King George News
Cathy Dyson writes about King George County.
Dominion will share info about power lines at Aug. 10 open house
On Wednesday, Aug. 10, King George County residents can look at five possible routes for the new high-voltage line Dominion Virginia Power wants to build to Dahlgren.
Dominion plans an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. at the King George Citizens Center. That’s on State Route 3, next to the headquarters for King George Fire and Rescue.
There won’t be any formal presentations or speakers during the session, said Daisy Pridgen, a spokesperson for Dominion.
Instead, residents can look at maps of the five suggested routes, talk to Dominion representatives about various aspects of the project and offer their opinions.
“We’re looking for their views and their input,” Pridgen said.
In May, Dominion officials told the King George supervisors a new 230-kilovolt transmission line is needed to provide more electricity to the growing Dahlgren area.
The overhead line will be about 10 miles long and run from an existing line on Route 3 to a new substation to be built on base at the Naval Support Facility Dahlgren.
Dave Pelkey, Dominion’s project manager, told the supervisors the utility company was doing all it could to meet the Navy’s demand.
“But the load is getting to the point the line can’t handle it any longer,” he said in May.
The need for electricity in the Dahlgren area increased 55 percent from 2001, according to Dominion. That’s not just from the Navy base, but from the growing community around it, Dominion officials said.
A super Walmart is scheduled to have its grand-opening ceremonies in Dahlgren on Aug. 17. Next to it, the University of Mary Washington’s Dahlgren Education and Research Center is set to open in January.
Dominion has been working with a community group of citizens and government representatives to come up with five options. All of them start along the Route 3 corridor.
Dominion typically selects the option with the least impact on homeowners and environmental features, such as eagles’ nests and wetlands, Pelkey said.
Homeowners on whose property the line is built get a one-time payment from Dominion. Residents still own the property but grant right-of-way easement to the utility company.
If the project gets approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, construction would begin in summer 2013 and finish in spring 2014.
Dominion serves 8,000 businesses and homes in King George.
MORE INFORMATION
Go to Dominion’s website for information or call 888/291-0190 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
