to serve all customers–which means that engineers make projections that determine if Dominion has the infrastructure to meet the demand, and the utility must build to meet the demand, regardless of the customer.

To end, he adds that Dominion Power “promise[s] to be open and honest and forthright and transparent in all of our dealings with the greater Haymarket community.” After finishing the exhaustive route analysis Dominion will share its findings with the community by contacting people through local media and email lists.

He says they “genuinely appreciate the feedback” they have received and they respect and appreciate the perspective of the community. He adds that they “admire the tenacity.” He says they do everything they possibly can that will have the least amount of impact on residents, environment, historical and cultural values of the community.

For more information, see http://protectpwc.org/ and https://www.dom.com/ (keyword Haymarket).