ROANOKE, Va. – Residents and stakeholders across the region are helping shape Valley Link, a major transmission project aimed at strengthening reliable electric service as communities grow and power needs increase.
The first round of community open houses for the Joshua Falls-Yeat Project, also known as Valley Link South, gave residents, landowners, business owners and local officials a chance to learn more, ask questions and share what matters most to them. More than 4,000 people attended the initial events across the nine Virginia counties where the proposed 115-mile, 765-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line is being studied.
Community feedback continues to shape the project. Input shared in person, online and by phone helped refine the proposed route options and guided the second round of open houses held in June. All feedback provided will be considered before an expected filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) later this year.
“Customer input is essential to this process,” said Blair Burns, a project manager for the Valley Link South portion. “These open houses help us listen, answer questions and make sure we are planning a project that supports reliable service, future growth and the long-term needs of the communities we serve.”
Outreach has also begun for Valley Link North, the next portion of the project, which includes approximately 260 miles of new 765-kV transmission line between Putnam County, W.Va., and Frederick County, Md. Most of the proposed line would be in West Virginia, covering about 225 miles, while about five miles would be in Virginia and the remaining five miles in Maryland. Valley Link North open houses began in late June and will continue through July at locations along the proposed line route, giving customers early information about the project and another opportunity to help guide the planning process.
For customers, these projects are about strengthening the electric grid that powers daily life for homes, hospitals, schools, small businesses, farms and essential services. By adding capacity and improving the transmission system, Valley Link will help reduce constraints on the power grid, support reliable service during extreme weather and prepare the region for future energy needs. The work also supports economic development by providing communities with modern infrastructure that can help attract investment, create jobs and support continued growth while serving customers safely and reliably.
Customers can visit the Valley Link website for more information, including a list of upcoming open houses and ways to provide feedback on the project.