Three bills were introduced to the General Assembly in 2015…
House Bill No. 1708
Certain industrial uses; transmission lines.
Patrons– Marshall, R.G.; Senator: Black
Summary as introduced:
Certain industrial uses; transmission lines. Requires that a zoning ordinance shall provide that any proposed data center that will require utilization of a 230 kilovolt electrical transmission line shall be located only in an area zoned for industrial use. However, if a zoning ordinance authorizes a data center, or similar land use, that will require utilization of a 230 kilovolt or greater electrical transmission line outside of an area zoned for industrial use, any electrical transmission lines that support such a land use and that are located at a distance greater than 300 feet from an existing electrical transmission line shall be placed underground at the expense of the owner of the data center.
Full Text of House Bill No. 1708.
House Bill No. 2334
Patrons– Marshall, R.G.; Senator: Black
Summary as introduced:
Electrical transmission lines; underground placement. Requires the State Corporation Commission (SCC), when making a determination about the method of installation of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to require that the line be installed underground if the SCC determines that the incremental costs of placing or installing the line underground are less than the damage to affected properties. The damage to affected properties is the aggregate of the net diminution in the fair market value of all parcels of real property located within one-half mile of any point on the proposed route or corridor resulting from the overhead installation of the line. If the SCC requires the line to be installed underground, the utility may recover the costs of the underground placement of the line through a rate adjustment clause that provides that such costs shall be assigned to its Virginia jurisdictional customers.
Full Text of House Bill No. 2334.
House Bill No. 2356
Patrons– Marshall, R.G., Hugo and Ramadan; Senator: Black
Underground transmission lines; pilot program. Establishes a pilot program for the placement of three or more new electrical lines of 230 kilovolts or more to be placed underground. The bill establishes criteria for participation in the project. The costs of the projects shall be recoverable through a rate adjustment clause and entirely assigned to the utility’s Virginia jurisdictional customers. The measure has an emergency clause.
Full Text of House Bill 2356.