The Valley North Project is still in the route development phase, and Valley Link wants your input to help determine the best route. During the first round of public open houses in June and July 2026, Valley Link shared preliminary study segments rather than proposed or final routes.

Valley Link will host 12 open houses this November to share potential route options for the Valley North Project and gather community feedback. Residents, landowners and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend whichever open house is most convenient, regardless of where they live within the project area.

Since the first round of engagement, the project team has carefully reviewed community feedback alongside engineering, environmental and other project considerations. As a result, the study area has been refined significantly, allowing for more focused discussions about potential route options.

As we work toward selecting a preferred route in early 2027, we remain committed to keeping communities informed and involved.

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are produced whenever electricity is used and are found in common household appliances. Decades of research has not established a cause-and-effect relationship between power line EMF exposure and adverse health effects for humans or animals like pets and livestock. Valley Link is also conducting EMF modelling for the project and plans to submit those findings during the regulatory process.

You can learn more about EMF exposure from power lines on our online tool and at the resources linked below.

• National Cancer Institute, Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer
• The World Health Organization, Radiation: Electromagnetic fields
• The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power
• Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks, Potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
• Government of Canada, Power lines and electrical products: Extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields

Research has generally found little evidence that transmission line proximity or visibility systematically reduces residential property values. While some studies identify modest, localized effects, findings vary by line type, distance, placement and local market conditions, and measured effects often diminish with distance. You can learn more about this research through the resources linked below.

• The Journal of Real Estate Literature, The Effects of Electric Transmission Lines on Property Values: A Literature Review
• The Appraisal Journal, High-Voltage Transmission Lines and Residential Property Values in New England: What has Been Learned
• The Appraisal Journal, Property Value Impacts from Transmission Lines, Subtransmission Lines, and Substations
• Journal of Housing Economics, Disamenity or premium: Do electricity transmission lines affect farmland values and housing prices differently?

When it comes to bills, we’re doing everything we can to minimize the impact of this project on ratepayers. Transmission costs are spread across millions of customers throughout the regional system and recovered over the life of the asset, which is typically 60 years. Rather than one local area covering the full cost, the project is supported collectively, reflecting its regional value in keeping the grid reliable and efficient.

It’s important to remember that transmission projects are different than distribution projects. Distribution upgrades are typically what impacts bills noticeably, while transmission upgrades like the Valley North Project usually do not have a significant impact on rates. Customer impacts will be relatively small compared to overall electric bills.

The Valley North Project strengthens the underlying system that supports everything from homes and local businesses to hospitals, schools and emergency services. It’s not about sending power somewhere else or serving a single customer or industry — it’s designed to maintain reliability and support future energy demand growth across the board.

Reliable transmission is foundational infrastructure: Nearly every essential service, existing employer and future economic opportunity depends on it. Valley North is necessary to address our country’s changing energy needs and keep up with other regions.

Much of our region’s infrastructure was built for lower, more stable demand. As usage increases and equipment ages, lines and substations can become constrained — especially during peak periods — putting reliable service at risk. Power demand in our region is expected to double over the next decade, and it’s true that this growth is driven in large part by the expansion of data centers. Valley Link is not involved with data centers, but it’s our responsibility to make sure homes, local businesses, schools and emergency systems have enough reliable energy as data centers come online and increase pressure on our grid. Inaction would mean allowing aging infrastructure and rising demand to place increasing strain on the system we all rely on. This project is necessary to ensure energy is reliably transmitted when it’s needed, where it’s needed, for whoever it’s needed — including you.

Plus, the Valley North Project offers long-term economic benefits. It will create jobs during construction, and the people in those jobs will frequent local businesses, which circulates money into local economies. Transmission construction also creates opportunities for contractors, suppliers and skilled tradespeople across areas such as site preparation, trucking, concrete, steel, electrical work and environmental restoration. And once construction is over, the improved infrastructure and strengthened energy reliability will make the region more attractive to businesses and therefore more jobseekers and residents. This cycles back into more local spending and expanded tax bases, providing additional resources that can support schools, public safety and other community priorities. No major employer will locate or expand where the power supply is uncertain. For many growing industries, sufficient transmission capacity is a prerequisite: without it, investment and jobs will simply go elsewhere. Without the Valley North Project, available power for future economic development projects will be limited for everyone.

The Valley North Project was selected and approved by PJM, the independent regional grid operator, as a reliability project needed to strengthen the transmission system that serves millions of people across the region and ensure safe, reliable electricity for years to come. It’s not designed to serve a specific industry, area or group of people — it’s designed to make reliable energy a reality for everyone in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

Adding generation alone does not automatically improve grid reliability. A reliable electric system requires both generation and transmission to work together. As some power plants come online and others retire, transmission infrastructure such as Valley North is necessary to move electricity safely and reliably to where it is needed.

In addition to supporting long-term electric reliability, the project is expected to generate substantial new tax revenue for our communities. Current estimates show the project could generate nearly $14 million in annual property tax revenue across West Virginia counties along the route, including approximately $9 million for local schools. Additional property tax revenue benefits are also anticipated for communities in Maryland and Virginia.

At a time when many communities are facing budget challenges and difficult funding decisions, these revenues could provide long-term support for schools, public safety, roads and other local priorities.

Vegetation management is an important part of keeping transmission lines safe, preventing outages and maintaining reliable service. Plus, it’s required to comply with federal, state and local regulations. Valley Link will continue the vegetation stewardship practices that its constituent companies (Dominion Energy, Transource and FirstEnergy Transmission) have upheld for years.

Our approach is centered around minimizing negative environmental impacts, preventing safety hazards and protecting the grid to reduce power outages. Here are some examples of how we are acting on this commitment:

•  We use selective pruning and targeted vegetation management to minimize disturbance to existing wildlife habitat.
• We limit clearing activities during critical breeding and migration seasons.
• We restore impacted areas after construction with native vegetation to support pollinators, wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
• We maintain ongoing engagement with regulators, conservation partners, communities and property owners to ensure transparency and early identification of potential environmental concerns.
• We follow safety standards set forth by industry leaders like the International Society of Arboriculture, the American National Standards Institute and the Tree Care Industry Association.
• When vegetation maintenance is complete, debris is removed from maintained yards, agricultural fields, access roads and environmentally sensitive areas. In unmaintained areas, debris is left to decompose naturally, which returns healthy nutrients to the soil.

Our vegetation management team is committed to thoughtful and responsible use of herbicides. Herbicide use is an effective and efficient way to control undesirable or incompatible vegetation, including invasive plant species that pose a threat to native plant species.

Selective Low-Volume Herbicide Applications, which are targeted specifically to problematic plants, are commonly used to remove rapid growth of competitive vegetation that hinders the growth of pollinator-friendly vegetation. By controlling undesirable vegetation, we can promote early successional habitat for local wildlife. This includes herbaceous annuals and perennials like grasses, wildflowers and low growing shrubs. This habitat provides natural food and shelter for a wide variety of local wildlife species.

There is not one specific herbicide that will be used on all sites across the Valley North Project. Instead, herbicides will be selected on a site-by-site basis to ensure the product used is effective on the target vegetation while protecting the specific site’s natural characteristics.

For each site, we can assure herbicides will be applied with accordance to the highest safety standards:

• All herbicides used will be applied in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
• All herbicides used will be registered with the U.S. EPA and applied in accordance with the product guidelines.
• All herbicide applications will be made by certified applicators.

Customizing our approach to herbicide use allows us to cater to each site’s specific needs, minimizing environmental impact as much as possible.

The Valley North Project was selected by PJM to address long-term reliability needs across the regional transmission system. After evaluating nearly 100 potential solutions, PJM approved Valley North as a new 765-kV transmission line project, which is the most efficient way to deliver the amount of electricity needed to support the region’s growing energy demand and maintain reliability.

Because of the voltage level involved, undergrounding is not a practical option for this project. In fact, there are currently no long-distance 765-kV transmission lines operating underground anywhere in the world. One reason for this is that undergrounding lines is incredibly expensive — undergrounding can cost up to $10 million more per mile compared to aboveground lines, which could increase utility rates and spend taxpayer and utility customer resources irresponsibly. Underground lines are also invasive, requiring more right-of-way and construction time. Plus, repairs for underground lines generally take much longer to complete since problem areas are harder to find and the work requires digging up equipment.

We want to use the most proven, reliable technology available for the Valley North Project — currently, that is overhead lines.

While overhead structures are taller than lower-voltage transmission lines, a 765-kV line can reduce overall land use and environmental disturbance over time. A single 765-kV line can deliver roughly the same amount of electricity as six 345-kV lines or three 500-kV lines. By moving a significant amount of power on a single transmission corridor, the need for multiple lower-voltage lines and additional rights-of-way can be reduced as energy demand continues to grow. As a result, while a 765-kV line requires larger structures, it can represent the most efficient long-term solution that supports grid reliability while minimizing the overall footprint needed to deliver power across the region.

When proposing grid enhancements, we conduct months, even years, of research and planning to ensure that the work provides commensurate benefits to the customer. The Valley North Project was designed to strengthen the backbone of the grid and support long-term economic vitality while impacting both ratepayers and the environment as little as possible. The best case scenario would not be possible with an underground line.

No final route has been selected for the Valley North Project, and community input continues to play an important role in shaping route evaluations. Feedback from farmers, small business owners and other landowners is helping shape the route evaluation process. As routes are refined, Valley Link is evaluating agricultural operations, business impacts, environmental resources and cultural and historic sites with the goal of avoiding or minimizing impacts wherever feasible.

If a property is ultimately located along an approved route, Valley Link will work directly with the landowner to discuss easement requirements, property-specific considerations and fair compensation. In most cases, the process involves securing an easement that allows the transmission line to be constructed and maintained while the landowner retains ownership of the property and many of its existing uses. We aim to avoid eminent domain and consider it a last resort if no viable alternatives exist.

We recognize property impacts are among the most important concerns for landowners. That’s why our approach is centered on early communication, one-on-one engagement and a commitment to understanding the unique characteristics of each property. Throughout the process, we will work directly with landowners to answer questions, address concerns and identify opportunities to reduce impacts wherever possible.

Our goal is to be a transparent and respectful partner, providing fair compensation and working collaboratively with property owners while balancing the region’s long-term energy needs.

Protecting environmental, cultural and historic resources is a key consideration in our routing process.

Valley Link will continue reviewing mapping, field survey results and information from local, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders to identify environmental features such as springs, streams, wetlands, caves, forests, wildlife habitat and protected species before construction begins. This information helps us understand site conditions, meet environmental requirements and make informed design decisions. When sensitive resources are identified, we seek to avoid them where practical, reduce impacts where avoidance is not possible, and implement restoration or mitigation measures when needed. We work closely with agencies to comply with all environmental regulations and receive all necessary permits.

While route development is still underway and no final route has been selected, Valley Link is evaluating potential routes with input from cultural resource specialists as well as counties, nonprofit organizations and state and federal agencies. Known historic, cultural, scenic and environmental resources are being identified and assessed throughout the process, with the goal of avoiding or minimizing impacts wherever feasible.

As part of that effort, we have engaged with several preservation organizations and agencies, including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the American Battlefield Trust and the National Park Service, in addition to local planning staff across the project area. Their feedback is helping inform our understanding of community priorities, historic resources, scenic areas and future development plans.

The Valley North Project will create a long-term source of funding for education and student resources.

Economic analysis of West Virginia’s current tax and levy rates* estimates that the Valley North Project will contribute nearly $14 million in annual property tax revenue to communities in the state. Schools are expected to be the largest beneficiary of these funds: More than 64% of total projected property tax payments would support West Virginia’s local school systems, helping fund education, teachers, facilities, technology and student programs.

That means nearly $9 million in annual tax revenue for West Virginia’s schools. Assuming tax rates remain similar, Valley North would contribute almost $180 million to local schools over 20 years.

This long-term, recurring revenue can support teachers and staff, school facilities and maintenance, technology and classroom resources, student programs and school activities.

*Preliminary data provided by West Virginia Tax Department on July 30, 2026. All figures are preliminary estimates based on tax analysis and current levy rates and are intended to illustrate the potential future benefits of the project.

The Valley North Project is expected to provide significant and lasting economic benefits to communities along its approximately 260-mile route. Unlike a one-time construction investment, Valley North will serve as a lasting source of local funding.

Economic analysis of West Virginia’s current tax and levy rates* estimates the Valley North Project will generate about $14 million for local communities in annual property tax revenue.

Of the projected annual $14 million in property tax revenue for West Virginia:

• Nearly $9 million annually will support local schools 
• Nearly $5 million annually will support county governments and local services  
• About $77,500 will go to the state 

Over 20 years, that would translate to approximately:

• Nearly $280 million in total property tax payments
• Nearly $180 million for local schools
• Nearly $100 million for county governments and local services 

Revenue generated by the project will help support critical public services, such as:

• Education
• Public safety
• Transportation
• Local infrastructure improvements
• Reduced congestion
• Energy reliability improvements
• Emergency responders  
• Sheriff’s departments
• Road and bridge maintenance
• Public infrastructure

These benefits will continue after construction is complete. At full buildout, Valley North is projected to contribute nearly $280 million in property tax revenue over 20 years, creating lasting benefits for West Virginia communities across the region. Though not yet studied, similar benefits are expected for the counties Valley North passes through in Maryland and Virginia.

*Preliminary data provided by West Virginia Tax Department on July 30, 2026. All figures are preliminary estimates based on tax analysis and current levy rates and are intended to illustrate the potential future benefits of the project.

According to economic analysis of West Virginia’s current tax and levy rates,* Valley North is expected to generate nearly $14 million in annual West Virginia property tax revenue at full buildout. That revenue will help fund critical public services across 20 West Virginia counties every year for decades.

See how much the Valley North Project is projected to contribute in your county each year: 

Though not yet studied, similar benefits are expected for the counties Valley North passes through in Maryland and Virginia.

*Preliminary data provided by West Virginia Tax Department on July 30, 2026. All figures are preliminary estimates based on tax analysis and current levy rates and are intended to illustrate the potential future benefits of the project.

A recent study by S&P Global CERA Consulting found that delaying transmission expansion costs more than building it. According to the research, expanding the US transmission grid can save customers billions of dollars, improve reliability and strengthen national security.

Conducted in August 2026, the study examined four regions within the Eastern Interconnection. It compared scenarios with limited grid expansion to scenarios where new transmission can be built, identifying the most cost-effective mix of transmission and power generation in each scenario. In every scenario across every region, transmission expansion delivered significant customer value — generating up to $15.3 billion in system value through 2050 compared to scenarios where limited transmission is built.

The study also found that no region delivers more value from transmission than our own: PJM. The study finds that transmission expansion can generate up to $8.9 billion in net value in PJM, returning up to $2.30 in benefits for every dollar invested.

Here’s what can be gained in our region from transmission upgrades like the Valley North Project:

• Congestion relief. The grid cannot always move power where it is needed most. The study identified West Virginia as a main area where additional transmission would reduce congestion and lower costs for customers.
• Customer savings. PJM delivers the largest economic benefits of any region studied, helping lower the overall cost of meeting growing electricity demand.
• Economic growth. Home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, PJM’s future growth increasingly depends on available transmission capacity and access to new power supplies.
• National security. PJM has the largest defense footprint of any region studied, supporting approximately 530,000 military personnel.

While there are clear benefits to transmission upgrades, there’s also a steep cost of inaction. Transmission-constrained futures leave up to $8.4 billion in potential system value on the table compared with futures that allow greater interregional transmission.

Here’s what’s at stake if action is not taken:

• Higher customer bills. Without faster transmission expansion, customers could pay hundreds of millions of dollars more each year for electricity.
• Greater outage risk. Regions with limited transmission expansion may be less able to share power during emergencies or periods of extreme demand.
• Higher energy prices. Congested transmission forces reliance on more expensive, less efficient, local resources and infrastructure, adding billions in avoidable capital and production costs by 2050.
• Lost economic opportunity. Regions unable to expand transmission risk losing new commercial, manufacturing and industrial investment to areas with more available grid capacity.
• National security exposure. A Virginia case study found that only a modest increase in electricity demand from military facilities and defense-related industries could require significant transmission upgrades.

Electricity demand across the region is growing as businesses expand and new technologies require more power. PJM has the highest electricity demand growth of all the regions studied — 2.1% every year from now through 2035. The Valley North Project will establish modern transmission infrastructure that helps keep energy flowing reliably for the long run, ensuring reliability and grid flexibility as demand grows.

Read the full study here.